The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-08

istic. dealing as she does with the
occurrences of everyday life and with
com monplace people. but the realism does
not run TO pivialities on the one hand or to
c~oarseness8n the other. The stories which
treat of the homely affairs Of ordinary
men and women are the ones apt to meet
with the wide approval of the reading
TO the multitude. and their truth is Quickly
recognized ana appreciated. In her book.
John Thorn's Folks. there Is much Of
this homely realism. and it is of o sort TO
somewhat primitive life of the early settler.
The story relates the history of q family
who came from an Eastern State 90 north
ern Indiana when land was still cheap
there, the heavy forests almost unbroken
and railroads vet far distant. Among their
few neighbors were some uncultivated
though kindly people. and others of educa-
tIon and refinement. who. while retaining
few of the ont W ard marks of conventions
or fashionable life. found existence enjoya-
BILE In . comparative wilderness. Here
were materials plenty for romance. and the
surroundings were not unfayorable.
In the setting of this story are many
deft touches showing close obser-
walton on the authors part. and O sympa-
thetic familiarity with her subject. Soon
after the new family were settled in their
home they received word that neighbors
would call upon them next day.
Mrs Kitzmiller knew very we'll what q
call in country parlance. signifies; she was
used to this mode OF testing o neighbors
hospitality. and set about with pleased
a~lacrity to boil her most savory nam and
produce her whitest losyes for the occasion.
There was also a browning of richly-fiav-
ored coffee. and o stewInR of home-dried
peaches. till all the region around was ga
luted by delicious doors"
The callers" came early and spent the
day. They brought their babies. and these
small objects OF universal feminine interest
drew the hearts of hostess and guest to-
gether, and unsealed q tide of genial talk
which diverged into iunnmerable channels,
but knew no slack or ebb till the declining
sun warned the good women that milking
time was near, and the newly weaned
calves were bleating at their empty
trougbs." A rural picture this. of which
country-bred women know the accuracy.
On one occasion, when some Young visit
ors remained over night. Mrs.
warned her worthy husband that, now
that strangers were with them, he had
better not read a whole chapter at morn
ing worship and ought not to he lengthy in
prayer. "One ought" she observed saga
ciously. Ito guard against making religion
tiresome to the young" aud she knew tho
visitors were anxious To get of. Nh. Kitz-
miller quoted the ndage that prayer aud
provender hinder no mans journey" but
she continued as though not hearing him.
that "~often. in the busy season. she had
herself thought she could have prayed
twice while he was praying once"
Indeed, mother" said the farmer mild
ly. Il think If you always prayed once
while We are on our knees the time wouldn't
seem so long"
Without any extended and tiresonie de-
scrlptions. there are many references to the
scenery, the wild flowers. the woods and
other natural attractions that betray a
close acquaintance with nature and q
fondness for tho level Indiana coun-
try. One character 10 made to say:
Browning once said to q friend in
Belgium that he liked the quiet Norman
country because it was not obtrusive like
some more pronounced landscapes. but left
him to make its beauty with his adjoining
fancy / think he would have liked north
ern Indiana" In another place is an &C.
count of the attractions of . walk among
the bitches through u lack.oak swamp-a
spot that presents few beauties to one not
to the region born.
As a whole. John Thorn's Folks" is q
well written. pleasing narrative. and the
incidents interviewer in 1t belong to q
period of Indiana's DEVELOPMENT which Is
passing or has passed. away. ana which it
is we'll should be thus embalmed.
Ors of the best of Mrs. Tears short stories
was printed in the Atlantic Monthly some
years ago. 1t is entitled Mining for q
Mastod0n." and its scenes are also located
in northern Indiana. "Mr. Basins Little
Scheme" is an amusing bit of Dakota life.
hlpdriHn nlRnte," In an issue OF
the new Boston publication, 1.-Two
Tales" is q California story. and shows
an intimate acquaintance with local laws
and customs. as we'll as with the ways of
life among Mexican residents of California.
In her juvenile stories Mrs. Teal has q
happy faculty of touching upon the sub-
jects OF interest to young people, particu-
1arly to boys. In one tale she describes a
series of adventures of a boy who fell into
the hands of a gang of hOrse-thieves and
cOunterfelters that infested northern Indi-
ana and had thor hiding places In the re-
mote recesses of the forests.
From the foregoing it will be seen that
Mrs. Teal is not only an Indiana writer.
but that she draws her literary material
mainly from Indiana life. Her work does
credit to herself and to her State. and it
may be hoped that she will hereafter be-
come more closely identified in the public
mind with the galaxy of authors to whom
Indiana laws proud claim. though their
fame extends far beyond the borders of
Hoosierdom.