EDITORIAL NOTES. STALKY & CO.—STORIES BY RUDYARD KIPLING. KIPLING and mastered a new IPLING has entered and mastered a new of fiction. The connected epi giving the inner story of the Santiago blockade and the conclusion of the operations of the fleet in the Atlantic. sodes of school life, soon to begin in Mc- THE BOOK DEPARTMENT'S FIRST YEAR'S WORK. CLURE'S, will come to the reader with the same freshness as the Jungle stories. Kipling had written of the jungle-indeed, he had written of Mowgli-before the first jungle tale was produced; yet the idea expanded and bore fruit, and a new classic was added to the language. So in this series of new stories, he has taken the characters of "Slaves of the Lamp" and told other incidents of their school life. The whole makes a piece of fiction that will take its place with "Tom Brown's School-days" and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." Such tales of the real boy have, in fact, never been written before. There is, moreover, an interesting significance in these stories they really show the men of England in the making the men who lead armies, govern provinces, and represent the English in far fields and in many capacities. The boys depicted in themstrong, honest, adventurous, plucky, fighting boys are the strength and promise of the Anglo-Saxon race. THE INNER HISTORY OF THE WAR. We are sure that no contribution to the history of the war could have more genuine value for our readers than such articles as the one in this number of the Magazine by Mr. Goode, consisting, as it does, of all the important official despatches, joined together by a plain, unbiased statement of actual conditions that makes the despatches tell their story in the clearest and most direct manner. There is a sense of reality and finality, and there is surpassing intelligent human interest, in a narrative that thus gives, not the views of individual participants or observers, but the very documents upon which all historians will have to base their judgments on the war, and so enables the reader to see and judge for himself how the few great actors conducted affairs; how the successive great responsibilities were laid upon them from day to day, and how these responsibilities were met. An additional statement of plain facts for plain people will appear in the December number, We want our readers to know of the success of the Book Department. It has just finished its first year, and we are celebrating the anniversary by the publication of Mr. Kipling's new book, "The Day's Work"-an event of the first importance in the world of books. Although we began only a year ago to gather together a collection of books, we confess that it is some satisfaction to look over the titles already secured, including, as they do, those of important works by such authors as Rudyard Kipling, Conan Doyle, Hamlin Garland, Henry George, Mary E. Wilkins, Mrs. Rorer, of "Cook Book" fame; Mrs. Burton Harrison, General Nelson A. Miles, Hezekiah Butterworth, Bliss Perry, Stephen Crane, George Adam Smith, George E. Waring, Jr., and many more. Our ambition is to publish each year only the very best books, and we propose to expend the same editorial effort and judgment in securing our books that has made the Magazine successful. It is a pleasure to say that our plans for the future include the publication of books which represent the most progressive element in literature-the work of the "coming men." About six months ago, we offered to send to any reader of MCCLURE'S MAGAZINE any of our publications on approval, with the distinct understanding that they need not be paid for until received and could be returned, if unsatisfactory for any reason whatever. In a word, our book-store is in every postoffice of the United States. It may interest our readers to know that this policy has been very successful, despite the prognostications of contemporaries who declared that people would send for the books, read them, and return them; or even that they would appropriate them without more ado. As a matter of fact, the loss has been almost nothing, and the number of people who have taken unfair advantage of the systemwhich gives the reader in the country or the small town equal opportunities with those who live in the great cities-has been gratifyingly small. THEODORE B. STARR, Diamond Merchant, Jeweler and Silversmith Announces the opening of a Stationery Department in connection with his well-known business of Rich Jewelry and Silverware. This department will be in charge of experienced men, and the high standards maintained in the other branches of the business will be strictly adhered to. No pains will be spared to produce the most artistic and perfect work at prices which will be found to be reasonable. Plate engraving in all its branches, stamping, die-sinking, and heraldic work. Correct styles in wedding stationery, and in papers for social correspondence. A large variety of novelties for desk furnishings. 206 Fifth Avenue, Madison Square, New York SAPOLIO is a friend Take no Substitutes ENOCH MORGANS SONS SAPOLIO |