(8) McClure's Magazine. (9) Munsey's Magazine. (10) Scribner's Magazine. (11) Woman's Home Companion. (12) Any other magazine containing good stories. (b) Books of Short Stories and Tales (1) Esop-Fables. (2) Aldrich, Thomas Bailey-Marjorie Daw (3) Allen, James Lane-Flute and Violin (6) Craddock, Charles Egbert-In the Tennes- (7) Freeman, Mary E. Wilkins-A New Eng- (8) Harris, Joel Chandler-Uncle Remus, his (10) Hawthorne, Nathaniel-Tales and Sketches. (11) Hearn, Lafcadio- Kwaidan (weird, intensely interesting tales of the Japanese). (12) Henry, O.-Short stories (peculiar, original style, unexpected endings). (13) Irving, Washington-Sketch Book. (14) Kipling, Rudyard-Stories and tales. (15) Lamb, Charles-Narrative essays. (16) Lamb, Charles and Mary Tales from Shakespeare (Shakespeare's plays told in story form). (17) Mérimée, Prosper Carmen (any other story by Mérimée good). (18) Munchausen, Baron-Tales from Travels of (highly exaggerated, though interesting). (19) Page, Thomas Nelson-In Ole Virginia; Elsket and Other Stories; Two Little Confederates a short book (Page's works deal with days just before, during, and after the Civil War; most of them contain negro dialect). (20) Poe, Edgar Allan-Stories and tales (very finished and condensed). (21) Stevenson, Robert Louis-Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde; The Merry Men; The New Arabian Nights. (22) Stockton, Frank R.-Stories. (23) Swift, Jonathan-The Tale of a Tub; Gulliver's Travels. (24) Twain, Mark-Any stories, essays, or incidents from his books. (25) Wells, H. G.-Tales of Space and Time. (26) Wharton, Mrs. Edith-Tales of Men and Ghosts. (c) Miscellaneous Stories and Tales (1) Arabian Nights (Oriental tales dealing with the adventures and shrewdness of the Moslems). (2) The Best Stories of 1917, etc., edited by Edward J. O'Brien (a collection in book form of what Mr. O'Brien regards as the best stories appearing each year). (3) The Book of the Short Story, edited by Jessup and Canby (contains short stories from 2500 B. C. to present). Below are a short story and an oral composition taken from it. Narration 1. The Original Short Story IN JAPAN* By Jennie Glass I had been living in Japan for over a year, and I still did not know how far to trust the sincerity of the Japanese. They did not seem frivolous, but they were certainly not a serious people. They were always smiling. Japanese faces were certainly happy faces, but I much doubted their sincerity. I began musing on some of their strange customs. I thought of my servant Amaso and her white funeral *From Every Week. Reprinted by special permission. garments. Hers was surely a case in point. Amaso had never shown outward affection toward her husband, nor he to her; but I had never doubted that they were devoted. I recalled the many times I had watched them working together in the garden, with never a sign of affection, but always with that silent dependence of the one on the strength and goodness of the other. Amaso would work all day by her husband's side, weeding, freshening, and culling the green shrubs. I remembered how she always carried an unusually choice flower to him for appreciation. Then, when her husband was taken ill, had tended him so carefully. I don't believe Amaso ever slept those four or five awful nights, and she insisted on doing her usual work for me as well. Not a night passed that I did not see the night-lights shimmering through their screens. And always crouched beside her husband's mat was Amaso, gently tending the sufferer. When he died, Amaso came to me apologetically, requesting a day's leave of absence. She was sorry to disturb my honorable household by her poor sister's presence, but if the thought were not objectionable to me, this same worthless sister should perform her household duties in her absence. I was curious. She did not mention her bereavement. "But, Amaso, why do you go?" She answered in the ordinary conversational tone: "My husband has departed to his ancestors, and he wishes my presence at the temple." "You poor dear, you may have as many days as you want." She bowed in the sweet Oriental fashion and noiselessly retired. I felt that I had blundered in my question, for she seemed anxious to avoid mentioning her husband's death. It was probably too sacred a subject for speech. But when I saw her, clothed in white garments, walking slowly from the house, I could not help accosting her again. "I go to his burial," she said simply. And did I see the flash of a smile in those great eyes? My peace was disturbed. Why on every side those uncalled for, useless smiles? The courteous shallowness of these people sickened me. I decided to sound the depths of a Japanese soul; for Amaso had returned, in her beautiful white robe, and was walking with miniature steps to her own quarters. I called to her. I would test the value of the woman then and there. She came unassumingly before me, dropped on her knees, and as usual bowed, touching the floor with her smooth forehead. She was surely a beautiful creature. I saw a little jar which she had placed behind her, and wondered what were its contents. I expressed my heartfelt sympathy for her sorrow. She was very sad, she said, to bring her grief before my august person-and was that a shade of a smile |