Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-12-27

IN the January New LlpplncoLI-
She knows her Washington, new and
| old, and hence she throws back from
the present social side lights which
illuminate the primitive town as no
other medium could do. She dwells,
also, on the significant fact that the
site was an Indian council place, and
thus derives her title, Washington:
A Predestined Capital
On the editorial page of the New
York Sun there are to be found regu-
larly, peculiar, perpendicularly elon-
gated verses, the text of which is
some domestic news item or cable
dispatch. They are the work of VIII
liam j. hampton, who calls them
"Yawps," and by him and others
they are regarded as the missing link
between poetry and prose. The author
thus describes his product:
1t rythms
Nhen &c rythms-
And it rhymes
Sometimes.
But whether II does
Or not,
II gets there
Just the
Whicn is where the yawp
The bulge on i lot
or contempOraneous
And other modern and ncient
Literature"
Under the title of "Yawps and
Other Things" the outpourings
above mentioned have been collected
and others added. There is nothing
in the yawp which is flat or common
place; nothing mean, low or whining;
there is no sickly sentimentaliziDg,
but wholehearted, laughing opti-
mism and brilliant good humor. In
fact, Mr.. hampton may be regarded
as benefactor to his kind, one whose
influence is none the less widespread
because it cannot be measured The
book is well printed and will be well
coined alike by those who have
already read some of the yawps and
those to whom they come as some
thing entirely new.
The joys of Sport" is a most at
tractive little book issued by the
Henry Altemus company. The writer
is w. Yorke Stevenson, and the read
ers of the Evening Bulletin will recog-
nize many chapters in his compre-
hensive treatise as having been
printed at intervals in that paper
Mr.. Stevenson is what is called an all
round sportsman. He has tried them
all, or certainly has observed them
all, and has penetrated the essential
purposes of each. There is scarcely
recognized form of sport in
which he cannot find some good.
Thus sailing, he says, lis not an
unmixed Woe" There is even sport
in automobiling, particularly with an
electric vehicle, though most of
your exercise will come when you
have got well into the country and
the current gives out" OF polo it is
explained that 1.-The object of the
game, aside from breaking your own
cOllarbone, is TO see that your oppo-
nent breaks his" and the chief quail
ications for the game are IAN I'M
limited income and a thick skull"
Cricket is thOughtfully described,
"a game that is played while dream
ing by % sleep-walkers in trance, >
while baseball lis played for
the purpose of giving a large mum Der
of people the chance of expressing
their opinions (both oral and writ
tenn, who would, under other cream
stances, not even be permitted to
freight them" With this excellent
appreciation of the purpose of each
game or sport. the author is able to
describe its details, its incidents and
accidents with a convincing vivacity.
He deals with fencing, boxing, BIZ
rowing, skating, football, handball
and the pursuit of various
game. "Gawf,' he says, lis
niblicks if 1 think it comes up to
tiddledywinks.n 1t is played with a |
couple of farms, river or so. two or |
three sand hills, a mum Der of imple-
ments resent bling enlarged dentists |
tools, a strange language, much like |
Hindoostani, any old clothes and a |
large assortment of oaths.' All these |
things are set forth in Mr.. Steven
sons bright little book, to which the |
fun-loving reader, whether he likes |
sport" or not is cordially referred. |
1t is cleverly illustrated by G. +.
Brill.
Outing opens the century with a |
mum Der on the highest plane of the
literature and art of sport, travel, adj
and country life. Charles q.
ID. Roberts contributes one of mis- in
comparable nature sketches, The
Trails" Guy Wetmore Car
ryl tells of, and Hy. S. Watson illus
trates The Automobile in French Rec
reative Life" Horace Kephart gives
practical advice on Rifles for Big
Game" II. Ingalls, Kimban gossips
about and gives Illus
-ratiOns of Sporting Prints of olden
times, etc. 1t is fully illustrated.
Army and Navy Football" tells the
story OF how the teams at West Point
md Annapolis are developed. and of
he true sportsman's spirit the cadets
exhibit under all circum stances.