We will send you the above board express prepaid for $4.00. Game Boards * We have the largest assortment in the state. If you are not coming to Omaha , write us for circulars. ATIONERY ( OMAHA NEBRASKA. A GRAIN 1CENT For STEPHEN'S Prolific Drouth Withstanding Corn , Mammoth crop good years ; big crop dry years. Yielded 50 bushels to the acre on high ground with three culti- " vatlons this year , and adjoining corn , with five cultivatlons.yielded ten bush els. els.Send Send 25 cents for 25 grains enough for a start and examination. Stephen's Prolific Corn Co , S743 Euclid' Ave. , - Kansas City , Mo. Please mention this paper. MONEY ! MONEY ! e can , p t y ° i t to the best money-getter of them all. The one real chance of a lifetime ; nothing to sell except the plan , which will be sent free , if you send 25c for a year's subscription to the "Eclipse. " The Eclipse Magazine , Elberon , la. Agents ! Free Samples , Favorite Cake Spoon The holes' permit the batter to pass through , making stirring easier , mix ing more complete , and cake lighter a good draining spoon. Sample spoon and catalogue of 40 useful and quick selling articles mailed upon receipt of 10 cents in stamps to cover postage and packing. Address U. S. Novelty & Specialty Co.U. S. Not'l Bank Bldg. , Omaha , Neb. Please mention this paper. PILES Absolutely CURED FREE Cured Never To Return. A boon to sufferers. Acts like magic. In reach of everybody. A home treat ment that can be handled to perfec tion in the most humble home. Why suffer so long when you can find out how to be cured at home by address ing Loudon Pile Cure Co.Cordova , 12th & Penn , Kansas City .Mo. Please mention this paper. DR. McQREW. SPECIALIST Treats all forms of Diseases and Disorders of Men Only. 26 years cxpcrince 115 years in Omaha Charges low.- Cures guaranteed cases cured of nervous OVER _ . "i 20,000 . debility , loss of vitality und ulfunnatural weaknesses of men. Kidney ana Blader Disc-use and all Blood Diseases cured for life. VAHICOCELKcured in less than 10 days. Treatment by mail. P. O. Box 766. Office over Sib South 14th St. , between Farua.ni and Douglas Ste. , OMAHA , NEB. When writing , mention this paper. FOR MEN ONLY. CTree Book * We will send our elegant 80 * T page book to any ode who is afflicted and in need on request of informa tion. Our book is the finest book of the kind ever published and is of great value to any one whether in need of medical treatment or not. We send the book in plain envelope sealed. Write for it today by postal card or letter Address DRS. FELLOWS & FELLOWS , 321 W. Walnut St. , Des Moines , la. Please mention this paper. THE IMPROVED KIMBALL BROS. CO. , Mfgs. 1051.9th St. - - - Council Bluffs , la. Omaha Office , - - - 1010 llth St. When writing , mention this paper. It is fitting that Senator Cullom should introduce in congress the bill for a Lincoln memorial at the capital , for he comes from Lincoln's state.thelr lives have had much in common , and the senator has long been known as the man "who looks like Lincoln. " New York World : A Newburg , N. J. , church now furnishes pipes and tobac co after its prayer meetings. Quite a change from the times of the rigid theology which devoted itself solely to warnings against a smoking hereafter. Addition is too much for the lazy schoolboy , because there's usually something to carry. It is said that the Negus of Abys sinia is running Kaiser Wilhelm close In the variety of his accomplishments. Menelik has personally designed the plans for the new royal palace at Ad- Ndis Ababa. When the first sewing machine arrived in Abyssinia out of order Menelik looked it over , found out what the matter was , and repaired it. The Amalgamated Association of Iron and Steel Workers spent , in round numbers , | 95,000 during the great steel strike. - . . _ - _ PlSO'S CURE TOR CONSUMPTION FACTS FROM EVERYWHERE. The fortune teller can't read all the florist's palms. The reading public should be able to read the signs of the times. Perhaps a ship is called "she" be cause it so aften gets into a squall. The best refrain from some popular sons is to refrain from singing them. Before you get through with a cheap trip to Europe , you may be sick of your bargain. You'll find that lawyer's brief is any- thing but that if you measure it by red tape. The NewZealand government is rais ing the wages of its railway employes to the extent of $100,000. The side slits in the pen are gen erally made by a hand-lever machine , which slits the steel at the proper place , and thus insures greater flexi bility in the pens. An Indelible ink very commonly used in the Middle Ages was made with a basis of terchloride * of gold applied to a cloth dampened with a solution of chloride of tin. As early as 1534 an English conven tion decreed that the higher clergy' during the solemn ceremonials of the church should wear silken , gowns. The establishment in Rome of an American library has been ordered by royal decree. It will contain all pub lications relating to the new world since its discovery. The ocean used to be considered as about as deep at its deepest as the highest mountains are high. It has now been proved to be half as deep again that is , 46,236 feet. F .A. Sampson of Sedalia , Mo. , has given to the Missouri Historical soci ety his library of 7,000 titles bearing on Missouri history , which he has been collecting for thirty-three years. The Italian authorities have ordered the confiscation of Francia's painting , "The Madonna , " which was sold to an American for 300,000' francs. The sellers of the picture were not fined. Because two-thirds of Germany's 120 , 000 music teachers are alleged to be incompetent , the coming reicbstag will be asked to pass a law compelling the teachers to undergo a state examina tion. tion.The The steel vessels built on the great lakes are assured a year of great ac tivity. The contracts for 1902 asrgr"- gate a carrying capacity of 3,000,000 tons. This will be "an addition of 10. per cent to present lake tonnage. The cable steamer Faraday has fin ished laying a cable between the Azore islands and Ireland for the Commercial Cable company , completing the fourth line of cable of that company between the United States and England. It is said that in prehistorictimes the Incas of Peru built roads that ex tended from the tropically heated val leys up the mountains to the regions of perpetual frost , using the natural asphalt rock , and these roads are in good condition today. There is more Catarrh in this section of the countrv than all other diseases put toeether. and until the last few years was supposed to be incurable. For a great many years doctors pro nounced it a local disease , and pre scribed local remedies.and by constant ly failing to cure with local treatment , pronounced it incurable. Science has proven catarrh to be a constitutional disease , and therefore requires consti tutional treatment. Hall's Catarrh Cure , manufactured by F. J. Cheney & Co. , Toledo , O. , is the 'only constitu tional cure on the market. It is taken internally in dises of from 10 drops to a teaspoonful. It acts directly on the blood and mucous surfaces of the system. They offer one hundred dol lars for any case it fails to cure. Send for circulars and testimonials. Address , F. J. CHENEY CO. , Toledo , O. Sold by Druggists , 75c. Hall's Familv Pills are the best. The "heavy swell" viewed from an intellectual standpoint , is decidedly a lightweight. Hamlin's Wizard Oil will cure a larg er number of painful ailments than anything which you can find. "There's a good time coming , " but let's try and have a good time while we're waiting for it. A bottle of Hamlin's Wizard Oil is a Medicine Chest in itself ; it cures pain in every form. 50c at druggists. NEBRASKA FARMING PAYS. To the farmer and stock raiser Ne braska affords unlimited opportunities. Statistics prove that in the more set tled sections diversified farming is a success and consequently farm land values are high , but there are vast areas of good land in the northern , central and western portions of the state that can be purchased at rea sonable prices. You are looking for a home. We have reliable rea lestate men on our list who will gladly place their best propositions before you if we send your name. We sell homeseekers' ticket and agents of connecting lines sell for us. Perhaps you want grazing lands. We have the same facilities for plac ing the best before you. Write pamphlets , map folders and further information. J. R. Buchanan , General Passenger Agent F. , E. & M. V. R. R. , Omaha , Neb. J. H. Gable. Traveling Passenger Agent , F. , E. & M V. R. R. , Denison , la. Rev. Dr. J. S. B. Hodges , widely known as a composer of sacred music , including a published volume of sixty hymn tunes , celebrated , on Sunday , in Baltimore , the thirty-first anniversary ] of his installation as rector of old St. ; j Paul's Protestant Episcopal church. When the church is not overcoming ' j the world the world is overcoming the < church. 1 Hygiene is not holiness , , but holiness will include OUT OFTHE BY S. N ; HOOVER. CHAPTER I. We were prisoners of war at a place called Quimper , on the coast of Brit- ! tany , in France , and in the prison we 1 had encountered a fellow countryman i one Captain Caryl who In truth | I ought to have been at home enjoying the title that truly belonged to him,1of Earl fo Mountbrendon , but a villain ous cousin of his now held it In his j place , giving out that this Francis I Caryl was dead , and so prankt it [ finely in borrowed , nay stolen , feath ers. j We were sitting together one morn ing , David , my lord ( as we called him ) , andI , captives all , In 'which condition we had been a long twelve months , and sunning ourselves against the wall In the courtyard , when up conies 'a young man , a fellow prisoner , , one ( Thomas Dart , by name , with a basket to show us that he had woven out of straw taken from his bed. He came from Dunstable , and had learnt straw-plaiting in his hoyhood. He , too , had been on board the Ama zon , and , like us , thrown into prison. He was a good land , kind-hearted anu ' generous , and when we saw hini lounging across the courtyard we wel | I corned him and made room for him 01 our bench , and , after we had admiret * I his handiwork and fixed the numbei of sous which we thought he should ask for it , we begged him to read to us I out of his book , for Tom Dart was the happy"possessor of a book which by good fortune he had brought ashore In his pocket , and which he loved for Its own sake as well as for the mother who gave it him. It was the "Pilgrim's Progress , " which I have always coifnted one of the finest works of man's genius , tho' now it be no overmuch in fashion. He took out his book and began to read , for he was * always ready to do that , though he loved not much to lend his treasure out of his hand. He read for a' while , and then , though with his eyes on the book , as if he still read , he spoke thus : "Friends all ! I came' across not so much to shew my work or read to you , but to speak of somewhat else. Now , do not start or look us as if I was saying something strange which might cause remark , but I think I see a way of escape , and I want to know if you will join me. Next Tuesday is , as , perhaps , you have forgotten , Shrove Tuesday. Well , fast or feast , there will be high jinks here. Even the captain andhis , family will be absent , Marie saithl and we all know that when the cat's away the mice will play. " "But whither shall we fly ? " said my lord. "We have no wings to fly home. " "From my window , " replied Tom' , "which is at the south wing of this old place , I can see a bit of the shore of the river or estuary that cometh up to the town. " "Is it large enough to get through the window , I mean ? " asked Tom. "I think I could squeeze out , if I can but see clear enough. " "I guess mine is next behind yours , " said Tom thoughtfully , "perchance I could work on Marie's compassion to grant me the key so as to aid you. And you , comrades , are not you and David together ? " "It is so , " I replied , "and we are "at the back on the farther side. And be low are the roofs of some outhouses on which I doubt not we can climb. But what lies between us and this shore , for of that we have no view ? " "Waste an open pasture , and heath and sand , " said Tom , ' . 'with a group of ragged poplars near the only trees within any distance. Those must be our rendezvous , and now , 'Hurrah for Shrove Tuesday ! ' " At last the day came , and , to our contentment , we were sent to our night quarters earlier than 'usual and so locked and bolted up , which made us the more sure that our conjectures were true , and that our gaolers meant to go off and enjoy themselves. Once sent to our room , David and I began operations. Fortunately , we were alone , for few prisoners remained here , and no one had been sent to oc cupy the places of those who had been drafted on to Brest. We stowed our pockets with such few objects as we wished to carry away with us. They were not many , for our belongings were few indeed. "Now , for the window , " said David , "but I wonder how goes the time. " The words were scarce past his lips when we heard a distant clock begin to strike , and we stood silent to listen and count the strokes one two three four five six seven ! "That is well , " he said , "we shall not have too much time to reach our ren dezvous. " For we had settled to try to meet at 8 o'clock , guessing that from that time to 10 or 11 the fun would be fastest in the town. So to our window we went. It was a casement and had been roughly nailed together , so that it would scarce open , but long ago we had loosened the nec essary nails so as to let in air , though we always replaced them of a morning lest their condition should be noticed , and the fastenings more securely dealt with. Now these rusty nails were with drawn , for even in the dark we were acquainted with their position , and a rush of damp , mist-laden air poured into the room. Some ten or twelve feet below us was the roof of an outhouse , a light from a lower window caught the edge of one or two of the ridge tiles and defined the position. Beyond it was nothing-but a lake of dark uncertainty.not blackness deep or definite , but gray spread of shadow into which the eye plunged and found nothing. Meanwhile David had been busy with our blankets , for we had been given one each to roll ourselves in during the winter-months. " "Now , George , " he saidi " 'tis your turn first. Let yourself down on the roof and creep along to the gable end , and there wait for me. " In a minute I wag swinging clear of the window , letting myself down hand over hand by our impromptu rope , till at last I felt the tiles under my bare feet. Then I threw loose the rope , and crept away , as noiseless as > a cat , over the ridge. Now he fixed it again to the little chimney , of the outhouse , and , indeed , it was useful enough , for the wall was twelve or fifteen feet high , and it would have , been an awkward drop , not knowing what we were to land on at the , bottom. 1 What we did Jand on was wet grass and a fine growth of young nettles , .vhich stung our feet heartily enough. We searched about , hoping to find jur friends awaiting us ; but no , we vere the first , so we lay down on the round at a spot from whence we ould dimly see our late prison , a dark nass against the grayness of the sky. "They should be here by now , " I whispered , and then , even as I spoke , I saw two dark figures hand-in-hand coming quickly toward us. "Well met , " said .Tom , as after a moment of hesitation he recognized me. "But now for the shore. " So off we set , guiding our feet more by the sound of the flowing water than by sight , till we could at length distinguish two or three boats drawn up on the shore. It was more by feeling than by sight that we chose one of these , light snough for use to lift easily to the shore and set afloat. We made sure of oars , and a spur to be rigged as a mast , and a coil of cordage , while Tom grot a keg and filled it with water at a little stream which we heard gurg ling and trickling near us. It was lighter now by reason that the moon was rising and showing a little thro' a rift in the hurrying clouds. At last all was ready and we four Sot into the boat , and , with hearts beating fast , pushed out into the dark flowing river. So slowly and cautiously we rowed with muffled oars down the dark itream of water , passing one or two small vessels coming up with the tide , but which , save for a greeting shout , which we answered in Breton fashion , we encountered no hindrance , save the frothing and tossing at the barwhere the waves broke in irregular and tu- multous fashion. Then the cold breath ing of the sea met us , and the hollow dark of vastness and the moaning of the surge , but our hearts were lifted up with a solemn joy , for we were be yond the land of our captivity and free , floating on that open sea , which by long inheritance an Englishman feels his special sphere and country. CHAPTER II. How long we floated hither and thither in that boat , I doubt if any o. us exactly remember. It must have * been days , and during all that time , till that last evening , we never saw sail or mast. True , the weather was misty and thick and our boat low on the water , so perchance many vessels may have passed us unseen , or in the dark ness of night , but otherwise that sea might have been as one forsaken and never plowed by ship's keel. But at last a morning broke when we looked blankly into one another's faces , and asked , more by our eyes than by speech , "What are we to do ? " For nearly all the water in the keg was gone , and our crusts had been consumed a full twenty-four hours. All that day we sailed , tacking to the north , and never a sail we saw but out own tawny rag of blanket. To ward evening tb e breeze fell , and a great calm succeeded , so that the wa ter lay spread out in shining sweep = of silver , and our little crart rocked on the under swell , scarce making any progress. But as we lay thus , rocking gently in the triiddle of that shining circle 01 white and blue , David Bossum stood suddenly up , and with a sort of inco herent cry , pointed eastward , and fol lowing with our eyes the direction of his pointing finger , we , springing to our feet , saw something something that was neither sea , nor sky , nor wandering sea bird smoething that had * glided-into that charmed and soli tary circle. "A sail ! A sail ! " I do not know who said the words first , but it was true. She was coming slowly toward us. That was our best hope , for the dark- ness of night was so night , that unless we attracted her attention very speed ily , our chance was small indeed. It night fell before they saw us , they would be far away and we left "alone again on that desolate and deserted ocean to perish of thirst. The thought .of this put fevered strength into our rowing , weak and exhausted as we were , and every now and again David sent forth a long , eerie , far-traveling cry , wailing across the shining stretch of water.l It was heard , oh God be thanked , or else they saw our signal , and by the shifting of the sails we recognized that they saw us , that they meant to wait for us. We redoubled our efforts , but still wewere too weak to make the-progress we should have done , and presently we guessed they were lower ing a boat , which presently neared us. "Who are you ? " shouted a voice In French. "Are you shipwrecked ? " "We are starving , " I replied in tho same language. "We have been drift- ing about for days and have no ; food left , and we don't know where we are. Will you take us on board ? " For answer came the whistle of s. coll of rope. "Fasten it on and we will help you , " they shouted again. "There is no time to be lost. " We did as we were bid , and soon they towed us alongside the vessel. Tom whispered in my .ear. "What sorry luck a Frenchman ! " Yes , a Frenchman , but no privateer or war frigate as it might have been , only a peacable merchant vessel bound for the West Indies , and having quitted her convoy only a few hours before we caught sight of her. Once on deck the skipper , a dark little man. Octave Semoulin by name , looked us all over , and then glanced at our boat. "Sapristi , " he said , speaking French with a strong accent , for he came from Havre. "You are you shipwrecked. " Then as we did not answer for a mo ment , not knowing exactly what to say he glanced again at the boat and went on : "You are not French. You are Eng lish , but the boat is French. Hein how is it ? " It was no use trying to disguise the truth , so my lord , who spoke French like a native , told his briefly our story , and then we stood helpless and silent , wondering what he would do ; hang us or feed us. For the time I believe he hardly knew how to act , but the man had a kind and generous heart , and our for lorn and suffering looks appealed to his pitiful nature. Eh ! bien , " he said at last , "I ought to send you back , but It is impossible. Regardez , we are short of men will you work , and when we reach our port you shall go free. You are sail ors , I presume ? " * Now , on board that vessel , L'Etoilt tie 1'Oeust , we were kindlytreated in ( deed , and soon grew friends with the crew , , among whom were as many Swedes and Hollanders as French. Captain Semoulin entertained my lord in his cabin , and we messed with the crew. I have noticed , among many other curious things connected with this strange nature odours , that tho' in the abstract , , men of differing na tionalities think they hate each other , yet if they are thrown into , contact on peaceful terms so that they grow _ acquainted with each other's disposi- tions , that fancied hatred ) melts all away and they become the best of friends , with but a little laugh now and then at the difference of Ideas. ( To be continued. ) FRILLS OF FASHION , - . - i Chinchilla has been employed this fall as a trimming for white cloth cosi tumes. ' For dress garnitures squares of pas- sementerie are taking the place so long occupied by medallions. Ermine sets for children are very fashionable and look particularly well with the black velvet coats , which so many little folks are wearing. In the jewelry line , the most beau tiful corsage ornaments are in floral design. An exquisite example is a rose spray , with leaves of diamonds set in platinum j , and centers of pink coral. For the dining room art serge or linen j plush make exceedingly effect ive , curtains. The material is hung straight from the pole without any at- .empt at draping or tying back and is -dged with ball fringe of the same color. A handsome belt that is costly enough to keep it entirely out of reach oy the bargain hunter is made of black jilk elastic , studded with small steel oeads and fastened with a buckle , showing an iridescent background and .penwork design of finest steel beads. A simple and inexpensive way of aiaking a work or card basket is to cake an old straw sailor hat and line .t with pongee silk. Form handles of ribbon t , wire covered with silk and put a silk frill around the brim. Trim with jace and ribbon , and if intended for a \voik basket ad da tiny pincusnion and pocktt. , Chatelaine bags worth $1,000 each ! .low many of them have you ever seen . .doming the persons of local shoppers ? i'et many ot the gold chatelaines of that value are made and are worn in New York ; $200 to $400 chatelaines ot > rery common. One style of coin purst. nas proved popular this season. It is a oimple affair , no jeweling , the mount ing being of inconspicuous , fine hand- : hased work , and the purse proper of the familiar meshed chain. It is just right for small change ( car fare ) a.nd the front door key. It is of gold and inexpensive only $90. A retired schoolmarn of San Fran- Cisco lives in a sort of Swiss chaiec made of old street cars arranged ac- cording to a plan of her own. She had saved enough money to buy a pretty cottage in the suburbs , and was about to move in when she happened to see eight old street cars , which were about to be broken up for firewood. She bought the lot and in a day or two had workmen engaged in hauling them to the rear of her lot. There they were arranged according to a plan she had adopted and in a few weeks the school marm was living In a very pleasant home. Hardwood floors were laid over the street car planking , and the inside of each conveyance has been deco rated simply but tastefully , the whole forming a novel and most attractive residence. The owner contemplates the purchase of. one or two more cars , as her quarters are not-yet sufficiently commodious. The home which she had purchased is meanwhile rented and her own will be more elaborate when the exchequer will permit of the necessary outlay. - - - - - . Books and Magazines. j "Maude Adams , " publlshekl toy F. A. Stokes of New York , Is a sketch of ' the career of that dainty actress from the pen of Acton Davles. Beginning I with her first appearance on the stage at nine months old in the farce , i "The Lost Child , " at which time she was presented to the public on an old- j I fashioned china meat platter , Mr. Da- I vies delineates her stage life to the present time. The book Is well illus trated with pictures as she appeared in the diqerent * plays. "Rescued by a Prince , " by Clement Eldridge , perhaps better known by his nom de plume of "Captain Nautilus , " Is a sea story for boys In which the crew and passengers of a ship owe- i their rescue to the alleged son of Na poleon III by an American wife whom he recently married in New York. A book which will be of Interest es pecially in Nebraska is a volume of verse , handsomely ilustrated , which has been issued from the Blakely press , and is published by Joy Jlorton , 808 Great Northern building , Chicago. It is by a Nebraska poet , Mary French Morton , and is a collection of verso under the name of "Leaves from Ar bor Lodge. " Saying that it will be interesting especially to Nebraskans does not imply that It will not meet with favor elsewhere. The author has written with such a true insight into nature and with such an ability to describe the scenes which surrounded her , that these poems will doubtless re ceive a deserved welcome from a larg er audience than that bounded by the antelope state. There are pictures of Nebraska scenery all through the book from "The Ghost Dance , " where VThe chill November winds make moan And fair Nebraska's prairies lie A trusting place where spirits cry , " to a ride in the old street cars of Ne braska City. A very poetic and deli cate thought Is expressed in "The Backlogs of Summer. " "All the carols of the summer . Murmur from the forest's sheen Where the backlog learned , its singing Swaying with the boughs of green. There It heard the songs of heaven. Heard the southwind whisper low * Midst the scenesthat seem to linger Sunflecked in the embers' glow. " There is true poetry In every lineof the book , which Is so handsomely got ten up that it will prove a very excel lent present for the Christmas season. It contains forty-eight poems with ten beautiful photogravures of Nebraska scenes. "The Sign of the Prophet , " by James Ball Naylor , published by the Saal- field Publishing Co. , New York , is one of the most interesting stories we have received this season , and one which cannot help but please our readers. It Is a romance of the contest be tween General Harrison and Tecumseh. The period Is in 1811. Ross Douglas , who has been In part brought up by IJ the Wyandots , is about to join the j. Americans and has for companion the Indian 1 , Bright Wing. The white man is followed to the war by his blood hound , . Duke , and the dog plays a conspicuous , part in the action of the story. Douglas is in love with Amy Larkln and the young lady's father Is opposed to the marriage. It js not known whom Douglas' father , was. There are traitors and Douglas ] is captured. In the Indian camp he finds a beautiful girl , the re puted 1 daughter of the Prophet Ten- skwawata. Curiously enough , the girl is * white. She Is called La VIollette , and isso , , engaging that Ross care for her j more than for Amy. Finaly the mysteries of the story are cleared up. The legitimacy of Ross is shown and the origin of Violette made evident , j and Douglas married Violette , whose real name is Violet Brownlee. Among the many biographies of Mc- Kinley now in the book stalls this "Life Work of William McKinley , " by Edward T. Roe , LL.B. , who was one o Mr. McKlnley's classmates at the Al bany Law School , should have a prom inent place. The aim of the work has been to impress upon the youth of our country the grand and noble lessons contained in the late president's gra cious kindliness , high moral courage and exalted patriotism. To this end the life of McKinley is traced in de tail , considerable space being given to the events of the Spanish war and to McKinley's various speeches. The oc currences of the fatal day are care fully sketched and a large number of editorials on the event are quoted , as well as several memorial addresses. The work is prettily illustrated and handsomely bound. Laird & Lee , Chi cago. "Junk : A Book to Stagger Sorrow , " makes ' a too-rashly confident claim , for a reading of the doggerel which composes the printed matter is con ducive to a gentle melancholy. The author , Leon Lempert , jr. , who calls himself "the Instigator , " has no liter ary qualities to recommend him be yond high spirits , and , if we may trust the sub-title , a too-ample faith in the efficacy of his own wit. It would be quite safe , however , to recommend the book to people who have a taste for 1t the comic illustrations on the humor ous page of a Sunday paper , for both the jingles and the numerous illustra tt tions t bear every sign of having first burst into being in that spot sacred 1t to humorous mediocrity. Published by C. M. Clark , Boston. Price , $1.50. "While Charley Was Away , " by Mrs. Poultney Bigelow , is a cleverly writ ten 1 story of a London society woman , 1i whose husband is a naval officer sta tioned on the west coast of South Africa. It is told in a series of let ters between the wife , Mary March , and her cousin , Lord Darraway , who is ! living on his estate in Ireland. Mary March , who is "hungry for love , ' tries to console herself for her husband's absence an indifference by flirting des perately j with different men of the "smart set" in which she moves. She seems to be frivolous , but not bad , de claring that no one has ever kissed her but her husband and "Cousin Bill" once long ago ; but she is very fond of going about London in "two-wheel ers" from dinners and theaters , and we are not surprised when she decides to elope with her latest flame. For tunately for her , this is prevented by her husband's timely death , and she and ' her devoted-cousin later marry , and It is presumed settle down to mid dle-aged happiness. Published by D. Appleton & Co. , New York ; 15 cents. There are few readers who cannot find thorough enjoyment in a good de tective story. And none will deny that in the forefront of that division of lit erature stand the writings of Anna Katharine Green , whose latest work , "One of My Sons , " is just at hand. As welcome , therefore , as the announce ment that Sherlock Holmes is again ferreting out crime was the word that Miss Green had again enlisted the ser vices of Mr. Gryce and his able as sistant , Mr. Sweetwater , in following out the Intricacies of a plot that cer tainly bears evidence of the author's latest ingenuity. "One of My Sons" is believed by its author to be her best work. " * - - ' * * *