The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-11-08
Books For the Holidays
By Women Writers,
~s~% 90
90 ~ ~

ida Tarbeu publishes volume I'm re-
safd To Lincoln himself. Miss Tarbell,
WI" IL western Pennsylvania woman,
Went TO New York n few wears ago
w" some new and novel ideas OF treat
inB history serally i'm the magazines
meeting with the usual dis
'oufagements from doubling editors
,''c round one who was willing 10 try
her experiment The result surpassed
ONpec'allon and practically made sue
cess OF the publication. After her
stuuI's OF great historical characters
arc published serially Miss Tarbel al
ways has issued them in book form.
anu Inelr sale has. been steady and
profitable To her
In scanning the new books those who
nave an interest I'm women's success i'm
unusual lines cannot but be IMPRESSED
py the increasing excellence of the
WoTh OF the women illustrators Mary
Baker Baker, whose funny pictures of
ahlinals are feature of the humorous
magazines has gathered a number OF
the sketches together under the title az
Animal Jokes"
Maud Humphreys has a couule of vol
umes OF sketches, clever and charac-
teristic. while Florence Scovel. as the
illustrator or The Loom of Destiny"
arthur }. Stringer's series of clev-
er ana original sketches OF child
life, presents some remarkably TAX
ing pictures Of slum childhood. The
sketches nave an individuality all
their own. The ragged urchns and
maidens are smiling, good natur-
ed lot, with a funny recklessness that
makes one love them for their rags and
bonhomie. The slum children of Wolfe
move one TO horror and pity: those of
Miss Scovel show one the bright side
OF poverty and bring out the smiles that
come from the hearts Of even neglected
childhood. Miss Scovels sketches have
frequently appeared in Puck, Judge,
Truth and Harper's Magazine.
The old favorites. Mary r.. wilkins,
Octave Thanet Harriet Prescott Spof-
ford. Ellen Olney Kirk. Ruth McEnery
stuart. Sarah Orne Jewett and Louise
Chandler Moulton, are seen on the fic-
tion table, with countless gorgeously
bound works by new writer's who are
making their first bows To the public
The notable women writers of verse
are few. the only new volume TO which
there is a familiar name being Louise
Imogen Guineys. Gertrude Hall. who
on one of the best metrical
OF "Cyrano de Bergerac."
-aeif4t5-beek OF verse enti-
led The Age OF Fairy Gold"
Mrs. IA. ID. II. Whitney. now well on
n her seventies, is as delightful as ever
n her latest book for girls. Mrs. Whit
1ey's stories have achieved "a popular
lty among girls that no writer since
Louisa NJ Alcott has attained Among
a certain clique of young women Mrs.
Whitney is an idol WHOSE. stories are
eagerly watched for and read and re-
read with enthusiasm. Square Pegs
her new book for this year. is the story
OF young woman of strong individ-
uality who finds IL difficult TO conform
to the accepted standards of the life
TO which il has pleased Providence to
call her.
Mrs. Caroline Leslie Field, daugh-
ter of the popular Mrs. Whitney, has al
ready published "A couple OF books, ju-
venile i'm character. the interest OF her
present one, &Nannie's Happy Child
hood being i'm the fact that IL is sup
posed 10 be lifelilIe picture of her own
childhood. and, therefore. illustrating
her distinguished mothers ideas in re-
;pect TO child education.
It IL odd to see "A serious work on
astronomy among these holiday books.
ro be sure. i'm the days OF Miss Maria
Mitchell that was not a matter of sur
rise, but so far, no woman has arisen
o take her place. The writer of the
present volume. Mrs. Mabel Loom!s
Todd. is, like Miss Mitchell, an astron-
'mer's daughter, her father being Pro-
essor Il. j. Loomls, the famous astron-
'mer. In 1879 she became the wife of