New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-12-01
GIRLS BOOKS.
Another Sheaf of Holiday
JUrenlid.

The ''book for older girls" on the
threshold of life has undergone an
amazing change during the last twenty
five years. Time was when its interest
centred in the home, when il took with
sweet seriousness and grace its mis-
sion as an introduction TO 'women's
sphere" under the segis OF a wise. gen.
tie mother in a quiet. cultured environ
ment. England furnished many of the
best books OF this kind. but IL to-day
the influence of the older branch OF our
literature is rapidly vanishing in other
departments. il has already ceased here
Other times. other ways. College. the
boarding school. has supplanted the
home as the centre of interest in our
books for girls that are at all up to
date: We must keep pace with the
changes OF existence. and, keeping pace.
find food for thought in the fact that
whereas the literature OF our girls has
thus changed. that OF our boys has re-
manned the same in essence. the old
simple. robust matter of games. sports.
adventures and action. Home and par
ents still play their parts, but home is
too often only a background. whose
foreground is college. its middle dig
tance being vacations mostly spent in
other peoples houses or summer camps:
and the role Of father and mother has
become a subdued one, indeed. In all
OF which these books are perhaps but
reflection Of reality.
To work. however In Introducing
81 ka
panyD Winifred Kirkland tells us OF a
young woman-a 'Misdemeanors Of
Nancy sort Of girl--who, suddenly turn
ing serious. takes charge OF a girls
boarding school and makes a success OF
II where older women have failed.
Though her years be twenty and three
one receives the impression that she is
eighteen, which. OF course. will interest
and fiatter the girls of that age for
whom this chronicle of her success Is
written. Efficient Corinna is gently toll
Grant Of her foolish elders. whom vet
she puts in their places with a firm
hand: she has TO do this, for otherwise
the school would be n failure once more
This is a grown-up view of the book.
however. perhaps a grabbed one; the
audience for which il is intended will
ma II 10 its liking and will perhaps
draw profit from IL in this day OF
Woman's work.
Another college girl. When She Came
Home from College" Che Houghton
Mifiiin Company her ambition was busy
with dreams Of literary career. OF
creative work" if you please. but he
fore she started she decided 10 put
some order into her mothers unorderly
household Of many children. Mother
lacked system" In a simple matter
that could be made TO run like clock
work. This authors. Marian X. Hurd
and Joan Il. Wilson. here take the girl
in hand. The Overworked doctors wife
falls sick and is sent TO a sanatorlum.
daughter takes her place. to discover
ere long that system can be only q
theory In a household where children
and the help" see 20 IL that the I'M
expected happens with distressing r.eu-
larity. Wherefore IL is a wiser, a hum
be girl who returns 20 college In the
end. A little lesson conveyed in friend
~ fashion In a readable tale
Third. girl freshman. Her advent
uros are told by Katharine Ruth Ellis
IN The W e-Awake Girls ln Winsted"
Hittle. Brown d. Coz. which is the Sec
Ond volume II one OF q series OF
stories for the young that. when sue
cossfUi. are carried through the second
and third generations. This young hero
Inc employs her vacation In estal lish-
ing . library in her home town. sweetly
appealing Tor assistance 10 elders who
are attractively drawn and well seen.
The book is pleasantly written. and viii
please the girls who made its pred
ecessor a success.
And now three tales Of boarding school
for girls OF school age. The Lass OF the