Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-22

"Anting-Anting Stories." just an
nounced by Small. Maynard & Co.
should be sure of success. The volume
takes its name from Filipino word
signifying charm, or amulet. worn TO
protect it's owner from injury or death
and the subtitle of the book explains
that il is collection of strange tales
Of the Filipnos. Its author is Sargent
Kayme. There is untold wealth of
new material for literature in these
far-away Eastern islands. and it will
not be surprising if these stories prove
to be the introduction to new field
no less fresh and original than was the
India of Mr.. Kipling's stories. Won
derful and varied are the phenomena
and the inhabitants of the PHILIPPINES.
Pirates, half-naked natives. pearls.
man-apes. towering volcanoes about
whose SUBMITS clouds and unearthly
traditions float together. strange ami
mails and birds and stranger men, py-
thons. bejuco ropes stained with hu-
man blood, feathering palm-trees now
famed by soft breezes and now
crushed to the ground by tornadoes-
or no mimic stage was ever a, more
pany of actors. That such stories as
Mr.. kayme gives us do not eXagger-
ate the realities of this strange life can
be easily seen by anyone who has read
the letters from press correspondents,
our soldiers. or the more formal books
Of travel Strangest. perhaps, of all
these possibilities for fiction is the
anting -anting. at once mysterious
power to protect its possessor and the
outward symbol of the protection. No
more curious fetch can be found in the
history of folklore. A button. a COIN
bit of paper with unintelligible words
soribbled upon it, a bone. a stone.
garment, anything. almost-often a
thing of no intrinsic value-its owner
has been known to walk up to the
muzzle of a loaded musket or rush
upon the point of n bayonet with
confidence so sublime as to silence
ridicule and to command admiration.
il not respect.
A correspondent Of the New York
Times who lately visited Rider Hag
gard on the latter's farm at Ditching-
ham. four hours ride from London.
describes the novelist as "a tall. beard
ed, powerfully built man. whose youth
ful appearance bellies his years.
emanating energy in every move
ment. The one impossible thing for
him. I should say. would be to remain
idle. AS matter of fact. his occupa-
lions are numerous enough to keep
three ordinary men buSy-farming,
novel writing and serving as the chair
man of bencf. of magistrates. Not
content with this. he seeks outlet for
surplus energy in travelling and in
writing accounts of his wanderings.'
General Lew Wallace's Ben Hur" is
soon to be published in Greek. This
book. it appears, fell into the hands of
a Greek scholar who on his own con-
fession. never reads novels, but who
was so captivated by the great tale of
the Messiah that he Immediately made
application t. translate the book into
modern GreIk. This is now being
done; and so the book makes its way.
conquering new worlds for itself, in
one language after another.
The announcement has been made in
several quarters recently that Mrs.
Suzanne AntrobuS. the author of The
Kings Messenger" has also two other
books scheduled for early publication
by Messrs c. =. Putnam's Sons. 1t has
also been stated that her work has re-
ceived high praise in England. Neither
of these facts are true. Some CONFUSION
has arisen, owing to the fact that
another author of the same name, MISS
Ant ,l,,,S ha hooks listed
for early publication by the Messrs.
Putnam but the book by Suzanne An
trobus. entitled The Kings Messen-
GER is a first novel by new writer.
to be published in September by
Messrs. Harper & Brothers. and OF
whose success the publishers have
great hopes The author is the wife OF
Mr. Albert A. Robinson of Detroit. ana
the daughter of Mr.. John Antrobus
a well known artist, also of that city
She was born in New Orleans. where
the scenes Of her novel are laid. and
has spent the most of her life there.
Whether books be taken up fol
pleasure or for profit. they are usefu
as advancing the intellect, stimulating
the Imagination, enlarging the reason
ing powers and suggesting new ideas
I" the mind. This reading for pleasure
IL. after all. harmless. ethereal
ideality-a blowing of bubbles in th'
air that SavOrS more OF genuine
catholicism than all the neWlings o
Pre- RaphaeliStic poets. painters. an'
decorators since the ancient master
demise. Nor is it so proftless as W.
are continually led to suppose. W.
would not lose from literature TN
labOrs of such omnivorous readers a.
the elder DIsreali. Burton. BUCK an'
host of others. Finally. whether 10
pleasure or for profit. cultivation
the love of books, and literary taSt
is sure to be the acquisition
knowledge; and knowledge OF BOOK
is the beginning of wisdom-eVen
that high wisdom which pertains l
mans spiritual nature.-J. {. VA
Dyke, Books and How to Use Them.
Mr.. Kipling mas found little sympa
thy in England in his contest with tn
Putnams, it having been shown ina
the sets of the "Brushwood Edition
had been regularly bought and pal
for, and that he would receive nj
royalty thereon in due course In
suggestion that his real objection Ia
in, hn t,,av &c