Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-02-02
rAR WESTERN REFLECTIONS.
Notes on New Publications and Periodical
of Interest to the Public.

Howell.
The Chap-Book is capable Of the
most scathing criticism, but it has a
recommendation OF j. NJ. Barrie's "sen-
timenlal Tommy. Tue same number
severely arraigns that writer for max
ing merchandise Of his lately deceased
mother, the occupant of the famous
"Window in Thrums."
This book, Margaret Ogilvy" is re-
ferred to by British reviewer as 'al-
most sacreligious to criticise." 1t is
published by Scribner's.
Expression" is a monthly devoted
DO matters of interest to orators, actors
and elocutiOnists. The last number is
devoted to the late professor Lewis
Baxter Monroe. Published by the
School of Expression, ASS Boylston St.,
Boston.
"The Chap-Book" fulfills its promise
Of larger things without loss of its dis
tinctiye flavor or form. Itcomes Jan.
18th in large quarto pages but individ-
nal as ever. Our country has needed
stronger exponent of literary critic
Ism. for the work Of our writer's has
degraded into almost pure CONNER
cialsm under the pressure of business
competition. The magazines have
lost largerly whatever of real merit
they possessed in catering to the
news counter. Now that the 10-cent
publications give anyone who wants
bushel Of pictures and the most allur-
ing variety. 1t is time the pace were
Bet for something better in the field
of expression, "The Chap-Book" com
bats the spirit of "shop" in matters
of art. The G. B. is worthy of place
on the book tables of all who are de-
sirious of being in touch with one pub
lication that does not write reviews to
swell its advertising pages but for the
sake Of disclosing the truth and saw
Ing the buyers of books modification
and money. Published by Herbert S.
Stone 81 Company, Chicago. So year.
That such publication as the Philis-
time can still be printed at East Au-
fora New York, ,is evidence that there
Is still left in the world man who is
going to crafty his tastes and his de-
sre to write and print what he likes
whether it pays or not. But that does
not explain why copy of his "Little
Journeys" for 1897 ordered of his New
York publishers does not arrive.
The Demorest's for February prints
the newly discovered Madonna by
Raphael and it is most beautiful pic
ture of mother and child.
Hamilton Wright Mabie shows in
the last Chap-Book that our country
has some very able writers of essays.
But that is about all we have to brag
about at present.
We can see little excuse or value in
troubling the world with such book
as The Parsons Proxy" by Kate w.
Hamilton. 1t is cleanand wholesome
enough reading but to think of vast
Ing the time of each person who buys
copy or is even presented with one,
Is enough to make the cold chills of
y
It is impossible to understand what
the author is trying to tell or teach or to
understand what niche of human So
ciety she is trying to depict. 1t is
not love story; it is not pur-
pose novel; it lacks in the elements es-
sential to any sort of literary art. 1t
Is not good enough to print nor bad
enough to read. We give it up.
Houghton, Miffiin g. Co., Boston and
New York.
"The Great Round World" and
what is going on in it is weekly
newspaper for children. VIM, Beverly
Harrison, SO Fifth ave., New York,
IS the publisher, and he has attempt
b something for which there is a
great need. The most popular youths
magazines treat of current events but
this little Weekly puts the story of
the Cuban war, the great Hamburg
Strike, the union of the Central Amer
lean Republics, recent inventions and
Similar topices, in form of narrative
that tells the whole story in way
that child can understand and grasp
the whole matter and its relative Inn
portance to our country. 1t is very
valuable for supplementary reading in
schools. We hope it may become a
permanent feature of the periodical
fterature of our country.
Joel Chandler Harris has favored
fhe public with his first attempt at a
noVel-"Sister Jane. Her friend:
and aCquaintances, narrative Of
certain events and episodes tran
scribed from the papers. of the late
William Wornum. The latter SEN
fences are kind of additional title
as though Mr.. Harris were not quite
satisfied to risk his work as a move