posed to have left out of "The Merry Wives of Windsor," but with the hints about Anne Page given in that play, the author has woven a very pretty little historical romance. The illustrations are by Sewell Collins. Published by Funk & Wagnalls Company, New York and London. Price, 40 cents.

"The Sandals" is a companion book to the above, by Z. Grenell, being a tale of early Palestine. It is a little idyl of sacred story. "The Sandals" were the foot covering of the "blessed feet" which were "pierced for our redemption," and the author leaves us to our Own conclusion as to whether or not he meant to impute a mystical virtue to them.

Of all the dull books I have ever read "The Wonders of Mouseland" is the least worth an earnest regard. "Mouseland" is just like this world but smaller. If the point of view had been humorous, or realistic, or if there had been a plot, it might have failed of failure.

By E. E. Childs. The Abbey Press. New York City.

"Kate Bonnet" is a charming story of adventure, The Romance of a Pirate's Daughter, by Frank R. Stockton, but anyone who expects to find in it that rich absurdity and quaint humor which characterized his earlier works, is doomed to disappointment. The story, however, is full of interest, and satisfactory if not as original or comical as we hoped Mr. Stockton's tales would always be. It is a rousing good story, of the prevalent type, and the pirate's daughter is a sweet, spirited thing, who in the end marries her Dickory. Is there not always a Dickory in novels of this class? A pirate as a subject is never anything less than fascinating, and this is largely because a pirate sails seas. The breath of the salt sea wind is in "Kate Bonnet," and it is good draught for one marooned on a hot summer's day.

D. Appleton & Co., New York City.

Is it not almost too late to write of "Audrey," that marvellous romance by the author of "To Have and to Hold?"

But it is certainly never too late to read it, or speak of it. Suffice it to say it has those same qualities of picturesque diction and episode, fire and dramatic feeling which made Miss Johnston's other American historical novel such a sensation. The fault of "Audrey," it is rather generally allowed, is the sudden almost melodramatic drop of its ending. Yet, if it had been possible to introduce the fact of Audrey's becoming the colonial actress, earlier into the book, we might not have questioned its realism. We have been allowed to become too used to the lovely girl as a dryad, not to resent her advent into artificiality. Yet, if we analyze the situation, we see how easily it all might have occurred, and the very bitterness of the ending, if given longer and more elaborate value would have appealed to the average artistic sense of the public. "Audrey" is not as great a book as "To Have and to Hold," but that is not saying that it is not a great book.

The bindings of books are a very important matter these days. They will not be overlooked. They shriek at you oftenest in sensational mixtures of green and red, with gaudy figures for which the poster craze is to blame. All the more credit to the publisher who sternly refuses to allow his book covers to look like the theatrical bill-board. I have here a book from Harper Bros. which seems to me all in good taste, inside and out. The cover is in a strong shade of dark blue, with small ornamental designs in silver, around a tiny panel in darker blue and violet, showing a suggestion of a young woman's head. The book is "The Siege of Lady Resolute," by Harris Dickson, being a tale of the opening years of the eighteenth century, when a religious war was being fiercely waged, in the far south of France. It is a fascinating story. The hero, Cèsar de Saint Maurice is a natural young man, spirited and aristocratic, while Julie de Severac, "The Lady Resolute," strikes even deeper into our sympathies, with her emotional, dark beauty, and strong,

noble character. Madame de Maintenon and her Louis (I remember him rather by women than number) appear in the book, which also has many scenes in the French American colony of New Orleans.

"The Siege of the Lady Resolute," by Harris Dickson. Harper Bros., Publishers.

"Under My Roof" is a most unusual story: it has no plot but it is interesting; the heroine owns up to forty years, although she is unmarried, and doesn't marry the hero-instead she "takes" a far pleasanter individual. Although it is a pleasant, almost diary like chronicle of the home buying, home furnishing, and final husband getting, of one of the most modern of old maids-who earns her living by book writing and has boarded for twenty years. Her pleasure in her hard earned "house," the details of its comforts and beauties, her sensible, cultivated life therein-all will interest the hearts of home-lovers, who are of course, most often women. A book without a thrill, it has the calm and reasonable effect of any middle aged courtship of up-to-date people. Its realism is commendable.

"Under My Own Roof," by Adelaide Rouse. Funk & Wagnalls Company. New York and London.

A burlesque of militarism has been written by Ernest Crosby, and called "Captain Jinks, Hero." The illustrations are of course amusing, being by Dan Beard. The book contains the alleged life of one Sam Jinks, from the time he is given a set of lead soldiers on his sixth birthday, through his extremely military career at "East Point," and in the Cubapines," until through an excess of love of things military he goes insane and again sits all day, playing with the lead soldiers of his childhood. Certainly the idea of the tale is a queer one, and will probably not interest a great many people, still the idea is well carried out. It might be a "good book" for boys to read, if they took it seriously, and for men if they did not take it seriously. It aims to poke fun at an excess of love for things military, shown by many idle

and vain boys and men.

"Captain Jinks, Hero." By Ernest Crosby. Published by Funk & Wagnails, New York and London.

"How Men are Made," or "Corner Stones of Character," is the name of a very excellent book by Daniel Hoffman Martin, being a series of lectures addressed to young men. Dr. Martin is the pastor of the Clinton Avenue Reformed Church of Newark, N. J., and has had a notable success with young men. These lectures are interesting, clever, and sensible. Price, $1.00.

Published by The Abbey Press, 114 Fifth avenue, New York.

Since the Kaiser of Germany, the strenuous Wilhelm has made such a "flutter and fuss" against the entrance of Christian Science" into his domain, renewed attention has been turned by its enemies to the unpopular cult. A very witty book has been written against Mrs. Mary Baker Glover Paterson Eddy of Boston, by a prominent and clever man, Dr. Gordon Clark. He calls his little volume "The Church of Saint Bunco," and backs up his attacks upon Mrs. Eddy's veracity and sincerity, with what appears be incontrovertible argument and proof. The book is interesting reading either to one who is out of or "in science."

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the great Russian and his family. Alice B. Stockham & Co., Chicago.

"The Lady of New Orleans," a novel of the present, has been written by Marcellus Eugene Thornton. It is a love story, intricate in plot. The frontispiece is of a pretty up-to-date woman.

Price $1.50. Abbey Press, New York 114 Fifth avenue.

The same publishers also announce a novel by R. C. Baily, called "M'abel Thornley," or "The Heiress of Glenwood and Glendinning." Price $1.25.

"The Black Cat Club" is an extremely clever and amusing little book by James D. Carrothers. It consists of negro humor and folk-lore, and is quaintly illustrated with quantities of black silhouette drawings, done by J. K. Bryans. Beginning at the third chapter in the book, a love story winds through the work. Some of the humorous poems appeared first in "Truth." Funk & Wagnalls Co., New York.

"How to Get Acquainted With God," is a little book exploiting and defending the principles of Christian Science, written by Theodore F. Seward, and published by Funk & Wagnalls Company, London. Price 2s 6d.

I have three novels of a particularly light description. They have highly-colored bindings, and bind together highly colored episodes of diverse description. You will never go to sleep over them, though it would probably be just as well for you if you did. There is "Her Grace's Secret," by Violet Tweedale, with a suggestive violet aspect, telling of certain lurid events, taking place among modern members of a rather lurid English aristocracy.

Also we have "In the Wyoming Val. ley," by Everett Tomlinson, "A Story of the massacre in the time of the Revolution," which is illustrated. It is certainly a startling narrative.

Price, $1. American Baptist Association, Philadelphia.

But what shall we say of the historical novel, "A Lily of France?" It is written by Caroline Atwater Mason, and treats of that particularly interesting epoch in French history when Catherine de Medicis held the reigns of government. It is a thoroughly entertaining plot, acted out by some very pleasing characters. It shows the old Catholic cruelty of bigotry against the Huguenots.

Griffith & Rowland Press. Philadelphia.

In a tiny green book, decorated with little blood-red hearts, I read the "Naked Truths and Veiled Allusions" of Minna Thomas Antrim. Epigrammatic, for the most part, in form and substance, they are really very clever. For instance, here are a few of her aphorisms on "Bohemia":

"Bohemia is the land of the free and the home of the slave." "The Bohemian cheerily loans you his last nickel to prove his friendship; moreover he considers you treat him shabbily, if you go hungry while he has the price of your dinner. Herein lies the difference between plutocrat and pauper." She has many upon "Woman": "If diamonds had never been discovered, more women would go to heaven." "All women enthuse over an Adonis, but when one looks around one sees it is the brainy man who wins them." "A fool lies to a woman, a knave about her." "M'any a woman groans over the vanity of this wicked world, whose pious nose is thickly covered with blancde-perle." Altogether, Miss Antrim has gotten up a very amusing little book.

Published by Henry Altemus Co., Philadelphia.

I wish I could say as much for "The Color of his Soul," a sketchy little story written by Miss Zoe Anderson Norris. It treats of people on the outskirts of Bohemia and Altruria.

Funk, Wagnalls & Co., New York and London.

From a discussion of literature it is most clarifying to the soul to turn to cooking. The color of a man's soul may not be important to his welfare, but what he eats is. "365 Breakfast Dishes" is

a little book of recipes collected from various sources by the George M. Jacobs Co., Philadelphia, and very good of its sort.

We have a valuable and learned work this month from the University of Chicago Press-"Russian Political Institutions." The growth and development of these institutions from the beginning of Russian history to the present time. It is by Maxine Kovalevsky, formerly Professor of Public Law at the University of Moscow, and dozens of other things in divers countries. The work represents the very best research of the day upon the subject. Other questions of the day are ably discussed by Mr. John R. Dos Passos (of the New York bar) in a volume called "Commercial Trusts, The Growth and Rights of Aggregated Capital," an argument delivered before the industrial commission at Washington, D. C. Brought out by G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York and London.

A book for those interested in elocution or physical expression, is one called "Delsarte System of Expression," by Genevieve Stebbins, who is the authority at present in her profession. The book contains thirty-two illustrations from Greek art.

Price. $2. Published by Edgar S. Werner Publishing Co., New York.

Really, the children's books nowadays are charming, and there are so many of them. I will tell you of a number all in positively pretty bindings, bright, to delight the eye of childhood or youth "Mistress May," by Amy E. Blanchard, and "When Mother was a Little Girl," by Francis J. Brewster (the latter illustrated by photographs), are for girls,

and gotten out in companion bindings by Jacobs & Co., Philadelphia. The latter book especially is delightful reading, and is, I take it, autobiographical in character. The same firm issued also, for boys, “Somebody's Doings," by John Habberton, and "A Boy in Early Virginia,” by Edward Robbins. They are both illustrated.

There is also "A Life of St. Peter for the Young," by George Weld, which has pictures, and is a book for children of larger growth as well. And "Rook's Nest," an entertaining story for girls and boys, written by Izola L. Forrester, and lovers of pets or cats especially will enjoy "Pussy Meow," a lengthy biography of a pet cat and her owner, by S. Louise Patteson, illustrated with photographs, and introduced by Sarah K. Bolton. three of these clever books are also issued from Jacobs & Co., Philadelphia.

All

Selected Poems by Henry Ames Blood is a book published by the Neale Company, Washington, D. C. It is attractive in appearance, and the verses, many of which are reprints from the best magazines, have strength and a real poetic beauty of expression. The last one, in the book "Ad Astra," appeared first in the Century Magazine, and is spirited and fine. There are thirty poems, some long, some short, but all worthy of consideration by lovers of poetry.

Price, $1. Neale & Co., Washington.

"The Letters of Mildred's Mother to Mildred," by E. D. Price, comes from the J. S. Ogilvie Publishing Company, New York, and lays no claim to a literary value. It contains satirical sketches of stage life.