The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-11-03

author Of The Mushroom Cave, A
Cape May Diamond, etc., etc. Illustrated
by Victor A. Searles. Price $l.25. The
Young Puritans Of Old Hndley by Mary
P. Wells Smith, author of Jolly Good
Times at Hackmataok, Their Canoe
Trip etc. etc. illustrated by l.. ].
B ridgman. Price Sl.25. Rich Enough
by Leigh Webster, author of Another
Girls Experience. illustrated by Eliza
beth S. Pitman. Price S1.25. Torpeanuts
the Tomboy. A Story for Children by
Lily F. Wesselhoeft, author of Flipwing
the Spy, The Winds, The Woods, and
The Wanderer, ETC., etc. Illustrated
Price $1.25. Nan in the City or Mans
Winter with the Girls. A sequel to Nan
at Camp Chicopee, by Myra Sawyer
Hamlen. Illustrated by L. j. Bridgman.
Price S1.25. The Resolute, Mr.. Pansy.
An Electrical Story for Boys by John
Irowbridge, Professor of Physics, Har-
ward University, author of Three Boys
On an Electrical Boat, ETC., etc. Illus
trated by Victor A. Searles. Price $1.25.
Give children all the standard literature
they can assimilate and there will still
be a demand amongst them for their own
especial fiction which shall be to them
what novels are to us. They learn human
nature in this way and are entertained
and diverted by the every day chat and
multiplicity Of details dear to the minia-
ture intelligence. The author of "The
Little Red SchooIhouse' has brought
wealth of memories to her story. The old
Dominic, the.visiting trustee, the SPELL
ing match with it's tparallelogrammical'
and kindred terrors-all the belongings of
the old-fashioned district school figure
here, woven into story which deals with
the country pumpkin and traces his evo.
luton into the splendid fellow his sturdy
nature and qualities foreshadow. Here
is sample OF early methods-"Atten-
ton We will open our exercise by the
reading of the Word. Proverbs, fourth,
seventh Wisdom is the principal thing;
therefore get wisdom; and Silence in
the middle row-'with all thy getting get
understanding. There, my children.
L can add nothing to that. 1t is your
message direotly-Jimmy Bolton. Take
that gum out of your mouth. Bring it
here. Throw tilt isn't sgum? Well,
what is it?"
"Root licorice."
"Have you coldf"
"No."
"What?"
"No, SIR!"
Every well. You don't come to school
to chew roots nor set your small brother
a bad example. Let us pray"
The book..is Of excellent reading type
and we'll illustrated. Nor is it chiefly
pedagogical for all sorts of happenings
outside make lively material of its wide
awake pages. Mrs. Smith admits that
as Puritan children were very distinctly
expected to be seen and not heard their
part in the early history of our. colonies
has rather dropped out of sight. Indeed
Indian wars and privation and hardship,
short rations and long prayers do not
seem childhood's prerogative. Yet our
INDUCED and luxuriously bred youngsters
may find good stuff here and the author
has made an interesting story based upon
the hard experiences, In 1914, of the set
tiers Of Hadley, Massachusetts. Various
records are revived bearing upon those
early days and local history has been
drawn upon accurately and with discrimi-
nation to make real the courage and
persistenoy Of our brave ancestors. Mrs.
Smith has had the benefit of instruction
by word of mouth. This is the first Puri-
tan story ever written for children. Safe
in our home comforts, we smile at "the
weakness of the female heart which ever
craveth gewgaws while In state of
nature" and we feel the pathos of little
Prudence's revolt at dark gowns-"But
God hath given the blossoms and little
fowls have oolors that gladden. the eye."
A person i'll is.spoken of as "grievously
valetudinarious;" and Nathan" utters
this plant, "'Tis verify sore pity that
mince pie is SO wicked when tits SO tooth
some" AS Mr.. Wilson would say, there
are others who have experienced this
feeling though not always about minoe
pie. And Nathan was sbut a boy. The
BaysPath, Quinsigamond Pond, Paka-
choag Hill are seen here in their original
beginnings. "Torpeanuts" is fetching
nickname and the little book bearing it is
further distinguished by the most beguil-
ing portraits. real likenesses, of Isabella
the Donkey, Jerry the terrier, Dandy,
Socks the pussy cat, pony, puppy and
a soft-eyed, budding horned heifer. Some
excellent hints on goodness to animals is
used asian interlining to bright story of
blindmans buff winter sports and other
delights. We could have wished Harriet's
aunt little more lovable, like her kindly
souled husband, but we suppose even the
ohild's world must be somewhat as it ex.
lists in real life.
Mrs Hamlin married Maine man and
spends her summers near Bangor. She
has made name for herself in juvenile
story writing, being natural, spirited and
! full of enthusiasm. She knows her girls
and boys through and through. This
book is we'll printed and the pictures ad-
mirable. Nan in the city means glimpse