The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-10
" ELENA simply couldn't wait I'M
II til we got our things off and found
our favorite corners like comfort
= N loving cats before she dubbed

our favOTite corners like comfort
~ N loving cats before she bubbled
over. II have voluntarily and
arbitrarily decided upon the entertainment
for to-day" she announced dramatically,
land my excuse must be the excellence
Of it. Melissa is to be the 'top-liner,
and she paused mischievously, continuing
In lively fashion. Just fancy our demure
mouse doing a stunt, even for us. Ire
jolly part of it is that she is so enamored
Of her subject and so enthusiastic that she
has forgotten to be shy and didn't make
q single remonstrance when I tished her
beloved book out of the pile on her table
and sounded her about sharing her new
found treasure with u.s.
We all settled back into our cushions
with signs Of content, and almost ignored
Patricia and the samovar.
After a preliminary sip to taste the
quality of the tea. Helena ratified on:
1.-The other day found l had urgent oc-
casion to consult Melissa, and altho l
knew 1t was working hours and that she
always conscientiously pegs away while
the light is right, felt I must interrupt,
but 1 mentally resolved as l would not
to stay a minute longer than was neces-
sary. You can imagine my surprise when
/ opened the door in response to faint
Come in in find the methodical and in
dustrious Melissa curled up in COM
Portable heap in the corner of her big
COucn ueep III d DOoh, from WHICH SllS
raised her eyes reluctantly. Of course, I
wanted to know what had upset her usual
working habits, and she held out the book
to me and I read John Percyfield' on the
cover. 1t was still a mystery, but on
the title page the explanatory title caught
my fancy instantly; 1T was The Anatomy
Of Cheerfulness.' But I wondered how
that could fit book of current fiction.
Ji,I,+o 1,xrf foil
ing me that it was not romance with
with labyrinthan plot, but simply a
record of a joyous year In the life of an
uncommonly fine type of well-bred, think
ing, modern American man, year de-
voted to fitting himself especially for hit
duties as citizen whose large oppor-
tunities imposed large responsibilities.
She read this extract to show me his pur-
pose: I am here sharpening my
weapons" said John Percyfeld. "The
new gospel of social democracy, of social
Christianity has truth back of 1t, and
now it needs literary skill, style, to carry
1t home to the people we most want to
reach, to the people of brains as well as
of heart. That is what I am working
for. And have been studying Europe
that my democracy may be intelligent and
cosmopolitan. We must know what forces
we have to contend against. We must
know what forces we have on our side.
II do not want to be doctrinaire, the
holder of Impossible views.h"I want to
know the world and to act effectively
Now, isn't Mr.. Percyfield a refresh
ing kind of hero, and don't you think a
book about such a man would be much
more worth while than the adventures of
hero in armor and of ancient chivary
whose aim was to destroy as many CT
his fellow men as possible for his own
ACKNOWLEDGMENT, and incidentally to give
nnSSeSSion Of fair nrinceSS and to
win her favor? But Melissa Is to tell
you about her discovery and give you
select bits such as she fed my kindled
interest with, until I. too, followed hel
bad example and sat up to the wee sma
hours to finish the book charmed by its
wholesome philosophy and it's unusual
ness"
TT is as Helena says" Melissa began
s'it Is the high thoughts with their lmpel-
ling power towards beneficial action that
make the important difference between
this book and many others of equal lit
erary fineness and power. 1t really is 6
powerful but moderate thesis on the So
cal democracy that Is in the air now, bu
it is so thoroly interviewer with one O.
the sweetest love stories I ever read tina
many have and will read this book whom
many Of the ideas presented unadornet
would repel
"One OF the things that particularly In
terested me was the way John explained
away to his wife the apparent inconsist
ency between his attitude as an aristocra
and a socialist at the same time. He de
scribes himself "a regular conservative
in some things, believer in nobless
oblige, counter Of breeding above every
thing else in the world His explanation
was this: ITO believe in excellence i
to be aristocrat. To believe in it TO
all people 1t to be a democrat. Their
you have it In nutshell The older arts
tocrats wanted all the excellence TO
themselves, and built walls about an