PAGE SIXTEEN 5 Books For it Books as Christmas gifts are al- ways pleaging and appropriate. They carry also a two-fold significance, in that they 'testify to the giver's friend- ship and thoughtful remembrance and also to his acknowledgment of your intelligent appreciation of literary things. Tn return, you owe the do- ner a double gratitude. This season's. books are above the ordinary, alike in number, theme, let- terpress and literary merit. o the vast number of books of fiction and romance have been added ever- growing collection of volumes deal- ing with the great war. Those es cially whose homes have tics bind them closely to the red ! battle will be keenly interested in the volumes that tell the undying stories of Canadian valor and Canadian achievement. The juvenile books, this season, are also very numerous and attractive, Canada may well be proud of the achievements of her poets and au- thors. They occupy no insignificant place in the great army of writers who are enriching the literature of the day. One might mention such pro- minent names of books and their au- thors as the following: "Further Foolishness," by Prof. Stephen Leacock; "The Red Watch," by Col. J. A. Currie, M.P.; "In the Ypres Salient," by Beckles Wilson; "Sons of Canada," by Augustus Bri- dle; "The White Comrade,' 'by Kath- erine Hale; "The Witch of Endor," by Robert Norwood; "Songs of Ukrain," by Florence Randall Live- say; "Songs of Gladness and Growth," by James L. Hughes; "The Watch- man and Other Poems," by L. M. Montgomery; "Platform . Sketches," by Jessie Alexander; "Songs of a Red Cross Man," by Robert Service; "Lun- dy's Lane," by Duncan Campbell Scotty "Wild Animal Ways,' \'by Er- nest RGHpsOy Seton; "The Great Adventure," by li Rev. Prof. Law; "With a Field Ambulance at Ypres," by Prof. Wm. Boyd; "Canadian Poets," 'by John W. Garvin; "The Beech Woods," by Duncan Ambrest, et . Most of the new books by the above-mentioned writers have already been feviewed on this page Canada may well be proud of the imposing contribution to literature made by Ca- nadian-born writers this season. To give Canadian books this Christmas 1s a patriotic resolve one would be quite justified in making in view of the fact that to give such books means to give, at the same time} in many cases, the outstanding .successes of the season. With Pipe an# Book. With Pipe and Book at close of day, O! what is sweeter, mortal, say? It matters not what book on knee, Old Izaak or the Odyssey-- It matters not meerschaum or clay. And though one's eyes will dream astray, And lips forget to sue or sway, It is "enough to merely Be" With Pipe and Book. - What though our modern skies be As bards aver, | will not pray For "soothing Death" to succor me, But ask this much, O Fate, of thee, A little longer here to stay With Pipe and Book. --Richard Le Gallienne. SAMARITAN MARY. By Sumner Locke. 340 es. Mc- Clelland, Goodchild Stewart, Toronto, publishers. R. Uglow & Co, and College Book Store, city. Mary Settler, "San¥aritan Mary," the principal character in this book, had a great fund of sympathy for man and beast, bird and flower. As Ben- jamin of the yard summed it up: "Mary Settler would not leave a wheel barrer out of a cold night, and as to them chickens and poultry, you'd think they was real human the way they take advantage of her" When Mary had in one room an elegant young gentleman who had been thrown into her lilac bushes from his car, and in another Miss Spring Glory Roper, after her narrow escape from death in a runaway, she naturally looked forward to interesting develop- ---- v Young Pendren's fat! ited Glory's father out of titer enemied. To a real S tangles like this provide o: , and Mary" was equa! Her plots and schemse come maritar opportu the o sion. make lesome, and, a uld happen, all the tangle are satisfactorily straightened out Price, $1.25. child & Stewart, Toronto, pub lishers College Book Store, city. These letters, edited and arrangec by Grace McLeod Rogers, cover a pe riod of forty-three years of faithfu service as a Canadian missionary tc the various, tribes in India her Nova Scotia home at Truro as bride, husband went forth to labor in and the results ofter many and heavy the seed discouraging Yet ity gained ground. devoted missionaries and their fellow which they carried out the command of Christ to "preach the gospel tc every creature." Those interested ir foreign missions will find in book much information as to the ex tent and progress, the sucesses anc and labor , ROD OF THE LONE PATROL. By H. A. Cody. 348 pages. Co., an mensely. home of Parson Dan. wins many friends. With comes patrol leader of the Hillcrest Scouts, , and from then on there something doing all the time. The boy scouts accomplish many worthy tasks. including the sending of an in- valid girl to a great specialist, who cures her. ,They also assist in captur- ing two robbers on an island, and of shooting a bear just as it was about to attack their injured captain. The ideal home lifg of Rodney is beauti- fully pictured. Then there is the coming of a great singer, who cap- tures Rodney's heart, and in the end turns out to be his mother. The story is replete with sympathy and understanding, full of kindly, helpful thoughts and inspiring in its high mos ral tone. It is a good book for a boy, and wil prove full of keen ipler- est to a boy scout. Fo the older reader, it will bring back most vividly those long" gone days of his boyhood and the wild, free life it knew. JESSIE ALEXANDER'S PLAT- FORM SKETCHES. Sree Alexander. 227 pages. rice, $1.00. McClelland, Good- child & Stewart, Toronto, pub- lishers. R. Uglow & Co. wty. The name of Jessie Alexander, elo- cutionist and reader, is one widely known and much esteemed through- out the Dominion. In practically every city and town she has delighted thousands and proved herself a popu- lar entertainer. The present volume embodies a careful selection of the readings, recitations and reminiscences with which she has charmed many au- diences, In themselves the stories and poems make delightful reading, while at the same time they will prove a veritable gold mine for bud- ding elocutionists. Throughout the volume are scattered many original selections from the author's own pen, and one must. acknowledge lier abil ity as an author no less than an enter- tainer. The Preface is rather lengthy, but very readable, inasmuch as it 1s not only a brief autobiography but also contains many pleasing reminis- cences of her visits to ll parts of By Jessie ments. But sericus difficulties were The College Canada and tp.Great Britain ~ Book Store ~ THE STORE OF A THOUSAND GIFTS The Largest and Most Complete Stock of Books in the City. Latest Fiction by the most popular authors Latest Reprint Fiction : Bibles, Prayer Books and Hymnals pecial Illustrated Gift editions GIBSON ART LINE of Cards, Booklets and Calendars. Soldiers Diaries in Khaki and Leather Pillows and Pennants of all local units ~ " Hurd's Boxed Holiday Stationery 'Gift editions in Poets and Authors Kodak Albums and Scrap Books "Record Albums, best English make - Brass Desk Sets, Photo Frames, Clocks, Frames, Etc. Latest Standard and Operatic Music Boys' and Girls' Books Y Latest Standard, Operatic and Popular TR eva * Musie. e 5 Book Store "Phone 919 , and the families bad he. LETTERS FROM MY HOME IN tot INDIA, t By Mrs. George Chiirchill. 305 pages McClelland, Good- R. Uglow & Co. and glorify the Canadian Mrs. Churchill and her pastor the Lord's vineyard, where the tasks were was sown, and slowly but surely Christian- The: letters, be- ginning in 1871 and continuing until 1916, relate the experiences of these | workers, and testify to the zeal with] this | Every boy--and especially, Avery boy scout--will enjoy this book im. [this book we sce the man, the pa- It is the story of a real |triot, and the poet as never before-- boy, who had been left at night at the {we see his soul bared by the harrow- He fights his jing suffering of his countrymen, and own way up in the world, and de-|{we see his optimistic philosophy with velops into such a manly lad that be [its message of hope; we see the hu- the aid {man aspect of the war, and the hu- of bluff old Capt. Josh, Rodney be- is [die in vain, he declares. 'Christm as Buying 2 THE BEECH WOODS. Duncan brest. 120 pages. Illustrated. \Price, $1.25. Wil- liam Briggs, Toronto, publisher. R. Uglow & Co., and College Book Store, city. By humorous reading For beauty of description, for the it reveals for the great out-of- rs and for all the kindred of the k must be highly commended. The fame of the Canadian maple is wide- spread. Stories about our birches and pine have gone round the world, -'but it has remained for some one to beech. This {has been done in a new gift book, 1'which has been prepared by a young - man now serving his King and coun- litry. "The Beech Woods" is a se- » ries of pictures in photograph and let- Leaving [terpress of the Canadian seasons just alas they appear to you and me when !we take a walk in the country on a {spare Saturday or Sunday afternoon Fhey speak of Canadian scenes and 1 [Canadian weather with a directness {which is seldom approached, The ibook is attractively .printed and bound, and will make a most dainty | gift book. -| THE WRACK OF THE STORM. 1 By Maurice Maeterlinck. 330 pages. ) | Price, $1.50. McClelland. Good- 1 child R, Stewart, Toronto, publish- | . Uglow & Co., and Col- | ers. -| lege Book Store, city. 1| Maeterlinck, the greatest | timist, is better qualified than any oth- er to speak for his beloved and suf- fering country. His voice is the voice of Belgium, and to-day he raises McClel- [it to curse Germany, to testify to the land, Goodchild & Stewart, To- heroism of his people, and to sound ronto, publishers.» R. Uglow & the note of ultimate victory. 3 College Book Store, city. |vasion of 'his country has moved and The in- |affected him tremendously, and in {man psychology, of those caught in {the maelstrom. He believes |that the Allies are fighting against material destiny, against "thé-will of fearth," and that man has not con- |quered destiny before. T is noth- |ing easy-going in his war-time phil- |osophy. Not only victory over Ger- many must come, but also the victory of man over destiny. Maeterlinck's faith that "the dead do not die," is emphasized in this book with a new poignancy. He pleads for the rescue of Belgian cities and for justice to Poland. < The exquisite beauty of his {paragraphs haunts the memory. In his preface Maeterlinck uses these sig- nificant words: "The reader taking up: this volume will, for the first time in the work of one who hitherto had cursed no man, find words of hatred and malediction. I would gladly have avoided them, for I hold that he who takes upon himself to write pledges himself to say nothing that can derogate from the respect and love which we owe to all men. I have had to utter these words; and I am as much surprised as saddened at what I have been con- strained 'to say by the force of events and of truth, I loved Germany and numbered. friends there, who now, dead or living, are alike dead to me. I thought her great and upright and generous; and to me she was ever kindly and hospitable. But there are crimes that obliterate the past and close 'the future. In rejecting hatred I should have shown myself a traitor {to love. 1 tried to lift myself above the fray; but, the higher I arose, the more | saw of the madness and the horror of it, of the justice of one cause and the infamy of the other." THE WATCHMAN AND OTHER POEMS. By L. M. Montgomery. 159 pages. Price, $1.25. McClelland, Good- child & Stewart, Toronto, publish- ers. R. Uglow & Co., and Col. lege Book Store; city. ° Canadian readers are familiar with "Anne of Green Gables" "Anne of the Island," and other prose works of this Prince Edward Island author, L. M. Mo mery (Mrs. Ewen Macdon- ald). hey will, therefore, not be surprised to learn that she has also written a volume of poetry. One with her joyous outlook on life, vivid imagination, instinct for words and ' facility 'in' expression, could not help being a poet. i has lived nearly all her life in Prince | Edward Island, where the fairies are isaid to have their home. Miss Mont. Jomery's verse is quite as perfect as er prose; and her lyrics, espdcially those dealing with the smiling aspects of her native province, its fragrant fields of red earth and the "blue sea coming up on every side,' "are of rare quality, delicate, lilting and full of music. The title poem, "TheWatch- man," is an excellent and dignified em in blank verse gancerning the eepers who watched r the grave of Christ. But it is as the t of the sea and the fisher folk that she will be best appreciated. Few, if any, Canadian writers -have sung of the sea, and therefore we welcome this contribution to out literature. Many of the miscellaneous poems are charming and dainty. te will per- | mit of one quotation--"Fanties."" Surely the flowers of a hundred springs Are simply the souls of beautiful things. The poppies aflame with gold and red Were the kisses of lovers in days that are fled. The purple pansies with dew-drops pearled Were the rainbow dreams of a youngling 8 world. 4 The lily, white as a star apart, - Was the first pure prayer of a virgin heart™ The 'daisies that dance and twinkle so Were the laughter of children in long ago! The sweetness of all true friendship yet Lives in the breath of the mignonette. To the white narcissus there mast belong. I nd for its valuable contribution! e natural history of Canada, this | | literary discouragements. of this work of love figure in Belgium, a mystic and an op- "These dead must not | More than that, she | And the rose, all flowers of the earth above, Was a | apturous thought of love. | Oh sure blossoms of all Must be souls of beautiful THE DARK FOREST. Tings ngs. By Hugh Walpole. 320 pages. Price, .35. The Musson Book Co., To- ronto, publishers. R. Uglow & Co., and College Book Store, city. | Mystical, poetical, spiritual, the charm of "The/Dark Forest," is the triumph of the soul over disaster. Mr. Walpole has made a worthy effort to re-think the Russian novel in terms of his own knowledge of life and character There are some passages replete with vivid realism. The characters in the book, two English and the rest Russian, are members of a Russian. hospital corps on the Car- pathian frost We are treated to some fine descriptigns of war's effects upon individual temperaments, and to an analysis of the peculiar Russian character, apparently so simple and childlike, yet in fact so deep and mys- tical I'he story is long-drawn out-- words chasing countless words along --and the reader will wish that the lauthor had learned the saving grace of condensation. | THE GRAND ADVENTURE. By Rev. Robert Law, D.D. 219 pages. McClelland, Goodchild & Stewart, Toronto, publishers.. R. Uglow ! & Co., and College Book Store, city. In this well-printed volume we are given a number of sermons by Prof. Law, of Knox College, Toronto. They contain some of the best pulpit ex- pression of Canada His is a quiet, courageous phylosophy, a deep piety, a scholarly analysis, and a well-nigh perfect diction. Many of the ser- mons were preached during the war, and these treat of some of its aspects and lessons. "The Great Adventure," | (the sermon which lends its title to | the book, is a masterly effort. It de- | picts life as a great adventure--the | greatest of all--and yhasizes many } {lessons it should tea We cannot refrain from quoting one splendid paragraph: |" "We were worshipping an idol we Icalled Progress, with no very ,clear idea of what we meant by progress-- {progress in which or toward what end --with just a vaguely optimistic notion that to-morrow would be as to-day, but more abundant; that there would be more people, more trade, more money, more scietice, more comfort, more respectability, even more reli- gion; that things would move on, very slowly and gradually, yet on the {whole in the right direction. And, as was natural in such an atmosphere, | | Religion was falling asleep. terrible and dramatic fashion, God has disturbed our drowsiness and shat- tered our. dreams! We have lived to witness what seems an eclipse of civilization. We have been confront- ed with the spectacle of dying men-- flowing blood and burning cities, and have learned what _it means to stand in jeopardy everythour: We have seen how powerless our idols, Pro- gress, Culture, Comfort, are to tame the worst passions of humanity, and how a civilization which is of things | rather than of spirit becomes the in- strument of death,inot of life. © We are living thro ong of those days of the Lord whet He comes as a fire to burn out the wood, hay, stubble, the rubbish and the rottenness, the greed an dthe laziness and the frivol- ity, from the edificé of society. Oh! ' Robt. W. Service Makes Another Strike in his mew book of war verse-- |wave pass over a country settlement? In ore a you ever seen a new | memorable figures. it was needed. We thought we knew whither we were going; and a spirit of complacency and self-indulgence had | come upon us The mist was in our eyes, and the torpor was falling upon | our limbs. Thank God, the awaken- | ing has not come altogether too late. | And now when we 'know that "we know not what a day may bring forth, | we are all the more confident of the future, more dependent on God He has taken away our shoddy optimism | to light in us a sure and hving hope. | A new and better chapter wr the| world's history is to be written. What its contents will be none can tell, | though there be many prophets. But] this we know, that Christ will write | it and that His glory will'be manifest- ed in it." { The book is dedicated to "My sol- dier sons, Robert, Ralph and Ronald, and other comrades in the 19th and 187th Battalions, C.E.F."| SYLVIA OF THE HILLTOP. By Margaret R. Piper. 311 pages. Price, $1.25. The Page Co, Bos- ton, publishers. R. Uglow & Co, and College Book Store, city. This is the second "Cheerful Book," a series closely akin to the Pollyanna "Glad Books." ' In fact, all lovers of Pollyanna and her ways should read these stories of Sylvia. = Both girls| devote their energies to making oth-| ers happy. But there is this differ- ence: whereas Pollyanna is poor. and | penniless, Sylvia is rich and influen- tial. But both strive for and olgam he same happy results. In the first | 'Cheerful Book," Sylvia Arden proved herself a messenger of joy and cheerfulness to thousands of readers. In this new story she plays the same | role on Arden Hill during her >sum- mer vacation, and is the same whole- some, generous, cheerful young lady who made such a success of the Christmas Party" She befriends sick neighbors, helps run a tea-room, brings together two lovers who have had differences, serves as the conve- nient bridesmaid here and the good Samaritan there, and generally acquits herself in a manner which made her | such a popular heroine in the former story. There is, of course, a Prince Charming in the background. "Syl- via of the Hilltop" is an admirable girls' book, and no doubt it will find | many a place among holiday gifts this season, q * THE LEATHERWOOD GOD. By William Dean Howells. 236 pages. Price, $1.35. William Briggs, Toronto, publishers. R. Uglow & Co., and College Book Store, city. Have you ever seen a religious sect found- ed and a new leader proclaimed, and noted how the simple, incredulous people went wild with religious fer- vor? Ever noted what a hold that leader had over his followers, how at his bidding they surrendered = their' money, their jewellery, their all, and leit father and mother, wife or -hus- band, to_follow him? We have seen such occurrences in Ontario and in the nineteenth century, too. On a vaster scale, and because their leader cabled himself God, is the story un- foldyd in this interesting study by 7D. Howells, America's foremost literary figure. The scene is laid in Leatherwood, in the backwoods of Ohio, in the days when the settlers hewed out their homesteads amid the primeval forests. The imposter, who styles himself "God," is the protago- nist of the story. Nancy, his desert- ed wife, is the heroine, and she and Squire Braile, a mocker as courageous as he is wise and humorous, are two Among the oth- er characters are a perfectly real and delightful boy, Joey; David Gillespie, hard and just and splendid; and Jane, his red-headed, blue-eyed daughter, | a girl of few words, almost ferocious in her loves and hates. Rhymes of A Red Cross Man Vivid, characteristic Service verse, hot from his experience at the fighting front. Price $1.00. > + Some of the Newest, brightest Books: The Beech Woods Sof Canada) friends England. in Distinetively Cana. dings; beautifully Hiustrated. The Romance of a - Christmas Card. shlendid wife book. | $1.00. The Heart of Rachael By Kathleen Norrin. a lever, {tensely interestink , salvation on_ecasy terms has got a {but all along I've felt it myself. | cover. to cover. The story is an accurate and in- & reproduction of pioneer western life, a dramatization for to-day of the men and women of | yesterday who were making America-- | a moving narrative of characters mo- | tivated by powerful, elemental emo- tions.. We see the effect upon the be- lievers and the scoffers of the setting up of a new and preposterous reli gious claim, and its subsequent fail- ure. Amid it all the character of Squire Braile, a suspected infidel, standd out in bold relief. It is a character splendidly drawn, and could only be conceived by the brain | of such a writer as the dean of | American literature. The squire, perhaps, sums up the whole problem in a paragraph: "You see, life is hard in a new country, and anybody that promises strong hid at the very start. Peo- le will accept anything from him. mewhere, tucked away in us, is the longing to know whether we'll live again, and the hope that we'll 'be happy. I've got fun out of that fact in a community where I've had the reputation of an infidel for fifty years; We want to be good, and we want to be safe, even if we are not good; and the first fellow that comes along and tells us to have faith in him, and he'll make it all right, why we have faith in him, that's all." From first to last the narrative is direct and moving, quick with senti- ment and mellow with gracious, kind- ly humor. : |) ee---- i AN AMIABLE CHARLATAN. By E. Oppenheim. 302 child & Se 'oronto, pub- | Readers of modern fiction 2re well acquainted with ( 's many books. This one is in his best style-- humorous, interesting from ¢ It admirably serves its purpose of whiling away an idle hour provoking many a Hi. Ban: oseph H. Bun- dercombe, a wealth to England with his daughter Eve, he was not "content fo be an ordinary {sorting with crimimals, and land { brought enjoyment and y American, came in going abdut under an assumed name, making use of disguises, con- getting himseli watched by Scotland, Yard. He was assisted in: his exploit Sy his daughter and a young Englishman of excellent family, who did not at all approve of Mr. Bundercombe's can- duct, but was led to assist because he had fallen in love with Eve. Wher- ever Mr. Bundercombe went some- thing was sure to happen; jewels dis- appeared, money was stolen, or there was cheating at cards; and yet he al- ways kept clear bf anything more than being under suspicion, had plenty of excitement and invariably turned to some waqrthy purpose the fruits of his shady efforts. ~ Oppen- heim has made this character a very lovable one, and at the&ame time has given his admirers another pleasing book. THE AMATEUR. By Charles G. Norris. . 379 pages. Price, $1.35. The Musson Book Co., Toronto, publishers. Mr. Norris, who is a brether of Frank Norris, author of "The Pit." atc. has produced his first novel, and one of considerable promise. In "The Amateur" he has set himself the task of describing the career of a young ar- tist attempting to break inta New York. Itis a tale of struggles, hopes disappointments, after which comes a brief success achieved by a trick, and then a revolution in 'the hero's ideas of 'what is worth achiev- ing. Both the agreeable and sordid features of life in New York are de- scribed by Mr. Norris with consider- able power. He pictures: conditions and sketches his characters that the reader can feel them as-actually existing. He has undoubted skill as a story-teller, and shows an intimate knowledge of the ways and experi- ences of artists. His future books will be looked forward to with antici- pated pleasure. WALT MASON--HIS BOOK. Barse & Hopkins, New York, publish- ers. 189 es. Illustrated. Price, $1.00. RB Ugiow &. Co., and Col- lege Book Store, city. A book of genuine pleasure! Good, old Walt Mason, how he has encourage- ment to untold thousands! He i par excellence, the poet of American democracy--the interpreter of the thought and feelings and aspirations of the common people throughout the North American continent, His homely proverbs, his simple, under- standable style, his genial optimism, his breadth of outlook, his unfailing ability to grasp the feelings and long- ings of the multitude of ordinary indi- viduals, have endeared him to count- less readers, not only of the enterpris- ing section of the daily press, but to all book-lovers as well. For a long time now his "poems in (Oe have been a"daily feature of the Vhig, and never have we had a more popular one. Many a reader--many a scrapbook--bear testimony to this. Canadians will be all the more inter- ested in the present attractive volume of selected poems when it is remem- bered that Walt is @ fellow Canadian by birth. One oh the illustrations in the book shows his modest boy- hood home at Columbus, Ont. An- other picture is of his present palatial residence in Emporia, Kansas. For Many years he has resided in this American city, where, besides turning out his daily prose-poems on the type- writer for millions of readers, he holds the position of editor of the Emporia Gazette. THE SPELL OF EGYPT. By Archie Bell. 366 pages. Illus- trated. Price, $2.50. The Page Co., Boston, publishers. R. Ug- low & Co.,, and College Book Store, iy Someone has said that enough books have been written about Egypt to dam the Nile. Yet there is no ap- parent diminution in the output, Per- haps this is because, as the author points out, Egypt, which sometimes seems to have been thé beginning of almost everything that plays a part in the contemporary life of man, is always new. A book might be writ- SO ten about every square foot of Egyp- tian soil, every monument that raises its head above the ground, every cave in its honeycombed mountains, and every ripple upon the broad bosom of the: river that gives the country life The writer must acknowledge that he has not read many books on Egypt, but if they are as good as Mr. Bell's he would gladly read them all The present volume is another of the famous "Spell" series published by the Page Company, and like its predecessors most artistically print- ed, illustrated and bound urely no land under the sun is more apt to cast a spell over the traveller than the land of the Pharaohs. Mr, Bell has suc ceeded in' interpreting its everladting charm, in picturing to us the strange life of the strange races that inhabit it, and in bringing. before our mind the glory and the grandeur that once were Egypt's, now, alas, only faintly suggested by the monuments of a long-dead past. The author is a true lover of Egypt, and as he muses in the shade of pyramids, or temples, or tombs, he calls back to the imagina- tion the gorgeous scenes of a past that antedates all history and goes back to the very beginnings of the human race. We read on and on, enjoying every vididly painted picture and ev- ery simple description, The journey down the Nile--the reader enjoys it as much almgst as the author did, What better triS§te to the book can he pay than that? The illustrations are pro fuse and very beautiful A handsome gift-book, indeed, is "The Spell of Egypt.' SONS OF CANADA By Augustus Bridle. 280 pages. lustrated. Price, $1.50. J Dent & Sons, Ltd, Toronto, pub- lishers. 2 The editor of the Canadian Courier has produced a volume that should be given a hearty welcome by Cana. dians. It is entitled 'Sons of Can ada," and the author in his sketches of these men setssout to tell "not who their fathers were, nor what their sons may be, but what they them selves did with all their might" He who opens this book from patriotic duty will remain to read from min- gled motives of interest and amuse ment. It is pleasant to have all the weaknesses and follies of our Cana dian great wittily exposed along with their greatnesses And in the read ing one learns easily much that has formed the lifework of these men. Nothing is set down in malice. These sketches are impressionistic studies of afew of the men (thirty-four to be ex- act) in various walks of life whose lives have made Canada a land of big works, remantic history, rather. too much politics and human possibilities as vet only icratched on the surface It is a story of workers, of men whé do big things There are. excellent pen pictures of men like Van Horne, Shaughnessy, Sam Hughes, Bourassa, Sifton, Falconer, Borden, Laurier, Steele, Sir William Macdonald, Beck, Foster, etc. Here is a delgihtful and engrossing series of biographies of men in various walks of life, hand- somely illustrated with sixteen por- traits drawn by F. S. Challoner. PATRIOTIC PLAYS. Edith Lelean. Price, 25¢ each. William Briggs, Toronto, publish- er. The house of Briggs 'has produced a number of patriotic plays written by Edith Lelean. They appear in the form of small, paper-covered bro- chures, selling at the popular price of twenty-five cents each, and "include "The War 'on the Western Front," "The Key of Jack Canuck's Treasure House," "The Making of Canada's Flag." and "A Canadian Fairy Tale" Patriotic in theme, they are each ad mirably suited for production at Red Cross and kindred concerts, school ex- ercises, et¢. The introductions de- scribe the costumes required, the mu sic to be supplied and other informa- tion. The ea is a splendid one, and it has been worked out with much skill and literary ability, These plays ought. to' be very popular with those seeking material for public, patriotic concerts. Il. M. (Continued On Page 17) sured possessions War tions for the Wonderful Y he wonderful n "Religion in Song™ The AND LOOK Make This a ari An inveterate reader of s i found tourist. tective stories, he amusement By the author of "A Hilltop on the Studies in the Book Christmas GIFTS THAT WILL BE REMEMBER- ED WHEN CHRISTMAS IS PAST Happily chosen BOOKS become trea- and never fail to awak- en pleasant memories of their givers.' Books, Fiction and Poet - fully represented among the new publica- ic Canam now on ex- "by MH. G. Wells. reader must prize. by Wim. J. Locked. - >. wonderful author. are Robert W. Service. Marne." Psalter, by Prof. W. G. Jordan. "With Joffre at Verdun," by Capt. Brereton. boys" story of the war. . OVER THE BOOK COUNTERS. RUglow 5 Sorpany, sis a Book Christmas. 7 rrr ------