Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-10-10
Observation-Disclosures slagHg
i: THE ROSARY OF "A RAMBLER


1t was at crowded street corner
and for a moment the men and women
who We're hurrying by stopped and the
newsboys jostled their way thru the
crowd to see what twas goin' on
1t was pitlful sight, for horse had
slipped and fallen on the pavement in
such way that it seemed impossible
for 1t to rise. 1t was patient old
horse and 1t was doing its best. to rise,
but each time 1t tried 1T slipped and
fell again. There was plenty of help
and plenty of advice from those who
were not helping as to the way in
which those who were should proceed.
The most interested of all the onlookers
was man past middle age who stood
there holding his hat in his hand
straight out before him. The attitude
was SO peculiar that he attracted some
little attention from couple of women
who We're hurrying by and who had
stopped to see what had attracted the
sidewalk crowd. They soon under
stood the attitude, for on his breast
was n broad band bearing the pathetic
words, Il am blind" They laughed as
author of their nlirth muttered, Well,
l done see anything to laugh at in a
poor horse who can't get UP. haven't
seen anything so sad in a long time.
Just then the horse rose to his feet and
the crowd began to go their many
ways But before they were gone q
man with lids closed was leaning
against Il post and in his hat were
dropping nickles and dimes, for on his
breast was broad band bearing the
pathetic words, Il am blind"
The saddest page in the history of
letters is the one wherein is written
the names of the men and women who
possessed of real talent in one phase
Of the art. made the fatal mistake OF
thinking they could do as well in all
the phases. The latest name to be
added to the list is that of Richard
LeGalliene. In this case it is very sad,
for as u reviewer and a critic he was
charming. His letters We're dainty ex-
amples of the purest English and his
thoughts were bright and original. To
him. as one of the sane and helpful
moderns, the men and women who read
were turning their attention. And
then he wrote THE Love Letters
of the King, or The Life Romantic"
A story which is no story at all. but
a congloneration of fancies and super
stitions and the vague remarks of more
or less impossible people, q motif of
love which was neither love nor in
fatuation and which in an incredibly
short time turned from intensity to
apathy, u dissertation upon women and
their ways which has little real be-
ginning and certainly arrives no,
where" such is made up by the
mass of words which the brilliant critic
has put together and allowed to be
published. That the diction As good
can not be denied. but then LeGallf-
enne can no more help using good Lam
guage than Cockney born and bred
help adding his where they are not
needed or wanted and dropping them
where they are. There are few pages
in the book that are good. The story
within the story of the king who de-
sired to revive the love letter az an ex-
ample of literary art and who read a
BEAUTIFUL composition for the plaudits
of his knights and ladies. only to have
the little maiden whom he questioned
say to him, cit was very beautiful,
your majesty, but 1t was not love
tainly not unreasonable to desire more
than few good lines on 2S1 pages.
A critic must expect criticism and Lee
Caffeine is no doubt philosopher
enought to take the all unkind things
(which have been written about his book
in the philosophical way. II they
could convince him that his forte is not
to write fiction, but to write about 1t.
they would serve a better purpose than
they probably will. For few men, even
great men, realize their Limitations.
Apropos of limitations, 1t is not only
individuals who err Stock journals
are not expected to write intelligently
of high art. They are not open to
criticism for not having that ability.
But they should be criticised, and Sc
yerely, when they essay to do what is
manifestly out of their province. A
certain well known fashion sheet is
evidently trying the hard task which
has batfled scholars of all ages. Of har-
monizing the physical and mental, for
along with descriptions Of the newest
creations" it has a So called literary
department. In a recent isue 1t said
that Tom Grogan" was the best char
acter ever drawn by Richard Harding
Davis. Now, it's fashions may be cor
rect, 1t may tell the popular color for
the autumn wear and the latest mode
of tying ones ribbons. But Its litera-
aure-oh my! The peculiar part of it
is that Smith and Davis will be equally
angry, the former because he is not
duly credited with his own work and,
the later because Van Bibber of the
immaculate garments and society pol
ish is placed after q common working
woman. 1t is only, another case of not
understanding limitations.
Stories of clever children are apt to
lose their charm by many repitittons.
but real live little boy made remark
a few days ago. which, SO far as
known, has never been recorded. 1t
was the day that the circus came to
town, and from early morning until
near the dinner hour that little boy was
not to be seen near his home. Then
he came In tired and dirty, of course.
but full of experience as to his happy
day. The mother was very stern and
ltsied to impress upon him the anxiety
which they had all felt concerning him.
He held to it, however, that 1T was
special providence" that he went the
way he did, for he had gone into the
side shows as we'll as the big tent and