The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-07
THE BOOKS
s." Confessions of Marguerite :" Is
a Unique Volume.
An Anonymous Author Writes
Of Chicago.

Those who take up the Confessions
OF Margaruerite, a new novel of anony-
nous authorship from the press of
Rand, Mentally & Co., with the expec-
tation Of sensation, are likely to be
somewhat disappointed. Compared to
the Story of Mary MacLane and other
confessions which have been good SELL
ers, Marguerite are quite tame and
lnnocuous To be sure she is tempted
and the dark, dank and dangerous viii
lain is ever on the trail of her youth.
innocence and beauty, but she strug-
giles and overcomes and the end as
the beginning of the story, finds her
perfect lady
Marguerite" is a country school
teacher with an ambition to do some
thing in art. She has learned in Pc
oria or Quincy or Streeter or some
such place to do kind faced old COWS
standing in a stream" and horses look
ing over barnyard gates and has saved
a little money teaching school, so she
goes to Chicago to try for fame. There
is no doubt that she has a hard time
of it. She hasn't money enough to
study. nobody knows her, the critics
refuse to praise her pictures or the
public to buy them, she lives in miser
able lodgings, her only friend a chorus
girl of uncertain age, who rooms
across the hall and from her first mo-
ment in Chicago until her last she is
pursued by the MephisOtoeS of the
Windy City, with "cloven hoof careful
ly concealed by patent leather Shoes"
(Of course she is very beautfful-she is
telling the story herself and nobody
likes to contradict her). When her
money gives out she seeks various
kinds of employment-sewing in shirt
factory, reading for publishing house
and finally gets chance to carry
spear" in a musical comedy. She
doesn't like it very we'll; she has to
wear tights and the "Johnnies'' write
her notes and invite her out to supper
so she gives up the place and just as
she is on the verge of starvation for
the thirteenth or fourteenth time gets
employment reading to u kind old
scholar. But of course her luck couldn't
last.
He is inconsiderate enough to die and
leave her again without job SO she
goes back to the farm and to her school
teaching, abandons art and marries the
proverbial poor but honest lover.
The book is evidently intended as a
study of conditions in Chicago but as
picture of the modern prototype of
Sodom and Gomorrah it is hardly con-
vincing. 1t is overdrawn, and conse-
quently unconvincing, but the author
shows some talent and an aptitude for
epigram which ought to be put to use
in a society novel. Here are some OF
her sassy raps:" (By the way, it is not
admitted that the author is a woman
and the made to order reviews of the
book try to create some interest in 1t
by raising the question of its authors
sex. but few who read it will doubt
that it is woman's work. 1t has all
the earmarks of the eternal femlnine).
But to return to the sassy raps:"
st feel too safe with you
Nature placed woman on the defensive
and to be in a state of thorough enjoy
ment of a mans society she must be
lust a little afraid of him."
I'VE sat in silence while the old hack
read his proof sheet but when he took
I'D another slip and announced that it
was a critique upon Chicago as Mus
zeal Center, we obeyed the spirit of the
western metropolis and broke into
spontaneous chatter.
I'VE went to see play presented by
woman whose gowns has been we'll
advertised. Her wardrobe was her
company and there were four acts of
clothes There have been two
great drama Shakespeare in the
old days and in the new, Worth.
I'm Chicago lover will hush all ut
terance of devotion to talk about the
wonderful growth and what he calls
the Push of his town..
Confessions of Marguerite: The Story
of a Girls Heart. anonymous. Publish
ed by Rand, Mentally & Co., chicago.