The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-05

precisely the sort Of people we know out
side OF the stories A good Illustration of
his infinitely accurate realism Is found In
his story, "A Pair of Patient Lovers" in
the current Harper. In nothing is the real
ism more admirable than the conclusion
where he departs from what would be the
truly dramatic and not improbable climax
and substitutes one that was more prob
able but entirely commonplace. Mr.. Howells
Is truly great artist, though not an I'M
pressionist.
Carl Schurz has an essay on Daniel Web
ster and an estimate of the statesman's
character in the current Harper. The pres
ent generation, he thinks, will be more inn
partial in its judgments than the last.
Looking back upon the time in which he
lived, it beholds his statuesque form tower
ing with strange grandeur among his con-
temporaries-huge in his strength, and huge
also in his weaknesses and faults: not, in
deed, an originator of policies or measures,
but a marvellous eXpounder of principles,
laws and facts who illumined every topic
of public concern he touched with the light
of a sovereign intelligence and vast knowl-
edge; who, by overpowering argument
rivetcd around the Union unbreakable bonds
of constitutional doctrine; who awakened
t. new life and animated with invincible
vigor the national spirit; who left to his
countrymen and they to the world invalua-
BILE lessons Of craftsmanship, right, and
patriotism in language of grand simplicity
and forceful clearness; and who might stand
as its greatest man in the political history
of America had he been a master character
as he was a master-mlnd.
Scribner's Magazine for November has
not a dull article-a statement that cannot
often be made with truth of any periodical.
In every number of any of the better class
of literary magazines each reader can
usually find something of interest to HIM
self, but in catering to a wide public di-
verse tastes must be consulted, and editorial
urls 1fc r-;1@
in order to furnish something for all. Now
and then it chances, however. that the
themes and their treatment are all of a
character to attract and hold the attention
of even the most casual reader, and this
issue of Scribner's is one. 1t opens with a
description of the business of a big West
ern wheat farm by William Allen White,
the What s-the-Matter with Kansas man.
The article is in the series of great busi-
nesses," and in its extent and complexity
certainly belongs near the top of the list.
Mr.. White handles his subject well. He
finds difficulty in writing for an Eastern
audience and explains that he scarcely
knows how to present the idea of the big
ness of these farms to the person whose
preconceived notion of farm is a little
checker board lying upon hillside or in
a valley The illustrations, by w. r.
Leigh, are wonderful in accuracy of draw
ing and perspective perspective being an
essential element in a 7000-acre farm. The
page representing "A Sea of Wheat sug-
geSts the sea indeed. Walter Wyckoff's adj
ventures in the field of unskilled labor take
him into farm life this month, and he tells
an interesting tale of his experience on
a Pennsylvania farm. Among other contri-
buttons are an illustrated article on the
country church in America, a paper on
aerial photography, showing what has been
done by the use of balloons and kites and
another on night photography. The Con
fessions of a College Professor tell the Elk
periences of professor in a small college
and how he spends his salary of $1,000 a
year. Two or three short stories and as
many poems make up the number. Under
the general title with Dog and Cum A.
b. Frost contributes half dozen full-page
drawings of especial interest to sportsmen.