Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1892-02-11

j. KEATS.
If we would we cannot forget the
young American story-wrIter who died
in Dresden last month, F. Wolcott Bales
tier, The work that he left which has
been published since his death increases
the admiration and respect that his writ
ings command and adds poignancv to re-
greet at his early death, caused, as it was,
so largely by overwork. Balestier had
published two novels before his partner
ship with Kipling. "The Naulahka"
began to appear in the Century and
gave his name prominence which it
had not before attained. Balestier
(whose name by the way is pronounced
as in English and not in French) has
again became conspicuous in newspaper
mention by reason of Kipling's recent
marriage to his attractive young sister.
but even more recently and more honora-
bly, will he be remembered by the story
called "Reffy," in the February Century.
The story is one Of railroad life in wild
little western town and is wonderfully
strong clear study OF three characters,
two women and one man. That none of
the characters command either liking or
respect and yet that the reader becomes
deeply and alphabetically interested in
the sordid tragedy which they enact in
dicates the clearness and strength of
characterization. The character of
Refy, in all her vulgar beauty and saw
agery, is unpleasantly real. This story
widens our knowledge Of phase of life
that We usually see only from the outside,
and is the strongest evidence we have
yet had Of Balestier's ability.
The old story Of unfulflled promise is
always touching and always new. Since
the tragic ending Of the boy Chatterton
and the poet Keats, scarcely more than
boy. bitterly indicted his epitaph:
Here lies one whose name was writ in
water" We feel q peculiar tenderness
and sympa' by for those who have left
youth and fame and died with their un.
spoken message still upon their lips.
Their is certain: mystery and sad ro-
nance in the thought Of call the untried
years might bring" that appeals TO the
imagination as the ripest fulfllment and
most perfect maturity Of power can never
appeal.
An interesting idea for the iudicious
mingling Of pleasure and improvement
has been struck out by some bright mind
this winter in the plan of series of liter
airy luncheons. At the beginning Of
the season u group Of ten or
twelve young women who were inter
ested in reading formed the idea Of meet
ing every two weeks and at each lunch
con discussing the work and character Of
a man of letters who was appointed to he
the hero Of that hour; the order Of sub
jects being arranged at the first luncheon
for the whole season. Between luncheons
the public libraries are ravished to sup
ply something startling and original for
the next occasion. Recently q poor
librarian in the Mercantile Library re-
marked with pathetic fervor that he
could not see why there should be all
at once such "a great run ON Pope" he
could not keep enough books to supply
the demand.
The luncheons are served Ia Russo
that the hostess may have no response
bility and can give her whole attention
to the subject, and, as no other theme is
allowed to be preached, by the time that
black coffee is reached the poet or writer
under discussion is dissected az thor
on lilly as the reed birds that lie in de-
iected dilapituds in the buffers pantry
near by. Woe to him who in life has
shone in borrowed. plumage.
L. H. w.