The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-18

myself, an openly protested
admirer Of Miss Corellfs
work Like reverence for
tbs Ladies' Home Journal, this Is one OF
the things people bury in their Utmost
souls. However. as 10000 copies OF this
novel were ordered In advance Of its pub
Iicatfon, II is clear enough that there are
vast numbers of people by whom the
author Is beloved. Their numbers compel
Q certain respect which cannot be ac-
corded to their literary perceptions. The
simplest solution OF the problem Is that
nobody reads Marie Corelli as literature.
She is. rather. the guide. philosopher and
friend, the giver of spiritual stimulus and
counsel. 'rhe Master Christian Is more
Of q sermon than of a novel. Tho thread
OF the plot, which Is very slight. is inter-
rupted for pages at a time by diatribes
against the modern world and Christian
ity as We see 1t practiced. Doubtless the
world deserves It all. and more. but the
story is, after all. the litter one in which
to set about the reformation Of race.
The good cardinal has a niece. Angela,
who Is very beautiful and paints such
categorical pictures as never have been
seen. She has sweet face, earnest eyes
and slim. graceful figure. together with
the highest possible opinion OF herself;
ths queen visits her. mot as patron,
but as Q FRIEND, she complains that
other artists take her ideas and use them.
sand then when my work is produced
they say It IL i who have copied from
them, and that women have no imagina-
ton. have been cheated once or twice
in that way--this time no one has any
idea or what am doing" This time"
Angela 6ovrani was painting picture of
Christ and His Judgments-and that re-
minds us that the real theme of the pres
ont volume IL the testing of latter day
religion and civilization by it's effect on
: child who - represented as being In
reality the reincarnate Lord This will
seem blasphemous to many people. but
many more, doubtless will both approve
ana enjoy. 1t IL difficuit to understand
how this may be, but the fact that thou
sands Of people actually profess to obtain
spiritual sustenance from this kind of
thing makes one hesitate to condemn. II
a not literature nor art: It Is not good
taste; It II not even good English. II. in
spite OF all these disqualihcations. 1t still
remains food for any readers soul. why
quarrel with II for all the things that 1t
hopelessly lacks?
CsThe Master-Christian." BY Marie
Corein. $50. Dodd, Mead & Co. For
sale by I.owman Il Hanford)
Books for the young girl have. some
how. been couspicuously absent from the
publishers lists Of late years 1t Ii, there
fore, a pleasurable experience to see them
reappsarinx fortunes Boats" de-
cribes the adventures and misadv entures
OF . family OF i've nice girls who haven't
nearly 90 much money az would be en-
1oyabie. but who have q generous supply
Of tho commodities that money cannot
buy, such ar youth. hope. energy. talent
ana character.
The story IL built after the tims-honorcd
model OF Little Women" OF course, and
II distinctly thin and unreal In a good
many places. This Is a frequent. but not a
necessary fault OF girls books. Consider
the many tales Of Miss Yonge and the
way In which she could interest you pro-
foundly In the fate OF thirteen brothers
and sisters at once. making each single
one Of them stand cut. living personal
ity. In a way which. doubtless, personal
acquaintance would not have eauaied.
Miss yechton does not seem to possess
this most desirable gift OF breathing life
and personality into each OF her young
people but tho book is pleasant enough
fairy tale OF the kind In which personal
merit gcts wealth and happiness for its
reward.
('Fortune's Boats" by Barbara yech-
ton. u.bo. liouEhton. Miffin Il Co. For
sale by Lowman 4 Hanford.)
The author of PLANE. Electricity and
the Camera" has written book that will
stir as well as interest not only because
Of what no tells, but because OF what he
Drophesies. His central notion Ia this,
The progress Of humanity while ordi-