The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-21

Robertson was. persuaded to spend sew
eral weeks on Henry's island. The rest
and recreation was lust what Robertson
needed, for at the time Of going there
be was on the point Of a nervous break
down
The announcement Of a new book by
Mary MacLane is an exciting bit Of
news, since this young woman has been
the subject Of much talk during the
past year and a half. Miss MacLane's
ways In New York were most peculiar
1t Is told of her that on one of her
visits to a publishing house she walked
into the Office of the chief editor Of one
Of the magazines. and pulling out a sill
Yer half-doilan demanded that the edi-
tor match half-doilars with her. The
editor entered into the spirit of the thing
and in three or four minutes had won
some twenty dollars from Miss AacLane.
Whereupon the young woman refused to
pay and began at once to talk OF some
thing else. 1t will be interesting to note
what form her ideas viii take now that
she has Travelled thousands of miles
away from Butte and seen good deal
of the world since writing her COMES
sions.
The usual crop of serious books has
not been forthcoming so far this year.
AS q rule. the months Of January and
February are devoted by the publishers
TO the bringing out Of their most ser
ious books of the year. 1t is safe to
assert that more works on religion and
philosophy are issued during these two
months than during the balance Of the
year.
Prominent among the serious books of
serious value published already this
year is Professor Woodburn's THE
American Republic" It is more than a
political history Of the United States
and more than text book on civil gov
ernment It is not too much to say that
this volume of four hundred pages fills
"A
of something between high school text
books and Mr. Bryce's THE American
Commonwealth" Professor Woodburn.
who holds a chair in Indiana university,
makes haste to grant every possible
credit to Mr.. Bryce. not only for much
inspiration in his teaching but for valu-
able helps in the preaaration of his
written work
Another worthy work is Mr.. J. G.
Fernald's compilation OF what he calls
Scientific Side-Lights" Mr.. Fernald
seems to aim at the getting together Of
volumes which shall be helpful to
writers. His work on the Standard
Dictionary was important and from that
connection grew his volume OF An
tonyms- 1t is to be feared that this COZ
lection of words has not been aDDre-
ciated by struggling authors as it
should be. The work gives the an
tonyns. the opposite word. for every
lmpoTtan word in our language. What
writer has not struggled in vain to find
the word he wants and has been able
to think only Of some word of an entire
~ opposed meaning 2The Scientific Side
Lights is another kind Of assistance. On
almost every possible scientific subject
Mr.. Fernald has made extracts from
the best authorities and from these brief
paragraphs 1t IS possible to get sort
of concentrated knowledge of the mat
ter. A vOluminous index makes It easy
to look up anything in the line Of scien-
tifc subjects.
Wallace Irwin author of Love Son
nets of a Hoodlum'' and The Rubiyat of
twenties. The way he came to write the
Love Sonnets" is interesting. Irwin
was at the time student at the Leland
Stanford, Jr.s university. One day he
was reprimanded by the faculty com
mittee. known among the student body
painful interview the young man strolis
ed out on the campus, sat down in the
shade and began to seribbIe. In short
time he had expressed his feelings III
the sonnet. which begins:
Il sometimes think that I am not St
warm
The verse was published later on in
one of the college papers and CelIett
Burgess happened to see it Before long
he had persuaded Irwin to write more o.
the sonnets and when the young man
thought considerably over the matter
he decided on the s-EIoodlum Love Son
netsf
Until recently Mr.. Irwin was on the
editorial staff Of the Overland Monthly
He gave up the position TO become -
free lance, Today he enjoys the reputa.
ton Of being the best writer Of slang
verse in the country.
HERBERT BREWSTER