His theatre is the soul, and man and woman
His infinite repertory: Age on age,
Treading his fancy's stage,

Ephemeral shadows of his master mind,
We act our parts-the human

Players of scenes long since by him designed;
And stars, that blaze in tinsel on our boards,
Shine with a moment's immortality.
Because they are his understudies, free

For one aspiring hour to sound his magic
chords.

For not with scholars and their brain-worn
scripts,

Nor there behind the footlights' fading glow
Shakespeare survives: ah, no!

Deep in the passionate reality

Of raging life above the darkling crypts
Of death, he meditates the awed "to be
Or not to be" of millions, yet to whom
His name is nothing; there, on countless quests,
Unlettered Touchstones quibble with his jests,
Unlaurelled Hamlets yearn, and anguished Lears
uploom.

Leave, then, to Avon's spire and silver stream
Their memory of ashes sung and sighed:
Our Shakespeare never died,

Nor ever was born, save as the god is born
From every soul that dares to doubt and dream.
He dreams-but is not mortal: eve and morn,
Dirge and delight, float from his brow like prayer.
Beside him, charmed Apollo lifts his lyre;
Below, the heart of man smoulders in fire;
Between the two he stands, timeless-the poet
-player.

Percy MacKaye, in The Theatre, April, 1916.

Effort. Many people never get beyond the tenth page of a Meredith novel. They say that they find it "hard reading." Yet the same people would rebel strenuously if asked to play tennis against a sick lady.-Editorial in Harper's Weekly.

Cervantes. On the same day that Shakespeare died, April 23, 1616, there passed away another great literary figure, Miguel de Cervantes, the author of "Don Quixote, that immortal book which 'laughed Spain's chivalry away.' Spain is preparing to honor this anniversary by issuing a popular edition of Don Quixote, 10,000 copies to be printed; an edition of 100,000 for young people is to be issued; and a special de luxe edition of 125 copies, in four volumes, illustrated by Ricardo Marin. In Madrid, a new monument to the poet will be erected and works about him will be on exhibition in April.

Richard Harding Davis. "Richard Harding Davis gave up his pen forever last Tuesday [April 11]. Often he has had the opportunity of testing its power while swords were clashing about him. And always he wielded it with the zest and fervor of a soldier. He was 52 when he died, but the fire of youth had never been quenched in his heart." Chicago Tribune, April 16.

Charlotte Bronte. In this "tercentenary" year, let us save a moment to honor the memory of Charlotte Bronté, whose 100th birthday occurs in April.

National Reading Circle. To promote interest in the best literature along all lines the Bureau of Education have prepared ten reading courses, designed to meet the needs and tastes of people of all ages. They are:

The Great Literary Bible
Masterpieces of the World's Literature
A Reading Course for Parents
Miscellaneous Reading for Boys
Miscellaneous Reading for Girls
Thirty Books of Great Fiction
Some of the World's Heroes
American Literature

Biography History

A certificate is given for each course completed. Anyone desiring information, please write to the Bureau of Education, Home Education Division, Washington, D. C.

Humor in the Library. "One has to find exactly what a reader wishes when he asks for 'Jones' haste'-meaning Rider Haggard's 'Joan Haste.' A call for a book with the singular title 'Lisping of Scripture' proves to mean Scripture's book on defective speech, entitled 'Stuttering and Lisping.' When a reader wrote 'Chase Beatrice through a Dartmoor window,' it turned out that he was not really as frivolous as he seemed. He had copied the catalogue card, running the author's name and the title togethThe card-giving the author's family name first had read simply:

er.

A Public Library Campaign. The Bulletin of the North Carolina Library Commission is conducting a campaign. The issue of December last has this liner: A Free Public Library in Every Town in North Carolina by 1920! The Commission admits it is a big undertaking, that they are almost appalled by its magnitude. "Could it be done? That is not the question, but rather How can it be done? If Massachusetts can proudly boast of a public library in every town, why cannot North Carolina? If a public library is a good thing for Greensboro and Charlotte, Durham and Raleigh, for Washington and Concord, Aberdeen and Southport, why would it not be just as good for High Point and Henderson, Thomasville and Burlington, Elizabeth City and many other towns? There are many towns in North Carolina without public libraries. Why?" That is what North Carolina is to find out. A systematic canvass of the state is to be made. Every public library, every literary, social and educational agency of the state is to be enlisted to fight for the cause. Michigan admires this spirit and has faith in the undertaking for "he who sings to the god a song of hope shall see his wish accomplished."

School Library News.-The Wilson Bulletin published by the H. W. Wilson Company has a department for School Library News, in which it is proposed to cover all phases of school library work, elementary, rural, high and normal school. The Bulletin is sent free of charge to libraries or schools. The editors will welcome any contribution of school library news, notes, and articles for use in this department. Address either Mr. Willis H. Kerr, librarian, State Normal School, Emporia, Kansas; or, Miss Mary E. Hall, librarian, Girls' High School, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Save Your Old Papers. The attention of the Department of Commerce is called by the president of a large paper manufacturing company to the fact that there is a serious shortage of raw material for the manufacture of paper, including rags and old papers. He urges that the Department should make it known that the collecting and saving of rags and old papers would greatly better existing conditions for American manufacturers.

Something like 15,000 tons of different kinds of paper and paperboard are manufactured every day in the United States and a large proportion of this after it has served its purpose could be used over again in some class of paper. A large part of it, however, is either burned or otherwise wasted. This, of course, has to be replaced by new material. In the early history of the paper industry publicity was given to the importance of saving rags. It is of scarcely less importance The Department of Commerce is glad to bring this matter to the attention of the public in the hope that practical results may flow from it. A little attention to the savings of rags and old papers will mean genuine relief to our paper industry and a diminished drain upon our sources of supply for new materials. The Department of Commerce will be glad to put inquirers in touch with the manufacturers who are interested.

now.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE,

Washington, D. C., March 8, 1916.

"Books to Grow On." Another list of interest has just been printed by the Buffalo Public Library, entitled Books To Grow On. This is an

experimental intermediate list selected from the Open Shelf Room. An attempt has been made to gather books of interest to young people as they pass from the children's room to the adult department. All who have the reading of young people at heart will profit by this list. The price is five cents.

TWELVE THINGS TO REMEMBER

The value of time

The success of perseverance

The pleasure of working
The dignity of simplicity
The worth of character
The power of kindness
The influence of example
The obligation of duty
The wisdom of economy
The virtue of patience
The improvement of talent
The joys of originating

-Marshall Field

BOOKS OF INTEREST

66

Not a new book but one of timely interest is John Bennett's Master Skylark, a story of Shakespeare's time. Master Skylark, a Stratford boy, falling on hard places in London, seeks aid of his followtownsmen. In the course of his travels the boy hero meets Shakespeare, Ben Jonson, Queen Elizabeth and other famous people, but more than all these meetings was his final reunion with his mother: 'Mother,' said he, and took her face between his strong young hands, and looked into her happy eyes, 'mother dear, I ha' been to London town; I ha' been to the palace, and I ha' seen the Queen; but, mother,' he said, with a little tremble in his voice, for all he smiled so bravely, 'I ha' never seen the place, where I would rather be than just where thou art, mother dear"'"' While specially interesting to young people, many adults may enjoy. The Century Company are offering the fifteen illustrations from this book by Reginald Birch about Shakespeare, for sale at a nominal price.

Dear Enemy, by Jean Webster, the author of Daddy-Long-Legs, is a "gay, charming love

story about one hundred and thirteen orphans and a dour young Scotch surgeon who had forgotten how to smile, and about Sallie McBride who taught them all to laugh again."

The Handbook of the European War, v. 2, ed. by Alfred Bingham, is published by the H. W. Wilson Company as one of the Handbook Series. "Volume 1, edited by Stanley S. Sheip and published shortly after the beginning of the war, dealt mainly with the causes and events that led up to the conflict. This book deals with effects. Battles, incidents and events of the war have been practically ignored. The book is divided into three sections: Germany and her allies, Great Britain and her allies, The United States and the war. "These divisions,' the preface states, 'are at best arbitrary because many of the articles reproduced might have been included in either or all of the sections.' To the section on the United States most space is given. It is made up of the following subdivisions: Neutrality of the United States; Shipment of arms; War contraband; The war and commerce; Effect on literature; Peace movements. A bibliography has been omitted for the reasons that a complete one is impossible and a selected list would at best be fragmentary and unsatisfactory for permanent use."

Good books for girls are rare. Occasionally however, a book for girls comes to notice that is so good that it leads one to believe that the best books for girls are better than the best books for boys. The Boarded Up House, by Augusta Huiell Seaman, published by the Century Company, its serial run in St. Nicholas, is one of those good books. The two girls are simple and natural, the plot is probable, the outcome possible, and the whole story is intensely exciting. Another book which might be read by boys or girls or grown-ups, but which girls may especially enjoy because the leading part is played by a girl like themselves is Smugglers' Island by Clarissa A. Kneeland, published by Houghton Mifflin Company. It is called the story of a modern Swiss Family Robinson and relates the experiences of five children who spend seven years on an island in the gulf of California. A book of which Camp fire girls and their leaders will like to know is Joyful Star, Indian Stories for Camp Fire Girls by Evelyn Newcomb Partridge, published by Sturgis and Walton. From Book Review Digest, January, 1916.

The March number of the Branch Library News, published monthly by the New York Public Library has a list of books on Military Education. Interest in this subject is so rife at the present, that we quote from their General Works, Strategy, etc.

The modern army in action, an exposition of the conduct of war, by Major General John F. O'Ryan, commanding N. Y. Division and Captain W. D. A. Anderson, Corps of Engineers, U. S. A. MacBride, Nast & Co., 1914.

Readable and up-to-date. Based on the lessons of the present war in Europe, as well as on earlier wars. Sixteen illustrations. The purpose of the book, in the words of one of its authors, is to indicate "the evolution of each arm of the service, explaining the problems involved in mobilization, concentration, and supply of troops, and the way the modern army is utilized in combat."

BARLOW, MYRON, (P.) b. Ionia, Michigan, 1873. A pupil of the Art Institute, Chicago; Gérome and Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. He received his first medal in 1894 when he exhibited at the Academie Colarossi; and when elected a member of the Société Nationale des Beaux Arts in 1907 he was the only American to receive the honor at that time. He is a member of the Paris American Artists Association.

One of his salon pictures, "The fisherman's pride" has brought Mr. Barlow much favorable comment.

Lena M. McCauley in writing of the twentythird exhibition of the Chicago Art Institute (Art and Progress 2:49), says: The blue-toned interiors with figures-"Fatigue," "A chat," and "Embarrassing question,"-by Myron Barlow, have been displayed with discriminating tact which permitted none of their delicacy to be lost. They are novelties in color but so harmonious and individual that they are a pleasure to look upon."

E. A. Taylor in writing of American artists in Paris (Int. Studio 46:290) says of Mr. Barlow's art: "To simplify an understanding of his art, I might say he paints the luxury of the poor.... Mr. Barlow designs his work; he is not a slave to nature ready-made; his work is always decorative, not decorated, and his color, broad and simple; though bright at times, it is never disturbing by a lack of harmony."

"He claims to be one of the first in the art world to paint blue pictures. These are high in key, and his figures are generally placed against a very light or white background. Vermeer is the old master whose work he constantly studies." (Int. studio 54:xxviii.)

Mr. Barlow's home is at Etaples, France, where he finds his favorite subjects-the French peasants.

CHURCH, FREDERICK STUART, (P., I., E.) b. Grand Rapids, Mich., December 1, 1842. Studied in the Chicago Academy with Walter Shirlaw and later in the National Academy of Design and Art Students' League of New York, and for some years has occupied a studio in that city. His first popularity was gained by his drawing in black and white; he furnished book and magazine illustrations for Scribner's and other publication houses; then oil and water-color work attracted his attention.

Mr. Church is a member of the National Academy of Design, New York, Society of Painter-Etchers, London, and the New York and Philadelphia etching clubs.

"Una and the lion," "The lion in love," "Beauty and the beast," "The black orchid," "The sorceress," and "Twilight" are familiar examples of his graceful realization of purely fanciful themes.

Of his works, Isham in his "History of American painting," says: "They are not profound, they are not subtle. .yet if they have the simplicity of a story told to children, they have also freshness and charm. If the drawing is loose, it is also graceful."

There are probably no more popular etchings than his, wherein a graceful and humorous fancy charms us all. His "Mermaid" is a well-known plate.

COUSE, EANGER IRVING, (P.) b. Saginaw, Mich., 1866. Pupil of National Academy, New York, Bouguereau, Robert-Fleury and Ecole des Beaux Arts, Paris. Received the Shaw prize for black and white, at Salmagundi Club, 1899; second Hallgarten prize National Academy, 1900; Proctor prize, Salmagundi Club, 1900; honorable mention, Paris Exposition, 1900; first Hallgarten prize National Academy, 1902. Associate member National Academy of Design, 1902; academician, 1911.

Mr. Couse devotes himself to the Pueblo or town Indians of the southwest, painting them in their actuality or with ideal touch in their home in New Mexico. Part of the year he passes at Taos, for the portrayal of the Taos Indians is his particular art.

He had much difficulty in securing interesting