The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-27
Books and Authors
HOoSIER LITERATI

Indiana is a great state Generally people
think of the commonwealth las an area OF
fert id political strife. True, Indiana has pro-
duced some very conspicuous politicians and
statesmen-perhaps more of. the former than
of the latter; some very good and some very
bad 1t is great agricultural and nanufac-
turing state and, although most people do not
consider Indiana as literary state. It has
good right to enterza claim to that effect.
The other day there were some public read
ings at indianapolis for the beneht OF the
Harrison Memorial Association, and every in
diyidual who contributed to the feiclty OK the
occasion was, an Indiana author who read
something from his or her own books. James
Whltcomb Riley read some OF his child
sketches. "Old Man and Jim and Little
Orphan Annie" Charles Major read from his
.tDorothy Vernon of Haddon Hail. the in
teresting episode, Thomas, the Man Ser
yant':: George Barr McCutcheon read chap
ter of '.Graustark"; Mary Catherwood read
"The Skeleton Of Round Island, and among
other Indiana authors participating were GEN
eral. Lew Wallace, George Ade, Booth Tark-
ington.. Verify brilliant aggregation. known
and read if not of all men, of vast hunters
Of them at home and abroad. Not many
states could assemble at short notice SO many
well-known authors born or resident wlthln
it's borders. Opie Read says Indiana is the
most literary of all western states. and II
really seems so. There are several lndiant-
ems living out Of the state who, have done
most creditable things in literature. and only
recentAy Maurice ~2honNpson passed away,
leaving such fine touches of his genius as
.Al1ce OF Old Vincennes" and "Rosalynde's
Lovers. y The Indianians who write have or
sanized what they call The Association OF
western Writers y which meets: every June
at Winona lake. near Warsaw; 1nd.. III his
association has nourished for ten years and
is welding a fine Intellectual influence
a Comprehensfye Guide Book to Nat
uraI. Hy9ienic and Humane. Diet. BY
sidney. H. Beard New York: T. 7. crow
ell & Co. Price ST..
The vegetarians have seized the opportunity
presented by the bulling of the meat market
by the beef combine to lombard the public
with many books and pamphlets extolling the
advantages and safety of cereal diet over the
diet of flesh or diet in which flesh enters
largely. This book is fatty against the, car
niverous shabit," and 1t tells how our dinner
tables may, be. sufficiently spread with the
kindly fruits of the earth, instead of with the
remains of fellow, creatures WHO love life and
happiness Just as we do The author de-
plores the .barbarous habit" OF meat eating
and in this volume, sets forth the substitutes
for animal. food In which yegetarians delight.
He starts out with the assertion that man is
naturally fruit-eating animal Most scien-
lists fnd that man is omnivofous and fares
we'll on mixed diet. While vegetarians are
apt to be extremists. there Is no doubt that
too much meat is eaten and that tits eminently
wise and proper to be temperate in meat con-
sumption, Just as 1t Is necessary to be temper
ate In the consumption OF fruits and cereals.