Life — May 27, 1897 — page 20: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

448 * LIFE raden always see things in a low, gray key? Her ‘*Ships that Pass in the Night” was about a famous European health resort, and everything happened criss-cross in that story also. California may pull out of this all right. At any rate, the author went back home ‘improved in health,” and we are likely to have more sanatorium novels from her skillful but gloomy pen. * « ° S IMER resorts in the north of Scotland aren't any improvement on ours in their crop of happiness, if one may judge by Mrs. Flora Annie Steel's ‘In the Tideway” (Macmillan). They are very nice people in the story, with titles and valets and maids and yachts and things. But that does not save them, The leading man is a hopeless inebriate, notwith- standing that he has been partiy cured by an American expert. His wife wants to run off with her cousin, and in the end is drowned by one of those treacherous tides and quicksands that abound in Scotch summer resort novels. Indced, to judge from current fiction, man who is happy and contented venture on a vacation at all. it is a very perilous thing for any at home with his wife and family to Trouble begins as soon as one ventures to enjoy oneself ina summer outing. If there isn't a villain to rob you of your wife or sweetheart, there is sure to be some freak of nature, storm at sea, loose and erratic boulder, irresponsible lightning, carefully concealed precipice, shifting sands, high tide or deceitful horse to step into the story in the guise of a black fate to play ducks and drakes with your prospects of happines Live's advice to those contemplating a peaceful vacation is, therefore, bcoks! You won't get much ation, but youemay keep your sweetheart or your wife, not to mention your own life. Stay at home and read harmless but exciting health or recr ° . * HERE are m. and sure ho books this season that will help to make these safe © vacations endurable. There is Richard Harding (Scribner), the best story he ever wrote; James Lane Allen's ‘* The Choir Invisible” (Macmillan), a poetic and charming tale of Kentucky; Gilbert Parker's ‘*The Pomp of the Lavil- ettes" (Lamson, Wolffe & Co.),a story of St. Lawrence village life; ‘In Joyful Russia" (Appleton), a fascinating book of travel by John A. Logan, Jr., and a host of others, for which see Lirre’s Vest-Pockret Guipe To Summer Reapine, Droch. Davis's ‘* Soldiers of Fortune" ROMANCE, REALISM AND DECAY. H E is a wise reader who reads his book and then pro- nounces his opinion on it without reference to the author; he who accepts a book upon the reputation of an author in this age is apt to grow bilious and pessimistic, and suffer vexation of spirit. used to be praised for their geniv ality ; they are catalogued nowadays by their tenden- cies, schools and cults. In good season and until the arrival of Azrael of the Stuffed Club—the Fool Killer—they will achieve fame by their warts, their measles and their lung troubl This is an age of puffery and shoddy, when weeds flourish and tares blossom, when even good men “ Have drown’d their glory in a shallow cup And sold their reputation for a song,” if we may r e and dislocate the wise and bibulous Omar. The sanest “tendency” of the day is back to the 4) story of deeds of courage. daring, strength, honor, to the primitive and simple virtues of man, to the age Authors ill and origin- The Macmillan Zompany’s Ew BOOKS When you pack your vacation bags remember Shakespeare's advice... . ** Take you the lute, and y you « the set of books,” Take to the Country A ROSE OF YESTERDAY By Author of Taquisara F, MARION Casa Braccio CRAWFORD Fe EEE sca Series, ete Cloth 12mo, Price $1.50 Take to the Sea Shore IN THE TIDEWAY By Author of FLORA On the Face of the Waters Miss Stewart’s Legacy ANNIE Red Rowan, etc. STEEL Cork 16mo. Price $1.25 piece of evenly brilliant writing."— The Tribune New York, ON Pies FACE OF THE WATERS enth Edition in Press th 12mo, Price $1.50 isive language, that holds the attention ew York Su Take to the Mountains THE CHOIR INVISIBLE By Author of A Kentucky Cardinal JAMES Summer in Arcady LANE Flute and Violin ALLEN york 12mo. Price $1.50 Take on Board the Yacht ON MANY SEAS ‘The Life and Exploits of a Yankee Sailor By FREDERICK BENTON WILLIAMS ited by WILLIAM BOOTH Third Edition, Cloth i2zmo. Price $1.50 THE PORT OF MISSING SHIPS And Other Stories of the Sea By JOHN R. SPEARS Second Edition, Clothi2mo, Price $1.25 “There is about these stories a cheery, healthy at- mosphere of the open sea that is infinitely refreshing,” —The Sun, New York. Take into the Woods TIZEN. BIRD Bird Life for Beginners By MABEL OSGOOD WRIGHT Author of ** Birdcraft,” etc., Dr. ELLIOT COUES Author of “ Birds of North America," etc. A guide, in a narrative form, to the principal species of North American birds, with a field bey to same, and drawings from nature specially prepared for this book. TRAVELS IN WEST AFRICA Congo Frangais, Corisco and the Cameroons By MARY H. KINGSLEY New and cheaper edition, Cloth 8vo. Price $4.00 aS eas for many a day has there appeared so fascinat- \d_altogether remarkable a book of travels as this.” "— The Chicago Tribune. THE MACMILLAN COMPANY, and 66 FIFTH AVE., NEW YORK.