The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-23


Mrs J, K. Hudson's new book, I'M the
ance from the Hudson Press, Kansas
City. AS may be guessed from the tue,
the book is a collection OF mature
sketches by Mrs. Hudson, whose carrier
works have been moslly STORES aH0
book has the freshness and N1gOr or out
door life. It is the outpouring OF the
heart of a lover of nature ana VIII de-
light any one who appreciates the JOYS
of outdoor life. The volume closes with
q little negro story, The Octopus OF
2ossun1 Hollow The illustrations are a
feature of the book worthy of attention
They are halftone plates made from pho-
tographs taken by Mr.. Frank G. Wizard
Of Toueka Mr.. Willard went to Missouri
IN the fall to take views of that pic
turesque country specially for the nook'
''The Fairy Godmother-in-Law,' by
Oliver HerfOrd, has recently been pub
lished by Charles Scribner's sons W men
Cinderella married the Prince she did not
tell him of her Fairy Gormotheri al the
harder then, the blow when his fairy
m0ther-in-laW came to visit them The
tale of the infiiction is a long one, run
ming through a gOOdlv number of Stanzas
tipped with Mr.. Herford's whimsical hui
NOR. One is tempted to quote OF course,
but for this purpose goes on TO
THE CHARM THAT FAILED.
The Hero of my tale
Was a serpent-don't turn palel
MY snake was not the serpent of The
Ol0gE,
with an apple up his sleeve
To tempt some child of Eve.
Nor was he versed in deadly Toxicology
No. his fangs were free from guile,
And he had a roOmy smile.
There was no more harmless snake in all
Zoology.
But since no creature known
Is perfect, I viii own,
He had one failing-vanity, alas! innate.
He was also fond Of sport,
Though not cruel sort
His aim was more to charm than to as
sassiuate.
He was often heard to say,
When feeling rather gay:
81 would like to see the Bird can not
tascinate.
And one day
Some Iaughter-loving Fay
His boasting heard
And sent bird
The Bird the fable goes on to narrate,
was sitting stuffed and still on a thing
81 straw and chiffon. ribbands and lace
and jet and such Ike fnery. So, when
the snake came forth to fascinate'
The Bird
Never stirred
Or said word.
What is the end of fascinators that ogle
unrespOnsive birds2 The moral of the IA
Bile, dear reader you will find IN the
book.
Song O. Cheer" is the name of James
Wh!tcomb Rileys new book, recently
published by the Bobbs Merrill company
a Christmas without a Riley book would
leave something incomplete Here is q
sample from this latest volume:
My grandpa he's a-allus sayin
t''Sing a song o. cheer!'
And wunst I says: What kind is them?"
He says: The kind to hear
cause they're the songs that natuEe
sings
SIN ever bird that tvvfttersi"
A-D-e ell. VvniUnnFVVfIIg and doves T.
Hain't oVer-cheery crittersr
tThen don't you sing like them he
Her guinny-hens. my dear
He peafowls nuther (drat that boyD
You sing song o cheer.'
The illustrations are by William vaw-
Ger and are as good as usual
American romance without historical
background is a scarce quantity, but The
House of a Thousand Candles is a bold
stroke in that direction. Meredith Mich
olson not only scorned the petty king
doms so much exploited by others since
Prince Otto and The Prisoner of Zen
da' established the type, but he took his
own HoOsier landscape and adapted it to
his purposes Lake Annandale'' on
which the much-lighted house stands is
Lake Maxinkuckee, in northern Indiana
q pretty BODY OF water, beside which
General Lew Wallace, Booth Harrington
and James WhitcOmb Riley. as well as
Meredith Nicholson. have camped and
dshed. General Wallace wrote a consid-
cradle part of Ben-Hur at Lake Maxim
kuckee.
1.-THE Storm Signal" is the title of a
book by Gustave Frederick AIertins, pub
lshed by the Bobbs Merrill company. Mr..
Mertins is newcomer in the fiction field.
While his first novel bears the signs of
the novice. it IS nevertheless a distinctly
strong and credtable and altOgether n
promising performance. Dealing with the
subject of a negro rising in Alaua.na [
is necessarily of a tragic nature. but Mr.
1Iertins has allowed himself sonlenrhS4 f