The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-11
RICHARD MANSFIELD'S BOOK.
1t Is Called ''BlOwn Away" and the
ActOr-AuthOr Illustrated 1t Himself.


New York Journal
Richard Mansfield, the versatile, has bios
Somed forth in a new role. 1t is that OF
author, and the book which he has written
is called Blown Away" Faithful to MS
belief that the secret of success lies in be-
ing different from others, he has chosen for
his initial character a woman with forty
daughters, none of whom is over nineteen
years of age. To cap the climax, this crea-
ton of Mr. Mansfield is a widow. Fortu-
nately for the readers of the book, however,
the widow and thirty-eight of her numerous
and charming progeny are soon disposed or,
and the rest of the story is of the adven-
lures of the survivors, Beatrice and Jessie.
1t hardly ever happens that a. preface
amounts to much, but Mr.. Mansfield s does,
to the point of being one of the best things
about the book. IF any person thinks" he
says, that any beast or thing described in
this book is caricature of him he is IN
error. The book contains no satire sar-
casm or cynicsm 1t has no point nor pur-
pose. 1t tells no story. There is no ade--
quate reason for its publication. 1t served
the purpose of amusing some young people
in lengthy journey. 1t was then tossed
been disturbed. 1t was.
The author then goes on to tell how the
shore-a very rainy day. How he read those
pages to number of small boys who could
not escape; how the smallest and least m
telligent of the boys was amused; how this
boy fulfilled the promise of his youth by be-
coming publisher; how he trailed the man
who had coralled him that rainy day, his
purpose
geance by publishing the book; how he
finally accomplished his fell purpose by
bribing the author, and closing with the
hint that nothing now remains but to pity
the author and to execrate the publisher
Action begins with the entrance of a
cyclone via the window, which blows the
entire family out the way it came, only two
of them, Beatrice and Jessie, being ever
heard of again.
Beatrice and jessie then, are also blown
away. and a pretty chase they lead the i'm
agination of their dignified memoir writer,
and one can see now how circle of chill
Cren on a very rainy day would be breath
less. The history goes on to say that the
cyclone carried them an enormous distance
through the air. Fortunate were they,
comments Mr.. Mansfield dreamily and
some way, even in the most delightfully."- alb
surd parts one can never quite get away
from the astonishing circumstances attend
ant that it is Mr.. Mansfield saying it. For
tunate were they that it did not carry them
through mud or through fat or through ink
or through many things that could name,
but would not. No, it carried them through
the air.
Their adventures are various. Nothing is
too inconsequent or too logical or too i'm
possible to happen to them The personal
element is the interesting thing always, ana
it is read between the lines continually IN
spite of the preface OF course the girls
rescue the captive prince and the denoue-
ment is Of that delightful sort that always
happens in these instances where they
were happy forever afterward."