The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-12

A book to please the artistic eye comes
from the Bowen-Merrin press bearing the
enigmatic title, Edges It's author is
Miss Alice Woods. daughter of the late
William A. Woods. judge for many years
of the Federal Circuit Court of this district.
She attained some time since a distinct
reputation as an artist and illustrator. and
the wide circle Of friends in Indiana and
elsewhere who are familiar with her skill
in the handling OF brush and pencil will
feel an especial interest in this, her first
literary venture. Her talents in the diff
fereEt directions are, in fact, united in the
volume, she is her own Illustrators
cover design. title page. several full-page
figure drawings and initial letters to each
of the chapters being from her hand. These
drawings have a character of their own,
and with one or two exceptions are of espe-
cial merit The initial letters will them
selves repay close study, showing, as they
do. much originality. The same may be
said of the frontispiece and the title page.
The cover design is less pleasing. These
pictures. together with the black type, dear
to the followers OF the William Norris cult,
and the heavy tinted paper. make as has
been Indicated. very attractive setting for
the story.
The production itself is somewhat diff
cult to classify 1t can hardly be called
novel. though romance runs through it.
Instead of Edges" it might better, per-
haps. be called Moods" since it seems to
be an expression of varying states of mind
on the part of the young woman who is
the chief figure. 1t is. in the main, a record
0f ficf 70 he ffafr 10 hat
two artists. The incidents are slight and
the interest centers for the most part in the
sentiments. emotions and opinions of these
two persons. To enter fully into sympathy
with their doisgs and utterances one should
have something OF the spirit of Bohemia,
with its disregard for the usual and conven-
tional. Everything is considered from the
artists standpoint; the authors artist in
stinct is first and she sees her scenes and
her characters in a pictorial way. The
opening paragraph shows this:
1.-The sea pounded rhythmically on the
mute bar of pale sand. The sky was low,
warm, gray: a storm in the sense of things,
evident but lazy. a solitary hut broke the
edge of seagrass which drew the sky and
sands together with a long. restful sweep
of silvery green
with artistic care. and authenticated maids
anxious for best effects may we'll study
her various costumes.
Slight but strongly built she lay, clothed
In coarse stuff of grayish green. her
dark-red hair spread fiat on the sand like
sullen blood stain, wine-red at the edges"
who told you to wear green?' asks the
man.
ITS a restful color"
Its just the color of your eyes,
lis it?"
isn't it?''
She gazed at him moment very serious
ly; then, with lapse into utmost conf
dence: Its the very nearest match 1 could
find anywhere"
Another day she wore "a thin gray Grape
like dress. with a fine, dull blue line
streaked over it. The neck of the dress was
cut away. leaving her throat free. and the
sleeves were long and wrinkled close over
her hands. Her red hair was done very
low" Again, in a storm, she wore
.'tf.ick embroidered jersey of gray and
white. short skirt of black wooden frieze,
and stout shoes. Her hair hung In two
braids. not very long. but thick and heavy
as spun copper" At another time she
of bronze-colored nasturtiums-'
In the hut on the beach, a spot some
where on this side of the water, the man
artist. seeking seclusion, had his studio.
There the woman-artist sought him out
and made his acquaintance in highly un-
conventional style. coming from her tenn
porary home in the quiet village two miles
away. She visited him frequently there
cold weather came she went to Paris and
in the spring he followed. Their CONVEX
sations and her letters to him from abroad
make up the book. Largely these talks
and letters have TO do with things and
people artistic Speaking in one place OF
Whistler the girl says incidentally: Eve
been thinking a good deal about schools.
With Whistler given over to affectation
and the others hoDelessly academic, one
sees ahead to consequences. People stay
In school too long. That is. in schools.
one never gets out OF school, OF course.
But why not get ones foundation in ones
own land? Chase is a sane. healthy in
spring man TO get going with. Then. with
wings stretched for trying and brain alive
for securing, come over here to the great
pictures-to freedom-to work out ones
self"
There are bits of description OF places in
Paris well known to and beloved by stu
dents there. ''Springtime in Paris is a
little picture complete In itself.
As whole Edges is a literary trife-
not intended for more-rnaGe up OF spright-
" nonsense. original bits of philosophy.