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

the women of China is both new and
interesting.
The Lincoln literature has two con-
tributors Nancy Hanks Hitchcock pre-
sents Life of Nancy Hanks" While
Ida Tarbell publishes volume in re-
gard to Lincoln himself. Miss Tarbell,
who is western Pennsylvania woman,
went to New York O few years ago
with some new and novel ideas of treat
ing history serially in the magazines.
After meeting with the usual dis
lcouragements from doubling editors
she found one who was willing to try
her experiment. The result surpassed
expectation and practically made sue
cess of the publication. After her
studies of great historical characters
are published serially Miss Tarbell all
ways has issued them in book form,
and their sale has been steady and
profitable to her.
In scanning the new books those who
have an interest in womens success in
unusual lines cannot but be impressed
| by the increasing excellence of the
work of the women illustrators. Mary
Baker Baker, whose funny pictures of
animals are feature of the humorous
!. magazines, has gathered a number of
Animal Jokes
j Maud Humphreys has a couple of vol
umes of sketches, clever and charac.
teristic. While Florence Scovel, as the
i illustrator OF THE Loom OF Destiny"
Arthur ]. Stringers series of clev-
err and original sketches of child
lif:, presents some remarkably TAX
ing pictures Of s!um childhood. The
sketches have an individuality all
their own. The ragged urchins and
4 maidens are a smiling. good natur-
ed lot with funny recklessness that
makes one love them for their rags and
\ bonhomie. The Stun children of Wolfe
move one to horror and pity those of
Miss Scovel show one tbs bright side
of poverty and bring out the smiles that
come from The hearts of even neglected
childhood. Miss Scovel's sketches have
| frequently appeared in Puck, Judge,
Truth and Harper's Magazine.
The old favorites, Mary E. Wilkins
Octave Thanet, Harriet PRESCOTT Spot
ford, Ellen olney Kirk, Ruth McEnery
4 Stuart, Sarah Orne Jewett and Louise
Chandler Moulton, are seen on the fic-
ton table, with countless gorgeously
bound works by new writer's who are
making their first bows to the public.
The notable women writer's of verse
are few, the only new volume to which
there is a familiar name being Louise
Imogen Guiney's. Gertrude Hall, who
lcollaborated on one of the best metrical
translations of "Cyrano de Bergerac.'
presents dainty book of verse enti-
tied THE Age OF Fairy Gold.''
Mrs. H. D. T. Whitney, now well on
in her seventies, is as delightful as ever
in her latest book for girls. Mrs. Whit
ney's stories have achieved popular
ity among girls that no writer since
Louisa M. 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. a young woman of strong individ-
uality who finds it difficult to conform
to the accepted standards of the life
to which it 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, jul
venile in character, the interest of he,
present one, "Nannie's Happy Child
hood" being in the fact that it is sup.
posed to be a lifelike picture of her owr
childhood, and, therefore, illustrating
her distinguished mothers ideas in re-
spect to child education.
= 1t is odd to see serious work or