The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-22
BOOK NEWS
AND GOSSIP
THE UNEASY CHAIR

THE UNEASY CHAIR
GROWING INTEREST IN POLITICS
SHOWN IN THE INCREASING AMOUNT
OF POLITICAL FlcTiON.-The effect OF
political fiction, when 1t is good, written
by those who know how to write and
what they are writing about, cannot be
other than beneficial to self governing
people The effect is educational, an i'm
parting Of a knowledge Of political meth
DDS to the ever-growing mass of readers
VINO are a nations voters. Enlightenment
along this line means light on methods
of countering to meet schemes that are
for the good Of the grafters and for the i'll
of the public. Hence stories such as are
contained in Booth Tarkington's In the
Arena have a. very important mission in
the literature of the United States.
We do not see how one can read this
latest book Of Mr. Tarkingtons without
having his interest in political affairs
aroused to the point Of action. AS
Mr.. Harrington says in foreword,
What we most need in politics Is
more good men. Thousands Of good men
ARE in; and they need the others who
are not in. More would come If they knew
how MUCH they are needed. II
Well, in politics, the country needs ALL
the men who have any patrotisn-NOT
to be seeking office, but to watch and
understand what is going on" That
means you and it means US. No such ap-
peal ought to be necessary, but being
made, 1T ought not to have to be repeated.
This may convey the notion that Mr.
Harrington has written political trea-
tise. He hasn't; but he has written six
mighty good stories, that are good purely
as means Of passing time beside the
evening lamp, and that are a whole lot
better, If one sees that they are true
to life and conditions, and takes the hint
they hold for the man with country, and
that country the best In the world.
Mcclure Phillips & Co., New York.
QUAINT CUSTOMS IN MEDIEVAL
LlBRARIES.-The quaint and sometimes
amusing customs observed in medieval
libraries when books were borrowed by ap-
pl1cants. add much interest to scholarly
tributed to the April Harper's by the
librarian Of Princeton university, Ernest
Gushing Richardson, Ph.D. Visitors to
some of the old libraries were obliged to
go first to the infirmary connected with
the institution, there to visit the sick and
perform righteous duty. The members
Of one religious order which required
silence among the brothers, indicated by
certain signs to the librarian the books
they wished to borrow. If a missal. the
sign Of the cross; If they wanted book
Of offices they kissed their fingers; and
if secular book was desired, the Dor
rover scratched his ears like dog, "be.
cause unbelievers are like dogs" A Dor
rover who had not read a book thru was
obliged to own up and ask forgiveness:
and books were carefully preserved and
guarded, because they were deemed 1.-THE
perpetual food Of our SOULS
Jack London's new book, "The War of the
Classes" which the Macmillan company will
issue at once, is described as collection Of
essays dealing with the livest subject of today
the worldwide revolt Of the working class.
"vERsEs," By MARY FRANCES SAN
FORD.-Into our hands a few days ago
came a little privately printed book OF
verses by Mary Frances Sanford, general
secretary of the University Y. w. c. A.
We read them all at one sitting, which
is not good way to read book Of verses
But we did, and it can't, be helped now
Miss Sanford's poems show a true poetic
fancy and considerable degree Of skill
| in molding thought and fancy to poetic
forms, and, furthermore, a fine faith, such
| as always gives "a distinctive quality and
spirit to verses not otherwise seriously
| marred. One might almost say that verses
| without faith are vain. At least, as be-
tween verses with and verses without, we
prefer the former. One gets good glimpse
| of Miss Sanford's art and play of fancy
| in this:
COMPENSATION.
Two poets lived and wrought, upon time.
| One reaped the sweetness Of full-garnered
fame; -,
One poured his sad heart into fragment rhyme,
| And, dying, left soon-forgotten name.
great soul passed. in majesty Of death,
From nobleness of life. and men marked long
| That those who bent above his latest breath
| Caught, on his lips, the nameless poets song.
sHAksPERE's BIRTHDAY TO BE
MARKED IN ENGLAND BY THE SHAP
ING OF PLANS FOR A SUITABLE
SHAKESPEARE MEMORIAL.-April % il
the birthday Of Shakspere, and with it's ap
proach discussion Of plans for memo
rial to the bard seems likely to bring
things to focus and result in England
erecting an adequate monument On
point has already been settled, and tina
| Is that the monument is to be in London
OF the plans and prospects, the New YorI
+ Times Saturday Review says:
i The Improvement of things at Stratford- on
Avon is not comprehended in the present move
ment in which Americans are participating to-
gether with men and women Of the poets owl
nationality. If the spirit of the new move
| ment wakes stronger with the lapse Of time
however we may hope eventually to see Shak
| spere's birthplace free from the symbol Of the
extended grasping palm. As for the Londor
memorial, it may be such monument as tha
which really honors the memory Of good Sil
Walter in Princess street. Edinburgh. Tht
English speaking world has few other carved
monuments so good. But shaksperes fame
seems to require grander memorial, and there
lies the trouble. Statues talked Of bu
remembrance Of existing statuary supposed t.
glorify the poet and his works does not recon
Gle one to the idea that more Of them woul'
serve to increase the poets glory or the credi
of English art. There is talk, too, of ''shak
spere House," which should contain lecture
! rooms, museum. library and sort of ma
, tional Pantheon. "a glorifed Mechanics insti
tute,' the London Academy calls this idea. T.
devise fitting memorial for great maj
is, indeed. difficult undertaking.