The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-10-12
Literary News and Notes.

Literary News and Notes.
"Old Ben," book for young readers
by James Otis, is announced by the Har-
pers for immediate publication. 1t tells
of the advent into small town of the
Fat Woman, the Living Skeleton, and
Old Ben, members of circus troupe, all
well-known to those who have followed
the adventures of ''Toby Tyler" Toby
and his boyish companions are stirred by
their presence to histrionic performances,
with varied and amusing results.
The National Magazine for October
presents an up-to-date symposium of
political, social and humorous causerie
in Joe Mitchell Chapple's "Afairs at
Washington, whose varied letter press
is illustrated by timely portraits of many
of the country's celebrities. "Penhal-
low" startling story of dissimilar
doubles, by Ralph Herbert White, is
completed in this number. There are
number is interspersed with poetic con-
tributions from the best American verse
writers.
The November McCall's will contain
several complete stories. One, ''The
Word of a Marvin" written by Alice
Louise Lee, and illustrated by W. E.
Parker, is humorous character story
dealing with folk OF the New England
type. We will not tell you what it is
about, for that would rob your reading
/ of its zest. Another short story, THE
Missionary Barrel" written by Grace
/ Sartwell Mason, and illustrated by Gel
este S. Griswold, portrays phase of
life with which jewellers on the wide
prairies of the West are most familiar
This is charming little story. ''By
Way of the Stairs, by Gertrude Brooks
Hamilton, commenced in October, reaches
its conclusion.
A new book just out, ''The Grand Mas
ter's Treasure, is by Gertrude w. Sar-
gent, whom Portland people will remem-
Der as Miss Gertrude Oaksmith Mrs.
Sargent comes of a talented family.
Elizabeth Oaksmith, noted writer of a
! bygone generation, was her grandmother.
She is also a granddaughter of the late
Hon. Nathan L. Woodbury.. The "Grand
Masters Treasure" was written partly
in aid of the Order of Odd Fellows, Mrs
Sargent being Rebekah and much in
terested in the Order. The book is most
charmingly written, pure in tone, and
altogether interesting and should receive
as 1t deserves a generous welcome from
Portland people.
The literary event of the month is
doubtless the appearance of a powerful
new novel by Amelie Rives (the Princess
Troubetzkoy), published complete in the
October Lippincott's The recent sub
stantial increase in size of the magazine
affords room for a greater number of
short stories than heretofore. Those for
October are diversified lot, with plenty
humor. There are "The Evasion of
Florida Lusk," by Alice MacGowan;
''The Last of the Mohicans," by Doro-
thy Garfield; 1.-The Daughter of an
Image Maker" by Will Lexington Com
fort (author of "She Buildeth Her
House'O; ''Pot Luck. 3" by Dion Clayton
Calthrop; ''Sally's SOUL" by Myra
Webb McCord; Cards." by Nan Maury
Lennon; ''How Stephen Lance Came to
Bad End" by Iris Blue; and "Clipped
Wings by Katherine Hopson. Then in
the department ''Short-Story Master
pieces there is translation of Fran
co.'s Coppee' wonderful little story 1.-The
Substitute. with an introduction by the
editor. "a Battle Royal of Dames,''
travel sketch by Anne Hollingsworth
Wharton; "The Appeal of FALL" by
Edwin L. Sabin; and Modern, Z" by
Thomas L. Mason, while not fiction.
have setional qualities and are full Of
lively interest.
The October Atlantic opens with the
1irst installment CT Mary Antin's auto
biography. This chapter, entitled with
in the Pale" gives vivid and sympa-
thetic picture of tn village life of a
Jewish community in Russia, and enlists
the immediate interest of the reader in
a story of extraordinary descriptive
briIlianey and human interest. Samuel
". Mccall writes in his usual vigorous
and trenchant fashion on Representa-
tive as against Direct Government "
'The Ministry: an Over-crowded Pro-
fession," by George P. Atwater, is an
interesting discussion of a vital question
from most unusual viewpoint. Cana
liel Bradford, Jr., continues his discrim-
article on ''The Spiritual Life of Robert
E. Lee" and John Bates Clark con-
tributes timely paper under the sugges-
tive title, 'Taxation and Natural Law"
Other papers, pitched in varying keys
and touching on variety of topics, are
"Musical Indigestion, by Robert H.
Schaufler. 'The Urban Test" by Mar
agret Lynn, "Cavour's Last Victory"
by William R. Thayer, and ''The Art of
Puttering," by Atkinson Kimball. A
paper calculated to arouse spirited dis
cussion among the women of the country
is Zone View Of Domestic Science" by
Mary Tea1 Harkness