Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-05-16
'OUTSIDE POINT OF VIEW.

Written fer tho imes-Republ,caa.

Written fer tho Times Republican
IF can have the attention of the
| house." said Mrs Birdseyc (s.That SEN
tence sounds familiar" said the writerD
\ j wish to read this evening a book re-
view. The :itle is .Dupes.' written by
a woman, Ethel Watts Mumford, and
read here for the especial benefit Of an
4 old gentleman who is subject to the
crazes here referred to. Listen:
The history of, 'crazes' clearly dem
ons'lates that fortunes await the relig-
| ION maker and miracle n.onger. The
story of one such craze, uncomfortable
like that which is having such vogue
| at this house. istold here by Miss Mum
1 ford. The heroine, if there is one Nine.
| Nolarmann-B onzales, has a watery eye,
4 which signifies much TO the adept in the
\ mysteries of the universe; voice which
| intoXlcates, an opium presence which
/ hypnotizes Given these, her personal
\ sty naturally breathes the occult. and
| the rest is easily fashioned by the dis.
l ciple. This interesting Individual is dis
1 covered by clever rascal. by name
| Ciendenin. c'Sure il wasn't Heron .
asked the travelling man. Not answer
| ing the lady proceeded,) who secs the
| possibilities of cash existing in her He
| suggests 70 brilliant friend, Mitchell
4 that they take her vaporings, Jistill
| them into brilliant generalizations
crowd them with poetical metaphor. de-
| stroy the logical, and raise to the high
cot degree the emotional, and then proI
the priestess of the coming faith on a
pedestal, in order that all may see the
greatest fool show on earth Mitchell
falls into the trap, he writes the adj
dressass,. The coming .ane.s 1:s the faith
gives them form and life. He thinks 1t
| a jest, but Clendenin knows 1t is a Sc
rious thing with gold at the end. The
| affair progresses disciples crowd TO see
| madam, money flows In. cures are made
and the monstrous imposition grows fat.
Clendenin With an eye for the artistic.
removes the gauds trappings of both
madame and her rooms and clothes
them In appropriate raiment. He sur
rounds her with the atmosphere of the
hides and the furniture of the seven
heavens of Buddha. The madness runs,
the peas in the empty gourd sound like
the music of the spheres. Madam, a.
hearty animal, with a taste for cigar
cts and much meat and drink, takes
herself and the other accessories seri-
ously. for she, like her followers. fs mad.
She thinks herself truly inspired and
the mouthpiece OF the gods. In reality
she is soothing to nervous women and
has an appearance of power, which
with her other properties is her sole
stock in trade
Now. madam" interrupted the writ
er, we've had enough Herronisn dis
CUSTOM in the papers and in this family
circle. IL you are seeking to create an
hot ~,
between the professor and this female
medium, it's an error on your part.
| Madam was hearty ANIMAL our pro-
fessor looks like dyspeptic. She had
| a taste for much meat and drink he
always had q suite Of rooms at s12 a day
| at the Great Northern, where delicate
dishes are prepared. l must admit he
thinks himself truly inspired and the
mouthpiece of the gods; but excuse me,
am interrupting. Continue. madam"
Il will. at the first opportunity" was
/ the reply. Hear this:
She reads Mitchell's literary efforts
and is applauded to the echo: she be-
comes prominent figure and at the
same time rich one: she discusses hell
/ heaven, matter and the universe as
4 calmly and with as much sang-f roid az
i she eats steak or a Welsh rarebit AT
/ last Mitchell realizes the hoax and also
| that the girl TO whom he is engaged 10
entangled in the toils of madam He
/ leaves the scheme. which then stands
i without brains. but nevertheless pur-
] sues Its triumphant course. for where
we have Astounding hysteria, undevel-
cped intelligence and unhealthy minds.
we find the harvest ground of the super
stitious and the dealer therein. These
conditions being present. madam con-
tinues to march gloriously. and relies on
her former manuscripts for inspiration.
AS bit Of satire. not to mention the
love story it contains. the book is nos
one of the days output to be passed
by"
rs that alp" asked seraphina. at
is," said Mrs Birdseye.
What's the point?" asked this scribe
II you don't see 1t, l have nothing to
add" said the evenings lecturess
Wonder If she means there is any
one in Iowa that is carried of his feet
by such .crazes?'" asked the Silent
/ Partner.
II n -