The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-28
T IS reported from England that

the publishing business is almost
at a standstill owing to the war,
and nothing will be brought out over
there until public opinion is tested
and publishers know what is wanted.
Although all business the world over
Is more or less upset by war, the book
trade is peculiarly affected, and when
hostilities actually break out the read
ing world seems to lose interest in ev-
erything save books pertaining to the
countries in conflict. So the novels to
have been issued this spring, several
of which are in type, unless they touch
the Eastern question in some way, have
been stopped, and all publishing houses
are getting out as many books about
Japan and Russia as possible, and re-
editing old ones which are eagerly
bought up by the stay-at-homes who
lake a wonderful interest in the war
now being waged.
In this country books about Japan
are at premium and there are not
enough to supply the demand. Mr..
Hamilton's Korea" and Mr.. Town
Bends Asia and Europe" were,
strange to say, published within the
week that the war began, although by
mere accident. These and others not
so recent are going like the proyerbial
hot cakes. A book about Japan,
which is likely to become very popular,
comes from England and is called
Queer Things About JAPAN" by
Douglas Sladen. "a Japanese Man
sion" is another by the same writer
which has been bought up with great
rapidity during the last ten days.
But of them all the one likely to re-
ceive the greatest attention in this
country, is Korea" spoken of above,
written by Angus Hamilton and just
published in this country by the
Scribners. The writer is a well known
English traveller and correspondent,
and he points out the difficulties in the
path of Russia. He describes Port
Arthur and Vladivostok and defines
the strategic positions held in Man
churia by Russia. The book is particu-
larry timely and more valuable in it's
description of real conditions than if
it had been written after the war was
a certainty.
In Meredith Townsends book, asia
and Europe" the writer has this to
say:
1.-THE American can never like anyone
lean has no interest in conquering Asia.
He does not wish for territory already
occupied by masses of people, he has
ample room for settlement in his own
country. and he does not believe SOW
ereignty absolutely essential to trade.
It will be easier tc acquire influence in
Asia by protecting her from conquest
than to begin conquering; and this, 1
think, will in the end be the American
line, as, indeed, in China it already is
For reasons of trade, for reasons of
kindly regard and for reasons of jeal-
ousy the attitude of America will, l i'm
agine, be one of rather contemptuous
guardianship"
The March magazines are a decided
Improvement upon those of February,
which seemed to resemble each other in
so far as they were particularly vacu-
Gus, but the March numbers are models
of excellence, both as to contents and
appearance. AS everything In the world
of reading is governed by fads there
seems 70 be one at the present time for
stories of experience of workers, and
nearly all the magazines contain ar
ticles pertaining to real people in the
world. Frank Leslie's Monthly has a
paper that is a good example of this
sort of thing, in the description of the
labor unions existing among women in
Chicago, well illustrated by portraits of
the feminine walking delegate. OF
course, in this line there is a mine of
literary material at our very doors, full
OF human interest and not soon to be
exhausted. The Scribner's for March
contains Home Sketches" being a
semi STORY of homely conditions about
us and concerning ordinary, every day
people.
Among the notable books which have
appeared recently is 1.-THE American
Prisoner" stirring story by Eden
Phillpots, which, in this time of wars
alarms, will find a ready hearing; then
there is a romance published by the
Harpers and written by Katherine Duer
Mackay (Mrs. Clarence Mackay),
which, because of her social position, Is
being much heralded just now. Aside
from the fact that most persons will
read the book from mere curiosity, it is
said by critics to be really worth while,
and though not a book to appeal to the
crowd, will certainly receive it's due
need of appreciation for the discern
ing.
The Man Roosevelt. BY Francis E. Lupp.
d. Appleton & Co., publishers. For sale
by ST. Paul Book and Stationery COM
pany.
Those who imagine that this book
is a dry recital of the facts of Mr..
Roosevelt's life, with which we are
all familiar, will be agreeably surpris-
ed by its perusal. Mr.. Leupp, who has
been editorial writer for the New York
Evening Post during thirty years and
is a close friend of the president has
written most readable and interest
ing account of his friend and one that
we are convinced is truthful. He does
not begin by. telling US where he was
born, how educated and the rest Of it,