Chapter 36

7–8229.

“Lady de Lancey gives an account of the wound received by her husband at the great battle, of the agony of suspense caused to her as the varying news came filtering through to her at Antwerp, and of the way in which she tended him in a cottage in Mont St. Jean. The story is one of genuine pathos, which is, if that could be possible, enhanced by the fact that they had been married less than three months.... Letters by Walter Scott and Dickens add interest to the volume.”—Ath.

“The narrative is touching in its simplicity, and occasionally gives new and startling glimpses into the horrors of war.”

“Lady De Lancey’s book is, however, literature, worthy to stand beside Lucy Hutchinson’s life of her colonel and Margaret of Newcastle’s life of her lord.”

Deland, Ellen Douglas.Friendship of Anne. †$1.50. Wilde.

7–26962.

A boarding school story for girls which pictures the weaknesses, hopes and aims of some very true-to-life girls.

Deland, Mrs. Margaret Wade (Campbell).Awakening of Helena Richie.†$1.50. Harper.

6–24158.

Descriptive note in Annual, 1906.

“Our nearest equivalent to the old-fashioned English novel.” Mary Moss.

“Helena Richie herself is faintly, thinly conceived. Her consciousness is too elementary to feel seriously about, and one only wonders that such grave events can hang themselves upon so slight a character.” Louise Collier Willcox.

Deland, Margaret W. C.Encore.†$1.50. Harper.

7–32562.

A slight story of Margaret Deland’s favorite spot, Old Chester. When Letty Morris and Alfred Price tried in early youth to elope, the good Dr. Lavendar, whom they sought to unite them, withdrew for a moment and sent a message to the parents of the runaways. Their day of bliss was over. The encore is the repetition of the love-making after fifty years, and this time it is dissenting children who make the way hard; but Dr. Lavendar comes to the rescue and this time lends his clerical aid.

“This prettily bound and illustrated edition of one of the most charming of the Old Chester chronicles is, we suppose, aimed at the holiday public. We hope it will hit the mark.”

“The tale is told with delightful ease and humor.”

De La Pasture, Elizabeth (Bonham).Catherine of Calais; new ed. $1.50. Dutton.

7–28454.

“Catherine is a girl of quiet charm and of lifelong devotion to an ideal of romance. She quite takes hold of the readers heart, and he is glad that she loves to the end the stately, handsome, conscientious husband she has awesomely admired as a girl, and that she never penetrates the secret that he is essentially a dull and commonplace gentleman. In contrast to Catherine there are two capitally drawn elderly women, one of infernal temper and overbearing self-approval, the other of indolent and self-indulgent temperament, but exceedingly clever in character-reading and in social comment.”—Outlook.

“Readers who like little star-trimmed heroines who give the impression of having moonbeam toes and of being incapable but good will enjoy this story. The interest of the story depends upon what the characters say, not what they do.”

“Catherine is, in fact, a silly and meek and dutiful and loving little creature, one of the Amelia Sedleys who do not become extinct in life, whether they are to be found in fiction or not.”

“It is pleasant to be able to acknowledge so clean and sweet a book.”

“To those who love a simple story, simply told, but with true sentiment and gentle grace, we highly commend this new novel. The story entertains but does not excite; it affords a refreshing contrast both to the problem novel and to the cloak-and-sword romance.”

De La Pasture, Elizabeth.Lonely lady of Grosvenor square. †$1.50. Dutton.

6–41709.

The lonely lady is a pretty country bred girl of twenty-five who comes to Grosvenor square as the guest of a great-aunt and stays there after her aunt’s death to watch over the estate which is an inheritance of her twin brother who is in active service in Africa. The account of how she tries to do honor to her name and position by following the social code of her country rector’s wife, and how from the dull loneliness of London state and formality she is rescued by her distant cousin the Duke, forms a pretty old fashioned love story.

“The author writes as gracefully and as easily as ever—almost too easily—and her touch both in humor and pathos is light and sure.”

“The characters are well drawn and natural, and the narrative has sufficient vitality to sustain the reader’s interest.”

“The very genuine charm of this quiet and refreshing story of present-day London is its simple unassuming naturalness.” Frederic Taber Cooper.

“A book of manners and sentiments; it touches only the surface of life, but it is agreeably written and proves mildly entertaining.” Wm. M. Payne.

“‘Charming’ is the word that attaches itself instinctively to her work; it may not be the highest praise, but in this case it implies popularity as well.”

“A story that in its sweetness and wholesomeness and simple unaffected pathos forms a refreshing contrast to the morbid and unpleasant matters with which fictionmakers frequently feel themselves obliged to deal.”

“The book would be nothing if it were not for its genuine humor, which is none the less welcome because it is not boisterous.”

“Mrs. de la Pasture’s powers as a narrator are considerable: and this story is a thoroughly pleasant though not a very robust example of her manner.”

“The book is not quite on the level of ‘Peter’s mother’ but it is sufficiently amusing to rank among the most pleasing novels of the season.”

Delehaye, H.Legends of the saints: an introduction to hagiography; from the French, tr. by Mrs. V. M. Crawford. (Westminster lib.) *$1.20. Longmans.

A two-part work whose purpose is to show the application of the ordinary rules and methods of historical criticism to hagiographical criticism. The first treats of hagiography; the second, of the relation of paganism to Christianity.

“For the elucidation of the first part the author has peculiar and rare qualifications. The other part of his book is not so good. M. Delehaye also makes it evident in his book that he is but imperfectly acquainted with some subjects on which he pronounces an opinion.”

“Historical students will find the work to be a fine example of sound, conservative, scientific method.”

Deming, Philander.Story of a pathfinder. **$1.25. Houghton.

7–17047.

In this volume Mr. Deming “gathers up some loose threads of autobiography and romance.... The six chapters or sections are chiefly reprints from ... periodicals. Opening with an account of his rise to the dignity and emoluments of a court stenographer, Mr. Deming goes on to relate how he wrote his first successful story, then gives a few tastes of his quality as a narrator of fiction, and concludes with another bit of autobiographic reminiscence.”—Dial.

“His style, easy and conversational, is attractive; and the plots of his tales, which have the touch of real life, are ingenious without being involved, and all end with a fine-conceived and unexpected stroke that pleasingly caps the already well-developed climax.”

“After reading his little volume, full of unobtrusive sincerity and penetrated with that sort of poetry which marks the evening of certain lives, one feels in contact with one of those rare personalities which give biography its chief charm.”

“Although written at a much later date, both his stories and preface bear rather the impress of the fifties than of the postbellum newspaper world. It is the atmosphere of Greeley’s Memoirs, with all the mildness and restraint of what might be called the middle Victorian period in American fiction.”

De Montmorency, J. E. G.Thomas a Kempis. *$2.25. Putnam.

7–11046.

“The mooted question of its authorship is here critically discussed, and its authenticity fairly demonstrated; its structure is analyzed, and the various sources shown from which its author drew; lists and accounts of its manuscripts and printed editions are given; many fine illustrations, including some facsimile pages, are added; full recognition is shown to the work of Thomas’s fellow-mystics.”—Outlook.

“Mr. de Montmorency has an axe to grind—and sharpens it on á Kempis. He sets up a distinction between the visible or official church, and the invisible church, existing within the official church of which it is truly the vital and Catholic part. With the needful caution, the reader will find Mr. de Montmorency’s handling of the book full of suggestion and matter for reflection. In treating purely evidential questions, such as the authorship, he is sane and dispassionate enough.”

“Mr. de Montmorency is full of enthusiasm for Thomas á Kempis and his book and his zeal is according to knowledge; but his knowledge is not always displayed with discretion. He could find it in his heart to spend it all upon us.”

“Mr. Montmorency might have been with advantage at greater pains to organize his book, which is obviously a labor of love.”

“It is a timely and helpful commentary upon a great recreative and reconstructive movement.”

“Mr. de Montmorency has given us the results of the most recent investigations, lucidly stated and with an absence of ‘parti pris’ which is worthy of high praise.” A. I. du Pont Coleman.

“Mr. de Montmorency’s general observations about this wonderful book are pregnant and excellent.”

“Interesting and learned book.”

De Morgan, John.In lighter vein. **$1.50. Elder.

7–24148.

An anthology of witty sayings and anecdotes of prominent people from Elizabeth to our own Mark Twain and Roosevelt. It is designed for relaxation.

“It contains some good jokes and some dull ones, some that we never heard and some that we are glad to have recalled to memory.”

De Morgan, William.Alice-for-short: a dichronism. †$1.75. Holt.

7–20515.

Alice-for-short, six years old and timid, bravely plods thru a London fog with a jug of beer. She breaks the jug, which accident brings to her side a protector, who, a little later, when the drunk-sodden parents die, rescues her from the basement of an old house in Soho and places her in the care of his sister. The chief interest of the tale lies in the development of the child in intimate portrayal, the simple life-likeness of characters, and the sure tho delayed consummation of the romance. There are ghosts and mysteries in the plot which seems to be a sensitive conscience’s concession to the veteran novel-reader rather than a scheme vitally necessary to the character-drawing.

“We applaud Mr. De Morgan in that whatever he writes is instinct with an infinite knowledge of humanity, with a subtle and tender humor, and an exquisite skill in characterisation.”

“The story is disconnected, and slow in movement, full of humor, and shows exquisite skill in characterization.”

“Before the two hundredth [page] is reached a falling off in the quality of the work must be noted, and a serious shrinkage in the warp and woof of the fabric. The author has been perhaps just a little too sure of his readers, just a little too palpably in love with his creatures.”

“You have come in contact with a rarely engaging personality which, by some alchemy defying analysis, is capable of being seized and passed on through the medium of cold print.” Mary Moss.

“Only a crabbed partisan of the formal could place his hand upon his heart and sincerely aver that he would willingly spare any of these irrelevancies. They add salt and savour to a novel which even without them would be reckoned a remarkable example of the art of fiction at its noblest.” Wm. M. Payne.

“Is disappointing after ‘Joseph Vance.’”

“This ripeness of vision constitutes Mr. De Morgan’s charm. He has lived to see, to see tolerantly, tho not without feeling.”

“When the 563 very closely printed pages are finished, it seems incredible that the story should have been made to fill them. The odd thing is that we have not been bored.”

“There is no denying that Mr. De Morgan’s humor now and then degenerates into mere facetiousness, or that his familiar prolixity becomes at times mere garrulousness. Yet one cannot help liking M. De Morgan, even when he is most trying. The writer has, we should say, a sensitive conscience in the matter of plot—a desire to give the reader his money’s worth of that staple—but an instinctive contempt for it for its own sake. What really interests him is his persons and his talk about them.”

“To the present reviewer at any rate it seems that Mr. De Morgan has somehow been able to see us, not as we see ourselves, but in a certain perspective belonging properly to a next generation. Of the literary quality of Mr. De Morgan’s work it is impossible to speak without a degree of enthusiasm which might invite suspicion of incoherence. These stories differ from those of the old masters not in manner but in matter.”

“After all the truth about such a book as ‘Alice-for-short’ may be said in a sentence. It is in great qualities that it is deficient—and how often may great qualities be found? And it is in the lesser, but not negligible ones—in wise comment, deft workmanship, in humor, fancifulness and charm—that it is satisfyingly replete.” Olivia Howard Dunbar.

“Mr. De Morgan is not an imitator of Dickens, but he has certain things in common with Dickens, and one is that we, not grudgingly but cordially forgive him traits that would damn utterly a lesser genius.”

“Is interminably long and too nebulous to talk about.”

“The book is indeed an excellent example of the manner without the matter of Mr. Thackeray. Here are all the faults in method in spite of which he was great.”

“This new story will establish his right, we think, to be accepted without further hesitation as a very considerable novelist.”

De Morgan, William Frend.Joseph Vance: an ill-written autobiography. †$1.50. Holt.

6–25695.

Descriptive note in Annual, 1906.

“Singularly rich, mellow, and human narrative, which is garrulous in the genial sense, and as effective as it is unpretending.” Wm. M. Payne.

“A book that must take its place, by virtue of its tenderness and pathos, its wit and humor, its love of human kind, and its virile characterization, as the first great English novel that has appeared in the twentieth century.” Lewis Melville.

“Is probably the only book of its kind that the present generation will offer; therefore the most may as well be made of the temperate, mellow, elderly enjoyment it affords.” Olivia Howard Dunbar.

Denk, Victor Martin Otto (Otto von Schaching, pseud.).Bell foundry. 45c. Benziger.

7–21531.

Gerold, a young bell founder on his way from Italy to his home in Bavaria encounters Gatterer, a noted bell founder of the Tyrol and stops to work in his foundry. Thru a series of rough and bloody incidents it is discovered that Gatterer and his workmen are a gang of villains who plunder and murder all who travel thru their forest. As a result of this discovery Elizabeth, who has passed as his daughter, is restored to the name and position of which the highwaymen robbed her and becomes the bride of Gerold.

Dennett, R. E.At the back of the black man’s mind; or, Notes on the kingly office in West Africa. *$3.25. Macmillan.

7–13004.

Mr. Dennett writes out of the fulness of a wide experience among the Bavili both as a private resident and as an official. About three-quarters of the book under review deals with the hierarchy of kings and chiefs, the laws, social organization, marriage, birth, and death customs, psychology and philosophy of the Bavili; the remainder of the book treats with much the same subjects as they have been observed by the author in Benin. Finally, there is a valuable appendix by Bishop James Johnson on the religious beliefs and social laws of the Yoruba people.

“The evident sincerity of the writer and his sympathetic appeal on behalf of a better understanding of the black man must commend him both to those whose interest in the backward races of mankind is purely scientific and to those who desire to understand the negro for his own sake.”

“With a little more sense of method, the value of [his] contribution to science might have been doubled.”

“Not the least interesting part of this curious book is the appendix, which contains extracts from the writings of two educated negroes ... and it must be confessed that they are easier to follow than Mr. Dennett when he sets himself to explain native symbolism.”

“The reviewer cannot accept Mr. Dennett’s etymology of the Bantu phrases he attempts to explain. It is such a valuable contribution to ethnology that one could almost wish a second edition might be brought out with revised and reasonable orthography.”

“All students will be grateful to Mr. Dennett for the care and labour which he has expended in collecting and recording [the beliefs and customs] although some may wish that he could have carried out his task in a simpler and less perplexing fashion.”

Dennis, James Shepard.Christian missions and social progress. v. 3. **$2.50. Revell.

Descriptive note in Annual, 1906.

“It is impracticable here to give any conception of the wealth of this material or of the skill with which it is arranged and presented.” C. R. Henderson.

“Dr. Dennis has furnished an arsenal, well stored with weapons of many kinds, but all effective for both offensive and defensive warfare.” A. K. Parker.

“Whether as a description of Christian missions or as a source book for students of social progress, this work is invaluable.”

“Crowded with information concerning the beneficent results of missions.”

“All that was said in the previous notice as to the author’s breadth of view and catholicity of interest, as well as of the superlative worth of the work as a missionary apologetic, is even more true of this volume. Notwithstanding defects, these volumes will stand for years to come as a witness to the manifoldness and beneficent character of one of the most helpful social factors of the less enlightened lands.” Harlan P. Beach.

Denslow, William Wallace, and Bragdon, Dudley A.Billy Bounce: pictures by Denslow. *$1.50. Dillingham.

6–34681.

The adventures of a messenger boy whose inflated rubber suit sends him bouncing through the air with astonishing ease and rapidity. He visits the land of bogie men, bugbears and ghosts, and exposes them to youthful readers as entirely harmless.

“A whimsical and comical tale.”

“The wit of this book is vaudeville wit and not meant for analysis. Of Mr. Denslow’s illustrations, however, it may be said that the coloring is less crude than in his previous books.”

Densmore, Emmet.Sex equality. **$1.50. Funk.

7–32183.

Dr. Densmore’s theories are based upon the teachings of Darwin, Spencer, and modern exponents of the doctrine of evolution. The book teaches that women are more intuitive, refined, unselfish and spiritual than men, but are inferior to them in initiative, resource, power and breadth of view; that these mental differences are not fundamental nor the result of sex but are caused by environment and heredity. The book makes a strong plea for extending democracy into all phases of human life.

Derby, George, comp. Conspectus of American biography; being an analytical summary of American history and biography, containing also the complete indexes of The national cyclopaedia of American biography. $10. White.

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