The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-17

A book which deserves a place in
every Kansas library has just been
published by the Hudson imb erly
company of Kansas City. 1t is entitled
"sketches-MostIy Boys" and the
author is Bide Dudley, formerly of
Atchison. but now q reporter on a
Kansas City paper.
Mr.. Dudley's verses, as the title
suggests. are nearly all devoted to the
callow age of man." The one word
''deIightful'' will describe Mr.. Dudley s
work. He deals with the trials and
troubles of childhood in such an orig
fnal and sympathetic style that the
reader, no matter who he is, will be
pleased. The following which is no
better than several others in the vol
ume will serve as a relish:
unlicensed"
There, Tige, old fellow, listen now:
Don't growl or fight; keep still;
Jist go along; III git you out,
oh. honest, Tige, / will.
He sez two dollars is enough;
II raise it. Tige, you bet;
SO fist be good, old boy, an walt
I've never quit you yet
You know that dollar that we earned
A-drivin' cows for Joe?
I've got IL yet an, half NV IL
Is yogrn by T rif;a yG 1bs kn9 3tg
I'll sell ii, Tige, today,
1t cost four dollars. an it's worth
dollar, anyway
know the folks don't ike you much.
But, T1Ee, the 1OlkS am me-
You've been my friend for three whole
The best friend there cud be;
Jist let EN- take you, Tige, goodbye;
I'll git you out, VOW,
! never yet have shook you, Tige,
amt a-go'n' to now.
A distinctive feature of the work is
the illustrating. The pictures are full
page etchings printed on heavy tinted
paper They are the work of H.
Wood. who is in charge of the art
work on the Kansas City Star.
The book is printed on heavy paper
and in the make UP is as artistic as it
could be made. There are two bind
fngs-one in plain boards at 81 and
another in moleskin for $1.5O. 1t de-
serves a place well up in the front
rank of holiday gift publications.
Rider Haggard, the author of "The
Brethren" recently brought out by Nc
Clure-Phillips, is much interested in
side of English life and has been very
busy for a number of years with phi
lanthrOpic schemes Mr.. Haggard is
carrying on a propaganda for small
farm holdings, for village banks and
for an agricultural parcels post, things
which In his opinion and in the opinion
of a great many of the economists of
England will go far towards saving
the country.
Mr.. Haggard is working not only in
the interest of the farmer. but also in
the interest OF the city people, He Is
passionately keen in his endeavOr to
counterfeit what he calls. the town
fever, and to persuade people to live in
the country rather than in the city.
One of his strongest arguments is
based on the hardships which children
in England have to suffer because of
the over population of the cities. 1t
appears that in Birmingham there are
six thousand children who go to school
breakfastless, and there were thirty
nine proven cases of death by starva-
ton in London last year.
Mr.. Haggard has thrown himself
heart and soul into an endeavor to
check the migrations into the cities,
which are making of London and Bir-
Iningham great cancers that are slowly
but surely devouring the life and
blood and sinew of England. He has
written two books bearing on the sub
5ect, Rural England" and "a Farm
er's Year" These facts throw an in
teresting light on the life and work Of
the great English romancist.