The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-10-08
CURRENT LITERATURE
Observations of New Books and
Late Magazines.

The coming of the lall months OF the
year is aptly symbolized in the fine
picture lin colors) of Halloween fun
which decorates the front cover of the
October American boy, and the con-
tents will be found most enjoyable by
grown-ups as well as the boys.
THE Fight in the House of God" is
the rather unusual title of very un-
usual story which leads the October
issue of 10 STORY BOOK The
author is Ben Winslow. This story Is
not the only unusual thing about this
issue of the magazine. The cover
is exceedingly striking and attractive.
A striking criticism of present day
kindergarten methods, by Marion
Hamilton Carter, is the leading arti-
Gle for the October number in Inc
Housekeeper's series on The Firth
About the Public Schools. To press
her points, Miss Carter occasionally
uses extremely vivid sentences, such
as characterizing the kindergarten
as IAN irfant vaudeville and joy ga
loon"
The October number of Scribner's
Magazine contains number of arti-
cles of life and adventure in the open
air appropriate to the hunting and
camping season. The frontispiece,
in color, is after a drawing by N. Z.
Wyeth, picturing a Navajo family, ON
the October Trail"
The short stories are particularly
interesting in this number.
o.
The most important feature of the
October number of Popular Mechan-
les is the terse summary of one
months development in the field OF
aeronautics. But aeronautics consti-
tute but one feature of the magazine.
John l.. Cochrane, OF the United
States Geological Survey, contributes
an interesting article on gas engines
for the propulsion of battleships. This
revolutionary change is declared to
be imminent.
An important article in the October
Woman's Home Companion is emit
tied Seeking Shelter in New York. "
They are real adventures of a real
girl, who tells her story to readers
of the Companion. This October is
sue is particularly rich in fiction,
having stories by Elizabeth Stuart
Phelps, Harrison Rhodes, Octave
Thanet, Nellie McClurg and Margaret
Sutton Briscoe. n
The October number of Everybody
contains notable collection of stor
| les and verse Eleanor Hallowel
Abbott contributes Something thai
Happened in October" strong story
of the Name woods-a story that mas
mystery and power and "creepiness
about it. THE Hiding of Black Bill
western tale of a real "hold-up man
who doesn't miss any tricks, is told
by o. Henry in his most whimsical
style.
The timely note of the October
Century is struck by the Hon. Seth
Lows article on THE Writ of In
junction as a Party Issue" an inter
esting comparison of the Republican
and Democratic platforms in their
treatment of the labor question. The
discussion has the value of coming
from a man familiar with the point
of view of organized labor and in
sympathy with its best purposes, while
remaining sufficiently Independent
to form his own opinion.
The October American Magazine il
full of ''meaty" reading. Professor
Thomas, of Chicago University, be
gins his series of articles on women
In his first article, which is entitled
The Adventitious Character of Wo
man." he discusses woman as an orna
ment, woman as mans equal, man the
the use of finery to attract the other
sex, how moman makes a fool of a
man, etc.
Perhaps the most delightful of the
many good things in the October st
Nicholas is a sympathetic appreciation
of Lewis Carroll: The Friend OF
Children" by Helen Marshall Pratt
pleasant companion piece to her
narrative in the September St. Nicho
las of How Alice in Wonderland
Came to be Written" The sketch is
rich in anecdote and incident of this
lovable mans boyhood and youth and
of his life at Christ church, oxford
where he did his work.
Quite the most startling article Of
fered by any of the current magazines
is the one contribute to the october
Red Book Magazine by Charles Ed