The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-07

The consolation remains-we shall for
get them and doubtless quickly.
The historical novel seems to be a
perennial; there have been more of them
this fall than any season heretofore. but
they have not been shouted at us from
the house-tops and, fortunatelyy, some
of them have been allowed to die a
peaceful death already. There has been
an increase in the novel which depicts
some phase of American character. 1t
is along this line nat most of our
writer's seem to be working at the pres
ent time The volume of short stories
struggles along, counting itself fortunate
if 1000 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-
bers this fall. The problem" novel has
not increased. Some few very excellent
psychological works of fiction have been
produced and along the line of histocal
books the seasons output has been
notable. An unusually good lot of relig-
ious, philosophical and ethical books
were brought out early in the year. AL
together there is great cause for an
optomistic 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 does want.
Nowadays, the evening paper goes to
press early in the morning and appears
nm hn tho tirnn tho g
ness man reaches his office. Some call
this feature of journalism great enter
price. 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
publishers must prepare his Christmas
books during sizzling hot July and Au-
gust days. If he has underestimate
the popular demand, it is possible that
he may be gaetting out second and third
editions in September, but. as 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 sea-
son of the business. For the present
reaping of the trade there is an unusual
ly attractive lot of volumes and, quite
as it should be, books for children head
the lists. Never before has it been pos
sible to buy so many different Christ
mas books by we'll known authors
books which were written, in most cases,
for children-books which deal with the
heart of childhood and thus make the
best kind of reading for the grown up
people.
Kipling, Howell, Riley, Chambers,
Wiggin, Daskam, Mrs. Martin, Carolyn
Wells, and a host of other good writer's,
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 Her
ford, Alice Barber Stephens, c. L. Hin
ton, Florence Scovil Shinn and many
other we'll known artists have contribut-
ed to the various books and, in many
instances these contributions have been
the best part of the books. Kipling has
reaped double credit for himself by both
writing and illustrating the just So
Stories"
special mention. Rileys "The Book OF
Joyous Children is filled with delight
full bits of verse which to read is to be
a child again. The collection is the flrst
volume of children's verse which MT.
Riley has published for five years. Inc
Emmy Lou stories will take high rank
for two reasons; they will attract the
Young people and they will delight the
older fold The latter class Will under
stand and appreciate them better puI
that these stories Of Emmy Lou III
school are also we'll liked by the younger
people may be shown by the news from
Baltimore that q number of school chill
dren there have organized an Emmy
Lou Club, the object being ito have
nicer teachers" Through series Of
stories. Emmy Lou is conducted from
the primary class into the high school
and through all, her creator, Mrs. Mar
tin. has shown a marcellous realization
of the child mind !trang" things hap
pencd in the Primer World
MANY things were strange. That
one must get up suddenly when bell
rang was strange. And to copy digits
until ones chubby fingers, tightly grip
ping the pencil, ached, and then to be
expected to take a sponge and WASH
these digits off, was strange And to be
told GROSSLY to sit down was bewilder-
ing, when in answer to c, a, t, one said
.Puggy." And yet there was Pussy
washing her face on the chart, and Miss
Clara's pointer pointing to her"
1t would be difficult, however, to Sc
lect the best of books for children from
the present seasons list. One has
Howelle, Henty, Carolyn Wells, jose
rhine Daskam, Katherine Pyle, Kip
ling, Thomas elson Page, Ruch McEnery
Stuart and a dozen others almost
equally good. OF adventure tales, there
are many, books of travel and books
of the home and an unusually large list
of nonsense and picture books. Fairy
tales have not yet gone out of style;
even "Chatterbox," of which fully
half million copies have been sold IN
this country and in England, continues
to appear, 1.-THE Adventures of Don
Quixote,' "Old Mother Hubbard and
| Through the Looking Glass make
wit mixtures.