The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 17, 1907, Page 13

The San Francisco Sunday Call hd The First Ironclad Naval ley. all Wilson. well. Christopher Benson. Simons. o « at hand this 3 throw—or attempt to throw light on some s Civil War. It does fnon interest their 1y Confederate North and the peint of admitting e at least two sides to question that was de- . r 1 non all the way from Sumter to Appomat- w, whether they agree or s and successors of welcome acces- to the vast touch the side. “The Engagement in sed as per- a souvenir White, who in the Mer- ge the gundeck, gong E tubes He tells of the in Hampton Roads on 1862, between the Co nclad Merrimac and ftor as he saw it, and om other eyewitnasses s extracts from the newspapers da) v t engineer ptain E. insiste ¥ to the of his that the e victor the cele- h th itor. He at length the impressions a itness from Fortress Mon- . that “though written in r ds It 1s not in accordance wit ctual facts, * is mis- b h and no facts justif ts; they have misled ander of the Gassanidi a war, witnessed the com- a report to his govern- this report, Captain White d alone set at rest forever eated assertion that the eated the Merrimac. White also says that the was the vessel which sug- entral idea of the modern ‘Out of the burnt Merri- he says, “was created the iron- iniaSa ship that not only great historic battle, but revolution in the construc- hips throughout the world tically, the model ds of all nations is written wholly without with natural de- a very ce the facts of that great as the author saw them, before rested is ed with traits and is well printed. New York.) writte his wido n Maffitt, who wae also is really a good sea story, subject of this appreclation of the later years of his n a farm near to the water to bring comfort a man of the sea. It is a valuable cord, for it gives in technical voyages of all the story of a of character is his duty as of Irish parentage, the South, a midshipman at United States navy, he re- trust in 1861 to enter the e Confederacy. He served sea until the end of the manded a British merchant 1865 to 1867, and then farm in North Carolina, he died in 1886. No matter how one may feel about Mafitt's resigna- from the Stars and Stri es for the and Bars, the work he did for men about him engaged In the Confederate strife makes an intensely eresting human-interest story. Jef- fersgn Davis said that he was a man who always did more than was fairly to be expected of him. When Admiral Dewey met Mrs. Maffitt at a reception in 1904 he spoke of “John Mafitt, my dear friend, the elite of the navy, the brav- est of the brave.” (Neale Publishing Company, Price $3.) New s > a Novel on the Servant Problem 1 the march of science and for the progress of mankind in the arts e domestic problem that every American kitchen ws no sign of solution. It may be a trifie compared with the eco- ic puzzle of which it is a part, but e housewife it is the most insis- nt of worries. Comes now Mrs. Florence Morse Xingsley with a novel on .he subject “Truthful Jane” i the title—that is not wholly satisfying In that it makes o little of its purpose and too much of its romance. A high born English zirl, abused and ill treated by an ni upon whom she is dependent, comes to America to make her fortune. After a series of failures and mishaps, in desperation she takes employment “second girl” in a middle class erican family living In a New York suburb. The attitude of mistress and servant is shown, not in prosy lectures, but by the characters of the story and development of the plot; but the story s the main thing, after all. The reader i= interested deeply In poor Jane and her fortunes and not at all in the prob- nd the purpose of the tale, that purpose being to show American wo- men the mistakes they make in deal g with their “help.” Not long ago an Bastern interviewer talked with Mrs. Kingsley in her Sta- Island home about the servant m, which he found as vital a in her household as in any own private idea about the mat- ter,” said Mrs. Kingsley, “is that each mistress should adopt for her own the old motto, ‘Noblesse oblige” To this ‘eltrustic sentiment let her add th frame of mind of the forelgn mission- ten the World, by Captain E. V. White. The Life and Services of John Newland Maffitt, by Emma Martin Maffiti. Truthful Jane, by Florence Morse Kings- Alexander Wilson, ornithologist, by South- The Diamond Ship, by Max Pemberton. The Silence of Toni, by Molly Elliott Sea- Memoirs of Arthur Hamilton, by Arthur Class Struggles in America, by A. M. Wags—The Philosophy of the Peaceful Pup—by John Taylor. Engagement in who hails with delight the firet! faintest tokens of probity, industry and mon decency in his flock. This is t confronts we must play the in our Kkitchens, ining, building up into in- telligent womannood the raw, ignorant, untaught girls who are pouring into Americ st of these girls will mar- ry and be T me mothers, and what the American housewife says and does in the intimate seclusion of her kitchen will affect the future generations of America in ways untold. perhaps un- thought of. This view of the case will probably be entirely foreign to the woman who pays her servant® as small wages €ible to perform the multi- tudin s. and who expects these labors to be ac 1 the minimum of time and maximum of excellence, with a demeanor of humble subserviency and good temper. Such women are in a constant state of surprise, indignation, and despair over the alleged stupldity, impertinence and incompetency of their servants, They are never done talking about their trials to any one who will listen. Sucn a person was once called to order by an irate do ic who took advantage of a hasty dismissal to give her mistress what she termed ‘a good plece of me mind.’ ‘You'll git,’ she con- cluded, ‘just as good servants as ye de- serve.’ “I have the hardihood to confess that T have my share of the woes incident to the housekeeper in a suburban town. My last cook, who lived with me five years, drank. and would abandon me to &0 off on a spree at the most inoppor- tune moments. At present I am strug- ng with a Norwegian, red-cheeked, nde. willing, but ——. Nevertheles! velieve that the solution of the ser- vant question rests with the individual ho keepers; it is not demonstrable in the large, any more than the manage- ment of our children, or of our private opinions on future punishment, or the state of the heathen in the next world. If we have difficulties it behooves us to look to our requirements—are we just &nd reasonable, do we pay sufficient WA are we Invariably sweet tem- pered when we descend into our kitch- ens of a morning? Are we as patient, considerate and polite as we require our “Inferiors’ to be? Our consclence forces the reply from us that we have no busi- ness to complain; in short, we have just as good servants as we deserve. .The seldom recognized law of attraction which divorces as well as binds human beings, each to the other, works in the kitchen quite as efficiently as, let us say, the law of gravitation (D. Appleton & Co., New York. Price $1.50.) —— Fitting Biography of America’s First Ornithologist Alexander Wilson, America’s first ornithologlst, as well as a poet of some achlevement, has at last found a fitting blographer in Professor Southall Wil- son, who has done for him what Bu- chanan and Burroughs have done for Audubon. The biographer is assistant professor of English and history in the College of William and Mary. It was fortunate for him that Peale painted an excellent portrait of Alexander Wilson which, being used as the frontispiece of the volume, engages the attention of the reader before he turns a page. A study of the face of this man, whose life and work are here given to the public, reveals the eves of the woods- man—softly intense, far-seeing and be- speaking the great peace of the forest. Alexander Wilson saw more than the birds in the woods and was able to tell their story in verse that stands the tests of craftsmanship as well as com- manding attention for its gentle verity. Much has been written of Alexander Wilson both in this country and in Europe, and his life struggle and success was once made the subject of a book, “Difficulties Overcome,” by C. Lucy Brightwell, but it has remained for James Southall Wilson to do full justice to this interesting character. Born in Scotland be belonged to the time of Bobby Burns—in fact, was a visitor of hie at Ayrshire. Being a weaver, a poet, poor and quite ready to write what he thought of abuses about him, his dars in Scotland were far from uninteresting; in fact, he was not very old when he was prosecuted for publishing a libelous poem. Dis- appointed, suspected politically and out of sympathy with his surroundings, Wilson sailed for America just two years before Burns died. His nineteen Years in America—he died when he was but 47—brought him real and lasting fame. His work and his literary achievements are more appreciated as the years pass. Exposure endured while he was trying to further his be- loved ‘science led him to his death. He tramped from one end to the other of the American wilds, with the only re- ward that he became the founder of American ornithology. Professor Wilson has told of this singularly Interesting man in a most entertaining way. He opens the book with an analysis of the deplorable con- ditions in the Scotland of Alexander ‘Wilson’s day which drove such a man over seas. ‘No one could accuse Pro- fessor Wilson of not being frank; in fact, one might be quite sure after his arraignment that the blue laws were born in Scotland. Teaching engaged Wilson's attention in America, but the confinement of it wore upon him. His blo- grapher says: “He loyed to be out in the open, drinking in the fresh air, following the ‘birds through the forest, in short, as it seemed then, playing truant to the world and its workaday problems; and anything which shut him up Indoors, whether it were weaving or teaching, was the thing he hated.” The study of birds and drawing was taken up at the suggestion of friends who would keep him from the melan- cholia which seemed to be bearing down upon him. When Wilson wrote to a friend that he intended to make a collection of all the birds in his part of North America, he said that it was a quixotic plan and & sort of brain “windmill,” but to him it was one of his “earthly com- forts.” Thus was begun the work | N SIS AT SSISSSISNS L AT SNSSSISISS 2277 SIS Lo <5 N \\ SN G222 Al T $S which has so great a scientific value to America. Five years after he com- menced this study his first book on ornithology was published. In all he wrote eight volumes. A number of good letters by Wilson illumine this blography. Those ex- changed between Wilson and Thomas Jefferson are conspicuous in the col- lection. A letter. in which Audubon tells of his meeting Wilson in Louls- ville, gives a clear light on the per- sonalities of the men. Wilson's diary flatiy contradicts Audubon, in whose letter there are distinct traces of jeal- ousy. Burroughs in some of his writ- ings says that Audubon made one story “out of whole cloth.” Professor Wilson claims that there is every reason to give credence to the sturdy Scot. As to the manner and outcome of the meeting between the two oxnithologists the records and comparisons of dates do not place Audubon in a happy light. Wilson died in harness in 1813 and is buried in the graveyard of the old Swedish church in Philadelphia, where, as Alexander B. Grosart says, an oriole seems always to be piping in & tree overhead. Professor Wilson's best chap- ter is of “Wilson, the Man" It is a model of smooth, clear English. In fact, few biographies contain so much extraneous, but pertinent, engaging matter. Like all the recent books from the same press, the Wilson blography is, from the printers’ and bookbinders’ standpoint, well worth while. (Neale Publishing Company, New York. Price $2.) T Max Pemberton’s New Novel of ° Rogues and Jewels Material enough was flung away in “The Diamond Ship,” the last novel by Max Pemberton, to make half a dozen exciting books, instead of one short story, of plot—and he can afford it. The center of the stage in this melo- drama longs to a gang of criminals, captained by one old in years and wick- edness, the ¢ruel crafty Valentine Im- roth. Tite arch-villain's wecakness is in his love of his wife, vaguely seen in the background of the tale. The merest threat of harm to her plerces Imroth's case-hardened villainy and almost humanizes him. The foil for all this wickedness is an English doctor with a Monte Cristo income and hidden re- sources of information, which fail him no emergenc The doctor, Eau Fabos, is gem-lover and collector; jewels are his only passion. One even- ing he is out with a crowd of gay friends and they idly drift into a char- ity dance, where he meets his fate. He is much shocked to find Fer wearing some remarkable bronze pearls stolen from him the year before. From that moment he must track her and her supposed father, one of the gang of criminals, around the world. Partly he is occupied with thoughts of revenge, but most of the time his love is uppermost and he wishes to save the girl, whom he believes to be innocent, from the clutches of the criminals. The pursuit involves superhuman difficulty, exciting adventure and a' be- wildering rush of melodramatic situa- tions, but of course he is finally suc- cessful and all the difficulties are so straightened out that every one is happy ever after. It is a frothy tale, but entertaining and well done, though the plot is obvious after the first chap- ter. (D. Appleton & Co, New York. Price $1.50.) Lo PRt Molly Elliott Seawell's New Story Disappointing Molly Elliott Seawell’s contribution to the early rush of after-the-holidays fiction, “The Silence of Toni,” is some- thing of a disappointment, being al- most juvenile and yet lacking all of the qualities that appeal to child in- terest. The story is a kind of double romance, beginning with the four Iit- tle personages when they are 10 and 12 vears old. It takes them through rather ordinary lives up to marriage. One of the characters, “Toni,” the real subject of the book, is intended to be a character gtudy, but it is neither a deep nor convincing study, nor is the character in any wise typical. Toni Is a circus rider for a few years, and has courage and confidence enough to be a success. Lazy, illiterate, without am- bition for anything in the world save that he aspires some time to marry Denise, his childhood’s sweetheart, Tonl is a mental and moral coward. He drifts weakly into the power of two villains, almost too unprincipled, and several times his life is nearly wrecked by them, but the very cowardice which puts him in their power saves him at the critical moment. . A reasonless kind of book, this. The liveliness, spirit and entertainment al- ways heretofore present in this au- thor® dainty little stories are sadly missing. (D. Appleton & Co., Price $1.50.) New York. Sl First Book by the Author of “The Upton Letters” The recent revival of interest in “The Upton Letters” has caused a demand for the first book by their author, Ar- thur Christopher Benson. This boek, “Memoirs of Arthur Hamilton,” pub- lished in 1886, was, like the rest of Benson's prose works, issued anony- mously. At the time the book caused much speculation, being for a time con- sidered a genuine book of “Memoirs™ edited by “Christopher Carr,” whose name was signed to the dedication. It soon went out of print and the few who knew of it found it difficult to obtain. It Has remained practically un- known and almost forgotten for twen= ty-one years. g The story, or, rather, study, is of a reflective temperament and is very carefully written, but is so gdifferent from what the popular taste demands but Pemberton is eéver generous’ 222 SRS S 2222227 SRS NAVY YARD, APRIL 19,/867 CARTA JOHN 1< NEWLAND MAFFITT f - Sl nowadays that ft is doubtful if it will receive much notice. It is hardly deep enough to"be called a profound char- acter study and has not enough plot to be called a story. (Mitchell Kennerley, Price $1.25.) wal . i Socialist - Editor | Republishes Interesting Booklet A. M. Simons, editor of the Tater- national Socialist Review,~wrote a lit- tle pamphlet several years ago on “Class Struggles in America,” which had a large circulation in socialist circles. He revised this work a vear ago and almost made a new book of it, and this, with a large number of foot- notes and helpful references to books easily procurable, makes the third edi- tion, just issued. The keynote of Mr. Simons’ bellefs is found in this state- ment: “Inievery historical epoch the prevailing mode of economlic production and exchange, and the soclal organiza- tion necessarily following from it, form the basis upon which it is built up, and from which alohe can be explained the political and intellectual history of that epoch.” While many facts which the author uses are well known. to speclalists In American history tWey are not to be found, he says, in the text-books.be- cause, as he asserts, “these facts do not fit in well with the’ patriotic con- ception that American institutions are the result of a continuous and con- scious endeavor of an unbroken series of high-minded men to embody the highest spiritual perfection in forms of law.” This booklet is well worth reading, if for no other purpose than to draw the attention of the “idle rich” to the tremendous movement now going for- ward in America toward which they appear to be comfortably and fatuously blind. (Charles- H. Kerr & Co, Price 50 cents.) Chicago. —— . Novel by Lillian Bell Turns on Christian Science The appearance of Christian Science in fiction by an author of reputation evidences the conversion to that faith— if faith it be—of a writer no less dis- tinguished than Lillilan Bell. . “Caro- lina Lee” is the story, bright, breezy and full of quotable humor. Carolina is jntroduced as a child, born and edu- cated in Paris. Her father is of the Southern - gentleman type, intensely American, intensely Southern. He is a diplomatic representative at Paris, later transferred to London, and though he is a credit to his country is unhappy because he is unable to get back to America and rebuild the an- cestral home in the South, destroved during the war. That, in barest out- line, is Carolina’s inheritance— love for the South and love for her father. She loses father, mother and fortune, incurs the dislike of her brother's wife, and finds the broken-down home of her ancestors mortgaged to her enemy, who promptly forecloses. Then, to cap all, she meets with a worse than fatal accident while riding. The troubles piled upon her seem beyond human endurance and the read- er sympathizes heartily with her when she says that God has been a cruel Father to her and that all she has to hope for now is death. Enters then, beneficently, Christian Sclence. Its teachings help her over many a stony bit of her road, and as she regains her courage she rapidly returns the way to health and happiness. Miss Bell has been writing success- ful novels for a dozen years, and it does not appear that her departure of creed has cost her anything of her literary power to interest. Her ad- mirers will like this book, and it ought to be vastly pleasing to the Christian Scientists. (L. C. Page & Co., Boston. Price $1.50.) —— ¢ Indiana Still Holds the Belt for “Best Sellers” ‘Whatever students of literature may profess to see in the analysis of fiction of 1906, it must be clear to them that Indiana authors were the ¥4 New York. , Gallyr B eCQ aolitage CONDUCTED BY UNA H. H. COOL foremost producers of the most popu- lar novels. It does not follow, of course, says the Indianapolis News, that these novels are the best in the world or that they possess merit which will endure more than a few months of the popularity they attained. In- deed, during the year, so far as popu- larity was concerned, they displaced ‘nany books which, no doubt, were better from a literary viewpoint than MAFFITT IN UNIFORM OF COMMANDER., “HERRIMAC IN DRY DOcK BENG CONVERTED they, and were in turn displaced by books of no more merit than they themselves possessed. But, comparatively speaking, we have no cause for any great dissatis- faction over the novels conceded to have been the successes of 1906. It is easy enough to profess pessimism, to deplore the absence of any great or vital or enduring work of fiction, and to contrast the year with some other twelvemonth of thirty or forty years ago to the discredit of the men and women of letters whose books are published today. But the fact still remains that the novels of 1906 com- pare very favorably with the novels of any one of the eight or ten preced- ing years. And this, of course, is again to In- diana’s credit. How this comes about is shown by a study of the “best sell- ing” novels of the year. Beginning with the first month of 1906, “The House of Mirth” was in the lead. Month by month changes were noted , and new books were recorded as com- ing to the fore in the public’s favor. There was “The Conquest of Canaan” and “Nedra,” then “The Gambler,” “Rose o' the River,” “Fair Margaret,” all to be supplanted a few weeks later by “The House of a Thousand Candles.” Throughout the early months of the \year Mr. Tarkington's story and Mr. ‘Nicholson’s novel struggled for first place with such hooks as “The Wheel of Life,” “The Spoilers” and “Lady Balti- ' more.” Finally Mr. Nicholson's book forged to the front and held first place until, later, it gave way before Mc- Cutchegn's “Cowardice Court,” Wis- ter's “Lady Baltimore” and rs. Ward's “Fenwick's Career.” Other books then entered the race—"“Pam Decides,” “The Jungle,” “The Awaken- ing of Helena Ritchie” and *“The Fighting Chance.” Late in the year Mr. "McCutcheon’s “Jane Cable” came with a rush and stood second in point . of sale when the year closed. Beginning with last January those books 'which were in most demand -during the year were: “The House of Mirth. “The Conquest of Canaan.” “Nedra.” “The Gambler.” ‘Rose o' the River.,” . “Fair Margaret.” “The House of a Thousand Candles.” “The Wheel of Life.” “Lady Baltimore.” “The Spoilers.” “Cowardice Court.” “Fenwick’s Career.” “Pam Decide: “The Jungl “Coniston.” “The Awakening of Helena Ritchie.” “The Fighting Chance.” “Jane Cable.” Of these eighteen novels—the most widely read of the year—four only were written by authors not born in the United States. Of the fourteen by native authors one came from the pen of a writer born in Virginia, one from an author born in Maryland, one from a native of Missouri, one from a Michi- gan novelist. New York was the place of birth of the authors of two of the successful books, and Pennsylvania is recorded as the native State of three of the writers. But from three authors —Tarkington, McCutcheon~and Nichol- son—who were all born in came five of the teading novels of the year. To Mr. McCutcheon three of these are credited and one each to Mr. Tarkington and to Mr. Nicholson. g Pup’s” Philosophy All Optimism The publishers are not quite sure whether “Wags—The Phllosophy of the Peaceful Pup,” by John Taylor, comes in the “literary class.” The question may be answered in the affirmative. The advice in rhyme given by the “peaceful pup” is much ke the phil- osophy of the golden pup which ap- peared as a Christmas card several years ago. The pup is a firm believer in smiles—in taking things easy, thus: “When your -atmosphere is blue; ‘When your laundry bill is due; ‘When everything and every one is vile; When you spurn your daily hash, And your prospects go to smash, Then it's time for you to open up a smile.” The canine conventional drawings are made by Harold Sichel and have as much humor in them as some of “Chip’s™ famous dogs. They serve as a decora- tion on every page. (Morgan Shepard Company, New York. Price 75 cents.) R 2 Howells to Be the Orator of Longfellow's Centenary The selection of William Dean How- ells as orator at the celebration of the Longfellow centenary, February 27, is in every respect suitable, says the New York Times. He is the one literary man of eminence in this country whom nine-tenths of his fellow countrymen would have chosen to do honor to the memory of New Epgland’s great poet. For Longfellow was a great poet, great alike in his literary achievement and in his influence upon American thought and feeling, and it is absurd te fancy “Peaceful that denial of his greatness indicates fine literary judgment. It has long been the custom « a certain set of English journalists to sniff at Long- fellow, chiefly because of the popularity of his writings among the English mids dle classes. Their attitude toward ad- mirers of the author of “Hiawatha” and “Evangeline” is similar to that of the distinguished H. G. Wells toward some Americans (school children, we believe) who betrayed a knowledge of Tenny- son’'s “Princess.” But it is not neces- sary to take any English judgment of Longfellow into consideration when we measure his greatness, mer need we ever keep in mind the need of measur- ing the product of his genius and fancy in comparison with the whole body of English literature. Longfellow was a great American poet, a great man In his hour, and a great name In our literary history. We have no doubt that Mr. Howells will do ample justice to his memory. E. H. Clement, writing of Longfellow and Howells in the Bos- ton Transcript, points out that in a month after the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the poet's birth, Mr. Howells will celebrate his own seventieth birthday. Mr. Clement intimates that this announcement may surprise many friends of the novelist. Tt is a matter of fact that Mr. Howells is not an old man; in these days a man of 70 is not necessarily to be looked upon as aged. Mr. Howells has been continually at work. since his young manhood, and always in the current. We famcy that to him each year is a better year than any of its predecessors. He is young-hearted and young-minded, and is rarely in the reminiscent mood, never in a pessimis- tic way.. g Gossip of Books and People Who Make Them It is interesting to know of Joseph Conrad that, full as his own life has been of exciting events, the life of his grandfather was stiil more fascinat- ing, for he was one of the grande ar- mee of Napoleon. L The parish church at Colinten, on the Pentland Hills, where Robert Louls Stevenson spent much of his boyhood, is being demolished. Stevenson’s ma- ternal grandfather, Mr. Balfour, was the minister of the old church, and it was at the manse that the young Stev- enson yed. A photograph c¢f the church shows it a quaint, squat little edifice, half covered with vines and set in the midst of an old graveyard. RAET SR “The Far Horlzon,” the first novel by Lucas Malet since her famous story, “Sir Richard Calmady.” is causing a great deal of discussion in England, and will undoubtedly be one of the noteworthy books of the year in this This book was published just after the Indiana, . country. Dodd, Mead & Co. publish it this month. . . . Mrs. Deland is both touched and pleagsed that “The Awakening of Helena Richie” is to be published in raised letters for the use of the blind, her publishers, the Harpers, having at once given the desired permission. * . . . 1t is pleasant to note that the popu- larity of new writers has not caused the begt writers of an older genera- tion to be elther forgotten or neglect- ed. Dinah Maria Mulock—"Miss Mu- lock” as she is almost always termed— is among the few whose books exercise a perennial charm. Of her works “John Halifax, Gentleman™ continues to be in greatest demand, and the Harpers from time to time is new editlons of It. But other books by this author also enjoy a continuing pepularity, as 1is evident from fact that'new oditions of “The Ogilvies” and “A Life for a Life” have just been issued. E. Wilkins Mary whose new novel. “By the Light of the Soul.” was published last week. Is one of the most famous among living writers, and yet she i{s by nature so averse to seif- advertisement that the general public knows little of her personality except so far as it is expressed in her books. She was born in Randolph, Massachu- setts, and received her education st Mount Holyoke Seminary. Ten years of her life were passed in Brattleboro, Vermont, but after that she returned to Randolph. She was married in 1902 to Dr. Charles Manning Freeman. Since their marriage Dr. and Mrs. Freeman have made their home in the pleasant town of Metuchen, New Jersey. Mrs. Freeman's success came with practical- 1y her first story, and her writing at once won fame. She has never been spoiled by success, however, but is un- aftectedly modest in her own estimate of her work, and deeply pleased when she feels that it has won the approval of the public. She works entirely In the daytime; when evening comes she “reeman. puts her manuscript aside. She has brown hair and dark blue eyes, and her manner is direct and frank. She has a keen sense of humor, as her writin so clearly show, and when she wishes to do so can express herself with wit and whimsicality. . . In London in April will be celebrated the bicentenary of Henry Fielding, when a new opera based upon “Tom Jones” will be produced and a dinner held. Also the. bicentenary of John Wesley's birth in December. One can hardly belleve that Wesley was the auther of 6500 hymns, which are still in vogu about 500 of Paul Leicester Ford little knew he was writing a text-book w he wrote “The Honorable Peter Stirling.” but so it may well be ranked, for the embryo politician can read nothing bet- ter than that fine novel te learn the lesson of personal magnefism and the important part it plays in the life of a successful politician. . ‘Willlam Morrow, formerly treasurer and associate editor of the American Magazine, is now connected with the Frederick A. Stokes publishing house of New York. That firm is making preparations for a new periodical. not in the nature of a general magazine, and Mr. Morrow will take an active part in its management. . . Ernest Howard Crosby, who died a few days ago. had written several books, all of which had an iconoclastic trend. The New York Tribune says that Mr. Crosby himself considered “Captain Jioks, Hero,” his best work, close of the Spanish-American war, and under' a veil of biting satire, the au- thor mockingly shook the American victory into the faces of his country- men as a thing for which they should feel ashamed. All the “heroes” of the American army were held up to ridi- cule. Chaffee, Funston. Bell, Shafter, Hobson and others wers burlesqued and “guyed” in a way that must have made their ears burn. The book aroused every important newspaper in the coun- try, and thousands of lines of discus- sion were printed. Mark Twain rallled to the support of Mr. Crosby, and, In his inimitable way, threw a vein of humor into the controversy. Even though one could not accept Mr. Crosby’s point of view, this book showed genius of & high order. . . Boston has recently been defending her position as a publishing center against the claim that the book makers have all gone to New York. Boston will have to bring out another generation of Emersons, Longfellows and Tho- reaus before it can convince the Phile istines of its literarfy importance. Gelett Burgess's )\ ‘inimitable satire’ Are You'a Bromide? or, The Sulphitic Theory Ex- pounded and Exemplified Ac-. cording to the Most Recent Researches _ Into the Psychology of Boredom; i Many Weli-known »Bromi- dioms now in use. hird printing now ready; at all booksellers, 50 cents, net