The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-05

WORLD OF LETTERS.

ture in the field of pedagogical study.
They will be considered at further
length in another connection The 9TH
er contents of this months Forum are
timely and forceful and the number
merits a large sale.
McCures this time is fiction num-
ber with short stories by kipling,
Frank Stockton and Maclaren, not to
speak of Kipling's serial and one or
two other specimens OF imaginative
writing. But the noteworthy feature
is the beginning of Hamlin Garlands
serial life of Ulysses 5. Grant. n lit
tie while ago IL was Napoleon, then
Washington. then Lincoln and now
Grant This biography. we are told,
will surprise the public by its fresh
ness, its new facts and unpublished
anecdotes: its virile, clear. and absorb
ingly interesting presentation OF Grant
at different periods, Its comprehensive
narrative of the development of Grants
character and genius; and it's vigorous.
compact story of the sequence of
events in Grants life. MIR. Garland,
we are informed. has studied the docu-
mentary records: he has examined
Grants letters-many OF them unpup-
lished: he has visited in person all the
scenes of Grants life In this country,
from West Point to Mexico, and from
Virginia to Oregon; he has interviewed
men who have known Grant personally
and have had significant relations with
him: everywhere he has gathered docu-
mentS and pictures. Then, applying
his skill as literary artist to the mass
of material thus obtained. he has un-
dertaken to sift and mold the whole
into a narrative that should have all
of the picturesque quality and all OF the
dramatic progress and climax of real
istc novel. We can readily credit this
forecast after perusing the opening
chapters. They certainly are fasci-
mating.
The Cosmopolitan runs largely to pic
lures this month: there are seventy
pages of them. Mr.. Crawford's Mod
ern Fairy Tale proceeds nicely; there
is spirited description of the recent
exhibition railway wreck down at
Crush Tex. and not subordinate in in
terest is George F. Becker's paper on
the gold fields of South Africa. new
name appears among the contributors
to the world of art and letters-that OF
Harry Thurston Peck-and We are
glad. for when Professor Peck writes.
we read.
There are several good things in the
Xmas Godey's; too many. in fact. to
mention one at a time. But the aver
age reader will make no mistake if ne
starts in with Clarence Herbert News
story called 1.-The Santa Claus of the
Midland Railway" 1t tells of rail-
way general manager who raises
wages. gives his men turkey dinners
and does many other gracious ana
seemly things on Christmas; but. alas,
he is only imaginary.
Few recent critiques have better
Compr ehended their theme than Is true
Of Joakim Reinhard's paper. in the De-
cember Looker-On, on Paul Bourgeois
novels. 1t Is u model of discriminating
criticism. An article on "The Sublime
and the Sentimental in Piano Playing
tells why many pianists who can IN
terpret Chopin fail to reach over the
majesty of Beethoven. Then there Is
an excellent sketch of Massenet by
Louis G. Elson, and several other
things that ought to interest those who
care for good music.
Foreign Ideas in the Catholic
Church In America" is the title of the
third issue of the Roycroft Quarterly
-Elbert Hubbard's serious venture.
Its author is Rev. Father George Eur
cher, pastor of st. Joseph's church.
Buffclo. He gives the Cahensly wing
in Catholic church politics some
straight from the-shoulder body blows.
and moreover proves that they de-
serve them.
With due respect to the always ad-
mirable contents OF the Bookman, and
especially, on this occasion, to Profess
sor Peck's paper on American political
oratory, the closing instalment OF
Kate Carnegie the discriminating
book reviews and the informing pic
lures and gossip, the most readable
part of the December Bookman Is the
advertisements. Here every publisher
of any consequence, both at home and
abroad, tells what he has to sell for
the holidays and makes it possible for
the present-bnyer who wishes to pur-
chase books-which are the best OF
presents when well-chosen-to do 50
intellgently. The Bookman's Christ
mas cover, by the bye, Is a gem.
We haven't mentioned Chap Book for
several weeks. but that wasn't because
it wasn't worth mentioning. Here
comes the number for Dec. 1; let us see
Elisha" Els II u by 20" an alIegory, and a
captivating short story by F.. Frank
fort Moore called 1.-The Wav to Keep
Him." detailing how one erring hus-
band was brought to book The poetry
Is by Clinton ScOllard. Madison Cawein
and Louise Imogen Quincy: the por-
traits are of Richard Harding Davis
and Richard lie Gallienne the latter
one of Max Beerbohm's caricatures).
and to conclude, there Is an apprecia-
tive study of lie Gallenne and some
cracking notes. This Is not bad for
Chicago.