The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-12
BOOKS AND AUTHORS.

An interesting investigation OF chill
dren's likes and dislikes In the matter OF
books has been made by Prof. c. H. Thurber
OF Chicago. Answers from some 5000
children were tsbulatsd concerning tho
books they had most en- joyod, and tho tota!
number OF books read was 1879. The
children consulted were from Q to is years
OF ago and from their answers Is made up
q list Of 100 best books, given In the order
OF their popularity, which commences
with Little Women" and concludes with
.Peck's BAD Boy 'Fiske's History OF
the United States heads the list Of the
hist orians and stands In the fifteenth place,
above works Of fiction and juvenile tales,
but the Life OF Washington and the
Life Of Lincoln" take precedence Of Fiske.
Altogether the books arc we'll chosen and
make a very oreditable showing OF the
literary taste Of children In Chicago.
Mayor Tom johnson OF Cleveland has
had an idea that he was surely -Col.
L,,mpkin," the genial reformed monopolist
in the political satires that have been run
ming in McCluys's. He has been 80 sure
of it that he spoke about 1t to young man
on the ma ga zine who was for time in the
employ OF the city Of Cleveland after john
son became Mayor. He labored under the
impression that the young man had written
the stories under an assumed name. The
author ia Capt. John McAuley Palmer,
a grandson OF Gen. Palmer and an instructor
at West Point. Capt. Palmer has used Col.
Lumpkin as literary device for the popular
treatment Of economic questions, and had
no one in mind when he invented the char
acter.
Those who have been accustomed to
think Of Russian a. a barbaric tongue
will be interested in Prince Kropotkins
description OF the language In his book
on Russian Literature. The richness OF
the Russian language In words Ia astound
ing, he writes. Many a word which
stands alone for the expression OF q given
idea in the languages Of Western Europe
has in Russian three or four equivalents
for the rendering OF the various shades Of
the same idea. Its pliability for trans
lation ls such that in no other language
do you find an equal number Of most beauti-
full, correct and truly poetic renderings
OF foreign authors. Longfellow. Schiller
Shelley and Goethe, to say nothing Of that
favorite with Russian translators, Shakes
peare, are equally we'll turned into Russian.
The vagueness OF German metaphysics and
the short, concrete and expressive terse
sentences Of the best English writer's offer
no difficulty for the Russian translator.
Alonzo Kimball Ia new name which
promises to become prominent in the list Of
illustrators who choose feminine haunts and
social life rs the inspiration Of their artistic
skill Mr. Kimbal Ia a Western man who
has studied In New York and in Paris with
I efebvre and Courtois and later with Whist
Ter. When Mr.. Kimball was in Whistler
lclass there was also another newcomer,
a great pipe smoker. Whistler had great
aversion to smoking, and one day when he
approached the smoker for the purpose OF
criticizing the students drawing he said In
his drawing manner: Il wouldn't SIN oke
If were you, because you might get inter-
ested In your work and let your pipe 20
out" Mr.. Kimball made the illustra ton
in colors for "The Orchid
Joseph c. Lincoln, the author, spent his
boyhood in the little longshore village in
Cape Cod which Is the scene Of "Cap'n Fri "
and his new book. Partners Of the Tide. "
He comes Ct seafaring folk, for his father,
Joseph Lincoln. ran away TO sea at Il.
was captain Of full rugged chip at u and
died on q voyage the year bis son was