Yuki, or to translate, Snowflake, belongs to the gallery of portraits which already contains Mme. Butterfly and Mme. Chrysanthème. The two latter might be called companion pictures, framed in oval, the one in gold, the other in ebony. The portrait of Mme. Snowflake is, however, done with a heavier brush and higher colors. In some ways it is a sequel to the other two. It handles the same theme-Japanese marriages. But the heroine, instead of being a full-blooded Japanese, is the offspring of such a marriage as that shown in Mme. Butterfly. Thus the question has been carried one step farther. It must be admitted that the author lacks the skill of Mr. Long, and M. Loti. Nor is her story quite as fascinating as that of Mr. Long, though it is more pleasant than that of M. Loti. Nevertheless it is full of poetry and a charm which at times approaches fascination. Under it all there runs a thread of tragedy that holds the weave of the plot. It is a book one would care to give to a friend or to have upon one's own table. Of a slightly different "genre" is Lafcadio Hearn's A Japanese Miscellany. The appeal in this book is not dependent upon any one character or theme. Instead it offers a series of pastels that portray the whole Japannese life. A good deal of scholarship has gone into its composition, and one of the greatest pleasures of the book is the way in which this scholarship is kept in the background. Mr. Hearn is a student who has the gift of writing like a novelist. As a result he has produced a collection of tales and sketches that are as interesting to the ignorant as to the well informed. For beauty that is a bit gruesome nothing outside of Poe could be better than the opening stories taken from Japanese folk lore. They possess a wonderful simplicity and strong interest. One tale, "The Case of O-Dai" should be read by every missionary: its sad charm will not be lost upon the ordinary reader. There is scarcely a page in the book that does not please or interest. While Japan is thus bathed in a glamour of romance, China, its next door neighbor, seems to have almost none. Whatever it may have possessed it has lost, thanks to the recent Boxer uprising. It is to-day a clime of stern, awful reality. There has been too much foreign blood spilled through treachery before the walls of Pekin to allow it to be anything but a distasteful subject to writer and to reader. The writings upon it are heavy in nature and weighty in import. 1A Japanese Miscellany. By Lafcadio Hearn. Little, Brown & Co., Boston. There is a tendency, however, to underestimate the Chinese. To most foreigners China is a country where chauvinism is carried to the Nth degree and where life has become a state of intellectual coma. China has a great civilization behind her and a greater one before her. She is chauvinistic and so she must learn her lessons by the bastinado instead of by the written word. She is learning it. Japan taught her much. She has recently learned more from the "Allied Forces." But it is wrong to call her "heathen," a word which as Huxley said a few years ago, means one who does not believe as the speaker. The condition of China is well stated in W. A. P. Martin's book. Mr Martin says: The Chinese have not been stationary, as generally supposed. through the long past of their national life. The national mind has advanced from age to age with a stately march; not, indeed, always in a direct course, but at each of its great epochs, recording a decided gain; like the dawn of an arctic morning, in which the first blush of an eastern sky disappears for many hours, only to be succeeded by a brighter glow, growing brighter yet after each interval of darkness as the time of sunrise approaches. A perusal of this book shows what a great intellectual force China has behind her. Her literature, her science, her philosophy, are seen in here in far from "heathen" colors. The book shows clearly the far-sightedness of him who recently donated to Columbia University a large sum of money to found a chair of Chinese. Marion Crawford's Latest Mr. Crawford has written a good many novels. There is to-day scarcely a more prolific writer. Some of his work shows the effect of this immense productivity. None is without interest and character. His most recent book2 is the story of a romance, the principal characters of which are Marietta, the daughter of an Italian glass maker, and Torsi, an apprentice to the same person. The workmanship throughout the book is delightful. The tale is told with simplicity, directness, and skill. It is full of interest and color. Not since Mr. Isaacs has Mr. Crawford produced so enjoyable and meritorious a book. Certain More Notable Novels In Circumstance,3 by Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, we have a society tale of the present day. It is essentially a tale of mystery, for at no point can the reader see ahead. The characters are admirably drawn, 1The Lore of Cathay; or, The Intellect of China. By W. A. P. Martin. Fleming H. Revell Company, New York. 2 Marietta: A Maid of Venice. By F. Marion Crawford. The Macmillan Company, New York. 3Circumstance. By S. Weir Mitchell. The Century Co., New York. $1.50. with a power of analysis and observation, and in nearly every instance we feel that we have seen and known them; but when all the threads have been gathered together and the final crisis comes, we lay down the book with a sigh, not of relief, but sympathy, and say, in almost the last words of the volume, "Can nothing be done to rescue the poor girl" who is one of the chief personages? We ask whether evil is always to triumph, and feel that in Dr. Mitchell's book there are ethical questions, as well as a remarkable story of life of to-day. Mr. I. K. Friedman has taken advantage of the recent great interest in labor matters to write a book.1 Its hero is a young college man who throws aside a theological career to take a place in a steel mill in order to reconcile the breach between the two great forces. He goes through strikes, contentions, and anarchy. In the end he is just where he was at the beginning. He has failed. The book offers some striking pictures of factory and slum life and gives some little view of the anarchist. Those who solve the riddle of Wall Street receive rich reward. Those who fail to solve it receive destruction. Mr. Lefèvre does not offer the solution to this riddle in his book2 but he gives a word of warning to the foolish. The tragedy and the pathos, the excitement and spirit of the exchange are forcibly shown. The stories are worth reading for their own interest and more for the insight that they give to the speculator's mind and the speculator's vocation. Robert Barr's new novel, The Victors, is really a combination of two novels. The one has to do with a Patrick Maguire who from a poor pedlar works himself up to be "boss of New York." The other deals with the adventures of two young men in the field of business. There is almost no connection, factitious or logical, between the two stories. The book aims to give a picture of the civic condition of New York to-day. Tammany plays a large part in it and the corruption of the police is shown up in glaring colors. Incidentally the questions of Christian Science and business speculations are touched upon. In some details of accuracy the book is probably open to criticism; but on the whole it proves good and enjoyable reading. After having met the innumerable modern novel heroines-the clever ones, the beautiful 1By Bread Alone. By I. K. Friedman. Clure. Phillips & Co., New York. $1.50. Mc 2 Wall Street Stories. By Edwin Lefèvre. McClure, Phillips & Co. New York. $1.25. Fred 3The Victors: A Romance of Yesterday Morning and This Afternoon. By Robert Barr. erick A. Stokes Co., New York. ones, the earnest ones, the talented ones—it is with relief that one comes across Miss FoxSeton, the heroine of Mrs. Burnett's new book.1 She has none of the pet tricks of her sisters. She is not petite nor coquettish nor helpless. She is not even beautiful, and neither paints, sings nor plays the piano. She is simply a healthy, restful sort of creature, as rare and delightful a person in real life as she is in fiction. In the surroundings in which Mrs. Burnett has placed her she serves admirably to show several characters of the type oftener met in novels. She further serves as the weave to a very delightful little tale. Another Garden Story The publication of garden stories is carried on with unflagging zest on the part of the publishers. The newest arrival has gone its predecessors one better and has taken a double claim for popularity-it is not only a garden story but it is anonymous. The Garden of A Commuter's Wife is not especially original in character of treatment nor in theme. Yet for those who have not had too much of this sort of thing it will be found pleasant reading. It has several interesting and delightful characters and shows a sunny humor and appreciation. Of Various Sorts Life on the Stage, by Clara Morris, is one of the most interesting books of the present season, although some of the chapters have already appeared in magazine form. By means of her autobiography the authoress, as skilful with her pen as she was artistic on the boards, has described the rise of a ballet girl at a provincial theater to the very summit of her profession in the metropolis. One of the most remarkable features of the story is the native simplicity with which she takes the reader into her confidence, and, while she is imbued with the highest enthusiasm for her profession, she hesitates not to disclose the difficulties that surround it. Nothing but the most indomitable courage could have enabled her to overcome those difficulties, although she evidently is gifted with a temperament that cheerfully bore hardship and led her ever to look at the bright side of things. It is a remarkable history, and one which has a value far beyond the special phase of life with which it deals. Few, if any, lives of actors and actresses, whether auto 1The Making of a Marchioness. By Frances Hodgson Burnett. Frederick A. Stokes Co., New York. 2The Garden of a Commuter's Wife. Recorded by The Gardener. The Macmillan Company, New York. Life on the Stage. By Clara Morris. McClure, Phillips & Co., New York. $1.50. biographical or not, have ever been more interesting than this. The book sparkles with animation and bright flashes of humor. Throughout it there is a keen appreciation of and an intimate acquaintance with the highest forms and requirements of histrionic art-qualities which enabled the authoress, not merely to insure her own success, but to form correct judgments of those of her profession with whom she was brought in contact. Criticism abounds, but where it is favorable it is based not on friendship but justice; while kindness of heart tempers any that is adverse. There are many good stories and some that are full of pathos and sympathy; and the reminiscences one constantly comes across are very valuable. The volume is one which, when taken in hand, will not be laid aside until the last page is read. The end of the nineteenth century was a fitting time to collect information as to the work of the past and the future prospects with regard to the great religions which are recognized as exercising influence over important sections of the human race. A series of articles having this in view, therefore, appeared in the North American Review and are now collected in permanent form. The religions dealt with are, in the first instance, Confucianism, Buddhism, Mohammedanism, Brahminism, Zorastrianism, Sikhism, and Babism. These are treated of by scholars who are recognized as authorities on the respective subjects, and who are competent to tell us the present position, the aims and expectations of those faiths of which they have made special study. To those already mentioned are added Judaism of the present day, Christianity in general, Catholic Christianity, and Positivism. It need scarcely be said that those who write on these are not necessarily to be taken as the most authoritative students, but prominent professors of the form of faith in question. They are, however, persons of such wide experience and such soundness of judgment that their utterances will have more than ordinary weight. Dr. Winthrop D. Sheldon has done useful service to those not familiar with Greek, by giving a translation of the Dialogues and Stories of Lucian of Samosata. He has wisely followed the plan of using familiar and colloquial language as best representing the unaffected, although strictly "elegant" Greek of Lucian. It is possible with the aid of this translation to enjoy the common 1Great Religions of the World. Harper & Bros., New York. $2.00. 2A Second Century Satirist. By Winthrop D. Sheldon. Drexel Biddle Co.. Philadelphia. sense humor of one who, while acceptable neither to Pagan nor Christian, did much for the cause of truth. There is also an excellent introduction on Lucian himself. The name of Madame Marchesi is well known to students of vocal music as that of one of the most sympathetic, sound, and successful teachers of the day. In Ten Singing Lessons1 she gives. us an insight into her method, but the title is somewhat of a misnomer. We do not find exercises of scales, intervals, and the like, but a pleasant series of what may be called "letters to the reader," full of excellent advice, criticism and anecdote, and giving specimens of her talks with her pupils. The book is indispensable to any one who contemplates pursuing musical studies in Paris, and should certainly be read by all who propose to present themselves before the kindly veteran teacher. There is a very tender and noble preface by Madame Melba, one of Madame Marchesi's most distinguished pupils, and an appreciative introduction by W. J. Henderson, the musical critic. All lovers of Nature should possess Footing It in Franconia, by Bradford Torrey. The volume is a series of essays describing, in a way that reminds one strongly of Thoreau, the beauties of the landscape, the habits of birds and localities for plants in that paradise of New Hampshire. Incidentally one comes across bits of philosophy, anecdotes, and flashes of humor, which add charm to the book. Few books could so well bring into the closed room, with its winter fire within and wintry storm without, the atmosphere of spring and autumn and the pleasures of a ramble among the mountains, by the lake-side and along hedgerows and field-paths. Much has been written about the "Sick Man," but it may be questioned whether anything has been better said concerning him than what we find in Constantinople, by Dr. Henry Otis Dwight. By long residence in the city and intimate acquaintance with its population, he is fully competent to treat of its problems. While he primarily views the Turkish capital from the missionary standpoint, he by no means confines himself to this line of thought, but with great liberality regards the Turk from the side of humanity. Constantinople, as capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, was a world-center, and such it is now, but in a different manner and degree. What 1Ten Singing Lessons. By Madame Marchesi. Harper & Bros., New York. $1.50. 2 Footing It in Franconia. By Bradford Torrey. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., Boston. $1.10. 3 Constantinople. By Henry Otis Dwight. Fleming H. Revell Co., New York. $1.25. its future may be, not even the wisest diplomat can tell us. The Spanish People' is the first of a series of historical manuals to be published under the title, The Greatest Peoples Series. If the present volume can be taken as the type, the series will afford one of the most interesting and valuable additions yet made to the equipment of the student of history. There is a manifest advantage in taking up the history of a single people and following it out as a whole, without any of the distractions that attend what is usually known as Universal History. In the present case, Mr. Hume, the author, from the nature of his special studies, is thoroughly conversant with his subject and well fitted to prepare such a manual. He begins with the visit of the Phenicians to Iberia in the eleventh century before the Christian era, and has carefully followed the fortunes of those who inhabited the Iberian peninsula through Carthaginian, Roman, and Moslem domination, through the winning of freedom from the Crescent, through alternate periods of union and dis The Spanish People. By M. A. S. Hume. D. Appleton & Co., New York. $1.50. union, empire and decadence, to the present time. The volume is an intensely interesting one, and in one particular presents a new feature: At the end of each period there are two summaries, one of which relates the internal progress, while the other tells what Spain did for the world. The method is excellent and the volume one of great value. Mr. Kipling had such success with his first Jungle Book that he wrote a second. And the strange part was that the second proved as popular as the first. Mr. Seton-Thompson's Lives of the Hunted1 is virtually a continuation of Wild Animals I Have Known. The new book is fashioned quite on the plan of its predecessor. The same rich care has gone into it both on its literary and its mechanical side. Those who found pleasure in Mr. SetonThompson's former stories will not be disappointed in these. Following is a list of books received at this office between the tenth of October and the tenth of November: 1Lives of the Hunted. By Ernest Seton-Thompson. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Barrymore, Ethel: In Captain Jinks: Clyde Fitch: N. Y., R. H. Russell Life on the Stage: Personal Experiences and Lincoln's First Love: Carrie Douglas Wright: .$1 50 V. R. I.: Queen Victoria, Her Life and Em- Essays and Miscellany. Affirmative Intellect, The: An Account of the I 00 2.00 2 50 I 75 90 I 80 I 50 I 00 Ten Boys from Dickens: Kate Dickinson 50 By the Waters of Sicily: Norma Lorimer: N. Y., James Pott & Co. I 75 Captain Bluitt: A Tale of Old Turley: Charles Heber Clark (Max Adeler): Phila., Henry T. Coates & Co. Captain of the Crew: Ralph H. Barbour: N. Calumet "K": Merwin-Webster: N. Y., Mac- Deborah: A Tale of the Times of Judas Maccabæus: James M. Ludlow: N. Y., Fleming H. Revell Co. Destiny of Doris, The: A Travel Story of Three Continents: Julius Chambers: Illustrated: N. Y., Continental Pub. Co....... Mark Everard: Knox Magee: N. Y., R. F. Fenno & Co. Fernley House: Laura E. Richards: Bost., Dana, Estes & Co. I 20 I 50 Romance: Herman Knickerbocker Vielę: Chic., Herbert S. Stone & Co..... Let Not Man Put Asunder: Basil King: N. Y., Harper & Bros.... Lighthouse Village, A: Louise Lyndon Sibley: Bost., Houghton, Mifflin & Co.... Lives of the Hunted: Ernest Seton-Thompson: N. Y., Charles Scribner's Sons.. Love Letters of an Irishwoman, The: F. C. Voorhies: Bost., Mutual Book Co.... MacGregors, The: Marshall Home: Chic., Scroll Pub. Co..... .$1 50 I 25 I 75 30 For Love or Crown: A Romance: Arthur W. Her Sixteenth Year: Helen Dawes Brown: I 00 I 50 House with the Green Shutters. The: George I 20 ... I 50 Portion of Labor, The: Mary E. Wilkins: Illustrated: N. Y., Harper & Bros. Princess of the Purple Palace, The: William Murray Graydon: N. Y., McClure, Phillips & Co. Prisoners of War, The: A Reminiscence of the Rebellion: Archibald McGowan: N. Y., Abbey. Prize Watch, The: Emily Guillon Fuller: I IO I 00 In Spite of All: Edna Lyall: N. Y., Longmans, Green & Co..... I 75 I 50 Japanese Nightingale, A: Onoto Watanna: N. Y., Harper & Bros. 2 00 John Forsyth's Aunts: Eliza Orne White; N. Some Women I Have Known: Maarten Maar- I 50 I 50 Last of the Knickerbockers, The: A Comedy |