Books Of The Day.

Books of the Day .

Boy Life on the Prairie . By Hamlin Garland , illustrated by E . W Deming . —Macmillan and Co ., Ltd . ATJTHOB , illustrator and publisher have done their best . They have given us an attractive volume and deserve our thanks . We wish to point out ( and trust that other reviewers will do so too ) how difficult it is to handle such a subject satisfactorily . This book upon life on the open prairie in Iowa is not a treatise on manners , it is not a novel , it is not a study of natural

sights and sounds ; it is something of all three . To write such a book is like trying to ride several horses at once , and who is sufficient for these things ? Mr . Hamlin Garland has done all that could be reasonably looked for . He has narrated some entertaining incidents ; be has given us some vignettes from nature ; he has given us some graceful essays in descriptive verse . Such a book , however , courts criticism ; it suggests comparisons not always favourable to the author . One is sometimes apt to envy those who have

read little . We enjoyed our perusal of " Boy life on the Prairie , " but we entertain a shrewd suspicion that our enjoyment would have been deeper had not Hugh Miller , Thoreau , Gilbert White , and Richard Jefferies sometimes come between us and the page . But criticism is ungracious where so much is worthy of commendation . Perhaps , among the many good things in this book , we ought to make special mention of the indefatigable labours of Lincoln in learning to plough ; the terrible fury of the great blizzard , when cattle starved and were frozen in their stalls , and the wind blew the water

out of the pails ; the chapter on prairie game and the verses entitled " A summer mood . " The illustrations are good ; for Mr . Deming has been careful that they should really illustrate the text . Altogether this book is a welcome addition to that rapidly growing American Literature of which we are all so proud . To add worthily to that literature which can boast an Emerson , a Hawthorne , a Longfellow and a Lowell , is no easy task ; but it is a task which is being yearly accomplished by several eminent men " across the silver streak . "

The Making of Europe . By "Nemo . " A simple account of the origin arid formation of the principal countries and states of modern Europe ( 3 s 6 d ) . —Thomas Nelson and Sons . MESSES . NELSON deserve our thanks for a volume so carefully printed and so light in weight . We wish , however , that the author had provided us with an index . Lacking that , readers are as much at a loss for purposes of reference as with Gibbon ' s History or Johnson ' s Lives of the Poets . We

hope to see the day when every work in biography , criticism and history shall be provided with a thoroughly reliable and exhaustive index . " Something too much of this . " Dr . Johnson , had he read * ' The Making of Europe , " would have repeated his famous dictum that a man will turn over a whole library to make a new book . " Nemo " has used the arts of compression skilfully . He has compiled a handbook that should prove a boon to many , and we know of no volume better suited to the requirements

of students who are preparing say for an University Extension Examination . The whole gist of the subject lies within these three hundred pages . In short , " Nemo " has done for events what Hallam did for books ; and when we remember , with Pope , that to err is human , we are agreeably surprised to find how free from obvious error these pages are . The errors , where we have noted any , are errors of manner rather than of matter . A few remarks

appear to us rather childish , as , for instance , where the traits and characteristics of the Turk are commented upon . We have been reminded , too , of a remark of Mr . John Morley about Emerson ; for we have noticed a certain straining after epigrams that do not always come . " Nemo " has , however , done us a good service . He has told us much that is eminently useful , and the reader who does not benefit by a perusal of this volume must be qualifying for a corner in the twentieth century Dunciad .

Gulliver's Travels . By Jonathan Swift . Edited b y G . Ravenscroft Dennis , B . A ., London . Bonn ' s Standard Library . Vol . VIII of the prose works of Jonathan Swift , D . D . Edited by Temple Scott , with a biographical introduction by the Rt . Hon . W . E . H . Lecky , M . P . George Bell and Sons .

IT is hardly necessary to say that this is a fine edition of a celebrated work . Messrs . Bell have cared for the outfit ; Mr . Lecky has written the introduction ; Mr . G . Ravenscroft Dennis is responsible for the text . The name of Swift is one of the greatest in English Literature , and " Gulliver ' s Travels " is the best known of all Swift ' s writings . It has had almost as many readers as " Robinson Crusoe , " the Arabian Nights , " or the " Pilgrim ' s Progress . " It was first published in 1726—the era of Gay ' s " Beggar ' s

Opera , " and ot lavage ' s "Miscellanies "—the era of such eminent men as Pope , Arbuthnot , Addison , Steele and Bentley , some of whom were warm in its commendation . We question whether Swift is seen at his best in " Gulliver's Travels "; readers of this edition will discover for themselves that he is sometimes tedious and often gross , and it is only necessary to read a few pages in order to learn why this book is hardly a suitable present for young ladies . But it is , nevertheless , a book which , as the advertisements

sometimes say , no gentleman ' s library should be without . We have had many editions of " Gulliver's Travels " in our hands , and think it only just to express the opinion that the one Messrs . Bell have sent us is , on the whole the most satisfactory . It is more to our liking than that in the edition of Swift's writings issued in fifteen duodecimo volumes many years ago ; it is more correct than the edition cared for by Sir Walter Scott . The student

of literature who is fortunate enough to possess the whole of Swift ' s prose writings in Messrs . Bell ' s eleven volumes may rest assured that their edition is not likely to be superseded in a hurry . Dr . Johnson tells us that the travels of Mr . Lemuel Gulliver wore read , on their first appearance , by high and low , by the learned and the illiterate . We heartil y wish this volume a similar reception , and are anticipating with pleasure the publication of the Literary Essays in a subsequent volume .

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Just published , Crown 8 vo ., Cloth , 5 s . MILITARY LODGES . The Apron and tbe Sword , or Freemasonry under Arms ; being an account of Lodges in Regiments and Ships of War , and of famous soldiers and sailors ( of all countries ) , who have belonged to tho Society , together with biographies of distinguished Military and Naval Brethren , and anecdotes showing the influence of Masonry in warfare . By Robert Freke Gould ( late 31 st Foot , barrister-at-law ) Past Senior Grand Deacon of England , P . M . Nos . 02 and 2076 London , 153 Gibraltar , 570 Shanghai , and 743 1 st Batt . East Surrey Regiment , & c . Author of " ' The History of Freemasonry , " and other Works . Gale and Polden , Ltd ., 2 Amen Corner , London ; and Aldershot .

Entertainment Notes.

Entertainment notes .

Shaftesbury . —In the course of transferring "The Mystical Miss " from the Comedy to the Shaftesbury we m'ist certainly say Mr . De Wolf Hopper has not allowed anything to be lost . If this amu * lng piece was a success at the first house , it is certainly more so at the latter . It has been livened up in several places , fresh songs and business introduced , while the imaginary game of billiards played between Mr . De Wolf Hopper and Miss Jessie Mack & ya is a thing to ba remembered . Mr . Hopper is a clever and amusing

comedian , and in " The Mystical Miss " scores well ; his peculiar style and voice admirably suits the part of Demidoff , the conjurer , and from first to last he works hard and achieves success . Mr . Harold Blake is good as Prince Boris , and shares with Miss Nalla Bergen tho vocal honours of the piece . Miss Bergen scores a great success in her card song . Mr . Henry Norman acts well as the Grand Duke , and is heartily apylau'ted for his " Tommy Atkins " song . Other members of the cast make their mark , and we shall be surprised if the piece does not have a good run .

Gaiety . —To-night ( Saturday ) is the last night of the successful piece " A Runaway Girl , " and the Theatre will remain closed for a short time for the final rehearsals of " A Messenger Girl , " by Messrs . Alfred Murray and J . T . Tanner . From all accounts the new piece will be as welcome as many of its predecessors at this well known house . Adelphi . —On Monday next Messrs . George R . Sims ' and Arthur Shirley's me ' odrama , "TheTwo Little Vagabonds" will be revived , with a very strong cast .

St . James's . —Mr . George Alexander hopes to re-open this house at the end of the month . The Theatre has been practically rebuilt . Grand . —It has often been asked , Why do not our Theatres produce more pantomimes with now plots , rather than so continually rely on the Arabian Nights gtoriea ? In some cases this is done , but we feel inclined to doubt if it would be wise to do so in all . The old , old tales , so well known and beloved by our younger children—and in many cases by our older ones

too—with the bold , wicked uncle or robber , the happy principal boy and girl , and tho ever welcome immortals , are received with the same applause year after year . Take , for instance , the Grand ' s latest production—The Forty Thieves—written by Mr . Fred Bowyer , with music by Mr . W . T . Gliddon , and arranged and produced by Bro . H . A . Freeman . Here we have a pantomime of the good old rollicking sort , full of fun and merriment , no vulgarity , yet everything that can be desired . Opening in tbe Valley of the Golden Egg

we follow the fortunes of the Forty Thieves , with All Baba , Mrs . Ali Baba , Ganem—the dashing principal boy—and all the rest of the well known characters in an up-to-date pantomime , through scene after scene , the wave of merriment rolling on without a pause until the curtain falls at the end . Mr . Bowyer ' s book is full of good things , and the jokes , topical allusions , and funny sayings never seem to be thrown away on the audience . Mr . G . R . Hemsley is responsible for the scenery , and never before has tbe Grand had

such taking and attractive scenes for its pantomime . The Oriental ballet , which brings the first half to a conclusion , is something to be remembered , the dresses , grouping and dancing being of the very best . The " World's Stamp Review" shows us a collection of foreign stamps , —a rare treat for those who may indulge in the hobby of collecting , and interesting to others also . At the end is the usual transformation scene , and here Mr . Hemsley scores one of his well known successes . " The Valley of Lillies , "

as it is called , is a happy and pretty conclusion to one of the best panrornimea . And what of the clever band of artistes ? Led by Mr . Harry Randall as Mrs . Ali Baba , from firsitolast they keep the whole thing goinj ? , never once allowing a dull moment to mar the proceedings . Those who know Bro . Randall's style will easily realise that the character he impersonates gives him numerous opportunities , and he never misses a chance . Whether he be cracking a joke , singing a song , or dancing , he is always the same jolly character , so much so

that Mrs . Ali Baba is already very popular with Islingtomans . Mr . Fred H . Graham , as AH Baba , also scores well ; while Miss Rosio Leyton makes a dashing principal bny . Mr . W . P . Dempsey as Cassim , Miss Minnie Leverentz ( Morgiana ) , Miss Mabel Lowe ( Zorah ) , Mr . Fred Solo ( Hassarac ) , and Mr . R . Saker Harlow ( the donkey ) all work hard , and individually score

successes . The captain of the Forty Thieves finds a splendid interpreter in the person of Miss Alexandra Dagmar—her splendid singing and acting soon putting her in the good graces of her audience . At the end of the pantomime a clever and amusing harlequinade takes place , with Mr . J . M . Jones as clown , Mr . W . Saker Harlow as pantaloon , Miss Gwen Owen as harlequin , Miss Daisy Summers as columbine , and Mr . Williams as policeman .

Mohawk Minstrels . —The merry band of Minstrels at the Agricultural Hall , Islington , are receiving hearty support in their new Christmas programme . All the old favourites are well supplied with good songs , & c ., and the full company do themselves justice in the screaming farce " The Belle of Burnt Cork . " One is sure to thoroughly enjoy the fun . On Monday last , Mr . G . R . Sims'new patriotic song , " The British Volunteer , " was introduced into the programme , by Mr . Will Lansdowne .

Ix is with regret we hear of the illness of Mr . Forbes Robertson , more so as it has been the means of keeping him out of the cast of " The Sacrament of Judas , " transferred from the Prince of Wales ' * Theatre to the Royalty . " The Canary , " with Mrs . Patrick Campbell in the cast , is going strong , and is likely to be popular for some time to come .

THE annual meeting of the Actors' Benevolent Fund , with Mr . Beerbohm Tree in the chair , will be held on Tuesday , 23 rd inst ., at Hor Majesty ' s Theatre .

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MASONIC AID FOR WAR VICTIMS . THE following additional sums have been acknowledged on behalf of the different relief Funds started in connection with the South African campaign : MANSION HOUSE WAR FUND . Morning Star Lodge , No . 552 - - - - £ 10 ^> 0 0 Friends in Council Lodge , No . 1383 - - 10 10 0 DAILY TELEGRAPH FUND . Shillings . Sincerity Lodge , No . 174 - - - - - - 210 Carnarvon Lodge , No . 1572 .... - 210 St . John ] Lodge , No . 90 ¦ . . . . - 102 J