The Republican journal., 1908-12-31
Literary News and Notes.


was nronhetic of an extraordinary condl-
ton existing in the United States to-day
which Raw Stannard Baker reports IN
the January American Magazine. The
church is taking up the healing, OF the
sick. and medicine is taking on the color
of Christianity by acknowledging the
mind and religion as aids in eftectlng
cures of the body. 1t is easily the most
important new fact in American life, ana
Mr.. Baker has grasped and presented IL
with his usual skill.
An important feature of McClure.s
Magazine for January is the first install
ment of Marriage a la Mode" new
novel by Mrs. Humphry Ward, dealing
with American life. Then there is a
great story of the South Seas, 1.-The
House of Mapuhi," by Jack London, and
five other good, strong short stories.
The articles are fully up to the Mcclure
standard. An educated man who went
into the saloon business tells OF his ex-
neriences. General Kuropatkin declares
that the Treaty of Portsmouth was
premature and dangerous peace and cites
facts to prove it. DR.. Brandreth Symonds
pives some interesting figures on the
mortality of overweights and under
weights James L. Ford contributes a
PAPER on "The Appeal of the Stage,
and Will C. Barnes has some interesting
things to say about wild horses.
The December National Magazine is
veritable Christmas JOY, with us aftlstlc
cover design Having polar bear IS a new
figure in the Yuletide cast. The maya
zine abounds interest, all written win
that dash and lucidity which has Tor
long time distinguished the Natlonal.
There is the opening OF a series Oh chafnl-
ing travel sketchs by Peter MacQueen'
the indomitable, well-known glotDe-trot-
ter, who has just returned from d
trip through the jungles. AS a spec ca
staff correspondent OF the Natlonal, Mr;
vivid illustrations of Mr.. Roosevelt S
A rican hunting grounds Some OF
these illustrations are startling, almost
alarming enough to intimidate less
brave man than President Roosevelt
from counting the terrors and dangers OF
African wilds. The first of these ar
ticles appears in the December issue and
will continue in succeeding numbers.
From the strenuosities of a political
campaign, the public is wont to turn to
its humorous side, presented by such
philosopher as Mr.. Dooley or John Ken
drick Bangs. This season man may
take comfort in Mr.. Bangs views on
Campaign Methods" as in former
Presidential year he found the saving
salt of humor in Mr.. Dooley's remarks
on ''The Candidate" In 'The Genial
Idiot" published last month by the Har-
pers, Mr.. Bangs declares: when The
Sunday Ji,rger comes out with four
page revelation of your candidates past,
in which we learn how in 1873 he put out
the ewes of maiden aunt with red-hot
poker, and stabbed negro cook IN the
back with skewer because she would
not permit him to put poison IN his
grandfather's coffee, you know perfectly
we'll that the story has been put forth
for the purpose of turning the maiden
aunt, negro, and grandfather votes
against him. 1t hurts no one and pro
vokes,'' concludes the Idiot, "a great
deal of innocent mirth.
In the January issue of the American
Magazine (which, by the way, now APP
pears in a new type dress and with bet
ter illustrations) William Allen White
begins a new series of political articles
entitled 1.-The Old Order Changeth. -
1t is the great Kansas journalist at his
best What are the solid results OF all
these years of agitation and exposure
through which we have just passed? Mr..
/ White is going back and sorting out what
is tangible. He proposes now to put into
lasting form the facts which ought to
be preserved. Other notable contribu-
lions to the same number may be sum-
married. briefly. Stewart Edward White
tells a great story of boy life-really a
great one. WillIrwin describes the New
York "Sun.'' Eleanor Gates reports
the facts about a new meat which may
soon feed the millions. David Gravson
interviews sober drunkard. Mrs. Nc
Kee Rankin recalls memories of John
Wilkes Booth. Lincoln Colcord, James
Oppenheim and many others tell stories.
1.-The Interpreters House" and ''The
Pilgrims Scrip are full of good read
ing.
In Holman Days lively story for boys,
| The Eagle Badge, one of the new Harper
| books, there is dramatic account OF
smuggler's shooting affray with adeputy
United States marshal. 1t is interesting
to know that only few years since
similar incident actually happened. A
guide, Charles Morris, got into an alter
cation with game warden and shot him.
He then fled in canoe, and pulled up the
Allagash crying at the top of his voice.
Morris was proclaimed an outlaw, and
several thousand dollars were spent in
searching for him without success. Hol-
man Day, who then represented Lewis
ton paper, hunted the fugitive up in the
woods and obtained story from his own
lips showing that there was some excuse
on his side. Mr.. Day printed his story
with pictures, to the great surprise of the
officials. After year of hiding in the
woods the fugitive was captured and
served term in prison. The incident of
the mans wailing as he poled up the
Allagash which Mr.. Day tells in The
Eagle Badge is founded upon his talk
with the fugitive, who told him that he
had cried for ten days after committing
the shooting.
The January number of the Strand
Magazine is exceptionally strong in fic-
ton. Besides further long instalment
of Hall Gaines remarkable new serial.
''The White Christ, there is delight
fully humorous story by w. w. Jacobs
called "Prize Money" Another divert
ing story is Arthur Morrison's ''Filer
the Faithless " Horace Annesley Vach-
ell, Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler, Mrs.
Bland, and E. Nesbit also contribute eX-
cellent stories. The articles are diversi-
| q i L.. L. i'll. j