The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
Miss Anna F~arquhar's Novel, "a
singers Hearf.H

est by her friends in this city. The first
work of an author, like the first formal APP
pearance of an actor or other artist, is al
ways an event of some interest to the gen.
eral public, and especially so to the friends
of the aspirant for public favor. In this
case there is an element of local interest,
for Miss Farquhar, has. lived in this city
many years and is we'll known here. Her
father, Col. John H. Farquhar, served hon
orably during the war and was afterwards
elected to Congress from one of the east
ern districts of the State. He was well
known throughout the State as a man of
ability and culture. Miss Farquhar is best
known here as a musician and teacher Of
music. She has written a good deal for the
Boston press, doing correspondence or spe-
cial work, and has published two or three
short stories, but the present work is her
first essay in novel-writing. The title of the
book, "a Singers Heart" foreshadows its
general character. 1t is a story of the as
pirations and efforts of a gifted girl to OBJ
tain recognition as a singer and of her final
success, including her personal experiences
and love affairs, with a background of
ph~ilosophic reflections and mmen on
human nature which are always bright and
sometimes satirical if not cynical. The plot
of the story is simple and yet sufficient to
hold the readers interest. Eleanora Dean,
born in a New England town, is described
as a child with an unusual voice, red hair
and variable disposition. She gave evidence
very early of being talented, eccentric and
ambitious. AS she grew up her chief ambi-
ton was to become a singer. She had a
peculiar voice, but it was undeveloped and
underlined. She longed fer Instructions and
for a musical atmosphere" Finally. hav-
ing gained the consent Of her parents, she
went to Boston to study and try and find
her fate. There she found a home in a
German family whose members were kind
hearted, hospitable and musical. The chap
ters which relate the girls experience with
practical knowledge of the profession.
About this time both of her parents die,
sister to take care of. While pursuing her
studies under difficulties a fascinating Ger
man musician, fresh from the old country,
is introduced in the family. Eleanora had
no use for men, but this man interested
her and the interest was mutual. She
6ff4ggh = w thG friendship rShe5 hs E soid RR%l er Rd joR Su{
her she found that she loved him also. AT
the same time, however, she finds to her
arated though not divorced. He urges
but. though almost overcome by love, she
dnaiIy dismlss es''4o the German, but
not till she has discovered his
sensuality and selfshness. Meanwhile,
the young man of the household where she
is living also falls in love with her, but
not recognizing the sensation and not know
ing how to make lbye he thinks it is a
platonic feeling. IN fact there is almost too
much platonic friendships throughout the
story. Having dismissed her German lover,
Eleanora hurrieS away to London, where
she studies music and makes friends. One
day during a walk In the woods she sud
denly encounters "a man on horseback"
refining in his steed so that she might not
be disturbed in her possession of the rural
pathway. This chance meeting and a for
tunate letter of introduction later on led
to a. delightful acquaintance, which, after
passing through q long stage of platonic
friendship, ends IN a very near approach
to love on both sides. This, however, is
not till after Eleanora has gone to Paris,
completed her musical. education, made her
debut in opera and won fame and fortune.
Her -younger sister, whom she has edu-
Gated, becomes a writer for the press. Ell
eanora returns to London to fill an operate
engagement, and while there she meets
again her chance acquaintance of the road,
and the platonic courtship above referred
to begins. Finally when hey found they
were accidentally but really in love and
were about to get married and be happy,
the lover falls dead of heart disease at the
very door of Iaeonora's house, whittier he
was going at her bidding to receive her
final answer. The page, which describes her
outburst of womanly grief over the body Of
the man she really loved is the best one
in the book because 1t shows more genuine
feeling than any other and comes nearest
to that touch of nature which makes the
whole world kin. Many other pages In the
book are good in other resnects but
this one is the best in that respect. The
foregoing outline Of the story does not do
justice to the plot or its treatment, but per-
haps it indicates, as is the fact, that the
] story is largely subjective. It's interest de-
ponds more in the analysis of feelings and
the revelation of a certain kind of heart
experiences than in anna movement or
exciting situations. TIL story is not of the
kind that tells itself, but it is we'll told. If
it carries any indication of being a first
novel it is not in the style of literary work.
manship. These Indicate not only a natural
talent and Gift of EXPRESSION but training
and experience. Scattered through the
pages of the book are many bright, SEN
tentious and witty passages. Some of these
illustrate the authors felicity of express
sion, as this: ct is said that the first year
to the participants. The same must be as
serted of the first leap into art, even when
equipped with native talent, intelligence
and enthusiasm. These stalwart support
ers cannot uphold one against discourage
ment, impatience and the gradual realiza-
a4n Of ne q retreat a5i ct the ideal as one ne
rapture in an artists life there stand in OPP
position hours of actual and acute misery,
genius" And this: eff the youthful mind
knocking at the door of beauty's express
sion could meet oftener with teacher of
more than the mere mechanics of art, how
much disappointment and cruel failure
would be saved!" When the two Germans
seek solace in their ptpes, the author says,
mo doubt in the orthodox heaven there
may be higher ties binding men together,
but there can be none stronger than the
- - N[NC@ Al Il
relative to art the heroine declares her be-
lief that America holds the elements of the
most superlative art life ever known. To
the question, Where does she keep them?'
she answers: "In the minds of a race COM
posed of representatives of all nations.
This conglonerate mass Will finally be
amalgamated into the greatest people on
earth, possessing the inherited feeling for
the beautiful handed down from the Latin
races, and the forceful strength of mind
and physique from the Teutons, Celts. Sax
ons. and Norsemen." In a discussion con-
corning marriage the heroine declares that
there ought to be an examining bureau
for motherhood, and no women ought to
be allowed to marry unless able to pass a
prescribed examination in the qualities
requisite for true motherhood This is
! witty, but it does not take into account
that maiden candidates for motherhood
cannot know much about il. A civil-serv-
i've e~Xamination of that kind should take
place q few years after marriage. In de-
scr1bing her herOtne's sensations on diScOV-
ering that she was in love, the author says:
The first glance at ones own power Of
loving is charged with not alone the rap
ture, but also the newness of the emotion.
1t j. like going abroad from our native
heath for the first time. At the second trip
over the same ground we know what TO ex-
pect, but Notwithstanding our more intel
ligent appreciation of each scene we never
again experience precisely the first glow. -
Such passages as these, and there are
many like them in the book, show that the
author has ideas and knows how to express
them. They show capacity for thinking as
Well as for writing. They do not make a
story, but, like convenient landings in a
long stairway. they furnish pleasant points
for the reader to stop and think. There
is not too much OF art, philosophy or intro
spection in the book. but as a story it
would be better if there were more human
4 50. - a. An4Ys~a 1saaL nAN a.