The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-20
LITERARY OUTLOOK,
Holiday Effect of the Busy
Book Season.

The Christmas time heralds the quest
of the wise men. but, unfortunately, the
wise men who are seeking the best in
books have no single. guiding star to di-
rect them. Amid the hubbub and clam
or of those who cry their wares in pub
lie places there are a few who shout
with honesty of purpose, but their voices
are lost in the confusion of the multi
tude anxious to dispose of their printed
merchandise.
ALAS. that the noble invention of
Gutenberg should be so debased," is a
I German lament with which many of us
viii symDathize, but it is an old and
somewhat futile cry in the wilderness.
Not one of US would have our particular
world of books taken away from us
and, doubtless, the world of each of us
is somewhat different from that of any
other person The spirit of Christmas is
not one of complaint and, so long as the
freedom of choice in book companions Is
left to us, we shall not object to our
neighbors exercising the same right.
Out Of some ten thousand different
books published this year, no one should
despair of finding what his heart most
desires in printed treasures. AS the
Christmas Bookshelf points out in it's
present issue, the wealth of books is
now set forth for holiday choosing.
None but can find here some amulet
to bear his Christmas message of peace
and good will For little children, here
are the keys lOl UNLOCK IHG gates OF
stOryland, where the world is Just-So,
and school never keeps. For youth, here
are the keys to unlock the gates of
delight, be it love, or war, or far jour
neyS or quiet lives. For age, here arc
clear phials of peace, or caskets of Iife's
wisdom"
AS matter of fact, to more than one
class of people the present season is n
most difficult one. The publishers are
we'll nigh exhausted from their labors,
the book sellers are working night and
day to supply the demands Of their Gus
toners and prObab bly, the purchasers
themselves will be glad when the end
of the year comes and they may, as
they always do stop buying books and
begin to enjoy reading them. For it is
in the dead of winter that books are
most appreciated. The fireside and the
old faVOriteS, the coy chair and a good
book, these are the elements of magic
to drive away everything but solid en-
joyment. Prof. Flinders Petrie. a we'll
known scientist, once remarked in a lee
ture, that the happiest people are those
that cannot read, but who will believe
that? Mankind, a good share of man
kind at least, has always wanted to-
read and Prof. Petrie has gone far to
prove that in his archaeological explora-
lions. by turning up manuscripts and
records made centuries before the first
Christmas. We must have books, that
is one certain fact in life.
There have recently been published
several volumes especially designed to
satisfy the curiosity regarding writer's.
Authors of the Day in Their Domes'' is
a collection of essays published during
the past ten years which makes some
of the sketches somewhat out of date,
though, of course, the publisher is the
only one to blame for that. More salts
flying is Stories of Authors Loves" by
Miss Clara Laughlin, gotten out in two
well illustrated and printed volumes.
Only the classic authors have been dealt
with. but a great deal of very interest
ing Biographical matter has been thus
collected together.
Interest in the heart affairs of men
and women who wrote" says Miss
Laughlin, is an easily understandable
curiosity In large part they created
the traditions of romance, these men
and women; their written ideals of love
have set the standard for the majority
have sent young blood and Ofttimes
blood not so young coursing through
veins in a swifter current. have filled
young hearts and ofttimes hearts not
SO young with beating desire TO love,
to be loved. to bear and forbear. give
and forgive in loves name. 1t is only
natural that these young hearts and
hearts that once were young should
wish to know in what manner these men
and women realized their own ideals
It is because their ideals and
standards have become. in large part
our ideals and standards, That we have
so great curiosity to know what befel
these men and women who wrote. In
this spirit. and in this spirit only, are
we pardonable for inquiring into Their
sacredest relations.
The two famous bachelors of the col
lection are Thoreau and Irving OF their
love affairs little is to be told but there
is much of rstfos in than. Thoreau
gave ais Jrirf "a pie sIsss s,s.. = = -e--- -
a friend-his sweetheart asked him a
question.
Il parted from my beloved because
there was one thing I had to tell her
She questioned me. She should have
known all by sympathy. That I had to
tell It her was the difference between
us,-the misunderstanding"