Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1900 — BITS FOR BOOK WORMS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BITS FOR BOOK WORMS

Miss Helen Hay, tlie daughter of the Secretary of State, lias written the verses for “The Little Boy Book,” which is to be published by R. H. Russell. The illustrations, iu color, arc? the work of Frank Verbeek. “The Mushroom Book,” by Nina L. Marshall, with many colored and black and white plates from Interesting photographs, by J. A. and H. C. Anderson, is at Doubleday, Page & Co.’s. The author, who is a teacher of botany, is said to haveprodueed a very clear, entertaining and valuable volume. A story of American home life, by Annie G.- Brown, treats of the hardships as well as the pleasures in the life of a family who learned to be self-de-pendent after the death of the father. The interest centers in the action of the thoughtless but lovable mother and in the persistent efforts of the heroine to conquer poverty, ill-will and discouragement. “The Golden Book of Venice,” a romance by Mrs. Lawrence Turnbull, of Baltimore, will be issued by the Century Company. Tlie hero is a young Senator, who marries a daughter of the people, but the famous quarrel between l’ope Paul and Friar Paul forms the basis of the story. The time of action is’ when Venice was at its greatest glory, and the hook will therefore have unusual interest for those who love Venice. Pretty much the whole aspect of the old State of Maine is reflected in a volume of verse, “l'p iu Maine,” by Holman F. Day. It is full of the dialect, the hard common sense, the quaint humor, tlie rough work, the cold winters, the rugged coasts, the glorious woods, the silent lakes, tln* logging camps, the farms, barns and district schools which have made Maine “a good State to hail from,” and, some of us think, a good State to return to when tlie “Old Homo Week" comes. Mr. Day Is part llosea Bigelow, part Josh Billings, part 15. F. Taylor, and part Hamlin Garland, and he Ims served up the homely romance, the tough experience, the picturesque scenery, the honest, arduous, jplalnspoken life which are embodied in Ills subject with a good deal of cleverness. One does not look for tlie highest order of poetry in such a book, but Is content with seeing nature human anil other-wise-face to face, and with being amused with rhymes that are pat aud pointed, if not always edified with sentiments that are refined and language that is elegant.