The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-26
Every One Has Heard Of
IrOnquiII, the Poet.
''In His Steps" Aroused the
EngIiSh-SpGaking World.
Henry InInan Has No Peer as
a Frontier Story Teller.

Topeka may well be called the liter
airy center of the west, the Cambridge
of the prairies.
Westward the star of empire takes
ats way" and the same may be said
of the genius of literature. Many years
ago Lawrence Barrett said, The liter
atUre of the New World must look to
the west for its poetry" The east has
Tidiculed the idea that the west could
produce writer's of more than local re-
nown. Topeka has three whose works
have gone far beyond the borders Of
their own state and country, and who
have place in the front ranks of the
worlds great writer.
Rev. Charles NJ. Sheldon. the theolO-
gian; Eugene F. Ware, ''IrOnquiu," the
poet, and Col. Henry Inman, the story
writer have disabused the critics of
that belief The first has given to the
world a new idea of Christianity; the
second has mingled humOr, pathos and
philosophy and the third has made stOr-
les out of history.
London publishing houses demand the
works of the literary triumvirate-
'IrOnquill'' has set the English speak
ing race to laughing, Col. Imam inter
ests the AnglO-SaXOn with stories of
the border and Rev. Mr.. Sheldon has
set the world to thinking.
ITO the mighty west,
Where mind is king, and fashion is
There shall the New World look for
thought"
It has been left for a Topeka author
to write the story of the century, wider
read than any ever published and ere
aing more religious discussion and
feeling throughout the world than has
been known since the days of the Cru
sades.
In His Steps," by Rev. Charles NJ
Sheldon, is responsible for a RELIGIOUS
# a or hes
in every country where the book is
read It is the earnest prayer of the
author that the book may so it's way
with a great blessing to the churches
Tor the Quickening of Christian disciple
ship and the fastening Of the Masters
kingdom on earth,' is the closing para
graph of the authors preface. His prayer
has been answered. The book has been
great blessing to the churches and has
awakened Christian discipleship in
even the largest and oldest churches Of
England, Scotland, Canada and our
own country. The book was written
for a purpose and the result has been
obtained in an even greater degree than
the author dared to hope for.
In His Steps is the story of a con-
gregatfOn endeavOring to lead ideal
Christian lives, asking before each act
or decision, What would Jesus dO?'
and acting as their own conscience an
swers- So great has been the influence
of this book that a. town council in
England decided, not long ago to fol-
taking any steps whatever to ask
themselves the question, What would
Jesus dO2" and in so doing to best serve
the people of their town.
In His Steps" has been translated
into French, German. Swedish, Nor
7vegian, Russian, Italian. Armenian and
dialects of Western Africa. over 3, OOO,-
600 copies have been sold. In England
the book was not copyrighted and a
score or more of publishing houses are
issuing the book in every form from the
cheapest to the most expensive and the
demand IS nabaung- The circulation
of this wonderful book far exceeds that
of Uncle Toms Cabin" or East
Lynne" Like many other authors,
Rev. Mr.. Sheldon had considerable
trouble in finding a publisher for the
story when he offered the manuscript.
Now any publishing house will gladly
pay an enormous royalty for the right
to publish it.
Rev. Mr.. Sheldon wrote his first
book in 1891. During the winter of that
year ne announced to his congregation
That instead of preaching a sermon
Sunday evenings L intend to read a
story" His first book was Richard
Bruce Each chapter served as a
Sunday evening sermon. From its in
clplency the novel method OF preaching
everyday Christianity in an attractive
form met with the approval and held
the interest and attention of the con-
gregation, evidenced by the fact that
those who heard the first chapter heard
the last and when the author an
nounced his second story q larger con
gregation listened to the readings.
His first story, Richard Bruce" was
written in 1891. Since then he has writ
ten the following books in the order
named: Robert Hardy's Seven Days"
1892; The Twentieth Door, 1898: The
CTucihXion of Philip Strong 1898; John
Kings Question Class" 1854: His Bro
TIERS Keeper" 1895; In His Steps"
1886; Malcolm Kirk 1897: The Re
demptson of Freetown." 1898; "One of
The Two" 1898; THE Miracle at Mark
ham, 1898: For Christ and the
Church. 1899.
In His Steps is a story of the mem
bers of a church who pledged their pas
tor that they would carry on their
different vOcatiOns for one year asking
themselves before taking any step
What would Jesus do?" The
business man, railroad official.
SINGER editor and many others