Life — October 3, 1907 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

rene Zoe vo ne said. ‘The person who writes those editorials gets his information from the same sources I do.” One Hundred and Fifty of the Best Novels of the Past Twenty Years Part I 'O THE EDITOR: Dear Sir—All persons who read what they are told to and who call where they can’t help it are members of society according to the genial author of the “Lost Art of Reading,” anc it is declared that the world needs a man who can gather about him a few brave-hearted, intelligently ig- norant men who shall go about with their feet on the mountains telling the good ti- dings of how many things there are we do not need to know. The prejudice against being ignorant is largely because people have not learned how to do it. The wrong people have taken hold of it. After reading the cominents in “The Litera: 0" of August 22, I felt im- pelled to suggest to “Old Boy” that he run over this ‘Lost Art of Reading” as a sort of consolation when we librarians prescribe certain bromidical courses of reading in those classics which every one advises and no one reads. Lemons in literature would probably not answer the appeal of your correspondent. A list of “One Hundred of the Best * has been compiled at the New- J. ) Free Public Library. It is not to be understood as the hundred best novels. From those novels which the consensus of intelligent readers has labeled the best novels of all times we have chosen one hundred. Our choice possibly will not be the same that Lrre or some of its readers would select as favorites, but it has been found extremely useful to the cardholders of our library, many of whom wish help in book selection. I have yielded to the temptation to take the excellent novels you suggest and to add to them enough to make up a list which might be called “One Hundred and Fifty of the Best Novels. of the Past Twenty Years.” Some have strength, some only charm and delicacy, a few are included because, although they are weak in a literary way, they tell a good story. To my disappointment, too, I find that the limit of twenty years will mean the Larring out of some of the best works of modern writers such as Howells, James, Hardy, Blackmore, Stevenson, Stockton, Meredith and others. Short stories are also excluded. I inclose the list, as it may nterest “Old Boy.” I need not explain w many choice stories may be left out of this list. It is a matter of memory of pzst titles, Karte Lovtst. ROBERTS, Reference Department, Free Public Li- brary, Newark, N. J. The list of “ One Hundred and Pifty)} the Best Nevels ej the Past Twenty Years” will eppear in a later issue of The Literary Zoo. THE WORLD’S BEST PIANO-PLAYER THE MELODANT-ANGELUS The best that can be said of the ordinary piano-player is that it enables the performer to give a fairly creditable imitation of the hand-playing of the average pianist. How different with the MELODANT-ANGELUS! The M ANT-ANGELUS is the only piano-player made, by whose aid the player, even though a novice, is enabled to render any selection — popular or classical — with a musical brilliancy which astonishes and delights the person of critical musical taste. A performance on the MELODANT-ANGELUS is as artistic in every sense and as musically per- fect as that of an acknowledged master of piano-music. The delicate fingers of the MELODANT- ANGELUS bring out the best there is in the pi The Phrasing Lever, Diaphragm Pneumatics and Melody Buttons —all exclusive features of the ANGELUS—entirely eliminate the mechanical effect. Thes devices enable the player to inject personal feeling into the performance and tw interpret any composition in the way that most appeals to him, With the MELODANT, the new device exclusive with the ANGELUS, the most artistic music is produced without thought of expression on the part of the performer. Before purchasing your piano-player just hear the MELODANT-ANGELUS once, ‘The music of other piano-players can no more be classed with that of the MELODANT-ANGELUS than the playing of an ordinary pianist can be classed with that of a Paderewski or a Rubenstein. Pianos, with the ANGELUS built within the case, from $550 upwards —the Cabinet ANGELUS, which plays any make of piano, $250. Write us for name of nearest representative and free descript Established 1876 THE WILCOX & WHITE CO. fPlourning Our experience, covering some fifteen years, has given us a clear idea of the needs at such times, and dealing as you do directly with a member of the firm, you are assured prompt, efficient attention, with a minimum amount of trouble, and millinery in perfect keeping with existing conditions. A large selection of correct models in crépe and other appropriate materials always kept in stock for such purposes. Jmporters bats Millinery 10 WEST 36h STREET NEW YORK 180 MICHIGAN BOULEVARD CHICAGO comicbooks.com