The Indianapolis journal., 1899-11-27
Mrs. Catherwood.s stories.

"Mackinac and Lake Stories," by Mary
Iarwell Catherwood. from the press or
Harper 4 Bros, is a symposium of semi
historical romances that will appeal strong
ly to the thousands of people who spend
their summer vacations in and around his
toric Mackinac. Mrs. Catherwood is a grace
full and pleasing writer and favorite with
Indiana readers. for, although she is now
a resident of Illinois. she has spent so much
Of her time in the State that she Is almost
regarded as an India nian. Her plan OF
story writing seems simple and easy of ex-
ecution, but it involves a great amount OF
labor. To the uninitiated she apparently
merely delves into local history until she
finds an incident that will serve her rur-
pose and then proceeds to clothe the Incl
dent with garb Of fiction. Ambitious tyros
in literary work who have tried to mix his
tory with fiction without proper study nave
learned to their sorrow that Mrs. Gather
woods method is not easy of attainment
They have found that familiar knowledge OF
the region and people they write about is
absolutely necessary to success; hat places,
customs and characters must be studied
This is the secret OF Mrs. Catherwoods
popularity as writer. Wherever she Ic-
oatas story 1t Us ,a sSfe the TO say his
tory, traditions and legends of the place
and the traits and characteristics of the
people.
Mackinac island. She knows every point OF
interest. from "Robinsons folly and Arch
Rock to Lovers leap" and the Devil 5
Kitchen" the Iast-named playing ali i'm
rortant part in one of her stories. She also
knows all the old residents of the place
and probably many of the Indians VINO VISIT
IL. The Chippewas of the northern penin-
sula of Michigan catch fish and pick berries
and cross the straits to barter with the 'm-
mer hotels and boarding houses. and from
them Mrs. Catherwood has gathered much
interesting material All the straits region
teens with reminders Of an important past.
our country and it was also the scene Of the
good work of Pere Marquette and other
pioneers Of Christianity. In fact, just be-
| where Mrs. Catherwood wrote most Of her
stories, stands little church. the successor
of the mission chapel once consecrated 10y
| Marquette himself and across the straits
| at ST. Ignace, lie the bones OF the priest
| explorer. if local tradition is correct.
Ii is amid such memories that Mrs. Cath
erwood has drawn her inspiration. Marion
SON. the first story in her book, Is a Pa
| thetic romance % the war of 1872 The love
J ers the young fugitive Canadian and later
/ her grief when she finds him dead. may be
| rather strongly drawn. but there is nothing
of the purest. ''The Black Feather" is a
narrative of the days of the Hudson bay
trading post. reminder OF which Is ..1tis rht
| Astor House of the present time. Tht
| Cobbler in the Devils Kitchen" tells Row
| an eccentric Irish shoemaker became q
| medicine man" in the eyes or the Indians
| saved friend from committing bigamy and
| won the gratitude of a red-skinned maiden
| In THE Skeleton of Round Island there ]:
a pretty. bit Of love making mixed witt
| lage 1.-The King of Beaver, Beaver
| Lights" "A British Islander" Tine Cursed
Patois," are all interesting with Indians
| Mormons and gentiles as the chief charac
| ters. Probably the most clever story O
| the lot is called THE Mothers of Honore.
| 1t is a quaint romance, up TO date in time
| but with century ago favor about II
| "The Indian on the Trail" the last of tn
| series is an oddity. and its readers viii
generally incline to the opinion that IN
| girl in the case was sadly in need of
| chaperon. The collection includes some o
| the best work Mrs. Catherwood has done
| The book is well illustrated and neatl,
| printed