The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-10

G. A HENTY,
Author of with Roberts to Pretoria and
At the Point of the Bayonet published
by Charles Scribner's Sons.
pose - says Mr.. Payne, that Mr. How
ellis should proclaim new genius in
kamSchatka." No one dares to dispute
him. On the contrary, every one sup
ports his opinion, and the editions of
the Kamsehatka genius go into tens of
thousands, no matter whether we know
what he writes about or not. It is not
always true that the new writer is not
worthy of praise, but it would be bet
ter for him and the reading public as
well if the promise if Immortality came
after he had published a few books in
stead of before his arrival in the literary
field. The most Objectionable feature
of the new cult is that il stops and
destroys original thinking and it breeds
intellectual insincerity.
K X
Mary MacLane of Butte, Montana
has written a book about herself in
that remarkably frank manner which
made Marie Bashkirtsef famous, and
straightway the young girl of nineteen
is hailed as a wonder. From the ex-
tracts which have appeared thus far,
doubtless every one will agree on that
point; she is a wonder. but of wonders
there are many kinds. It is said that
the manuscript of this remarkable book
one Saturday afternoon. The reader
took it home with him and spent most
of the night over the diary of young
girls emotions On Monday the firm
wired an offer to the author; an accept
ance was received on Wednesday, and
by the following night the entire manu-
! script had been set up, proof read and
cast into page form ready for printing
Miss MacIane has, it seems, merely re-
corded her odd thoughts, and because
/ these have haPr ORIGINAL and GPnS1 finn al
at times, the publishers feel that the
book will prove to be a wonderful sell
er. At any rate, those who read the
story will wonder whether the young
/ girl who wrote it is crazy or a genius,
or whether she simply needs to be pun
ished severely Following are extracts
which show just what the whole book
is:
IT. of womankfnd and of nineteen
years, will now begin to set down as
full and frank a portrayal as I am able
! of myself, Mary MacLane, for whom
the world contains not a parallel.
I am convinced of this, for I am odd
am distinctly original innately and in
development
Of lie sase = '''7 '-''9 1'''-7 20 ''''7''4'''
I have. a marvellous capacity for misery
! and for happiness.
/ / am broad-minded
am genius.
! I am, a philosopher of my own good per-
| iDatietic school
care neither for right nor for wrong
Ny brain is a conglomeration of agrees
i've versatility.
I have reached a truly wonderful state
of miserable morbid unhappiness.
| know myself. oh, very we'll
I have attained an egotism that is rare
! have gone into the deep shadows.
All this constitutes oddly | find, there
fore that I am quite, quite odd.
Presently she compares herself with
Lord Byron and Marie Bashl1irtseff, but
.r To no at Tor 81 m
I go beyond her.
Where she is deep. Z am deeper:
Where she is wonderful in her intensity,
I am still more wonderful in my intensity
Where she had philosophy, am a phil
Where she had astonishing vanity and
conceit have yet more astonishing vanity
But she. forsooth. could paint good pic
tures-and what can dog
She had beautiful face. and am
plain-featured, insignificant little animal.
She was surrounded by admiring, sym
PATHETIC friends and 1 am alone-alone,
though there are people and people.
She was a genius and still more am
7 a genius.
man. young. ana I suffer with the pain of
woman, young and all alone
Along. some lines I have gotten to the
edge Of the, world. A step more and |
fall off. I do not take the step stand
Nothing Oh. nothing on the earth can
alone!
Yes. you may gaze long and curiously
at the portrait in front of this book. It
is Of one who IS a genius of egotism and
analysis, a genius who is awaiting the dew
( lis coming-a genius with a wondrous
! shall tel you more about this liver I
think. before I have done
Let me writhe and falter with pain: let
me go mad-but oh. worldful of people
/ this seething darkness only one beautiful
/ human hand to touch mine with love. one
/ beautiful human heart to know the aching
sad loneliness Of mine, one beautiful, nu-
man soul to mingle with mine in long.
/ long rest
Oh for a human being, my soul walls
/ a human being to love mel
Oh. to knoW-just once-what it is to
/ be loVedt
Nineteen years without one faint shadow
4 of love is moldy. crumbing age-is gray
/ with the dust Of centuries.
How long have ] lived!
How long must / livet
am shrieking at you. cold, stupid world.
oh. the long. long waiting
The millions of human beings
am human being and there is no
one-no one-no one
Who can know this that has not felt it ?
| You do not lSnow-you can not know.
/ Surely / do not ask too much. But
! whether or not it is too much can not
/ go through the years without it-oh, can
/ rot
You have lived your 10 years fine world.
and you have lived through some after
years.