A story founded upon the secret chronicles of two states lying in the midst of the Hungarian forest. The time is after the close of the Thirty years’ war, when some two hundred of these independent states existed in Germany. The princess of one state is about to be betrothed, against her will, to the heir of the other, when the heir disappears. Disguised as a young lieutenant, he comes to her father’s court and wins her love. After nearly losing his life and his throne in a series of daring adventures, he elopes with the princess and comes to his own. A crafty chancellor, a soldier of fortune, and an unscrupulous villain add to the plot.
“His story is commonplace, and the telling always undistinguished.”
“Is full of exciting incident and of well-marked characters.”
“The romance is not a bad specimen of its type.”
“To label this novel as old-fashioned, is to pay a compliment, not cast a slur. It is to say that the author has taken pains and time, that his creation is shapely, and dignified.”
Magnus, Hugo.Superstition in medicine; tr. from the German by Julius L. Salinger.**$1. Funk.
A history of the erroneous ideas and fanciful beliefs that have prevailed in the world with regard to sickness and its cure from the days of ancient Rome to the present time.
Mahaffy, John Pentland.Progress of Hellenism in Alexander’s empire. $1. Univ. of Chicago press.
In a series of lectures, which represent the compendium of a long and brilliant development of human nature, the author addresses not only the general reader who wishes to know something of the expansion of Greek ideas toward the East, but the specialist who needs general views of the whole into a corner of which his particular field fits. He treats Xenophon as the precursor of Hellenism, and brings the influences down to the part they perform in modern Christianity.
“There is little in the book (beyond novelty of presentation) which cannot be found elsewhere. It is less excusable that it treats too exclusively of problems of the author’s own raising, too little of those current at the present time.” W. S. Ferguson.
“Such occasional indistinctness does not, however, detract appreciably from the general luminousness of the picture, from the inspiriting nerve and freshness which we learnt long ago to associate with Dr. Mahaffy’s utterances and which show no signs of failing.” E. B.
“Dr. Mahaffy has made a mistake in attempting to deal in so small a compass with so vast a question as the spread of Hellenism.”
“They are readable and discursive, but they would not convey a very clear impression of the period which they profess to describe to any save finished scholars.”
Mahan, Alfred Thayer.Sea power in its relations to the war of 1812.2v.**$7. Little.
The authoritative and widely directed study of Captain Mahan on the influence of sea power upon history has resulted in a series of most important volumes. In turning his attention to this phase of the War of 1812, he has brought to light some entirely new material from government and private documents, has treated with special clearness the subject of the imprisonment of American seamen, and has given emphasis to the records of American privateers. The author traces the train of causes of the war from 1651, in order to make clear Great Britain’s course. The work is strongly bound and illustrated.
“No one who reads his latest work will hesitate to say that it is in all respects worthy to rank on the same level as its predecessors. The vein is as rich as ever, and it is worked with no abatement of skill and no diminution of profitable output. He is occasionally prolix, and the construction of his sentences is sometimes clumsy and involved.”
*“His discussion of the conditions which caused the war is the best we know of anywhere.”
*“But whatever its defects, ‘Sea power in its relations to the war of 1812’ must be rated, like its distinguished predecessors, a substantial contribution to the history of naval warfare and a suggestive exposition of the force of the doctrine of ‘preparedness.’”
Mahler, Arthur.Paintings of the Louvre; Italian and Spanish, in collaboration with Carlos Blacker and W: A. Slater.**$2. Doubleday.
“A handbook of the Italian and Spanish sections of the celebrated art gallery, and includes also a history of the art of Italy from the early workers in the Byzantine manner to the Renaissance, while the part devoted to the Spanish schools is given up mainly to Velasquez and Murillo. The illustrations show examples of the work of these artists as well as of Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Leonardo, Raphael and others.”—N. Y. Times.
“The illustrations are numerous, but too much reduced and too indistinctly printed to do more than remind one how inadequately they represent the originals.”
*“The criticism is of the old school, Vasari’s pleasing tales being repeated with an apparent obliviousness of the incredulity into which they have fallen through the researches of such moderns as Berensen, Fry, and others.”
“The book, as embodying the latest results of research, is to be relied on. The criticism is unoriginal and often extremely commonplace. It is well arranged, the English is smooth.”
“The only charge to be brought against his text is the overstudious avoidance of anything like emphasis. The final chapter on Spanish paintings shares the merits of the others—clearness, simplicity, intelligence.” L. L.
*“The historical, biographical, and technical constituents of this commentary are quite readable.”
*Maitland, John Alexander Fuller.Joseph Joachim.*$1. Lane.
This volume in the “Living masters of music” series “is only some sixty pages in length and is divided into five sections dealing with Joachim’s career, violin playing, teaching, influence, compositions, each of which is necessarily summarized in the briefest manner.... Having quickly disposed of the facts of his career, there is space found for interesting personal reflections upon the playing and influence of Joachim. His character, moral and artistic, which is one, is well summed up.”—Acad.
*“Is a good specimen of condensed biography.”
Maitland, J. A. Fuller, ed. SeeGrove, George.
Major, Charles.Yolanda, maid of Burgundy.*†$1.50. Macmillan.
“The time is when Edward IV. reigned in England, and Louis XI. sat upon the French throne. Then Charles of Burgundy, styled Charles the bad, was feared as the richest and most powerful prince in the country, and it was Mary, his beautiful and gentle daughter, who was the pawn that the wicked prince would have gladly sacrificed for his own ambitious aims.... It is a story bristling with intrigue and adventure, with meetings after dark, and love and scorn and villainy and fine ladies traveling unattended, and mystery galore, and always through it all runs the theme of love—the love of a brave man for a beautiful girl.”—N. Y. Times.
*“A readable story, though not a high literary achievement.”
*“Is a very good story of its kind.”
*“Charles Major once more shines through brilliant incapacity when he attempts ‘Yolande.’”
Malcolm, Napier.Five years in a Persian town.*$3. Dutton.
“This is an interesting description of Yezd, ‘in the very center of Central Persia,’ where the author was for some time engaged in missionary work, and enjoyed unusual opportunities of mixing with all sorts and conditions of people. The experience of such a stay as he says apologetically, is not a traveler’s experience, but what of that?... the sympathetic picture of Yezd scenery, life, and manners which he has drawn with minute and vivid accuracy is as memorable as it is rare.”—Ath.
“The real value of ‘Five years in a Persian town’ lies in the sympathetic study of native character and modes of thought. In this respect Mr. Malcolm will not easily be surpassed, combining, as he does, keen insight and a curious subtlety of imagination with an incisive style relieved by delightful touches of dry humor.”
“A keen, but quiet and unobtrusive, sense of the humorous aspects of things runs thru the author’s pictures of Yezdi life and enhances the attractiveness of the volume.”
“The book fulfils its purpose excellently, and makes a fair guess at some Persian characteristics.”
“Mr. Malcolm has given us a very interesting, amusing and instructive account of Persian life.”
*Mallock, William Hurrell.Reconstruction of religious belief.**$1.75. Harper.
“Mr. Mallock attempts to aid ‘the thoughtful man of to-day,’ either ‘in justifying his old belief by supplying it with new foundations, or in building up some new belief which may possibly take its place.’ Mr. Mallock demonstrates that, when science has said its last word, it inevitably leaves us in some region outside itself in which ‘an intellectual solution of the contradiction between scientific and religious principles must be found.’”—R. of Rs.
*“Science can never find a complete explanation of phenomena. The attempt to show that it can, and to dispense with philosophy, is the cardinal error of Mr. Mallock’s book; it finally leads him to pure scepticism, from which he jumps into blind credulity. Much of the book is of considerable value. The whole of the third part, in which the case for scientific agnosticism is criticised, is admirable, particularly the demonstration that chance has no real existence.”
*“It is a good book to be read at a single sitting, like a good novel. To say that it is interesting, well written, and appropriate to the times, is to offer it the merest justice; but to describe it as a complete success is perhaps going too far. Perhaps it would be more successful if it were less complete.” T. D. A. Cockerell.
*“The soundest part of Mr. Mallock will be found in the considerations which he develops in his earlier chapters rather than in the more pretentious ‘solution’ which he proclaims in his concluding book.”
*“Mr. Mallock offers nothing really new in his argument, but it derives a novel coloring from its relations to recent scientific views, and piquancy from his wit and humor. The book is brightly written and the thought is throughout interesting. The proof-reading leaves something to be desired.”
*“He is doing good service not only to the cause of religious apology, but to society, and above all, to truth, which has suffered long and much from the timidity of science to push its conclusions to logical issue.”
Mann, Henry.Adam Clarke. $1. Popular book co.
“A narrative of the experiences of a family of British emigrants to the United States in cotton mill, iron foundry, coal mine, and other fields of labor.” The author, whose work as a newspaper man has brought him in contact with the phases of life treated in this story, tells of the abuses at the immigrant office, and scores the protectionists, the settlement workers, the Pittsburg militia, and the Pennsylvania railroad. The many hardships suffered by all of their class are vividly detailed as the history of the Clarke family progresses.
“The ferocity of the painted picture is such that nobody is likely to take it as a literal transcription of conditions—but nobody who knows the city or human nature will doubt the existence of a substantial basis for some of the author’s fury. To be sure he is a partisan, and as is the way of partisans, his eye is single and fixed. Well-informed and well-balanced people may read it with profit. It might be less good for incipient anarchists.”
(Outline of plan).
“As a novel the work calls for no consideration, but it is deserving of attention as an obviously sincere attempt to present the grievances and sufferings of the poor in a manner that will quicken sympathy to action. Unfortunately, ... the writer, through ignoring the reverse side of the shield and through undoubted exaggeration, tends to repel rather than attract the thoughtful reader, and to inflame rather than broaden the thoughtless.”
Mann, Hugh.Bound and Free: two dramas.*50c. Badger, R: G.
An argument for sex-emancipation, for doing away with marriage, the family, the home as they exist to-day. The author calls the dramas which illustrate his point Bound, and Free, he makes the chief characters in each declare that they can love many men, or women, as the case may be, at the same time and in the same way, but can love but one supremely, their soulmate. Most conventional people will consider this book immoral.
*Mannix, Mary Ella.Children of Cupa. 45c. Benziger.
A pathetic story of the eviction of the Cupa Indians from their home in California on the Warner ranch, told in connection with the experiences of a family of campers who spent six weeks of the last summer the Indians remained on their ancestral lands at the Hot Springs on the old reservation, and learned to know the people and to sympathize with them, and to understand their life and the part the missions played in it.
Manzoni, Alessandro.Sacred hymns [Gl’ inni sacri] and the Napoleonic ode [Il cinque maggio] of Alexander Manzoni; tr. by Joel Foote Bingham.*$3. Oxford.
The translator has aimed “to give the exact sense of the author.” The Italian texts are also given in the appendix and there is a portrait of Manzoni, a biographical preface, as well as historical introductions and critical notes.
“Dr. Bingham’s translations are painstaking, and, if one knows the original, one can recognizethat he has given an equivalent for many of Manzoni’s thoughts; but the metrical charm and the poetry have evaporated. Whoever desires a complete outfit of notes and critical opinions on Manzoni’s hymns and ode will find them in this book.”
“We have nothing with this rendering.”
*Mar, Alice, il. Japanese child life, with new stories and verses by Alice Calhoun Haines.†$1.50. Stokes.
The strange faces, quaint costumes, odd games, amusements and occupations of the little Japanese children are prettily set forth in picture and verse. There are eight full-page illustrations in color.
*“The stories and little poems have grace, quaintness, and charm.”
Marble, Annie Russell.Books in their seasons.**30c. Crowell.
Uniform with the “What is worth while series,” this little volume pleads for not “the gentle reader,” but “the sane reader,” suggests some authors and books, and asks the reader in his own further choosing to follow nature’s moods and seasons, to read books fitting to the time, and in harmony with the outer world.
Marchmont, Arthur William.Courier of fortune.†$1.50. Stokes.
“The story is placed in a town known as Morvaix, ruled badly, viciously, by one Duke de Rochelle. Reports of the misrule reach the ears of the Duke de Bourbon, the suzerain lord, and he sends his son Gerard secretly to investigate the charges. This Gerard does, and a remarkable chain of circumstances so adjusts matters that the young man falls in love, and is loved in return by the very girl that de Rochelle means to make his own. Here is fire and tinder in plenty.”—Pub. Opin.
*Marden, Orison Swett.Choosing a career.**$1. Bobbs.
The founder and editor of “Success” has prepared a volume which will undoubtedly prove valuable to all those who need practical aid in selecting a life-work. In part one, he discusses the considerations which are related to the choice of a life-calling, such as parental influence, environment, health, money making, and the temperamental and mental qualities which different lines of work demand. Part second. Suggestions as to possible careers, contains sound advice and helpful suggestions by men and women whose choice has brought them success in their various callings. Twenty-eight different trades and professions are treated in as many chapters. The book is illustrated with the photographs of some of those who have chosen wisely.
*Marden, Orison Swett.Making of a man.†$1.25. Lothrop.
“The cheerful philosophy that Dr. Marden has preached in previous books he insists upon in this which consists of a series of talks especially intended for young men. Examples of the world’s heroes are cited, the world’s leaders of thought are liberally quoted, anecdotes are given; and thus, by precept, illustration, and in symposium of opinions, Dr. Marden reinforces his own teachings in regard to perseverance, ‘self-honor,’ courage, self control, money, success, ‘Moral daring,’ and kindred subjects.”—Outlook.
*“He preaches self-control, determination, rectitude, industry, thoroughness, courage—and who would gainsay him?”
*“Dr. Marden’s style is full of inspiration and suggestion.”
Margoliouth, David Samuel.Mohammed, the rise of Islam.**$1.35. Putnam.
This fortieth volume in the “Heroes of the nations” series, “gives first a survey of the conditions of Arabia and Arab life at the time when Mohammed first appeared.... The biography of the prophet consists largely in following the military, political, and religious campaigns with which he spread the religion of Islam, and which Mr. Margoliouth traces in detail.... His genius, according to this biographer, was equal to the emergencies, but not too great for them.” (N. Y. Times.)
“Apart from the dragoon-like treatment of the question of the prophet’s sincerity and of all phases of his religious development, and despite defects of verbosity and discursiveness, the book is of no uncertain value.”
*Marks, G. Croyden.Hydraulic power engineering.*$3.50. Van Nostrand.
In this second edition the author has enlarged the work for the purpose of including some examples of new developments connected with hydraulic pressing and lifting machinery, and introducing illustrations of typical valves and machines. The text has also been fully revised.
Marriott, Charles.Genevra. $1.50. Appleton.
This is more than a character study, it is also a soul study of a girl of twenty-nine whose young days have been spent quietly on a Cumberland farm. Hopelessly out of touch with the simple folk around her, she turns to poetry as an emotional outlet and has written a number of magazine poems and is publishing a book of verses when the story opens. The young artist, Leonard Morris, wakes all the slumbering fires of her nature, she is gloriously happy and her poems sing of it; when she finds that he fails to understand her, her publisher is the first to detect it in the new note of her work. It is a single hearted story of loyalty to love and to work. There are some good minor characters, her commonplace and ungenial family are drawn with pathetic humor.
“Her life-story is a tapestry of severe design and sombre hue.” W. M. Payne.
“It is not an exceptionally original theme, but it is not that it easily lends itself to dramatic situations, strong character contrasts, and the expression of vivid emotions—all valuable adjuncts in novel making—and the author of Genevra has used every one of them to good advantage, besides giving ample evidence of his being the possessor of the same subtle force and style that rendered his previous book notable.”
Marshall, Archibald.House of Merrilees.†$1.50. Turner.
A mystery surrounds the house of Merrilees. Its master dies suddenly, his body disappears and with it his fortune which he had converted into jewels. The mistress of Merrilees had died abroad some years before, and it was given out that their infant son died with her. A young cousin takes possession of both the estates and the mystery and discovers the real heir in the person of his best friend. There is also a love interest.
“Mr. Marshall has conceived a sufficiently ingenious plot for his novel of mystery; but he does not succeed in gripping the attention and holding it from the start to the gasp of satisfied excitement at the finish.”
“This is an excellent story of a mystery so well and so artistically concealed that the final disclosure gives rise to a feeling of pleasure, not only at the nature of the surprise, but also at its inevitableness.”
*“It all makes exciting reading.”
*“Is surprisingly good reading.”
“Mr. Marshall is quite entertaining, his imagination is lively, and possibly he may regard the novel as a huge joke.”
“The book will while away an unoccupied hour very pleasantly.”
Marshall, Beatrice.Queen’s knight errant.†$1.50. Dutton.
A romance of the days of Raleigh and the virgin queen. A little girl is washed ashore in Devon on the land of a recluse alchemist named Vidal. A neighboring esquire takes charge of the child and brings her up with his own sons. The romance of this waif who turns out to be Vidal’s sister, and one of these sons is woven about Raleigh’s love affair with Mrs. Throgmorton, their secret marriage, and the anger of the queen.
“Too high-flown in style to suit the present taste.”
*Marsland, Frank.Occupations in life; a fund of practical information and business advice for boys and young men. $1.50. C. E. Fitchett, 57 Warren st. N. Y.
The author who is a mercantile reporter with the Bradstreet company, draws easily upon his fund of professional experience in offering business counsel to young men. The advice emphasizes an early selection of life work, a careful use of spare hours for promoting interests along special lines of work, and a better understanding of conditions in the business world and the world of occupations.
Martin, Edward Sanford.Courtship of a careful man.†$1.25. Harper.
“A collection of short stories of New York life, having a peculiar quality of their own. Quite modern in effect, they have a background of good breeding distinctly American. The conversations among different members of the families represented are clever, and exhibit a complete and happy knowledge of the world.”—Outlook.
“In this latest book we find Mr. Martin in rather lighter vein than is his wont, but as always, excellent company.”
*“Clever and disappointing book.” Frances Duncan.
“Few writers of fiction can be reproached with too light a touch, but we should say that Mr. Martin is one of them.”
“The entire collection of stories is delightfully light, breezy, and easy and attractive reading.”
“Both the author’s style and his characters may be fitly described as alluring.”
Martin, Mrs. Elizabeth Gilbert.Homer Martin; a reminiscence.*$1.50. W: Macbeth, N. Y.
This beautiful memorial gives us but a slight glimpse into the life of the author’s artist husband, whose landscapes, into which he has put his best self, she feels are better able to interpret him than she. It is illustrated by half tone reproductions of Martin’s better known paintings.
“In the distinction of its perfect English, its reserve where there might have been enthusiasm, and its sincerity where there was room for flattery, it is a very model for biographers.”
“This little sketch was well worth doing. While very modestly done, Martin’s claims to greatness are fully presented.”
Martin, Helen Reimensnyder.Sabina, a story of the Amish. $1.25. Century.
Sabina, a pretty Amish maid with wistful eyes, is haunted by a face of strange ugliness which appears from time to time as a warning of impending disaster to herself or family. A young artist comes to her home as a summer boarder, and Sabina falls in love with him. Everything points towards tragedy, but the face and her infatuation for the artist are alike banished by a fever, and she returns to her people and her Amish lover. The real charm of the story lies in the Pennsylvania-German dialect and the local color.
“Although the characters of Sabina and Tillie are similar, although there is practically the same atmosphere and environment, the second book does not equal the first.”
Martin, Hiram, ed. SeeSmet, Father Pierre-Jean de.Life, letters and travels of.
Martindell, Mrs. Charlotte S.Diary of a bride.**$1. Crowell.
“If I must choose between dusting unread books and reading undusted ones, may the wise fates help me always to choose the latter. I hate dusty, grimy books and shall make a desperate effort both to read and dust.” So says this bride, and she is as good as her word to establish in her home making and her heart-keeping an admirable poise.
Martineau, James.Tides of the Spirit.*$1. Am. Unitar.
“Selections from the writings of James Martineau. The book is edited by the Rev. Alfred Lazenby, who contributes a sympathetic introduction—an essay on ‘the master who first opened mine eyes to the spiritual realities of life and taught me to see the divine within the human.’”—Dial.
Marvin, Frederic Rowland.Companionship of books, and other papers.**$1.50. Putnam.
The author has collected in this volume many papers upon as many subjects all of which show the touch of one who has lived a scholar’s life. The title essay calls the reader’s attention to the author’s chosen friends in the world of books, then follows an essay on autograph treasures, and one called Modern builders of air-castles, which treats of the Brook farm experiment. Papers upon matters historical, literary, and religious, follow. The varied subjects and the brevity of their treatment make the bookone which may be profitably picked up in odd leisure moments.
*“It is a frightful hodge podge of subjects, but one may find a number of things of more or less curious interest in the heterogeneous mass.”
*Mary the queen. 50c. Benziger.
A story of the virgin Mary for little people.
Maskell, Alfred.Ivories. $6.75. Putnam.
A notable addition to the “Connoisseur’s library.” The author traces his subject to every land in every period. He discusses the achievement of the earliest dynasties of Assyria and Egypt, shows the high place of the Byzantine work, devotes a chapter to Japanese and Chinese ivory sculpture, treats some of the technical phases of carving, and concludes with a chapter on the nineteenth century and present day products of the art. There are numerous beautiful illustrations in photogravure and half tone.
“The first compendious account in any language of the progress of ivory carving thru-out the world’s history. A high standard of excellence is set in this book; it cannot fail to take rank at once as the authoritative work upon the subject of which it treats.” Frederick W. Goodkin.
“The present volume will be found satisfactory and very comprehensive.”
“If he could have trusted our capacity and interest a little further he would have given us both less and more, and his book might perhaps have gained something in coherence, completeness, and proportion.”
“While our praise, therefore, cannot be very hearty, this still remains the largest book of the sort, with the most complete display of pictures.”
“In all his chapters, however, along with much technical information, Mr. Maskell enlightens the reader with keen and original observations on the significance of the various epochs.”
“One of the excellent features of this learned book is the manner in which the information has been presented. Clearness of thought and arrangement is to be found throughout.”
Mason, Alfred Edward Woodley.Truants.$1.50. Harper.
An exciting story of London life in which the truants are a young married couple living with the rich and domineering father of the husband. To escape this tyranny the young man leaves his wife and sets forth to carve a new fortune for her and for himself. He at last joins the Foreign legion in Africa and wins distinction, but is called home by the news that his foolish young wife has fallen into the clutches of an adventurer. The real interest lies in the character of Pamela Mardale and her lover who protect and assist the truants and thereby find their own happiness.
“There is a good deal of variety about this romance, but it is not a very organic piece of work. The best part of it is that devoted to the Foreign legion, of which the author seems to have made a special study. It is fairly new ground for the average reader.” W. M. Payne.
“He writes in a prosaic manner of the most romantic passions.”
“‘The truants’ is a departure from two established canons of art: that the heroine must be interesting, and the motif adequate. The author’s style has distinction, color and restraint; his product is fiction to be read, not fiction manufactured to be sold.”
“Sure to awaken the reader’s interest.”
Mason, Arthur James.Historic martyrs of the primitive church.*$3.20. Longmans.
The author “has aimed to present nothing which may not be relied upon as historically true.... He has endeavored, he writes, to present the stories of the acts of the martyrs during the first three centuries of Christianity in a plain and straightforward manner, with only such explanations and illustrations as the ordinary reader may require; he has omitted lengthy discussions, unnecessary dates, questions of genuineness, etc.”—N. Y. Times.
“The narratives are set forth in graphic form, and Dr. Mason has accomplished a most interesting task.”
“Mr. Mason writes of them with tender sympathy, devout veneration, and scholarly competence.”
“Has brought together in a sifted and trustworthy form the chief records of the passion of the primitive martyrs.”
“A most valuable contribution to the history of Christian life.”
Mason, Daniel Gregory.Beethoven and his forerunners.**$2. Macmillan.
Dr. Mason, who sent out his “From Grieg to Brahms” two years ago, has now rendered the musical world another distinct service. “It has been said of Dr. Daniel Gregory Mason that he often ‘expresses what one has felt, but never quite formulated.’” The book “opens with a chapter on ‘The periods of musical history,’ touches on ‘Palestrina and the music of mysticism’ and ‘The principles of pure music,’ followed by biographical and critical studies of Hadyn, Mozart, and Beethoven.” (Dial.)
“Displays that firm grasp of the subject which makes it interesting as well as valuable reading for the student. There is a chord of sincerity in all that Dr. Mason writes; and while he is never pedantic, his work shows remarkable insight into the origin and development of musical works.” Ingram A. Pyle.
“The book itself is altogether a better book—a more creditable piece of writing than its predecessor.”
“The author has a happy gift of turning a phrase so that it is easily remembered, and a still more valuable gift of a right judgment, which makes his phrases helpful and not misleading.”
“It is doubtful if this book of Mr. Mason’s will prove as valuable or find as wide acceptance as his earlier one. Mr. Mason ... gives much that is valuable in the contemporary discussion of music.” Richard Aldrich.
“One of the few writers of to-day who can see the philosophy of musical development in its relation to the general progress of the world, and can, moreover, write about this in an entertaining way. The touch is that of one who not only knows but feels his theme in its greatness.”
*Masson, Thomas Lansing (Tom Masson).Corner in women.**$1.60. Moffat.
“A collection of more or less humorous sketches furnished to periodicals, and especially to ‘Life,’ in recent times, and well supplied with short stories, fables, epigrams, squibs, jokes, and humorous verse, with a Gibson girl cover and many other pictures.”—Outlook.
*“All the ‘follies’ are clever, and there is plenty of variety in both subject and manner of treatment.”
*“Like all other books of its kind, this volume suffers from what might be called unstable humorous equilibrium, but it contains many really funny things.”
*Masterman, Charles Frederick Gurney.In peril of change: essays written in time of tranquility.*$1.50. Huebsch.
“Mr. Masterman ... attempts to describe the tendencies of English civilization, to estimate the nature of its dominant ideals, and to point out recent changes which have occurred in these, the nature of the foundation upon which they rest, and the likelihood of catastrophes in the future. That he is also filled with a passionate sense of the injustice of the system which both creates and evangelizes the slums, and with a hatred for the idols of the marketplace, is evident on every page and lends pathos to much of his writing.”—Ath.
*“A good deal of it is mere journalism. With the modern journalist’s eye for effect and instinct for phrasing, Mr. Masterman has also a good deal of his love of sweeping statements. It is just this lack of balance, this emotionalism, which we think injures the writer’s style. His rhetoric is too monotonous, and his pathos too recurrent, to be effective. In our opinion, then, the book is clever, interesting, and useful, but hardly great. At the same time we welcome its appearance.”
*“He has studied the life of the poor closely, and has pleaded their cause with passionate conviction. He has moreover all the gifts of a very persuasive writer, and his style, always easy and attractive, rises sometimes to heights of a real eloquence. Mr. Masterman’s defects are the defects of his qualities.”
*“Nobility of temper; catholicity of personal; literary, and religious, though hardly of political appreciation; and frequently a striking felicity of phrase are among the notes of Mr. Masterman’s essays.”