The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-02-06
NEWS OF THE BOOK WORLD
THE UNEASY CHAIR

Wanted: a Poetry lnspector.The pub
lication of poor verse (not to use a more
offensive description) under the label
poetry, calls for a staff OF poetry IN
spectors. There is little more reason why
canned beef, or beef in the hoof, should
be inspected than there Is why verse
should be inspected. One doesn't need to
READ the verse, some one says. True, but
there are a great many who don't know
any better, just as there are many who
BUY adulterated canned goods, and such
innocents should be protected Writer'S
ana publishers of such verse as we have
IN mind 1--WE looked thru some eighteen
volumes of yesterday, should be made
TO 90 penance. extreme penance,- such as
working on the roads, for example. They
might be sent to Panama to help dig the
new canal. II al could be rounded up
| and made to apply themselves as assldu-
| ously at digging as they do at writing
verse, that for the most part ought to be
buried, the canal would be letting ships
thru the isthmus next summer at the lat
| est. z
| A Tragedy, Based on One Of the Apoc-
ryphal Books of the Bible. Written by
| Thomas Bailey Aldrch for Nance O'NeiI.-
With Nance O'Neil in the title role, Judith
OF Bethulia, by Thomas Bailey Aldrich,
would be an attraction worthy of the pres
ence Of any discriminating theater-goer
on q first night or any night. If he had
not seen the play as played by Miss
! O'NeH It Is hardly tragedy, however,
that would tempt one to a second seeing;
neither is 1t one that arouses great enthu-
siasm IN the reading. It Is told In grace
ful and flowing verse Of crystalline clears
| ness and no verbal gymnastics. In that
respect 1t is thing Of much beauty. But
. 1t lacks wealth Of incident and warmth,
and for that reason requires some one OF
striking personality, such as is possessed
by Miss oNeil, to maintain the interest.
The climax is, in reality, the whole
thing"
The story Is simple one. The king Of
the Assyrians, in an effort to conquer the
world, sends his captain, Holofernes, to
subdue the west country. Holofernes sue
ceeds fairly we'll, until he comes to Bethu-
} liza. He Is unable to overcome the oity's
defense with arms, SO poisons it's water
supply. In time the people, thru thirst
and hunger. are on the verge of capitulat.
, ing. Then 1t Is that Judith, q, widow, ar.
, rays herself In garments Of gladness anG
= goes to the camp of the Assyrian captain
, becomes his guest at a feast, and kills
! MN. His army, without leader. aban
dons the siege, and Bethulia and Judes
are saved The climax is reached In tn,
destruction of Holofernes: IT.
= TX God! have a heart?
: Why dol falter? (Kneeling). Thou that rules
g Hold not thy favor from liz that1 seek
i This night to be thy Instrument Dear Lord,
. LOOK down on me, widow Of Judea,
! feeble thing, unless thou sendest strength
h a woman such as slew sisera.
The hand that pierced his temples with nail
Was soft and gentle, like to mine, hand
M Moulded to press babe against her breastl
Thou didst sustain her. Oh sustain thou me,
That may free thy chosen from their chainsi
Each sinew In my body turns to steel,
' My pulses quicken, no longer fearl
t MY prayer has reached him, sitting there o.
. The hour is come dreamed. of! This for thee,
r y israel my people, this for thee! ~
High praise has been given Miss ONE
y for the manner in which she plays tn
: part of Judith. t5asssls ~. ~ ,s.Ae.
d Houghton, Mifhin & Co., Boston. 81 net.
Story Of Strange PeopIe-Those VIII
are interested in studies Of strange an
i queer people In the mass will find some
,, thing worth reading in Aylmer Maude
J. A Peculiar People; the Doukhobors. M
Maudet; explains the real character an
D motives of the people. It was he VIII
made arrangements with the Canada
government for the migration Of the DouA
Ie hobors, and the result of his clos
il study, his book becomes an authority 0
matters Doukhoborian.
Funk g. Wagnalls company, New York.
$1.50.
Or New Publishing House.-W. D. Moffa
40 for twenty years with Charles Scribner
" Sons and lately business manager
scribners Magazine, and Robert s. Var
manager Of the book advertising for tt
Is same house and editor of The Lamp, ar
re nounce the formation of a corporation vi
n der the title Of Moffat, Yard & Co.,
engage in a general book, art and per
odical publishing business to be carried c
le at 2S9 Fourth avenue, New York cit
1e They also announce a business ALLAN,
with the publishers Of Town and Countr
in which periodical they have acquired 8
interest.
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