The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-27
hooks AND AUTHORS.

1t is an interesting fact that the best
known women writers are not college
graduates. According TO an article in the
April Critic, such American authors as Mrs.
Wharton. Mrs. Craigie, Mrs. Wilkins Free
man. and others whose work has scholarly
distinction as well as originality and good
literary style, we're educated at home OF
in unambitious girls seminaries. Such
English women writers as Mrs. Meynell,
John Strange Winter, the impressive Mrs.
Humphry Ward and the spectacular Marie
Corelli have been educated at home in the
imtnemorial English fashion Of their grand
mothers. Mrs. Virgins, Mrs. Stuart, Mrs.
Dodge and Margaret Deland have acquired
their literary training in various irregular
and unsanctifed ways. Even the younger
school Of writer's whose popularity is newly
acquired and whose following il large--Miss
Mary johnson, Miss Bertha Runkle, Miss
Carolyn Wells and the rest--have veptured
into the literary field and won their laurels
without permission from any college Julia
Ward Howe was born before Nassar but
with all her love for scholarship, she sent
none Of her daughters-literary sspirants
though they were-to any Of the women's
colleges which we're spHnging up in their
day.
Arthur T. Hadey president Of Yale
College. publishes an article in the April
Century on The Immediate Future Of the
American College in which he is quoted
as saying THE college course is not valued
solely or even primarily for its studies; it
is valued most Of all for the associations
into which il brings the student and the
graduate. The American college tries 10
furnish liberal education in the old Greek
sense Of the word-an education which
fits the student for the use Of liberty and
enables him to understand the duties and
privileges Of a free citizen"
Isaac F. Maroosscn tells an interesting
story in the April Worlds Work Of how
Carnegie libraries are given away. Mr..
Carnegi believes in home rule in all matters
perta ming to the location and manage
ment Of buildings, but sometimes com
plioations arise, as at Waterloo, Ia, where
a river flows through the city. The city
met the usual requirements for taxation,
but a herce discussion ragged as 10 which
side of the river the building should he
placed. Az neither faction would surren-
der, a compromise was eTe cted whereby
il was agreed to build the library in the
middle of the river. When Mr. Carne gle
heard Of it he decided to end tho contro-
versy by giving money for a library on each
side Of the river.
The Lounger- OF tire Criic in answer
10 a letter written by an UGte subscriber,
who is disgusted with the eternal p-stinR
Of the elk best selling" books and asks
for list Of the six best books printed during
the past six months, regardless Of thfir
selling qualities, submits the following;
rHE SIX BEsT BooKs-TAcT.
Tho Awakening Of Japan" BY okhhuTs Kskuzo
The wonders OF Life" by Ernst Haecktl
"Irtters OF John Ruskln TO Chairs Eliot Norton
"Reminiscences OF Noncure y. Conway"
The Opening Of Thibet," by PeTceval Lsndon.
Emerson, Poet ana Thinker by Elizabeth L.
Csry.
rHL SIX Brsr BooKs-FIcIioS.
The Secret Womsn," by Eden Phnlpotis
The Golden Bowl" BY Henry JAmes.
The Divine Pre-" By May Sinclair.
The Underrurrent" by Robert Grant
the Marriage Of wnlsm Asse." by Mr. ward.
the Fugitive Blacksmith. b, Charles y Stewart
Alioe MacGowon, who in collaboration
with her sister, ALICE MacGowan Cooke, lie
A spirited Southern woman who makes
long Journeys alone in the mountains In
search oflitcrary material On one coca
sion she rode unattended through thu Black
Mountain region from Roam Mountain,
n. C., 10 her homo in Chattanooga, 1, COO
miles, in eight weeks Miss MAcGowan Ia
another OF the successful women writer's
who Rave not received a college degree.
SIZE was educated In the public schools Of