The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-05-19
Literary News and Notes.

Chapple, of the National Magazine pro-
ceeded to prepare for the May number an
exhaustive and elaboratey illustrated
account of his pilgrimage to the 1sthmus,
under the sim pie, impressive title, "The
Panama Canal AS 1t Is" The article is
preceded by can Industrial Epic" a
veritable prose poem, contributed by
Professor L. H. Bailey, of Cornell Uni
versity, who was on the Isthmus with
the editorial party. The readers are fur
nished with specially prepared, two
page map in colors, which has been pro-
nounced far superior to anything yet
published. Every phase of Canal con-
struction is discussed with the CHEEKY
freedom peculiar to the National.
Whether he finds himself trudging
through cuts, bowling along on dirt
trains, whisking over the rails in an in
spection or rubber neck" car, bounding
along Panamanian streets in the curious
little cabs, or dining with the laborers or
in state at Hotel Tivoli-itis all the same
to Editor Joe. Every phase of the work
is touched upon and the description in
cludes an appropriate historic outline
going back to the days of Balboa.
The cover design of the May number
of the Woman's Home Companion isNun-
usually attractive, even for that publlca-
ton, and the entire magazine lives up to
the standard set by the cover. A superb
new painting by Jessie Wilcox Smith,
Let Dogs Delight to Bark and Bite"
is reproduced in full color on a large mat.
The fiction is evidently the result of the
most careful selection among the popu
lar authors. 1.-The Empty House" by
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps. is concluded
with dramatic force. 1.-THE House of
Healing" Juliet Wilbor Tompkins en-
ticing serial, adds another installment to
its popularity. Annie Hamilton Donnell
draws the simple story of a lonely col
lege girl in 1.-THE Family of Terese,"
and the late Myra kelly's East Side chill
dren once more make US smile IN Bail
ey's Babies" The magazine is not all
fiction and art, however. Spring and
summer fashions are arrayed in tempt
ing pages, including an excellent colored
plate. "a Gambrel-Roofed Cottage"
is described for the prospective home
is attractively and practically explained
with working models, and long article
is devoted to the latest outdoor and gar
dening books.
The best review of Holman Days new
book, The Ramrodders, 4" that has come
to our notice was published in the New
York Times. 1t does not, however, ap-
prove of the women in the story and says:
1T is not often that in political novel
one is inclined to skip the love story for
the sake of the politics, but this is the
case with The Ramrodders. The Times
commends the book in other respects in
the highest terms and says in conclusion:
That it holds such a creation as The
lismer Thornton is enough to place the
book in the front rank of recently pub
lished novels For many reasons it should
appeal TO a more thoughtful public than
these often reach. Apart from its adj
mirable qualities as story, it says the
decisive word upon legislative prohi-
solve 1.-THE everlasting problem" of
achieving civic righteousness with i'm
perfect human instruments, it makes
pretty plain the way not to do it, and
throws light upon the one path to it at
tainment Yet it holds no brief; it never
pauses to preach. From first to last it is
story carrying the reader along with it,
and leaving him with one figure bulking
large in his Imagination, and with his
memory Vainly grasping vigorous sayings
more numerous than it can hope to re-
tain"
There is startling interest in the ac-
count given in the opening pages of the
Atlantic for May by Charles Terry De-
lsney of the chances taken by the officers
of ocean liners in order to crafty the
tourists demand for quick passage
Lieutenant Delaney, who is an officer of
long service, turns inside out his pro-
fessional knowledge, telling how record
passages are invariably ''faked. ow
frequently ''chances'' are taken in order
to land passengers few hours earlier,
and how vessels are often entrusted to
men worn by watching beyond the point
where they can be of real service. 1t all
makes a most Illuminating story To
this May number of the Atlantic John
Burroughs contributes a typical paper,
Through the Eyes of the Geologist;"
while other contributions of importance
are Sydney Brooks England and Ger
many" William Peter Hamilton's The
Case for the Newspapers" Does it Pay
to Serve the United States?" searching
analysis of Civil Service conditions by An
EXO Official; and "On the Road to Ore
gon, by Charles NJ. Harvey. In the
Diary of Gideon Welles the story pursues
the account of the struggle between Presi-
dent Johnson and Congress. The stories
in this number are Little Kaintuck, - by
Margaret P. Montague, and "The Tom
boy, - by Anna Fuller. There are poems
by 0. W. Firkins, Fannie S. Davis, and
Michael Earls, while the number is COM
pleted by a sprightly Contributors Club