Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-24

his phonetic pseudonym OF @, mas
kept a record of his reading through
out the year. forming a delightful vol
ume of fragmentary biographical ana
critical memorabilia and marginalia
which the buttons are about TO issue
with the appropriate title, "From
Cornish Window" Mr.. CUTLER
COUGHS reading is particularly broad
with distinct proclivities in the direc-
ton of old French and new, OF oid
English and new. A poem, an essay, d
story arrests his attention and lie dis-
courses on 1t in an impressionistic MAN.
ner--with subtle references to his Ior-
native academic in!iuenccs-whicn'
whether whimsical or sedate, always
possesses the elements of good read
ing" His book is divided into twelve
chapters to correspond to the months
of the year, and, whatever be his d.
sressions his themes form coherent
narrative through the succeeding 20
diacal influences under which they
were written.
Margaret Deland's new novel, Tine
Awakening of Helena Richie" was
published last week. Mrs. Deland is
leisurly literary workman, and has
risen gradually into the distinctive
place in American literature that she
now holds John Ward, Preacher,
"Old Chester Tales" and DIR. Laven-
dar's People," are her best known
works. but 1.-The Awakening of Helena
Richie will unquestionably surpass
| anything that she has yet written.
author
| Walking Delegate" has made a social
study Of the race tracks, those who
gamble at the races and just what
horse racing means to the general pub
lie. which will be published in the Au-
gust Worlds Work. Mr.. Scotts IN
yestigations will demonstrate the de-
pcndence Of horse racing upon gamo-
| ling and it's effect on our social lie.
| John Burroughs, who has been well
called the dean of American outdoor
writers. is. more than any one else.
Irresponsible for the present widespread
Interest in nature. Ever since Wake
Robin" appeared in 1871 he has con-
ltinued to delight readers with &C.
casional volumes of outdoor essays.
His last book, Far and Near" was
lsimilar in character to his first, though
it dealt chiefly with more distant
regions. but his new volume. Ways OF
Nature" is collection of essays
essentially different in character. In
this book Mr.. Burroughs has for his
object the setting forth of rational
!, view Of natures methods-the view of
those who have made the closest study
of animals Mr.. Burroughs has been
fighting recently. with his characters
tic vigor, what be believes to be a
pernicious tendency in recent books
about wild animals and of course he
was attacked in turn. In the essays
which make up Ways of Nature" is
to be found many an answer to his
critics. 1t was natural and fitting thai
Mr. Burroughs. first Of all. should
come to the rescue of popular natura
history when it seemed to be falling
into the hands of romancers and debt
of gratitude is due him for this service
Here Mr. Burroughs discusses the
limit of the telligence in bird ans
beast, their means Of communicate
with each other and inquiries into
what Do Animals Know :" His argu-
, ments and the facts he cites so tc
, prove that animals do not think or re-
fleet; that everything they do is at
,tributable to instinct alone. and Mr.
, Burroughs has been at pains to take
reported cases which would seem t.
show the contrary and to disprove
them. One of the amusing causes he
cites is this:
| was amused at the case of a robir
that recently came to my knowledge
The bird had built it's nest i'm the south
end of a rude shed that covered a table
at a railroad terminus, upon which &
. locomotive was frequently turned
When her end of the shed was turned
to the north she built another nest il
the temporary south end. and as the
reversal of the shed ends continued
from day to day. she soon had two
nests with two sets of eggs. When
last heard from her she was con
sistently sitting on that particular
nest which happened to be for tn,
time being i'm the end of the shed fac
ing south. The bewildered bird hal
evidently had no experience with thu
tricks of the turntables.
Mr.. Burroughs decries the work o.
the writer's who weave romance into
their nature stories and he maintains
truthfuily, that the aim of art is tbs
beautiful not over. but through tn,
n true. The exact facts should be fount
in the pages of the naturalist and only
/ thus he thinks. can they attain to the
rank of literature. These essays con
tain many interesting. origina
observations interpreted with the we'll
known insight and recounted with the
old-time charms of their author
'(BostOn; Houghton, Mifflin & Coz