Books Of The Day.

BOOKS OF THE DAY .

Boolts , Music , & c . intended for review , should be addressed to the Editor of the Freemason ' s Chronicle , at Fleet Works , Hew Barnet . — : o : — Farewoll , Nikola . By Guy Boothby . Illustrated by Harold Piffard ( 5 s ) . —Ward , Lock and Co ., Limited . IT is never an easy task to part with old friends , and Dr . Nikola , despite his extraordinary personality , has been the friend

of many since they first saw his face upon the hoardings a few years back . When he came amongst us there were not wanting those who foretold that he would disappear as suddenly as he came , but such Sauls proved no true prophets , and even now we can only say " Farewell Nikola" in a limited sense . It is only just to say that since we first knew him he has done many things which

were neither lovely nor of good report , but , for good or ill , his doings have always been of such an unusual kind that we have been compelled to take an interest in his progress . His great rival , Sherlock Holmes , has recently come before us once again , and we are wondering whether Dr . Nikola will do the like . We more than half suspect . that if this " last appearance " should prove

similar to certain announcements in the provincial theatres , there will be many who will be pleased to meet again with the wonderful Doctor and his black cat , if only because the actor-manager is Mr . Guy Boothby . For this writer has always a story to tell ; he is an admirable " raconteur , " and one whose invention seems only

equalled by his industry . The volume before us is distinguished by that spontanity and freshness which characterise so much of Mr . Boothby ' s work , and without which prose fiction is but sorry stuff . We hope the creator of Dr . Nikola will set to work and find a substitute for the subtle schemer as speedily as may be .

Kow to furnish well and cheaply . By Mrs . Alfred Praga ( 2 s 6 d ) . —George Newnes , Limited . MRS . PRAGA has written a little volume which should find many purchasers ; for the subject of which it treats is one in which most folks are interested . There must be a truly great multitude who , having recently been assured by the halfpenny papers that it is

possible to live on . £ 200 a year , are thinking of taking a wife and of furnishing a home in which she is to be , of course , the chief ornament . Mrs . Praga has toiled for their enlightenment and has shown now a home , of modest dimensions , may be cosily and adequately furnished for ^ 150 , or , if your aspirations soar not above the flat , for , £ 100 . 3 Now the merit of Mrs . Praga ' s book lies

in the fact that she does not theorise ; she explains . She not only assures you that you may furnish your best bedroom for ^ 15 , but tells you exactly what to buy , and how much it should cost . You are , therefore , in excellent hands , and if your wife is not delighted with her home after you have followed Mrs . Praga ' s instructions to the letter , you will be hardly done by . In short , this is a book which opens the eyes of readers to many facts hitherto unthought

of ; it teems with eminently practical suggestions , and should be read and re-read by all who , desiring to furnish their home , find themselves able to expend only such a sum as Mrs . Praga has named . We are not advised how to ape our betters and pretend to that which we have not , but are shown how a small sum may be laid out to the very best advantage . We have read many less useful books with more sounding titles .

New Century Library ( 2 s net per vol . ) . —T . Nelson and Sons . The Works of SIR WALTER SCOTT , Bart . Vol . xv ., Peveril of th © Peak . THIS is the longest of the Waverley Novels , and , in the opinion of many competent judges , it is one of the best . We are aware that exception has been taken to the character of Fenellabut Scott

, probably understood her position in his book far better than any of his critics and , Fenella or no Fenella , the work is a masterpiece , and it is a masterpiece on a colossal scale worthy of Richardson or Thackeray . It reminds one of those many huge pictures from the brush of Rubens , on canvas large enough to cover an ordinary gentleman ' s drawing room wall . Nor does the likeness consist in

that of size only , for the fine colouring and rich effects of the great Flemish master have their counterpart in " Peveril of the Peak . " Perhaps the greatest character in the book is Major Bridgenorth , a soldier , a sectary , and a man of sterling principles to boot . But it is hard to epitomise the merits of so great a work in a few words , and we will only add that although the first half of the story

IS unquestionably the best , the latter portion , treating largely of Charles II and the notorious Chiffinch , would have made the reputation of any ordinary mortal who scribbles for his bread . Would that some ,-at least , of the writers whose new works it is our lot to read , would give us some books like "Peveril of the Peak" ! But it is idle to wish , and we shall perhaps sooner see , as Byron puts it , roses in December , or ice in June .

Messrs . Skefiingtoin and Son , Piccadilly , W ., have just issued a new book by Bro . the Rev . F . St . John Corbett , M . A ., Rector of Long Marton , Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature , and Vice-President of the Church Society for training the Speaking Voice . It is entitled ' A Thousand Things to say in Sermons . " The publishers say of it , " This most helpful and valuable book of more than 350 pages is one to materially facilitate the preparation of

extempore and written sermons . It contains one hundred subjects , alphabeticall y arranged . Under each subject will be found a suggested text and ten things to say in the form of illustrations , Anecdotes , and Quotations from standard works and illustrious P ^ chers . We believe that this entirely new collection of extracts will be invaluable as a help to all preachers both in town and country , " The book is dedicated , by permission , to the Lord liishop of Carlisle , who writes of it ; "The book is full of matter

Books Of The Day.

wisely selected , admirably arranged , and excellently printed . I am sure that it will prove very useful , and I wish for it an extensive circulation . " Messrs . Digby , Long and Co . will publish immediately the following six-shilling novels : " Love ' s Crossways , " by Mrs . C . M . Diehl , author of " The Garden of Eden , " " A Woman's Cross , " " The

Last Throw , & c . ; "A Late Repentance , " by T . W . Speight , author of "The Chains of Circumstance , " & c . ; "A Race for a Wife , " by L . T . Meade , author of "The Medicine Lady , " "The Desire of Men , " " A Life for a Love , " & c . ; " Mary Anne of Parchment Buildings , " by Lucas Cleeve , author of " Lazarus , " " The World ' s Blackmail , " "As the Twig is Bent , " & c . ; also a

new story by C . Dudley Lampen , entitled OCallaghan , the Slave Trader , " with four full-page illustrations by C . Dudley Tennant . The same firm also have in the press , and will publish immediately , Mr . Robert Cromie ' s new pseudo-scientific story , entitled "A New Messiah . " Mr . Cromie has this time taken economic science for the serious base of his romance , and although , at first glance , the

theme seems less promising than some of those recently exploited in the interests of fiction , we believe the result obtained is by no means wanting in thrilling effects . ' The publishers and author wish it to be known that the book was completed prior to the occurrence of a recent tragic event , out of which it might otherwise be supposed that capital was being made .

Messrs . Newnes arc to add a volume entitled Lost England to their library of useful stories . The author is Mr . Beckles Wilson . The same publishers have in hand a volume by H . M . the Queen of Roumania ; it is entitled "A Real Queen's Fairy Book " and will be illustrated by Mr . Harold Nelson and Mr . A . Garth Jones .

Mr . Edward Arnold has added a volume on " Hugh of Lincoln to his series " Lives of Holy Men . " The author is Rev . Chas . Marson .

Messrs . J . M . Dent and Co . are about to publish " The Temple Bronte" in twelve volumes , uniform with the Temple classics . A more charming Christmas gift could not readily be found . The same house also promises a library edition of Lane's " Arabian Nights , " illustrated by Mr . Stanley L . Wood .

We are to have yet another Life of Christ , for Mr . Grant Richards is to publish " The Man Christ Jesus , " by Rev . W . J . Dawson . This author wields a skilful pen , and his book is sure of a cordial reception from readers of all shades of thought .

**************** ** Cultivate the social virtues and remember always these words of the Divine Teacher , " A new commandment I give unto you , that ye love one another . "—Jos . H . Bullock , Tennessee .

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