2 NOVEMBER 1907, Page 8

Messrs. T. C. and E. C. Jack are publishing a

series of "Original Stories for Boys, Girls, and Children" (2s. per vol.) Among these volumes, in the first division, is Aubrey Vernon, by Arthur Lee Knight, an excellent tale of the South African War. It is especially concerned with the adventures of Aubrey Vernon, the Midshipman who gives his name to the book, and his mentor, Joe Brine, a seaman-gunner. They are taken prisoners and make a clever escape, and have various exciting adventures, in which they come across such famous people as Kruger, Joubert, and King Khama. To the same division also belongs Braves White and Red, by Argyll Saxby, a very stirring tale of adventure among tiro Red Indians. Mr. Saxby combines with no little success the Red Indian of Fenimore Cooper with the more prosaic creature who is actually to be seen in the flesh. A Hand of Steel, by Paul Creswick, is described by its sub-title, "The Great Thatchmere Mystery." It is constructed on much the same lines as Wilkie Collins's "Moonstone." Freda's Fortune, by G. M. Imlach, is one of the "Books for Girls." The heroine gets among gipsies and goes through sundry adventures. To the same section belongs Told by Eileen, by Alice Massie, an ingeniously constructed romance of common life. Finally, for children we have Cousin. Rex, by E. W. Gruggen, in which our old friend or enemy, the selfish, rude, disobedient boy, is turned into something quite different.