The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-23

ing with it in one way or another. is that
mental quality which leads TO the produc-
ton of poems or novels or paintings. and at
the same time impels its possessor TO an
erratic course in the matter of manners and
morals morals In other words. he is unconven-
uonal TO degree that would put an
ordinary man out Of respectable society,
and so self-centered that the rights of other
human ,,a beings cut little figure in his scheme
OF lie The chief figure in "Whas Manner
OF Man is painter with studio In Lon
don. He has on a canvas a picture which
Is 20 pring him fame and fortune but IL
LdChs It's central feature, female hgure
Tor which he has yet found no satisfactory
model On yachting tour off the north OF
England he visits Rohan. small island.
where he meets his al-Clodah-daughter
OF a simpleminded native who is known
TO the few residents as King of Rohan. AS
there Is no other way TO secure this girl.
VINO Is child of nature. a model. he
wooes and marries her and takes her away
from her island home. He finds il difficult
to induce her to pose as his model in the
altogether" but after her scruples are
surmounted his artistic temperament as
serts itself. and in order to secure the
shocked expression he wishes, he tells her
this the reader of the tale will wish to dis
cover for himself. IL is enough TO say that
it suggests possibility of modification
of the painters artistic temperament-an
outcome that seems hardly worth while, all
things considered.
To say that such a plot is improbable
would be rash. A few days ago a news
paper dispatch noted the case of a New
Jersey woman, wife of a photographer,
who had sued for divorce on the ground
that her husband insisted on her posing in
nude state before his camera Now. IL
may not be admitted by painters and poets
that photographer has a right to the
artistic temperament, but the Jerseyman
seems to have had something so closely
resembling the mental popularity OF the
hero of this tale as to prove that the lat
ter Is not overdrawn, although Clodah does
not ask for divorce. He is not an agree
able or edifying character, however,
though he is drawn with such skill that
the portrait makes an impression and Is
likely to be remembered. The author, Edna
Kenton, has handled her material with
such skill that 1t is difficult to believe that
this Is her first book. as is said to be the
case. She has evidently read 1.-The Princess
of Thule" and Flames so closely as to
detract somewhat from the originality of
certain features of her plot and the drift of
her sentiment-the rather degenerate senti-
ment characteristic of certain modern fic-
ton writers-but she shows an unusual
vigor and gives her work a literary finish
that must win attention for 1t. In spite of
its general EMBELLISHMENTS. The book.
which is handsomely printed, is published
by the Bobbs- Merrill Company.
From the Penn Publishing Company.
In batch of Juvenile books from the
Penn Publishing Company, of Philadelphia.
there is entertainment for readers ranging
in age from ten to fifteen years. For boys,
1.-The Story of Tristram" and 1.-The Story
of the Faerie Queen" have been adapted
and arranged by Edward Brooks, the SUI
perintendent of the Philadelphia public
schools, from the original versions. Both
volumes are well written and attractively
illustrated. Another book for boys, en-
titled THE World Before Him." by Hora-
ito Alger, jr., tells the story of a young
lad, who, though led to expect COM
Portable income, is suddenly thrown upon
his own resources by a scheming step
father. Spohie SWEET, the author of several
attractive stories for half-grown children,
presents another called THE Young Ship
builder" telling of the struggles Of group
ington at Valley Forge Is an excellent
story of revolutionary times. The hero is
an enthusiastic young patriot who comes
successfully through many narrowing sit
uations. companion piece for this tale
is one for girls written by Lucy Foster
MadisCn-"A Colonial Maid" This fierce
little continental holds her own i'm fam
lily Of Royalists, and her adventures take
her to Valley Forge and through a period
Of Indian captivity. Another girls book
is "A Daughter of the Forest" by Mrs
brought UP altogether in the wids of the
forest is readable, but without any par
G1iar merit merit Mer Wf1l Way tells of
when confronted with a stepmother.
Lucille is at the age to rebel at
such an insult and is sent away to
school, where an attack of fever and the
careful nursing Of the abhorred step
mother bring the tale to a happy .conclu-
sion. Two stories for the little maids are
Sweet P's," by Julie M. Lippman. and
Little Polly Prentiss." by Elizabeth Lin
coin Gould. Both are stories. of poor little
girls adopted into affiuent families, where
after various small woes and troubles they
settle down contentedly to their happier
lives Taken altogether these books make
| bright, clean, cheerful literature, well
| adapted for the entertainment of young
| people