The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-07
A High ESTIMATE
OF "JUDITH'S GARDEN
George S. Kimball. in His Opinion of
Mrs. L. A. Bassett's Book, Praises
Her for Her Constant Consistency,
and Says 1t Is Book We Should
Read at All Times,

The literary worth of Mrs. l.. \. Bas.
setts latest book. "Judith's Garden" is
paid hial. tribute by George 5. kmball
whose oriminatior, good judsmen;
and conservatism, from a literary
standpoint. are admitted. II circum.
stance which adds to the worth of Mr.
kimbalrs opinion.
Those who have read "Judilh's Gar
dem and were won BY the delightful
story. will read with pleasure the judg-
ment of Mr.. kimball. He writes:
Il have finished reading 'Judiths 5
Garden. 1t is not at all wha, l thought
it would be. had built up somehow
an idea that the garden was to be but
"A stage for the action of Il love story
Yes, | did expect Il love romance in the
midst of tho beautiful settings of sum-
mer ana flowers. | do not know upon
what ground ! had built up this idea.
The author did not even intimate that
it was anything but simple story of {,
slimme" in IL flower garden. ] suppose
the wish was the father to my thought.
But, after all, is it not love story
Nor, indeed, between man and woman.
but between Il woman and flowers;
these dumb. fair and fascinating chill
dr.n Oi love and sunshine. Does the
lie OF anything in the earth depend
more upon low" than these frail sum
born angels on light" Other things sur
vive neglect by dropping their frailty
and beauty, but tousheninG; their nbers.
The flowers. though seemingly httest,
droop and die. Their ancestors, like
our own--.far oiI-may have been
rugged to Il degree Of indelicacy, but
love constant and abiding has refined
their substance Ia an ethereal texture,
and made them so unsubstHntialiy
beautiful. that Il love for them is sug-
gestlvely fraushr with pain.
Yes, | am sure it is Il romance where
the woman is the wooer: right earnestly
does she WOO. The hearts of the flow
e!s hear her words Of passion. feel her
touch of tenderness, reSpOrd TO the
warmth Of her generating love by
SprrginS into forms and colors so en-
truncing in their beauty that for Il sea
son other consideration in life are for
gotten and hlotted out. Verify, it is IA
love story. and the flowers are the on
spring of love ANA sunshine.
The author deserves high praise for
her constant consistency. Nothing
swerVes her one iot or little from her
purpose, which IS 10 tell a story of a
life among the flowers: to tell of its
joys. also OF its trials and of it's ulti-
mate rewards that follow the bringing
into sweet and gentle existence these
dear symbols of heavenly beauty; and
she does it in perfect sincerity ana
faith. The reader is constantly sur
prised by her sure and firm knowledge
n n h,t ~
study and association sustained by
love, could give this commanding
power; yet there is no vulgar parade
of her knowledge but il sushes as her
love flows in natural ana perfect ease,
ana We learn to think only of the artist,
not Of her art, 1t is such a book that
we all should read at times for our le-
ward is not found in the frenzied salts
faction we have when reading the im-
probable incidents of AN improbable
plot, of improbable situations of the
modern Mary Johnston's order of nov
els, which leave the mind in most un-
condition, for moving acct
dents by food ana field would seem To
he the only high purpose of life. But
this book appeals TO all that is finest
IN human nature; YOU enter a new
NOilu, you are AT lllheS quite ulSenl-
bodied, and forget the weight of care
and flesh, and live in n sort of mental
expectancy in contemplating the par
turition of beauty, FOR beauty is joy
forever Furthermore, you are made
The confldant of pure and good woman
with nature so sensitive and refined
that the vulgar things OF the earth find
no lodsment in her mind She tells you
all her secrets, covering up no faults
confessng certain selfish
acts which she in no wise condones be-
aause she is the offender, Her two
friends suffer greatly in comparison
With herself. The good old hishman
we enjoy lie is truly the son of the
ould sod but her friend of the golden
hair has not the sound natural sense OF
her author creator. Al the close of the
book the author incidentally hints OF
a possible romance in form of sequel
(between man and woman this tine),
growing out of two characters which
the book gives birth to. The public will
look forward with interest to the APP
pearance OF this book to learn what en-