The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-14
BOOK NOTES.

| 1.-The Real Latin Quarter of Paris" by
! F. Berkeley Smith, published by Funk
! & Wagnalls, New York. 1t is illus
trated by 100 drawings and snap shots
by the author and the frontiSpiece Is by
the father of the author, the distinguish
ed author artist, +. Hopkinson Smith.
There is seductive charm about that
famous Bohemia of Paris-the Latin
Quarter-which most persons know only
by reputation Wherein this charm con-
sists is but vaguely understood. The
casual visitor, who has wandered
through the QUARTER, or who, perhaps,
has been so fortunate as to be taken
, through it by one who knows it, can
not tell you of it's destinations. He
can not portray its life, or interpret it's
spirit. He can not give you any of the
real atmosphere of the place, or the
true inwardness of its throbbing, sad
and-gay existence. He has seen very
still less. 1t would be even more i'm
possible for a native, or one who has
spent all his life there. to give you the
kind of picture which would appeal to
your appreciation, your imagination,
your emotions. He is a part of it; all
is natural and familiar to him and
arouses no surprise or curiosity. He
does not see the contrasts or the unique
manifestations of life in their full color
values. To him 1t is a common and an
everyday affair." and if he atten pied to
describe it, he would try to pick out
the things that seemed to him unusual,
rather than the multiplicity of things
that go toward making up the real,
perpetual charm of life in the Latin
quarter. The introduction is written
by the authors father. In this he says:
Nowadays when man would write
some South African town with the I'M
pronounceable name, his habit is to
rent a room on an uptown avenue,
move in an inkstand and pad, and a
collection of illustrated papers and
encyclopedias. This writer on the Rue
Falguiere chose a different PLAN He
would come back year after year, and
study his subject and compile his i'm
pressions of the Quarter in the very
atmosphere of the place itself within
a stones throw of the Luxembourg
cafes and the Butler; next door. if you
please, to the public laundry where his
washerwoman pays a few sous for the
privilege of pounding his clothes into
holes''
A second edition of 1.-THE Garden of a
Commuters Wife is just issued by the
Macmillan company This bright, glow
books and dogs, of happiness in a gar
den in summer and by the freside in
winter, is likely to find many readers
during the coming holiday season
While it may be classed with ELIZA
beth and Her German Garden" in the
general outlook of life, it is confessedly
lies the difference, one of kind rather
than of degree. Each is pervaded with
a quiet humor.
Norman Hapgood's new life Of Wash
ington, published by the Macmillan
company, is not without its lighter side.
The occasional vigorous profanity of
the father of his country makes several
dashes necessary in the quota lions from |
Washingtons letters, and the testimony
of personal friend and fellow soldier |
is given to the effect that at Monmouth |
the commander-in-chief "swore till the |
leaves shook on the trees;'' never have |
enjoyed such swearing before or sinca. |
Sir, on that ever memOra BILE day he |
swore like angel from heaven" |
Nothing was so likely to drive Wash |
ington to profanity as cowardice, which |
he hated with all the bitterness of a |
fighting man. He once threw an ink |
stand at an officer who lacked courage. !
When his men ran away in the New |
York campaign he drew his sword and |
snapped his pistol and rode so near the |
enemy that his officers had to drag him |
back. 1t was rumored in the camp at |
the time that he threw his hat upon |
the ground and exclaimed, Are these I
the men with whom I am to defend |
American"
Stewart Edward Whites first novel, |
THE Claim Jumpers" has been singled |
out as one of the few books which tells
a story of the far west that is free from
burlesque or ridicule. When D. Apple
ton e. Co. introduced Mr.. White to (
novel readers short time since, the |