The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-21
BOOK NOTES.

A book that will be appreciated by
people with high musical sensibilities is
King Midas" by Upton Sinclair. Both
the hero and the heroine are possessed
of musical souls. and in this they find
their affinity. The story is of a Young
girl whose rich aunt has educated her
in Germany. Upon the completion of
her musical education she is brought
home and her ever-mercenary aun en-
deavOrS to marry her to a multimillion-
aire, but while the rich man is willing
and the girl yields to an engagement
after a severe mental struggle, she
breaks it before the wedding. A Grip
pied violinist who is wealthy-but she
does not know it's thrown in her way,
and while she cannot bear his appear
ance at first, she eventually falls in
love with him. The end of it all is sud
denly tragic in the extreme. There are
some strong descriptive passages in the
DOCK, but one cannot help feeling that
the story in general might have been
improved had it been edited with a Wig
orous use of the blue pencil. Neverthe-
less the author shows promise of rare
ability along certain lines. The proposal
scene shows the detail with which the
author brings out his ideas, and while
it will doubtless appear to border on
he sublime to some, to others it will
seem to have Overstepped the boundary
and arrived in the vicinity of the ridicu-
louS:
Helen, he said, T call you to a life
that forgets all else but love. Precious
Slfl, my SOU cries out TO me InaL L nave
a right to you, and that you were made
that 1 might kneel before you.
And oh, dear heart, if only o could
tell me that you might love me, that
years of waiting might win you, 1t
would be such happiness as 1 have
never dared to dream. Tell me, Helen,
tell me if it be truei'
And the girl lifted her face to him.
and he saw that all her soul had leaped
into her eyes Her bosom heaved. and
h flung back her head and stretched
wide her arms, and cried aloud, oh,
David. / do love you
He clasped her in his arms and
pressed her upon his bosom in an
ecstasy of joy, and kissed the lips that
had spoken the wonderful words Tell
me- he exclaimed, you will be mine?'
And she answered, 'Yours!'"
Doubtless those who lave had expert
ence along the line of prOposal-making
could easily testify that this is the sort
of proposal they meant to have made,
but it is doubtful if there were ever
very many such actually made. The
testimony of those who have been
about the time the maker of the pro-
posal gets ready to begin he forgets
his lines and begins to stammer.
The book is published by Funk &
Wagnalls, Of New York, and is illus |
trated by c.. M. Relyea.
A new textbook on elementary 20
ology by Prof. Vernon L. Kellogg, of
$1,000
been issued from the press of Henry
Holt & Co.. New York. Prof. Kellogg
was formerly a Kansas bov, and after
graduating from the state university in
1889 was assistant professor of ento-
mology in that institution until called
to Stanford university. He is the au-
thor of several recent texts on biological
science which are widely used.
1.-The College Student and His Prob
lens is the title of a volume by James
II. Garfield, IL D.. librarian of Column
bia university. which will be published
by the Macmillan company. DR.. Can
fields long experience with educational
matters as secretary and as president of
as professor of history in the University
of Kansas, chancellor of the University
of Nebraska, president of the Ohio
state university, and librarian of Co
lumbia university, have given him a
wider acquaintance with the actual life
and needs of college students than has
perhaps fallen to the lot of any other
American. His book is short, admirably
written, and full of sound, wise and
pithy advice on all pertinent topics of
college life, from the choice of the col
lege itself and the kinds of work and
play and social intercourse to be pur-
sued there to the choice of a career at
it's end. No young man can read 1t
without receiving help and inspiration
and without profound gratitude for such
wise and frank counsel.
In a purely imaginary country Marguer-
.sThe Princess rine c cynthia" The Characters
are the people who constitute and are the
The Princess Cynthia"
The story is of the love of Sir Palmedes,
the Oldest survivor of one of the noblest
families of the realm BY an ~arrangemen
of her father. Princess Cynthia is the
prince of a ~neighboring realm The ar
was made a Wn a the princess
cepting the life outlined for her She
was. however, not by nature submissive,
spirit in all the affairs at court, no one
wish.
A number of years previous to the time
of the opening of the story Lord Dallas
Arrancourt the confidential advisor OF the
believed at the time Sir Pal
o meaesd5 e wleh E xeup e the DE0i famiily we're ki fng
Constantine. feeling that PREPARATION was
due ! the family q Of Ars ran enno,n Fe eI | sia
His brother was given a high
From the time Sir Palmedes accidental
ly met Princess Cynthia he conceived a
and lasting love for her 49, arv
of how Sir Palmedes loved. lost and was
loved in return. but only when it was too
for the reason that it is beauti-
Of language. The illustrations are b. Geo.
r Havelka. The book is from the press
York.
Boy in Town ETC.. has produced another
delightful story for the young entitled
f auee we a5 + The Boys are a happy easy
east The account of their ~escapades and
fun-making is very suggestive
whoever has read any of John
Habberton's works will know Just what