The Saint Paul globe., 1903-02-09

modern writer's and readers that imag- /
ination is forced back upon itself and
deals with the purely fanciful and Oft
en- groteSQue, as, for instance, in the !
weird tales of H. C. Wells, who writes |
entertainingly of impossible worlds |
We are not allowed to have any iIlu-
sions,~ to cherish any sentiments, or
even throw a curtain of mystery over
the future. History. accurate, uncom-
promising, reveals all the secrets of the
past, and phophecy has become busi-
ness among scientists. 1t is only now
and then that there is a surprise, some
thing unexpected, and how agreeable 1t
is. 1t is not mere talk to say that we
know too much these days, too much,
that is, for our comfort. Men write
learned disquisitions to do away with
all the treasured dreams of childhood,
to wipe out our most precious tradi-
tions, and we no sooner learn some
thing we consider of Importance when
along comes some wiSeacre and tells
us he has made discoveries which COM
pletely wipe out What we believe.
From one point of view we can never
know too much, for there is no law,
human or divine, against cultivating
our minds, but the process should make
us more humble, more faithful and vir-
tuous on the other hand, the more we
know the more we want, and all the
more surely do we realize our own linn
itationS. There once was a wise old
man without much book learning, but
possessed of a remarkable all-rOund
education, the result Of nearly a hun
dred years of experience of life, who
declared many times and often, that he
did not believe the world was round.
Thus did he dismiss what to him was
a puzzling question in a manner that
would make the savant eXclaim at his
ignorance. 1t did not seem reasonable
to him that this world was a globe, and
he dismissed the subject by a denial Of
its truth. So, also, many not under
standing the wonders that can be done
by electricity, are inclined to doubt that
MarcOni can do what he claims though
how they can in the face of messages
sent and answered, it is hard to ex-
plain. This is an analytical age and
we are not content with knowing what
is, but why things are and all about
them. While adding tremendously to
our store of facts are we not destroy
ing the charm of life and coming down
from a pleasant realm Of sentiment
which put a halo about that which
would be otherwise prosaic enough,
and plunging into a realism which
maNes life harder? For it is only by
sentiment and a sense of humor that
we are above the animal. Let us hold
on to our fancieS our hopes and un-
certainties a little longer, for to know
the why and wherefore of everything
is to finish life and reach the end. The
future has been mercifully hidden, and
let us not seek to penetrate too far into
its secrets.
Ralph's Unpublished Material.
Julian Ralph, whose recent death
deprived the world of an excellent
newspaper correspondent, left some
literary material which will be pub
lished serially in Harper's Magazine
this year. The first of the series will
be The American Tyrol," and will
appear in the March number. Other
papers will relate to out-of-the-way
corners of this country which he Wis
tied and will be Illustrated by his son,
Lester Ralph. Julian Ralph lost con-
siderable prestige among large num-
bers of Americans by his stand in re-
lation to the Boer war, in which he
became violently pro-English. His
attitude was a direct contrast to that
of Richard Harding Davis, and some
what similar too, as both wrote of
the war and both changed their opin-
ions, Davis becoming as ardent a pro-
Boer as Ralph was. the other way.
HaIe's Articles on Italy.
Walter Hale, of st. Paul, actor and
artist, illustrates the articles written
by his wife which have been appear
ing in the Bookman. They concern
Italy. In the current number she
writes entertainingly of Venice in
Recent Fiction" Mrs. Hale starts in
by commenting upon the lack of fiction
concerning the Venetian Republic
Which she thinks was a period full of
material for interesting romances. OF
the modern books dealing with Vene-
tian life and character, she considers
that Marion CraWford's "Marietta. q
Maid of Venice" and Mrs. Lawrence
Turnbull's The Golden Book of Ven
Ice" are decidedly the best. Mrs. Hale
after reading these two stories while
in Venice, sailed forth with the in
tentiOn of trying to verify many in
cidents in the books, but with poor
success, as the guides of today appear
not to be able to extend their infOr-
nation back of the Garibaldian pc
riod. Another book which Mrs. Hale
considers very true to Venetian tradi-
tions is a collection of short tales by
Max Pemberton, called The Signors of
the Night" These she says show a
good knowledge of Venice and Italian
history Mrs. Hale writes remarka-
bly, well, and as everyone knows, Wal
ter Hale draws well. He left Julia
Marlowe'S company a year or two ago,
needing rest, and went abroad, where
he and his wife-who has developed
an excellent literary ability-have been
wandering about the country, writing
and sketching. 1t is believed that they
have returned, and are once more to
ater. OF the literary possibilities
of Venice Mrs. Hale says: "Chroni-
cles are dull affairs, but the history of
Venice is one vast fertile garden for
the author and his literary tools. If
he is indolent, he can choose his own
lodging as an abode for his charac-
ters; doubtless a story will go with
the house. and fitting name found
on the door post. He can dress his
men and women in the most reckless
1maginings of one who knows not
hooks and eyes; he can attribute to
them all the virtues that are found
In fairy tales, or all the vices that
he dare not dictate to a willing stem
ographer. He can do all this at five
lire day, and Venetian history will
still outclaSs him. Historical romance
IS not ruthless dissecting of a coun-
try's glory; like the pictures of today.
It disregards the unnecessary, and
brings into the white light the salient
points of the story, grim or gay. There
are painters in Venice by the score.
ancient English ladies who sketch,
mfflionaires who dabble, Italians who
daub, some students, some workers.
some artists. Under the weight of ali
this reproduction the beautiful city is
crumbling away. May the litterati
know her better ere she slips into the
sea-" ..-..-
Best Issue for Months.
. The Cosmopolitan for February is the
best number of that magazine pub
lished in many months. Usually some
what light, even sensational it's con-
tents this month are, in the main. more
serious and of q higher literary value
than ordinarily. There is an article
on "The American Bride" by Hialmar
Hjorth BCSason IL, son of his tllustri-