The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-06-27
NEWS OF THE BOOK WORLD
Sunday Afternoon Musings on SUNDAY
Afternoons" by The Uneasy chaIr-A
Deviation from the Beaten Course Of
Book Reviewing and Few Minutes
with Robert Louis Stevenson.

Sunday afternoon is aatime for associa-
.tlon with ones intimates. TO know what
one whose other days are taken up with
the affairs of this busy world, does with
his, Sunday afternoons when he has a
choice, is to know him., for then if any
time he Is very sure to seek those things
nearest his heart. Then is the time he
seeks the friend with whom he is in
closest sympathy on his library shelf the
book that shows the most wear, in field
or woodland those objects thru which ma
ture makes her strongest appeal to his
deeper nature. Blessed is the man Who
for such hours has retreat beneath
his own roof whittier he may withdraw
with those Of his own household, with
friend or book. or thought of natures
gifts and lessons That is his triest holy
of holies-a sacred place where he draws
nearer the Infinite than he does anywhere
else in this busy world, even than in his
church, where chords of music flood 'the
crimson twilight like the close of an an
gels psalm" and where the teacher at
the desk impresses the Hottest truths he
has gathered from the sacred book In
such a place a man gathers about him
those things which touch him closest in
life; the books, the pictures, the, images,
even the bric-a-brac that speaks to him
of those other days, every one of which
has entered into and become part Of
his today, and will be a part of all his to-
morrows, and of the long tomorrow.
Sunday afternoon in such a place then
is time and place into which can come
only ones intimates.
It was with such thoughts as these
! that TIE occupant of The Uneasy Chair
| sought his retreat yesterday afternoon.
On his table lay in inviting confusion
books old and new-old friends and new
corners asking and offering friendship
time and place were for ones intimates@
there was nothing to do but to ask The
| newcome to await their turn another
day and to turn familiar leaves = Ant
there inviting lay Robert Louis Steven
sons "Aes Triplex,' volume no larger
| than a vestpocket memorandum book
but a veritable storehouse of courage
/ What was read there yesterday for tn
TIL time may be in part quoted herr
today as restful change from the new
and often raw stuff with which this col
umn is perforce compelled to deal daily
Whether we regard life as Ian
leading to dead wall--a mere bags end
as the French say-or whether we thinl
oft as vestibule or gymnasium wher
we wait our turn and prepare our facul
ties for some more noble destiny; whethe
we thunder in pulpit, or pule in littl
atheistic poetry books, about it's vanit
and $breXity; whether we look justly 70
years of health and vigor, or are abou
TO m CUNT into a bathchair, as step to
! ward the hearse; in each and all {
these views and situations there is bu
r one conclusion possible-that ma
} should stop his ears against paralyzin
terror. and run the race that is set befor
' him with a single mind.
= ***
'And even if death catch people, like a
open pitfall, and in mid-career, laying OF
: vast projects, and planning mdnstrou
, foundations, flushed with hope, and the
mouths full of boastful language. the
should be at once trippcd up and silencet
is there not something brave and spirite
, in such a termination? = y Whe
l the Greeks made their fine sayin
that those whom the gods love d.
! young, I cannot help believing the
: had this sort of death also in the
: eye. For surely at whatever age it over
take the man, this is to die young. Deaf
; has not: been suffered to take so much 6
an ilusiontrfro his lrearta7,.* = 18th
? ioise5aof the 'mal1et and 5chisel is scarcel
! quenched, the trurnpets are hardly dor
Blowing when, trailing with him, CLIQUE
of glory this happy starred, full-bloode
5 spirit shoots into the spiritual land"
$ Truly a very fitting subject for a Sur
Il day afternoons contemplation is that,
: we accept the traditions Of the elders, an
indeed, whether we accept such tradition
:. or not, for in the words quoted there Is
e ringing call to courage. and manly actio
60 The Uneasy Chair.