Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-09

THE bookman and the book woman
who have begun tosscan the count
ers where new publications are dis
played will notice with interest the
large part which women seem to have
played in the making of the new liter
ature Of the year Looking over the
volumes one is impressed by the wide
range of subjects covered, every depart
ment of letters from astronomy to fic-
ton being represented. In juvenile
literature there is, as one would expect,
a preponderance of women writer's.
Whether their work in this line excels
that of men is an open question: GER
tainly very few Of the new children's
books show that fine touch which indi-
Gates the true literary gift.
One volume of children's verses, how
ever, is notably an exception to this
rule. 1t is a small book embellished
with charming sketches of chubby,
dimpled children. The artist and au-
thor is Sarah Noble Ives, young wo-
man who made success in the field of
| illustrating in New York before she re-
moved her studio to Boston, about a
year, ago. Her knowledge of art She
gained through several years spent
abroad in the studios of famous Pari-
sian artists, but her literary gift is a
matter of inheritance, for the young
artist and versifier belongs to family
that has produced number of success
full writers. The late Charles A. Dana
was family connection, and it was
partly through his advice that she gath
cred together the little verses, illustrat-
1 ed them and added a number for the
purpose of bringing out a book. The
verses have a charming Tilt and an in
tuitive comprehension of what children
like.
Probably the most notable book of the
year from the womans standpoint is
that containing the "reminiscences OF
Julia Ward Howe, whose "Battle Hymn
of the Republic" as war lyric has not
been surpassed in this half century
Mrs. Howe's book is said to be intensely
interesting, for she writes with the skill
of an artist, and her position and work
in the world have given her exceptional
opportunities to know all who nave
been worthy Of knowing. AS one of the
greatest of modern philanthropists and
reformers, her point of view will also
give piquancy to pages otherwise val
liable from the standpoint of history OF
l
Several Of the books which already
may be classified as selling well are the
work of women who learned the mas
terry of the pen in the field of daily
journalism. Among these are Miss
Mary Krout, who has been the foreign
+! correspondent of one of the big Chicago
dailies; Miss Amy Leslie, who has act.
ed as dramatic critic on a well known
newspaper. and Mrs. Ella w. Peattie
a journalist Of wide experience. Miss
Krout has issued several books before
the present one, "a LOCKER On In Lon
DOH" Her preceding book on Hawaii
achieved decided popularity. Miss
Krout succeeded Miss Kate Field as her
newspapers representative in those is
| lands.
Miss Amy Leslie has compiled num-
Der of "reminiscences and anecdotes Of
Some Players" The book is hand
somely illustrated and is. in fact, an
edition de luxe. Miss Leslie has u
charming manner of writing. and there
is no doubt that the embellishments OF
Japan paper and expensive engravings
are not required to make the book ac-
ceptable to the discriminating reader.
Intimate China" by Mrs. Archibald
Little. the wife of an English diploma
| fist who spent many years in Japan, is
written in that gossipy, conversational
vein that makes fact sound like de.
lightful fairy tale. Her book is elab.
orately Illustrated and what 1t tells Of