The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-23
SPARKLE OF GEMS
Kansas Authors Give Topeka
Audience a Treat.
Famous Men and Women Read
Their Own Productions.
SHELDON AS A POET.
Topeka Author Minister Gives
Unpublished Verse.
William Allen White Reads One
of His Political Stories.
SHELDON AS A POET.

audience OF five hundred fellow beings IN
the High School assembly room last
night The event was the Authors
Evening arranged by the Topeka Fed
Grafton of Clubs. The atmosphere was a
blending of art, nature and industry. 1t
was brainy family gathering, unique.
worthy of pride, pleasurable. Topeka
drew upon Kansas literary lions for an
evenings enjoyment. They emerged
more like lambs. There was never
roar. No literary menagerie ever pro-
duced such a modest, well-behaved set
of lions The resultant was a glow OF
satisfaction, a full measure OF uhoeI-
standing and a serene appreciation
There was no getting away from the
blended art-nature-induStry atmosphere.
1t wrapped round the mind IN the form
and substance of a cloudy, purple maze.
The rostrum breathed it. Winged VIC
tory on her pedestal at one end of 1T and
Diana at the other spoke of the golden
past All else whispered only OF Now.
Clustered peonies threw the richness OF
their color over the stage. Climbing
honeysuckles were trellised up the rear
wall so perfectly that people caught
themselves denying that they nao real
ly grown there
IN this atmosphere the chairwoman
and entertainers sat, breaking the spell
one after another as they stepped TO the
front And when they did it was not to
break the charm, but to intensity IT,
From beginning to end of the evening
the intensity grew. The seats became
uncomfortable, but folks listened on.
They would never give up listening 10
their own. if they did tire The pro-
gramme was trihingly misgauged In
generosity 1t was never tedious never
dreary-only too good measure.
Mrs A H. Thompson, the president OF
the federation, was non-tamer Win
ARREST grace and a charm of manner she
cracked the whip and out they came In
salutatory she dWelt upon the human
failing of not recognizing talent in one
neighborS, but too ready to esteem ana
crv it up in far off New York or New
England She said Topeka was remark
ably blessed and this event was to show
that 1--WE do recognize genius when
it walks our streets We are proud OF
them and we honor them "
Then music, song and story were I'M
leashed. Miss Gertrude Tracy's piano
solo 'Inquietude" was a marvel OF
f1nesse with which to begin the program gram
J. w. Gleed followed with selections
from his published writings. He read
three of his verses first. The initial one
was Lines to Pyrrha-" He said If his
memory served him right, he was not
unwilling to make the confession now,
that that was not the young lady's name.
It was, however, the first piece OF verse
he ever sold and got pay for and that
was something worthy of remark
Lovers Three and Duty We're his
other metrica1 contributions. His final
selection was an extract from an address
on Real Life delivered before the stu
dents of the Ohio university. The argu-
ment was that real life was not to be
lived and enjoyed through money or
politics, society or fashion. But, BE
a good man, be a good woman. BE
fit companion for yourself" What OF
his publishingS are not law briefs, were
sermons, Mr.. Gleed apOlogiZed, but his
apology was not necessary His touch
of sermOnizing was received as In ex-'
cellent taste.
Combining a critical essay with an en-
tertaining story. Mrs. Margaret Hill
McCarter dilated upon The Crusoe Ii
brary." It was a delightful mixture of
the past, present and future. The tale
is of seven shipwrecked people. cast
upon an island in the Pacific. By some
freak Of fortune they are all, though not
related, of the name of Crusoe. Before
the ship went down they were warned
of their fate and each given a chance to
snatch their favorite book from the
steamer library. Freakishly enough
each hurriedly grasped what no one
would expect them to do, or they them
selves would have done under more de-
liberate circumstances. They were so
ashamed of their own selections that
each kept his book sacredly hidden
throughout the IA months till rescued.
Each studied his book thoroughly in Sc
cret however, and it proved that the
study of things against their natural in
clinatiOns was the very thing necessary
to give a broadened character and rev.
olutionize their lives to the best advant-
age. 1QlS Is the way they LOOK InelI
books: Rev. Sunday Crusoe caught up
George AIDES Fables in Slang; Miss
Monday Crusoe, a Kansas club woman,
had not a novel. but Fishes history:
Lieutenant Tuesday Crusoe found other
words beside War in the WIS in an IN
abridged dictionary; Prof. Thursday
Crusoe. who ran to mathematics too
much had hastily gathered up a vol
une of poems; Friday Crusoe, a South
Dakota socialistic farmer had taken
Cot,
drummer, dropped business and picked
up 1.-The Gentleman from Indiana
MIR. SHELDON'S POEMS.
Rev. Charles NJ. Sheldon read several
the man himself. They We're homely
and pithy. Here is one on THE Cynic:"
There's a certain critical class
OF men who resemble the ass,
In eating thistles for hay;
For that which is gold to the mass
While they chew their thistles and
bray.
And another. 1.-THE Fault Finder
wherever God erects house of prayer,
The devil always builds his chapel there,
And twill be found upon examination,
The latter has the larger congregation.
So said Defoe. believing he was right,
But some wet blanket man is sure to
"a good example he. of cold foresight).
at all2''
AS close to the soil as the greatest
stickler for LONELINESS could wish was
the story of Sardinia BoWkers Invest
ment," read by Mrs. Jessie Wright
Wl1itconb Hearers could see the hard
toil-worn hands and hear the pinched
hearts throb, in fancy, so realistic was
the tale The voice of the reader could
not descend into the depths far enough
to Impress all of the jangle and harsh
ness She had it hoarse but it should
have been raucouss rumbling far into
the deeps- A little Kansas girl wanted
to rise in the world She got a start
by working out a spell and invested her