The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-06

IND HER IN THE HALL" FRONTS
I'D IN CUPID IS KING"
us pleasure that we remember; the flood
of trash has been long since forgotten
We have scarcely had time to forget the
poor books of the present season. though.
some of them have been bad enough t.
forget at once. The consolation remains
we shall forget them, and doubtless
quickly.
The historical novel seems to be a
PERENNIAL, there have been more of
them this fall than any season hereto
fore, but they have not been shouted at
us from the housetops and, fortunately,
some of them have been allowed TO die
peaceful death already. There has
been an increase in the novel which
depicts some phase of American char
acter- 1t is along this line that most of
our writer's seem TO be working al the
present time. The volume of short
fortunate if 1900 copies are purchased
by the public. Now and then one sells
beyond 5000 and there is great rejoicing.
But one kind of novel is weak in num-
not incre2 Sed. Some few very excellent
psychological works of fiction have been
produced and along the line of historical
books the seasons output has been
notable. An unusually good lot of rel-
giOus, philosophical and ethical books
were brought out early in the year. Al
together there is great cause for an
optimistic outlook on the books of the
year. We are improving, the public by
refusing to buy the big boom books. and
the publishers by making better efforts
to issue what the public want
Nowadays, the evening paper goes to
press early in the morning and appears
on the streets abaut the time the bust
ness man reaches his office. Some call
this feature of journalism great enter
prise. The book publishers have to fol-
low similar method of procedure, but.
in their case, the method is not born of
enterprise so much as of need. The
publisher must prepare his Christmas
books during sizzling hot July and An.
gust days. If he has un1erestimated
the popular demand. it is possible that
he may be getting out second and third
editions in September. but, as Il rule
the book sellers are supplied in plenty
by that month. 1t is during December,
however, that the heaviest purchases of
books are made; it is the harvest season
of the business. For the present reaping
of the trade. there is an unusually at
tractive lot of volumes and, quite as it
should be, books for children head the
lists. Never before has it been possible
to buy so many different Christmas
books by well known authors-books
which were written. in most cases, for
children-books which deal with the
heart of childhood and thus make the
!
people.
Kipling, Howells. Riley, Chambers.
Wiggin, Daskam. Mrs. Martin Carolyn
Wells and a host of other good writers
have made very successful efforts to
please the children. Besides having
given us excellent stories, the publishers
have had the volumes illustrated by the
happiest illustrators. Peter Newell
Fanny Cory Reginald Birch, oliver
HEREFORD. Alice Barber Stephens, c. L.
Hinton. Florence Scovil Shinn and
many other we'll known artists have con-
tributed to the various books and in
many instances, these contributions
have beens the best part of the books
Kipling has reaped double credit for
himself by both writing and illustrating
the Just So Stories
Some of these children's books deserve
special mention. Riley's 1.-The Book of
Joyous Children is filled with delightful
bits of verse which to read is to be a
child again. The collection is the first
volume of child-en's verse which Mr..
Riley has published for five years. The
Emmy Lou" stories will take high rank
for two reasons: they will attract the
young people and they will delight the
older field. The latter class will under
stand and appreciate them better, but
! that these stories of Emmy Lou in school
are also well liked by the younger people
may be shown by the news from Balti-
more that number Of school children
1 there have organized IN Emmy Lou
:
ers." Through a series of stories, Emmy
! Lou is conducted from the primary class
/ into the high school and through all. her
creator, Mrs. Martin. has shown a mar
Vicious realization of the child mind.
Strange things happened in the Primer
World
MANY things were strange. That one
must get up suddenly wne1 bell rang
wac strange. And % CORY digits until
one's chuobv fingers. ti=helF grippin~ the
pencil. ached. and then to be exneCted to
take a sponge ara wash those digits off,
was strange AMI to be told GROSSLY to
sit down was be widcrinv. when in answer
to G a. t. one said Pussy And vet
there was Pussy washing her face on the
chart and Miss Clara's pointer pointing
to her
It would be difficult. however. to select
! the best of books for children from the
present seasons list. One has Row lis,
Hentv Carolyn Wells. ,Josephine Daskam,
Katherine PYLE. Kipling. Thomas Nelson
Page. Ruth A4cEnerv Stuart and a dozen
others almost equally good. OF adven-
| ture tales. there are many, books Of
| travel and books of the home and an un-
| usually large list of nonsense and picture
books. Fairy tales have not vet gone out
fully half million copies have been sold
! in this country 2nd n lzneland- continues
to appear. THE Adventures OF Dor
Ouixote.'' "Old Mother Hubbard and
Through the Looking Glass make
| another appearance with new pictures
| Need one lack for apr opriate books to
| make glad the heart of childhood this
Christmas? HERBERT BREWSTER.