Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-13
CURRENT LITERATURE

The April number of the Locomotive
tiremen 5 Magazine is Of special interest.
Aside from the technical matter. much
OF which is pleasing TO all classes of
readers, there is a great deal of other
material OF general character. The
book is highly entertaining.
Full OF the romance Of chivalrous adj
venture, quick with peril and heroism
Is the opening story, "Gaspard the Brave B
IN the April st. Nicholas, and many
readers will wish that Frederick Orin
BARTLETT had more 10 tell of Old Nicholas
and his plucky pupil From first ac-
quaintance in babyhood With "The
Garden of Verses, most Of us nowadays
claim friendship with that friend of
friends. Robert Louis Stevenson. and
the sketch Of "The Lighthouse Builder g
Son cannot fail 10 prove instrGtive
and interesting reading, his life at
Nailima particularly; the picturesque
natives; the title of "Tusitaba. " hunting
the wealth Of stories he told them; leaves
a deep impression of the beloved author
who could remember child's lows and
fears, enthrall youth with "1reasure
Island, and make his own life story of
courage and goodwill a model for men
and women of all time "On the Romany
Road" is, OF course, about gypsies. that
curious folk wrapped always in a cloak
OF mystery, and j. NJ. Gleeson accom-
panies his own two short experiences with
a charming drawing of daughter of the
race. Truly inspiring is the account by
Charles {. Johnson Of many kinds of
practical instruction given in the public
schools oi New York where the scholars
are taught TO bake and sew. plant gardens
or trim hats, as well ns the usual branches
and where exercise of all sorts whether
IN the gymnasium OF swimming pool is
neither overlooked nor forgotten. Surely
they should be "all round" bows and
girls who have the benefit OF such broad
training, and the pictures alone should
spur every reader TO make the most of
his own opportunities The excellent
serials develop in plot and intensity in
interest, and for little folks the quaint
pictures and iingles are unusually at
tractive.
The Atlantic Monthly deals principally
tins month with timely questions of public
interest, essay and fiction, though repre-
sented, occupyinga second place. and the
most practical business men can no longer
relegate this magazine 10 his dilettante
Trend without serious loss TO his own
store of everyday knowledge. In the
opening article, Making Education Hit
the Mark Willard Giles Parsons presents
m convincing manner the fundamental
error made in most schools and colleges
today Of confusing the vocational and
cultural aims of study. There seems no
coniuting his forceful argument. and we
hope that no one with the interest of
education at heart will fail to heed his
earnest word Of warning. Alexander ID
Noyes in a discussion of Railway Sc
curitles as an Investment" takes broad
view OF the subject, and gives some CON
servative advice that impresses the reader
as sound and logical; while George w
Alger deplores the present Ineffective
ness OF our criminal court of justice. with
its myriad loopholes for the con-
iessed culprit, in a strong plea for "Crimi.
nal Law Reform G.. n. Saleebv pre.
sents careful review of the relations of
biology and rcligion'and a thoughtful ESSAY
by Justine Bayard Ward explains the
attitude of Plus TX toward church music
and the Gregorian chant. In touch with
the season comes "A Plea for Enclosed
Gardens, by Susan S. Wainwright; while
Iorqml Macdonald touches nature s
springs in n poem. "Pan is Not Dead q
Tho potency and benefits of "The Lodge
as an institution in American life Is ex.
planned by Charles Moreau Hareer while
the fiction is of a lightncss TO leaven The
rather serious tone of the whole magazine