Los Angeles herald., 1908-12-20

HE bear stories for which Judge
Curtis Wilbur D. Curtis is already
noted have received further attention
from our author this autumn, and
the result is now apparent in a new
volume, 1.-THE Bear Family at Home,
and How the Circus Came to Visit
Them" just issued from the Neuner
press.
These stories, which Judge Wilbur
originated for the amusement of his
own children, viii make instant appeal
to every small or even grown up child.
They are full of action, and the detail
which so appeals to the juvenile mind
is ever present. The characters are
the bears monkeys, lions. tigers, ele-
plants and camels, and their various
adventures are recounted in most in
teresting manner. The many apimals
from the circus come to visit at the
home of the circus bear" This is
cub who has been in circus and mas
run away and returned to his nome
His wonderful stories of life out in the
world of men and the peculiar things
which happened there keep the bear
family well entertained, and incident
ally will keep many families of boys
and girls eager to hear Just one more"
Judge Wilburs interest in the train
ing of children mentally, physically
and morally is too great to permit him
to write book in which anything not
suggestive of mental and moral ad-
vancement could find place. He has
coutriyed under most Elusive titles ana
with unusual characters to incorpor-
ate many of the children's favorite BIZ
BILE stories into this book, and advice
about carefulness, obedience, persever-
ance and many other of the foundation
virtues of childhood is given in most
seductive sugar coated doses.
Many splendid illustrations ornament
the newer stories. There are excellent
line drawings and half tones by Frank
Varien of the Century company, whose
pictures for st. Nicholas have won
him hosts of friends among the read
ers of all ages.
Oscar Brinn has illustrated the Bible
stories of the series while George
Woods, a colored boy protege of Judge
Wilbur, has made interesting drawings
for the two true stories, about the ten
men who did not kill the bear club
Foot, and the story of the Racoon that
was caught.
The book is one which every father
can put into the hand of his son or
daughter with the utmost confidence
The ideas to be awakened by its peru
sal will be clean and wholesome.
The Bear Family at Home. BY Judge
Curtis d. Wilbur. Les Angeles: The
Neuner company.
Other New Juvenile Cooks
With a title that is an echo of pleas
ant things, the author of Peter Pump
kin in Wonderland" imports seven de-
lightfully fanciful dream experiences
to her very boy-like hero, which are
charmingly toni in seven groups Of
chapters. Woven into the stories which
reflect seven of the years holiday sea-
sons dearest to little folks are few
verses with the swing and Tilt that
children love. The first group tells OF
the frolicsome "Jack-o' Lanterns Hal
loween.' 1t animates the grotesque
effigies that boys make Of a pumpkin
rind and a candle in a way worthy of
the erratic fancy of Mother Goose her
SELF
The second group is called Thanks
giving at Turkey Pen Inn," and 1t as
sumes to follow the family life, so to
speak, of an old gobbler and his spouse,
installed by a farmer who is rearing
turkeys for Thanksgiving as the chap
erons and protectors of their own
young and others he may send to the
Inn" Then all these turkeys have a
variety of fantastic adventures full of
life and "go' and solid fun, yet some-
times veering close to tragedy, until
most of them disappear in the strange,
dark mystery for turkeydom, that al
ways Just precedes the day that men
miscall-for turkeys thanksgiving.
These two delightful stories are
worthy to take rank among chiidhoods
classics.
Miss Hunts illustrations are in entire
harmony with the tales, the printing,
the paper and the binding are beyond
reproach, and little folk will look long
before finding anything so charmingly
in accord with the real old holiday
spirit.
peter Pumpkin in Wonderland. By
Ida M. Huntington. Chicago; Rand,
McNally & Co.
"Cats and Kits" shows the result of
considerable knowledge ON the part OF
Mrs Montgomery concerning the do
-. e 4Loca oato Thara are six kit