SPRING IS NOW UPON YOU!!!

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8376, 24 July 1905, Page 4

SPRING IS NOW UPON YOU!!!

The secret of good health is to have GOOD BLOOD, STRONG NERVES, a firm,, buoyant and ' light step, xfhich will make life a pleasure and life worth living. TAMER JUICE WILL DO THIS. This Preparation is a purely Herbal Compound, which Cures CONSTIPATION, INDIGESTION., LIVER and BOWEL Ailments ; and therefore prormotes good health. Ask for TAMER JUICE.- and see that you get it; 2s 6d, all chemists and stores. x S.J.EVANS, Manufacturing Chemist, Dunedin KEMPTHORNE, PROSSER AND CO. - Agents; ' , And all Merchants. 7503

School for Scandal." Each volume has an introduction by Edmund Gosse and a photogravure of a well-known actor in one of tho principal characters. It is unnecessary to say anything of tho plays themselves, they have their place amongst English classics, and most people are well acquainted with them. Mr Gosse's introductions give succinctly all the information needed for a thorough understanding of the circumstances under which Sheridan's brilliant work was produced. lief erence has been made in dealing with previous volumes of this Library to the neatness, haudiness and all-round goodness of these cheap little books : the publisher merits the thanks of all lovers of literature. If anyone has still in store the pleasure of a first enjoyment of the fun of "The Rivals" he has now a chance of tasting that pleasure cheaply.

"For Those Who Laugh," by Adair Welcker. (San Francisco : A. Welcker.)

Mr Welcker is a man with a grievance 5 iie found trouble when, as a lawyer, he started to advertise. He is bitter against the custom that forbids lawyers to puff their wares, although, as he says, he has succeeded notwithstanding much opposition ; also, as he states in many much involved sentences, he is a champion — especially for laughter — of Democracy. This set of sketches contains some fun; the fun would be. more appreciated if Mr Welcker were less diffuse. There is freshness in the work, but there is a lack of that vivacity one is accustomed to expect in American productions. There are a number of verses in German dialect of the "Jacob Strauss" variety ; some of the verses show distinct cleverness.

" The King's Friend," by Dugald Ferguson (Paisley: Alexander Gardiner). Mi ; Ferguson's name is familiar to colonial readers as that* of tho author of numerous poems and some stories. This, his latest work, is a tale of the Scottish wars of independence, in which the Bruce and Wallace Wight figure so splendidly. As Mr Ferguson says in his preface, the story of Wallace is principally an unwritten one, and historians have customarily ignored all his exploits, save those that bore a clear historical 'warranty ; both English and Scottish writers have fought shy of attempting to do justice here. Here Mr Ferguson introduces exploits, which, he says, belong to the unwritten story, otherwise the narrative is grounded on authentic history. The King is Robert the Bruce, his friend is one Archibald Sinclair, a nephew of the Douglas, and a great fighter. .There is a mystery hanging over the antecedents of Sinclair which is satisfactorily cleared as the story proceeds, and it is told how he, the King, Wallace and all the .worthies of those stirring times, fare in the struggle with English Edward. Sinclair is, apparently, the exception to the rule as to the fate of those who put their trust in princes. His career outlasted those of Wallace, the two Bruces and many others alongside whom he fought. Making allowances for the suggestion of stiitedness that is the result of an attempt to reproduce, the olden style of conversation, Mr Ferguson's work is full of life. He has a great story to tell, the mere names of the men he brings into his pages are sufficent to rouse the blood of every reader with a touch of Scottish descent, and the story is one that will interest even the Southron, for it is a story of daring and knightly, deeds. Mr Ferguson has done his v work thoroughly, and with obvious enthusiasm. Old Scottish story is, he rightly thinks, worthy of more recognition than is usually its meed. <