The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-04-09
AMONG THE BOOKS
Another Historical Romance
from the McClurg Press.
s. Robert Cavelier,' Companion
to s. Wilderness Was King"
STORY OF NEW FRANCE
Adventures of La Sale Fur
nishes the Theme.
Items Which Will Interest
Lovers of Current Literature.

The A c. McClurg company has fol-
lowed its publication of the handsome
book When Wilderness was King" by
another which is quite as attractive.
It is also a historical romance and is
called Robert Cavelier.
Mr. Orcutt has woven the dramatic
events of the explorers life into a vivid
and beautiful story. in which the nobii-
ty of the theme is matched by the dig
nifty and admirable finish of its literary
treatment. The scenes shift from Old
France to New France, where La Sale
conceived his great plan, and where his
love story began. Then follow sharply
contrasted pictures of stern privation
and struggle in the forest wilderness,
and Of the glittering, frivolous court at
Versailles The author has not carried
his romance to the actual end of La
Sales career. preferring to close the
story at a happier point in his life.
Here is the authors picture of the
hero:
Robert Cavelier, commonly called
Monster de la Sale, a native of Roam,
of a good family, having been educated
in piety and learning, went over very
young into Canada and took delight in
trade, but more in projects of new dis
cOveries up the inland of those vast
countries. Intending to settle there and
make that his country, he purchased an
habitation in the island of Montreal,
where has been built the second town
of Canada, sixty leagues above Que
Many discoveries had been made to
the northward, before Monsieur de Ia
Sales time: but none had adj
vanced far towards the south or south
west, beyond Fort Frontenac, which is
on the Lake Ontario, the nearest this
way Of the five great lakes
Something was known of the famous
river Mississippi, which it was supposed
might fall into the South Sea. and open
a way to it. These cOnjectureS working
upon Monsieur de la Sale, who being
jealous for the honour of his nation de-
signed to signalize the French name,
on account Of extraordinary discoveries,
beyond all that went before him; he
formed the design and resolved to put
81 in execution. He was certainly very
fit for it, and succeeded at the expense
of his life; for no man has done so
much in that way as he did for the
space of twenty years he spent in that
employment. He was a man of regular
behaviour, of a large soul, we'll enough
learned, and understanding in the
mathematics, designing, bold, undaunt-
ed, dexterous, insinuating, not to be dis
couraged at any thing, ready at extri-
eating himself out any difficulties, no
way apprehensiVe of the greatest IA
tigueS wonderful steady in adversely,
and what was of extraordinary use, well
enough versed in several savage Ian
guages. NJ de la Sale having such ex-
traOrdinary talents, whereof he had
given sufficient proofs upon several oc-
casions, gained the esteem of the gov
ernors of Canada; and Messieurs de
COurcelles, Talon and de Frontenac sue
cessively expressed the same, by often
employing him in affairs for the honor
and advantage of the colony.
THE great reputation Monsieur de la
Sale had gained and his mighty pro-
ject occasioned a jealousy in some and
envy in others. His own countrymen
thwarted his designs; but he surmount-
ed all those obstacles and returned into
Canada, about the year 1878. He
set out at length and proceeded
to the westward, and found the river of
the Illinois, which he called the river
of Seignelay. and following it's course
came into the Mississippi where the
other discharges itself All
along it's banks he found many savager
nations with whom by means of his
presents he entered into alliances, and
gave the country the name of Louisiana,
to honor the name and memory of our
august monarch. At length the
course of the Mississippi conveyed Mon
sieur de Ia Sale to its mouth, and he
arrived there in the month Of April 1852
or 16S3'