Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-25

their inimitable humor. thew hold 49,,
fa5cinatc the reader from start to g.
ism Thcy are classics. with all tho
elements OF permanancy. "Abaft the
Funnel should be one Of the season,s
big sellers.
Winning His Shoulder Straps or Bob
Anderson at catham Military School
By Norman Brainerd. First volume %,
Five Chum3 Series illustrated h.,
Frank 'Vining Smith: IL mo-: cloth.
Price sl.2o: Boston,, Lothrop, Lee &
Shepard Co.
Ehcre is much in this story to win
the interest and arouse the enthusiasm
OF live boy. 1t is evident that tha
author is Thoroughly familiar with all
tre dctallS that enter into the student
ne at a military school. In Bob An
oers"h, the hero, the author has given
US iihe type of manly, courageous
boy. We can. too, but admire the Icva1
devotion of his four steadfast chums
ana admirers, each one of whom has
qualities of his own that commend hin,
10 the reader and show him to be !,
''A ia idflIS. Inc mllltarv
school where the incidents of the mar.
rdu'e occur Is located in the Northwes
tern part OF the state of New York. II
forms OF course a little world of its
own. The dearest and most cherished
honor which II holds for a student il
the opportunity of becoming an officer
hese honors are secured partly nv
competitive work and partly by ponular
vote OF the students. Among all kinds
OF dispositions, temEeraments. and
temptations, and with the personal hos.
tilitN OF the student captain of the ca.
dets, whose character is not in keeping
WIN Inc position he filIs-Bob has M
easy road to the coveted distinctior
and every boy, and many an older read.
er will follow him with the greatest in.
tcrcst. The athletic life of the school
is admirably and wildly set forth. Tho
story throughout is clean and whole
some. and will not fail to be apprecIar-
ed by any boy reader who has red
blood in his veins.
The Coming of Hester, by Jean X.
Baird. First volume of Hester" series.
illustrated by Arthur O. Scott: p mo.
cloth: Price s125: Boston: Lothrop Lee &
Shepard Co.
This story has, in full measure all the
qualities to make it popular with girl
readers. Its interest never lags
Hester comes as a mysterious waf to
the home of lone woman. still young.
but who has settled down into a narrow
life, which expands as the child rapidly
develops into maturer grlhood The prin-
cipal part of the story, in fact, takes
place when Hester has reached high
school age, and a brave true girl she is,
the pride of her Aunt Deborah who
has educated herself keeping pace with
the girl in her studies, and entering into
the interests of young life with more zest
than she had ever thought to feel. An
INSCRIPTIONS man learns a little of Hes
ter's antecedents, guesses more, and ex-
pecting to profit largely in so doing, at
tempts to claim her, forming an exciting
feature of a thoroughly wholesome story
of affection, service and growth.
The Autobiography of Methuselah.
by John Eendrick Bangs. Illustrated
in color by F. G. Cooper. Cloth:
Price $1.0O net: New York: y. W.
Dodge and Company.
1t is but natural that life so long
as that OF Methuselah, and one as
SOc,ated to such an extent with the
fathers of the race. should be rich in
experiences of exceptional interest.
and in the wisdom that comes from eX-
tended observation. and fullness of
years. A careful reading Of this au-
photography convinces us that Me
thuseah, notwithstanding an exuber-
ance of spirit that shows a tendency
at times to approach fippancy. and
a painful lack of reverence for older
men, has on the whole done a good
job. If he has not added anything of
moment to the archives of history he
has at least contributed, in q material
degree. to the gayety of nations. He
was peculiarly fortunate in having ms
manuscript prior to its publication
undergo the discriminating editorial
revision of John Kendrick Bangs.
Mr.. Bangs might readily have dressed
MethuSelah up to have presented
a different and more diSnitled front
He might have invested him with
white choker and black stoVeplpe nat
but fortunately he RETAINED. lie pre-
ferred that the venerable man should
be seen in his true light-a gay ana
frolicksome old boy in spite OF MS
wears. History will therefore owe
something to Mr.. Bangs for TINS re-
strant. Such forbearance IS lnoeeo
rare in these meddlesome times. Inc
excellent color illustrations OF f. u
Cooper make it evident that the HE
of Mcthuselah ran about equally 10
wears and to whiskers. The Autopl-
ography of this venerable Patriarch
is one of the most interesting ana Sc
ductiv, volumes of the year, anu
should be in wide demand for the hol'-
day season.
The Girl Who Earns Her Own LlVlhs
by Anna Steelse Richardson, illustrated
from photographs. Cloth: Price Sl'zo'
New York: 3. w. Dodge & Company
There is no question more frequent
ly asked of editors the country over
than the one so frequently propoundeu
by American girls who seek to Do