The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-19


ceIyed q poetical con-
tribution signed Eva
W. leen Stein." There
~ was nothing remarka-
BILE about the verses;
the theme and thought
were simple and unpretentious but the
lines formed picture of bit of outdoor
life that caught the editorial attention.
and the poem was printed. Since then
the name has become a familiar one to
Journal readers. and from time to time
have come inquiries concerning Miss Stems
personality. 1t is n peculiar trait in human
nature that creates among strangers an In
terest in an author apart from his
work. Considered in one light the
public has no rightful concern
with the literary producer distinct
from the production. If poem pleases, is
not that enoughi If q story thrills or on
essay stimulates. why should the reader not
be content with what is given him without
seeking. as politicians say. to 20 back of
the returnsf Vain query. tie is not con-
tent. but, on the contrary, the deeper the
I'm pressOn made by the writings the moro
does BIO insist npon a nearer acquaintance
with the writer. In this determination he
Is animated by something more than mere
curiosity. That element in literature or
art which comes closest TO nature or to the
springs of life 10 quickly recognized and
touches q common chord. All TO whom the
message comes accept It with n sense of
pleased surprise that another should have
expressed their thoughts or experienced
emotions like to their own, and ut once feel
that lt creates a bond between them.
The a Of the fhera-a a.
lect few-who appreciate the finer strokes.
the art that concenls art, the flights OF
inns DatIon and the underlying motive OF
any bit of work. Here comes sonse Of the
kinehip of appreciation and n wish TO know
something ct one who has the power to win
their attention. The shyest of writer's can
not object to this natural and kindly in
terest. -
When Miss Stein sent her first contribu-
tion to the Journal she was scarcely moro
than q schoolgirl. Up 10 that time she
had not manifested any special literary
bent and has no record of precocious de-
velopment that 70 q feature in the biogra-
phies of so many modern verse writer's:
She did not lisp in numbers,
but made her way through the
monotonous but disciplinary round
of the public schools display ing no marked
degree of talent beyond her companions.
Discerning teachers might have discovered
the promise and the DRIFT OF her mind from
her propensity to indulge in dreamy
reveries and her fOndness for porlng over
volumes of poetry. but it is to be feared
that they regarded these manifestations as
highly reprehensible, inasmuch as they
were accompanied By q corresponding dis
taste tor the studies much esteemed by In
structors of youth. namely arithmetic and
algebra. Was ever yet boy or girl per-
suaded to forego the stolen delights of ro-
nance because of authoritative assurance
that the study of mathematics strength
ened the mindf Certainly not; at oil events,
when the perverse juvenile mind, loathing
mathematics and reveling IN i'm
agIpative literature, refused to be
strengthened" by the systematic method
Fortunately for the young girl. the graft
fcation of this Unsuitable fondness for
reading was not left TO chance or her time
wasted and taste vitIated by the perusal
of worthless books At home she had the
freedom of a library containing the worlds
best literature and the inestimable ad-
vantage of the guidance of cultivated and
intellectual parents Her fatheS the late
John A. Stein, known throughout tho
State as q brilliant lawyer, was a man of
high literary attainments. and in his
younger DAYS was frequent contributors
OF verse and prose TO the leading pcriodl-
calls of the time. How much of the daugh-
ter's talent Is due 20 the fathers tnstruc-
tion and influence, and how much TO
heredity. Is matter for Psychologists to
Miss Stein is, first of all, an artist. She
has the artistic temperament. an artists
perceptions and the artists power of de-
lineation, both with brush and pen. 1t Is
for her gift in pictorial and decorative
art In fact, that she Is best known In certain
circles her time being chiefly occupied in
dong decorative designing and painting.
Under her skillful fingers the flowers, and
grasses, and Hitting birds whose charms
she celebrates in musical verse. grow into
hfelike beauty on sIlken hangings or
phneled walls. Her work in this
line is IN great demand. Though NOM
Inally contributor 10 the decorative
art societies of New York and Chicago.
those establishments secure few OF her
prod uctions. owing to the pressure on her
hands of special orders. She takes gen
uine pleasure in this class OF work-marred
occasionally. by the atrocious butcherlng
of her designs by the am bilious persons no
attempt to complete them with brush or
Eeedle-but, like all true artists, is am bi tious
of further success. She has a special fond
ness. for painting animals-a line of work
as far removed as possible from the con-
ventionally decorative-and has a genuine
gift in that direction. The past winter
wasspent by her In study, at the Chicago
Art Institute and with Frederick W. Freer.
But it ia with her as q poet that the
Journal has to do. In her verse the spirit
of the artist is visible. She Is q lover of
nature and penetrates beyond the out
ward seeming into it's soul, as a poet must,
but all Its varied phenomena arc distinct
TO her quick sense. She 10 marvelOusly
close observer. She is able to gather the
effect q o whole. but 1t is made mp to her
of nil its elements. Every detail is present
to her eye and it is impossible for her To
be on I'm pressIonist." She does not lay
on her coloTs in tho mass. though
when all is done all the color is there.
but 1t is produced line by line. ana with
the delicate touches that either in verse
OF canvas can alone do justice to natures
finer phases. Her eye sees the picture in
its minutest part, even before it's meaning
is interpreted by her heart. Nearly all her
poems touch upon Out-of-door life-tho
world of bird. and tree md blossom--and
in every stanza Is a picture, almost in
every line. Winter and summer each have
their charm for her. In January she finds
n beauty in the moss-the one green thing
that frosts do not fade.
For now most perfect grow
Those artful patterns. rich
With gold and silver, which
Do so emboss
The ground beneath the snow.