New-York tribune., 1907-12-21
JUVENILI4.
Fascinating Stories, Pictures, Fam
and Science.

In the literature OF Northern Europe Hans
Christian Andersen and his tales loom large to
the properly stimulated childish Imagination,
and we believe that many young readers will be
keenly interested in Paul Harboe's clever ook
"A Chid's Story Of Hans Christian Andersen
Duffield Coz. The narrative is full Of lively
anecdote and it presents an excellent picture Of
the big, awkward, happy, lovable man, the
gentle hearted friend of children. No youngster
many Of Andersen's tales are based on actual
experience. Witness the story of the sympa-
thetic little boy who parts with one of his two
precious tin soldiers that q lonely old nelshbor
may have that dear companion. 1t was the
little of julius Mosen. the German poet.
who hearing from his father that Hans Ander-
sen was an old bachelor living alone sought
thus to comfort his fayorlte author. An enter
tanning book which comes from Sweden is Selma
Lagerlofs Wonderful Adventures Of Nils
Doubleday, Page Coz. 1t Is the queer story
of a selfish and lazy boy who is bewitched into
the form of an elf and who. being carried off
in G company Of wild geese. learns from MS
various experiences among animals lessons of
kindness, usefulness and generosity. The book
has been exceedingly popular In Sweden. and
the translation by Velma Swanston Howard de-
serves to be known here. One Of the most WIN
ming books ever written for children is Madame
Johanna Spyris Heidi" 1t has been charm
ingly translated ty Mr.. Nathan Haskell Dole,
the translation being put into most attractive
form by CHM & Co. The story is as fragrant
Of innocence. deep affection and simple WISDOM
as the Swiss Alp which its scene Is set Is
fragrant Of spicy herbs and rock roses II is.
moreover. a story which holds the reader en-
chained TO the very end.
A book OF most beguiling tales for young peo-
ts 7 Hutcht0son's e'The Golden
Porch" Qongmans, Green & Coz Most OF
these Greek fairy tales are drawn from Pindar's
Odes and the title comes from that in which
the poet tells the story OF the child of the
Wood Fairy. 1T may be said" the author ad-
mts "that Greek myths. especially as han
died by the poet who wove into them his deep
est criticisms of life, misleadingly, If not
profaney. entitled fairy tales. But / would
plead that nothing in Greek literature. except
the stories OF Herodotus. is so STEPPED IN
the true fairy atmosphere are the myths OF
Pindar." For the poet. truly, "au Hellas is en-
chanted ground" and the adapter OF these
stories has happily responded to his inspiration.
He has not too slavishy tied himself down to
the original but has borrowed or invented with
out injury to the spirit Of his author. The col
lection includes the story of Tantalus. the story
of Amphiaraus. ''the prince who was seer
the story of Peleus and the Sea-Kins's daugh-
ter: and the story Of Jason. the lad with the
beautiful face and the stature lofty gods;
the story Of Evadne. the "pansy child; the
story of the children OF Leda; the story Of the
Isle of the Rose. that OF Danae and her son, and
that Of Heracles. The myths have been most
ingeniously and tastefully 1eated and young
readers should find them delightful MT. A j.
Church has brought out this season The
Iliad for Boys and Girls" (the Macmillan Com
pany)-a version OF the Homeric stories as ex-
cellent as that which welcomed last year
in his version Of the Odyssey prepared also for
the delectation of young people. The stories
are set forth dramatically yet with simplicity.
In Tales Of Troy and Greece" Qongmans
Green G. Coz Mr. Andrew Lang retells in ab-
sorbing fashion the stores of Ulysses. of Melea-
ger, Of Theseus and Perseus. To these spirited
and vivid recitals Mr.. H J. Ford has added
number of graceful Illustrations.
The dainty little story Brothers and Sisters,
which Miss Abbie F. Brown brought out last
wear. has this season an equally interesting
sequel in Friends and Cousins Houghton,
Mifflin & Coz II is island story full OF
the fun possible on the seacoast, and 1t is not
without moral lessons. In THE Story of Sir
Launcelot and His Companions (Charles Scrib-
ner's Sons) Mr. Howard Pyle has added a third
volume to the series in which he has been
presenting his feliciteus versions of the Arthur
rian legends Text and illustrations are his
own, and both disclose ready sympathy for
the picturesqueness in some of the most en-
chanting Of all the romantic pages IN English
literature He retells the old stories In an
appropriately deliberate, sometimes quaint, but
never archaic obscure dcton, and he makes
his illustrations things of delightful SIM
pIicity. His style is his own, for all that it
recalls that of the early German engravers. 1t
is bold and free the blacks and whites bravely
q all. these drawings show
invention as we'll as technical skill. This is a
welcome addition to a good series.
Lady Tenants book, "The Children and the
Pictures" (the Macmillan Company, is quaint
and engaging mixture of fact and fiction. The
illustrations are uncommonly interesting, mas
much as they are reproductions in color of more
or less well known paintings. The people in
these pictures emerge from the canvas at night
and play with the Children" or tell them stories
stories of the periods in which the originals
of the portraits lived. 1t is book which will
give genuine happiness to clever child reader.
Mr. Hamilton Wright Mabe has edited with
nerfect taste collection of Famous Stories
Every Child Should Know Doubleday, Page &
Coz Among the authors whose beautiful work
is to be found therein are Dickens. Ruskn and
Hawthorne; the story of Ruth is there; so is
.'Rab and His Friends" and there. too, is Mr..
Hale's Man Without Country" This is one
of the books Of the season about which there is
no question as to literary distinction and value.
In Uncle Remus and Br'er Rabbit" (Freder-
ick A Stokes Company may be found some Of
MIR. Joel Chandler Harriss most amusing stories
and verses. To this piquant text Mr.. J. A.
Conde has added equally piquant pictures in
color The book opens on naughty Br'er Rab-
bits invention of the big "bobbycue." by which
he most cruelty deceives Brer Bar. Br'er Fox
and Br'er Coon: and it ends with the animated
rhyme of thieving Br'er Rabbit and the partridge