The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-01

Thuringian forest, and then a semester
at Leipzig proceeded a similar trip in
Bohemia and the Tyrolian Alps. Later
on he studied six months in Paris be-
fore returning to take a fellowship in
the University of Pennsylvania.
Both Mr.. Julian Ralph and Mr.. Jas
Creelman had made their reputation as
writer's before they published any of
their work in book form-but it was
entirely different kind of writing from
that of novel fiction. Doubtless. as
newspaper men-they had written con-
siderable fiction, but this was in the
regular way of newspaper work-their
regulations were built I'D because of
their ability to tell what they had seen
happen in the worlds affairs Both of
these newspaper trained gentlemen are
now bidding for another kind of literary
fame; Mr. Ralph as the author of THE
Millionaires'' and Mr.. Creelnan, as
author of Eagles Blood yet neither
story can be very highly praised. 1t
must be true that the vision of a news
paper person, of long experience is su-
perior in many respects to that of any
other professional person, but, ins spite
of this fact, it cannot be denied that
very frequently his view of things is
not accurate His daily effort to see
newspaper STORY in everything he OBJ
serves must make him unconscious of
much that has another sort of meaning
in the course of events, and his seal for
/ the facts winch are usually presented III
the press might naturally cause him to
overlook other important matters in the
connection. Mr., Creelnan says he gave
up 600 a year from his newspaper
work to take I'D the writing of books.
4 His self confidence is, at least, worthy
! of notice. OF the trained writers OF
| books in this country, probably not 50,
| perhaps not 20. make as much as $lO,-
4 600 year from their writing. The trick
/ is not so easy as it looks. The profess
/ eli of
| capital than any other, and, as sort OF
! compensating balance in the nature of
things, the rewards of literary work are
smaller than those of any other kind of
labor.
Mr.. Ralph's 1.-THE Millionaires" is
said by the publisher to give a view of
| smart society as it really is A contro-
versy on the question will hardly be
raised, because it is not likely that
smart society will care to make this
book a cause for explaining what 1t
really does and how il acts. It IS not
exactly the kind of smart society that
most people have read about, though
some of Mr. RalDhS representations
may be quite true. The picture of a
young girl explaining how. near she
came to stepping over the line and be
yond the pale is not a pleasant one ana
the hero who combines the qualities OF
a Buddhistic fakir. a Sherlock Holmes
and a wealthy young traveller and seek
er Of all sorts of experience seems to
be overdrawn. Mr.. Ralph. however, has
not given up newspaper work entirely
and very likely he viii live to Write bet
ter books than this one.
The Eagles Blood" story is an at
tempt at a patriotic American novel OF
the present day and keeping in mind tire
kind Of q sensational writer that MI
Creelman is, one may read some parts
# the book with considerable interest
The story some way does not seem It
justify the giving up of $l0,000 yed1
)
likely to be remembered as the first mar
to interview the present pope and as the
newspaper correspondent who TOOK san
tiago with his rs" than as the author
# this particular story
I venture to say that anyone who picks
up a story very recently published UNI
der the title Edges" viii read /
: through with considerable relief, it is 81
! different from the general run of novels
+ The author, Alice Woods, has illustrated
o the work herself. but one would 10
: need this evidence that she is an srtisl
in the sense that she uses brushes am
paints. Her story IS of two artists, {
! hermit and a young girl. who meet or
! | lonely seashore town in this country
: and who finish up the recorded part o.
= | their relationship IN Paris The CIR
| makes a man out of the hermit. anc
! While the reader knows that the romance
! | IS sure to come to its proper endfns
= there is certain cleverneSs of dialogue
! all through that makes the story inter
; asting along the way. The publishers
l nave gotten cut The book on a tinted
! paper and the type is large ana clear
, ire author SHOWS great promise and !
would not be surprising il she We're K
become very well known through diff
ferent kind Of art-that OF writing. thar
she first planned for herself.
: The publishers of Nansen's sFarthesf
n North recently made the curious error o.
s calling NsEsen's record still an unoeateI