Provincial.

the Lodge who had performed the installation ceremony . He hoped he would be able to emulate this example . As an earnest of the love and respect which the members entertained of their retiring Master , he had the pleasure of presenting to him , in their name , a very handsome Past Master ' s jewel , which bore the following inscription : —

Minnehaha Minstrel Lodge , No . 2363 . Presented to W . BRO . SAM LUKE P . M ., for his valuable services as Worshipful Master 1899-1900 22 nd October 1900 . Other toasts followed , which were fittinglv responded to .

Books Of The Day.

Books of the Day .

Books , Music , & c . intended for review , should be addressed to the Editor of the Freemason ' s Chronicle , at Fleet Works , New Barnet .

The Conscience of Coralie . By F . Frankfort Moore . With eigh ' t illustrations by F . H . Townsend ( 6 s ) . —C . Arthur Pearson , Limited .

THE world as depicted by Mr . Frankfort Moore is never dull ; nor can a reader suffer from that indefinable malady , ennui , so long as he allows so able a writer to entertain him . We are truly grateful for an introduction to a young American lady so shrewd , so witty , so charming as Coralie Randal . She is a very decided improvement upon the average girl from the States s as conceived

by many novelists . Coralie is , above all things , a lady . She seeks no European title , she dabbles in no sporting or commercial speculation , she speaks no slang ; she is , indeed , ingenuous to a fault , and this trait in a fine character is well brought out in her conduct towards Mr . Bernard Mott , who , too idle to honestly discharge the work laid ready to his hand by a provident father ,

has become very fluent and sufficiently energetic in his championship of the cause of Socialism . Fortunately , though over-estimating the worth of Bernard Mott bv reason of her innate , maiden generosity , she knows his true character before it is too late , and the expected marriage of Mr . Bernard Mott , socialist agitator , with Coralie Randal , Anerican heiress , is averted . Bernard Mott is

dethroned , and Barry , son of Lady Glasnamara ( with whom Coralie is staying ) eventually reigns in his stead . We must not omit to remark that in Mr . Frankfort Moore ' s story there is much more than meets the eye ; as one of our critical contemporaries has said , this book is a " pointed satire . " Coralie , as the title of the story indicates , has a conscience , and much which comes within the

lady ' s cognisance whilst in England perturbs that conscience seriously . The writer utters some quiet but effective satire in regard to our " Minister of the Annexation Department , " and the hero of Omdurman is here styled General Firebrace . Is the prayer of Burns answered , and is Mr . Frankfort Moore destined to at length impart to us the gift of seeing ourselves as others see us ? Who shall say ?

A Self-made Countess . The justification of a Husband . By John Strange Winter . Third Edition . —F . V . White and Co . A NEW novel by Mrs . Stannard is sure of a warm receptionfrom admirers and detractors alike . The volume before us is , we think , a fair sample of the wares usually offered to the public by this gifted author . We are glad to say that " A self-made

Countess " is wholly free from those repulsive characteristics which we noted in our remarks on " The Money Sense . " It is entertaining , fluent , and witty ; on the whole , it affords thoroughly good reading for that large class of readers , mostly ladies , whose ideal of prose fiction is found within the covers of such books as " Ferrer ' s Court , " and "Bootle ' s Baby . " To be quite honest , we will admit

that we do not share this opinion , but we are always ready to acknowledge the many gifts of " John Strange Winter " —her wide knowledge of human life and affairs , her fulness of narrative , her command , not always evinced , of a clear and racy style . Some Christians , as Lord Byron said , have "a comfortable creed . " We may say the same of certain ladies in this book , whose ideals in

life are about on a level with some peoples' ideals in fiction . We arc introduced to persons whose conduct can scarcely be regarded as ennobling , but as they steer clear of flagrant improprieties we might easilv be in worse company . The rapidity with which the works of this writer succeed one another is one of the wonders of

the day ; we question if there are more than two living writers who equal her in this respect , —Miss Braddon and Mr . W . Clark Russell . Moreover , wc can say of " John Strange Winter" what Mr . Joseph Hocking once said of Mr . Guv Boothby , —she has always a storv to toll . J

An Old Man's Holidays . By The Amateur Angler ( 2 s net ) . —Samjjson Low , Marston and Company . WE are in genial company when the "Amateur Angler" takes us in tow . The vein of this little book is distinctly good , and we have no doubt " the world will find it " even though it be " after many days . " It has found our weak spots ; it has reminded us of those sweet , far-off days when for a brief space we read little save

literature of this description . While reading "An old Man's Holidays" the burial places of the memory have given up their dead , and we have again lived over those hours spent in company with Izaak Walton , Henry David Thoreau , Gilbert White , Mr . Andrew Lang , and others of that ilk . Mr . Marston is never dull ; his descriptions are usually of carefully wrought workmanshi p , and he has a quiet humour at times which is truly Wajtonian : such

Books Of The Day.

writings are verily the recreation of the contemplative man . The third chapter , on angling that preacheth patience , has assuredly many charms ; in fact , as we read , we wish strongly that so good a prose writer would undertake a large work of a similar nature . Many readers will long to know the secret of this writer ' s illimitable

enjoyment of the open country , or the river-side . Perhaps it is a special gift , as truly as poetry or music . Perhaps the presence of the lady , who figures in more than one of the illustrations , was conducive to urbanity and a genial temperament . Lovers of the riverside would do well to know this book as the scholar knows his Horace . It will sell largely .

The Chase of the Ruby . By Richard Marsh ( 3 s 6 d ) . — Skeffington and Son . MR . RICHARD MARSH is one of the foremost writers of a new school of fiction . The school to which he belongs is not , in our opinion , actuated by very high aims ; but it plays its part in the economy of literature and we refrain from complaint , rlie author

of "The Beetle" has at least one merit in common with Mr . Win . le Queux—he is never dull . In the volume before us he has given a fair sample of his imagination and workmanship . There are two nephews anxious to lay hands upon a certain wondrous ruby once in possession of their uncle ; there are two young ladies interested for several reasons in this by no means new quest ; there is a

skilful burglar , and there are one or two dramatic incidents . Readers who know not how to pass their leisure will find excellent assistance from the hands of Air . Marsh . The story is written with fluency and ease , so much so that we hope Mr . Marsh will attempt to enter into a higher sphere where " other fields are won . " We cannot spare him longer to the sensationalists .

The influence of Mars . By Eva Anstruther ( 3 s 6 d ) . —Grant Richards . THE author of this book knows her market . Mars is , figuratively sjjeaking , a very noticeable planet just now , ana its influence is everywhere ; the British public acknowledges no hero save Tommy Atkins , and will read of little save hgnting . The

twelve short stories here brought together are cleverly narrated ; they found many readers on their first appearance in the " Westminster Gazette / ' and elsewhere , and are sure to be largely bought in their present form . To those who have only time to sample we can recommend "The Fluffy Boy" and "Martha . " The former is ,

we think , exceptionally clever ; short , and very slight , it reveals a world of pathos ; we should like the author to write it again more fully , for there are possibilities in those few paragraphs which we could wish worked out . Other readers will prefer other stories in this volume , " Chacun a son gout . "

MESSRS . A . AND C . BLACK have published a work invaluable to students of Botany and Geology . " Studies in Fossil Botany , " by Dr . D . H . Scott , F . R . S ., is a handsome crown octavo volume containing 151 illustrations , and , considering the nature of the subject matter and the authority of the writer , it is remarkably cheap , 7 s 6 d .

THE same publishers have also issued a " Text-book of Zoology , " translated from the German of Dr . Otto Schmeil . The work may be had in three parts , at 3 s 6 d each , or complete in one volume , at IDS 6 d . MESSRS . SMITH , ELDER AND CO . are preparing a supplement to their "Dictionary of National Biography . " It will include biographies of Matthew Arnold , Mr . Gladstone , John Ruskin , Prof . Max Muller , and others .

MESSRS . MACMILLAN have issued another work highly important to all students of natural science . " Studies , Scientific and Social , " by Dr . A . R . Wallace , is sure to be widely read and appreciated by ail who have been familiar with Dr . Wallace ' s essays as they appeared in the reviews .

THE next volume of Methuen s Standard Library will be " Memoirs of Mv Life and Writings , " by Edward Gibbon . We need hardly remind our readers that this work—perhaps the most fascinating narrative of a man ' s studies ever penned—has for many years been widely read on the Continent .

MESSRS . CHATTO AND WINDUS announce " The Small-Part Lady , " by G . R . Sims ; and Messrs . Harper Brothers promise " Literary Friends and Acquaintances , " by Mr . W . D . Howells .

We have pleasure in tendering our congratulations to Bro . William Henry Butlin jun ., son ot Bro . Reuben Butlin , of the Citizen , Houndsditch , on his marriage with Miss Lucy E .

Alhston , on Wednesday , 31 st ult . The ceremony took place at St . Botolph Church , Bishopsgate , and was followed . by a reception at the Holborn Restaurant , after which Bro . and Mrs . Butlin entertained the friends of their son and new

daughter-in-law at a reception and musical evening , which was attended by some 150 guests , members of the Craft being in strong force both at the breakfast and evening entertainment . The hospitality of Bro . and Mrs . Reuben Butlin is proverbial , on this occasion they acted the part of host and hostess to perfection .

E XPERIENCED Reviewer is open to supply a column of criticisms weekly , to Provincial or London newspapers . Will submit specimen notices . T ., care of FREEMASON ' S CHRONICLE . New Barnet .