Life — November 10, 1887 — page 6: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- LIFE: A BOOK FOR BOYS, OLD AND YOUNG. OBERT GRANT has written a thoroughly good book for young people, “Jack Hall; or, the School-Days of an American Boy.” The chances are that many a gray- haired old gentleman will pick it up to see what his youngster is reading, and before he knows it, will be down in his easy- chair by the fire, chuckling over its pages and dreaming that he is a boy again. It is a book to smooth out the wrinkles and warm the heart. The hero of the book is not a prig; he is a fair, average American boy, of good stock and breeding. ‘The last of a long line of New England sailors and soldiers, he is of necessity full of mettle and grit. You can’t expect such a boy to be a saint in knickerbockers, but you know he is something of more worth—a spirited, manly fellow, who may be mischievous, but never mean. A boy of that stamp must learn by experience; he does not take his code of con- duct ready-made. HERE are three very spirited descriptions in the book —not rhetorical or picturesque, but crisp and full of life. The snow-ball fight with the “ muckers " is true to life as a boy sees it — full of spunk and humor. Men forget that the prime object of a boy's life is fu. When you attempt to fit the selfish, serious motives of maturity to his actions you have a glorious misfit. Most of the misunder- standings between a boy and his “governor” result from this. The baseball match in which Haseltine made his famous triple-play, and the boat-race in which Zack Hall out-rowed the head-master, are also notable bits of description. Such contests (which are common among American school-boys to-day) promote manliness and pluck. The new type of boy is a big advance on the bookish prig who used to figure in children’s stories (generally written by elderly maidens, who regarded spirited boys as inspirations of the devil). Attwood's illustrations are few, but appropriate. . . . ERHAPS the most beautiful illustrations which have recently appeared in a book for children are the twelve full-pages by Howard Pyle, in James Baldwin's “Story of the Golden Age” (Scribners). The object of the author has been to weave into one narrative the various legends relating to the causes of the Trojan war, and thus “ pave the way to an enjoyable reading of Homer.” The artist has found in this classical subject a worthy field for his skill and fancy. “The Modern Vikings,” by H. H. Boyesen, is another book of children’s stories which are delicate in fancy, and told in beautiful language. . . “ AIL HOPES” has reached aconclusion—a measur- ably happy one from Mr. Howells’s point of view. Miss Pasmer and Dan Mavering are married, but we are led England conscience. to infer that Daz will find that the gusts and flurries which marred the happiness of his engagement are mild compared with the domestic storms ahead of him. He will walk through life, in “ Fable-land,” tortured by a loving woman with a New And we send our sympathy to him in Fable-land; he is a royally good fellow, and deserves a better fate. Droch. + NEW BOOKS - VRICS. By Richard Watson Gilder. Second edition. f Century Co. The Celestial Passion, Century Co, The New Day. By Richard Watson Gilder. New York : The Century Co. Songs of Worship for the Sunday School. Edited by Waldo S. Pratt. New York: The Century Co, The Modern Vikings. Stories of Life in the Norseland, Boyesen. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. A Story of the Golden Age. By James Baldwin. Pyle. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, Seth's Brother's Wife. net's Sons. Pickings from Puck. Fourth Crop. New York : Keppler & Schwarzmann. Relle's Journey to Cambridge Mlustrated by F. G. Attwood. Seventh edition. Boston: Cupples & Hurd. New York: The By Richard Watson Gilder. New York: The By Hjalmar H Illustrated by Howard By Harold Frederic, New York: Charles Scrib- Bledistee. An International Story by Ada M. Trotter. Boston: Cupples & Hurd, AS WELL OUT OF THE WORLD AS OUT OF THE FASHION. First Young Person (reading from catalogue): No. 49. Wome OF THE STONE AGE. Second Young Person : WHY, THEY DIDN'T WEAR ANY CLOTHES! Third Young Person: Poor THINGS! WHATEVER DID THEY HAVE TO TALK AnOUT? comicbooks.com