The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-21
The Literary Outlook.

Holiday Choosng-Effect of the Busy
"A Notable Little Book About Audit
bon.
The Christmas time heralds the quest
of the wise men, but, unfortunately, the
wise men who are seeking the best in
books have no single guiding star to
direct them Amid the hubbub and
clamor of those who cry their wares in
public places, there are few who shout
with honesty of PURPOSE, but their voices
are lost in the confusion OF the multitude
anxious to dispose of their printed mer-
chandise.
ALAS, that the noble invention of Gut
tenberg, should be so debased." is Ger
man loment with which many of us will
sympathiZe, but it is an old and some
what futile cry in the wilderness. Not
one of us would have our particular
world of books taken away from
us and doubtless the world of
each of us is somewhat different
from that of any other person. The
-
plant, and SO long as the freedom of
choice in book. companions is left to us,
we shall not object to our neighbours eX-
ercising the same right. Out of some ten
thousand different books published this
year, no one should despair of finding
what his heart most desires in printed
treasures. AS the Christmas Bookshelf
points out in it's present issue, the wealth
of books is now set forth for holiday
choosing. None but can find here some
amulet to bear his Christmas message OF
peace and good will. For little children,
here are the keys to unlock the gates Of
storyland, where the world is Just-SO,
and school never keeps. Youth, here are
golden scrolls, telling of the hearts de-
light, be it love, or war, or far journeys
or quiet lives. For age, here are clear
phials of peace, or caskets of life'S Wis
DOM
AS a matter Of fact, to more than one
class of people the present season is a.
most difficult one The publishers are
we'll nigh exhausted from their labors,
the book sellers are working night and
day to supply the demands of their Gus
toners and probably the purchasers
themselves will be glad when the end of
the year comes and they may, as they
always do, stop buying books and begin
to enjoy reading them. For it is in the
dead of winter that books are most ap-
preciated. The fireside and the old favor
ties. The cozy chair and good book,
these are the elements of magic to drive
away everything but solid enjoyment.
Prof. Flinders Petrie, we'll known
scientist, once remarked in lecture that
the happiest peoples are those that can
not read, but who will believe that?
Mankind, good share of mankind at
least, has always wanted to reaG and
Prof Petrie has gone far to prove that in
his archaeological explorations, by turn
ing up manuscripts and records made
centuries before the first Christmas. We
must have books, that is one certain fact
in life.
There have recently been published
several volumes especially designed to
satisfy the curiosity regarding writer's.
Authors of the Day in Their Homes" is
a collection of essays published during
the past ten years which makes some of
the sketches somewhat out of date,
though, Of course, the publisher is the
only one to blame for that. More salts
flying is 'Stories of Authors Loves" by
Miss Clara Laughlin, gotten out in two
we'll illustrated and printed volumes.
Only the classic authors have been dealt
with, but great deal of very interest
ing biographical matter has been thus
collected together.
Interest in the heart affairs of men
and women who wrote" says Miss
I.aughlin, lis an easily understandable
curiosity. In large part they created the
traditions of romance, these men and
women: their written ideals of love have
set the standard for the majority, have
sent young blood and ofttimes blood not
so young coursing through veins in
swifter current, have filled young hearts
and ofttimes hearts not so young with
beating desire to love, to be loved, to
bear and forbear, give and forgive IN
loves name 1t is only natural that these
Young hearts and hearts that once were
young should wish to know in what man
ner these men and women realized their
own ideals 1t is because their
ideals and standards have become, in
large part, our ideals and standards,
that we have so great curiosity to know
wrote. In this spirit, and in this spirit
only, are we pardonable for inquiring
into their sacredest relations
The two famous bachelors of the col
lection are Thoreau and Irving. OF their
love affairs little is to be told but there
is much of pathos in them. Thoreau
gave his brief explanation in letter to
a friend-his sweetheart asked him q
question!
Il parted from my beloved because
there was one thing l had to tell her.
She questioned me. She should have
known all by sympathy. That / had to
tell it her was the difference between
us,-the misunderstanding"
Irving was bachelor from an entirely
different cause. He became engaged tC
Matilda Hoffman just about the time he
began working on his Knickerbockei
History of New York The chronicle tells
us that the young lady died shortly af-
forwards One might doubt the serious
ness of Irving's love affair on learning