Books Of The Day.

difficult to account for the success of this gifted and versatile writer . Every class of story handled by L . T . Meade—and he handles many —is treated in such a manner as to lead the uninitiated to suppose that the writer has made that particular phase of fiction a special study . The volume before us is an excellent specimen of this author's work ; for it contains examples of his leading meritsthose merits which , in another field , reach their culmination in the

" Stories of the Gold Star Line " and " Stories from the Diary of a Doctor . " In " Daddy's Girl" we are shown , with power and pathos which few could rival , how great a part of the world ' s happiness may be made or marred by a mere child . Nor is there lack of dialogue or of dramatic interest ; indeed , much of the conversation is so clever and spirited that " Daddy's Girl" should prove equally entertaining to young and old . Messrs . Newnes may surely anticipate a large sale .

The Smail-part Lady and other stories . By George R . Sims "Dagonet" ( 3 s 6 d ) . —Chatto and Windus . THESE characteristic stories from the pen of " Dagonet" should sell—as Rudyard Kipling says of somebody else's yarns—like hot cakes . Dagonet ' s stories are racy and clever for many reasons , but chiefly because they are for the most part written at first hand . He lives much , if he reads little . These stories are in no way inferior to " Mary Jane's Memoirs , " so readers will get value for

money . After Worcester . The Story of a Royal Fugitive . By E . Everett-Green . With illustrations ( 5 s ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons . THE author of this volume may claim to speak with authority on English History , for she has written a small library of romances based upon the records of our nation . ' There is always a danger

that authors who linger too frequently " by the shores of old romance" wijl surround their story with a halo which it hardly deserves ; but the writer of " After Worcester" has studied the period which she has undertaken to depict both wisely and wellher work is a portrayal and not a caricature . The characters of

Charles II . and of the Great Protector have long formed bones , of contention for historians to wrangle over . As a history this book is reliable ; as a story it is ably written arid very entertaining . The illustrations , we think without exception , are exceedingly well drawn , and are a deserving feature in a gift-book upon which Messrs . Nelson have lavished every attention .

The House that grew . By Mrs . Molesworth . Illustrated by Alice B . Woodward ( 4 s 6 d ) . —Macmillan and ' Co ., Limited . MRS . MOLESWORTH needs no introduction to any reader in England . She has written clever stories ahjout all sorts and conditions of men , or children , and apparently it matters but little to the writer whether her characters are old or ydung , rich

or poor ; nor is the volume before us any exception in this respect . It is sufficiently realistic to command one ' s continuous attention ; indeed , one of Mrs . Molesworth ' s many gifts- ^ -the art of representing children as speaking naturally , yet with perfect propriety —is very conspicuous in many passages . The name of a writer often assures success , but we think " The House that grew" will sell on its own merits .

Sylvia's Romance . By Marion Andrews . Illustrated by W . H . C . Groome ( is ) . —Wells Gardner , Darton and Co . THIS little book is written in a somewhat uncommon vein , and will be all the more welcome in many quarters for that reason . It is an historical romance in miniature , and transports us back to the so-called " good old times ' when it took two days to go from London to Cambridge . The character of Sylvia is cleverly , if slightly , sketched , and the story is briskly narrated .

Tib and Sib . A Story for Children . By Stella Austin . Illustrated ( 2 s 6 d ) . —Wells Gardner , Darton and Co . THE hand that drew "Ben Cramer" has left its impress upon this story for children . Tib and Sib are typical of many couples of tender age . Tib is a young lady with an inquisitive turn of mind , which we have met with in others ; and Sib can hardly be

regarded as an original . There is invention of no mean order and frequent felicity of expression in this story ; but we doubt : if it can compete with Miss Austin ' s " Ben Cramer " in the estimation of most readers . It is , however , well printed and bound , and will no doubt form a sufficiently welcome gift in many a homestead presently .

The Tale of the Little Twin Dragons . By S . Rosamond Praeger ( 6 s ) . —Macmillan and Co ., Limited . AN artistic " tour cte force . " Old Homer , who wrote the "battle of frogs and mice" would certainly smile approval upon this handsome book . It is a veritable prose-epic for the nursery ,

and the large number of illustrations greatly enhances its value ; for a child ' s interest in a volume is usually in direct ratio to the number of its pictures . No doubt the hair-breadth escapes of the infant , so vividly narrated , and the wonderful doings of the two dragons , will occasion much wonder in many households . Buy it now .

Somebody . B y Stella Austin . Illustrated ( is ) . —Wells Gardner , Darton and Co . READERS already acquainted with this brisk little story will not be surprised to see a further edition . Stella Austin knows , as comparatively few do , how to cater for the young folks'

bookshelves . A large increase in the output of such stories would be beneficial just now . Is it too much to hope' that , if distributed gratis by some charitabl y . disposed grandee , they would militate successfully against the penny-dreadful upon which the juvenile Hooligan is sometimes nurtured ?

Books Of The Day.

The April Baby ' s Book of Tunes , with the story of how they came to be written . By the author of " Elizabeth and her German garden . " Illustrated by Kate Greenaway ( 6 s ) . — Macmillan and Co ., Limited . WE were in a strait betwixt two just now ; for we found it difficult to decide whether the chief merit for this charming book lay

with the author or the illustrator . Some of the pictures are printed with a depth and variety of colour suggestive rather of a church window than of a toy-book ; it is almost a matter for sorrow to reflect how many copies of so charming a volume will be destroyed very soon after being handed over to the tender mercies of the

owners . Our advice to parents will hardly be appreciated by the youngsters ; but we feel it laid upon our conscience to advise that such a book as this , after a formal inspection , should be laid by carefully until the lucky recipient is old enough to appreciate it at its true value . The music , too , is so well printed as to deserve careful cherishing .

The Story of Johnny Bertram . By D . B . McKean . Illustrated by W . H . C . Groome ( is ) . —Wells Gardner , Darton and Co . THERE is so much excellent entertainment in this book of adventures that we would urge those who want a story for their

boys to buy it at once . ' Mr . Clark Russell could hardly have handled the story more attractively . We have all heard of late what happens to such as refuse to buy the books they shouldthey sink into an untimely and dishonoured grave . Parents must remember our warning , and produce their shilling .

MESSRS . J . M . DENT AND CO . are advertising an ideal Christmas present . This consists of one or more sets of the Temple Classics , amongst which we notice " Plutarch ' s Lives" in ten volumes , " Florio ' s Montaigne , " in six volumes , and " Carlyle ' s French Revolution , " in three volumes .

MESSRS . MACMILLAN have issued a fine volume dealing with " Byzantine Art in Greece . " The writers are Messrs . Weir Schutz and S . H . Barnsley , and the work comprises their researches in regard to the Monastery of St . Luke of Stiris , and the monastery of St . Nicolas-in-the-Fields , near Skripou , in Bcestia . The same publishers promise an anthropological work entitled " Libyan Notes " and a re-issue of Mr . Andrew Lang ' s now famous Border edition of the Waverley Novels .

" THE TWENTIETH CENTURY , " a new monthly review , will shortly appear from the house of Mr . Francis Griffith , 435 Strand . It will be liberal in politics . The price will be 2 s 6 d net . MESSRS . METHUEN have issued a new edition of Stevenson ' s Letters , in two volumes , at 6 s each .

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