The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-21

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The storys real setting, however, is in
the university life at Toronto. The pros
pector of the story there is introduced to
the reader as a. football "hero.'' The in
Auences that send him into the business of
prospecting for men were influences of his
university life, and the ties of that life
including one of strong romantic interest,
are not severed in the course of the story
Amid the university surroundings also is
shown the conflict Of interests, some pull
ing toward the fields Of self-sacrifice In
the west, others binding to the life of
comfort in the east. Along with this is
shown the obstacles in the way of those
who look after the work of grub stalking
the church's prospectors. AS handled by
Mr.. Conner, these two phases of the story
lack little of being as interesting as the
romance of the story as it relates to To-
ronto or to the wild and woolly west.
However, there is a certain incongruity
about the juxtaposition of the cowboy and
the spiritual life that gives that portion
of the story which deals with the west a
peculiar interest. This is seen to the best
advantage when the prospector wishes to
get at the exact state of mind Of a swear
ing, drinking, fighting and okerplaying
| cowboy, who announces his intention of
joining the church. Ike is the cowboy in
question, and Shock Is the prOspector. Ike
| was regarded thru all that south country
as the most daringly reckless Of all the
cattlemen, and never had he been known
to weaken either in 'takin' his pizen,' in
'playin' the limit in poker, or In 'standin'
up agin any man that thought he could
dust his pants Of course he was white.
Every one acknowledged that. But just
how far the quality Of whiteness fitted him
as a candidate for the communion table
Shock was at a loss to say" SO Shock
decides to quiz Ike bit, and the dialog
runs in part as follows:
| .'You are sure you want to join this church,
1ke2'
'.Thats WHAT said Ike.
"Why do you want to join?'
! "Well you gave us clear invite, didn't you?'
| 'But 1 mean, is it for my sake? Because
asked your
| 'Why, sure. want to stand at your back"
Shock was puzzled He tried another line
are joining?'
"Well it's your church, you said"
'Supposing was not here at all, would you
join?''
Cant say. Guess not
Shock felt himself blocked again.
like, do you think you are really fit to do
this?'
CIT? Well, you didn't say anything about
| ben fit. You said il anyone was willin to take
it up to stay with the game to come on" +.
''Look here, Ike, am going to be plain with
you You won't mind that?'
| "Wade right in
! EYES, that's SO. But I've pretty much quit,
unless there's some extraordinary occasion"
| "Well, you drink, don't you?'
why, sure: When can git 1t, and git it
good, which amt easy in this country now"
"And you sometimes fght?" . -.
"Well,' in tone almost of disappointment,
''there amt nobody wantin to experiment with
me in this parts any longer"
"And you gamble? Play poker for money,
mean?"
thing replied Ike modestly, as if dsclaiming
an excellence he could hardly hope to attain,
''but gineral1y kin stay with the game
IKE to Now If geu 70 on the
church you are swearing solemnly to do only
what Jesus Christ likes. You give your word
will do 2k only What y0s think he
/ Gin everything. remember
"Why sure" That seemed quite simple to
swearing, drinking, fighting, gambling, .
Shock continued.
Ike hesitated.
"Why, You don't suppose he would mind lit
tie thing like smile with the boys now and
then or q quiet game Of poker, do you?"
!, What say, Ike, is this-if you thought he
did mind, would you quit:'
:. 'Why, sure You just bet! said So" :.
}, Then Shock tried him with the injunc
ton: "But I say unto you, that We re
sist not evil; but whatsoever shall smit,
thee on thy right cheek turn to him TIN
:, other Also That was what Ike callet
"jumpin pretty high" but he said:
"Well, I can't make no promises, but II
tell you what, I'll aim at it. | will, honest
: And when you me weaken, you'll jack me up
won't your?
t The author, it is seen, is bent on tellin
: his story more than he is on producing
2 work of art-something fine as literature
And that is more evident when it is see
r that the books great purpose is to arous
an interest in mission work in the west
+ to press home the claims of the peopl
$ whom the work reaches upon the peopl
of the east who must stand back of tn
work if it is to succeed. This purpos
Mr.. Conner seeks to realize. not b
< preachments, but by his story, by the lif
4 he portrays. He seeks to make his pic
t, ture so clear that misunderstanding wi
be impossible, and he does that; but h
does more, he overburdens his story q
times with explanation. A minor case i
point is found In the extract quote
aboye-"Oh we'll, I don't profess to b
the real thing" replied Ike modeatly, q
| If disclaiming an excellence he coul
hardly hope to attain, but ginerally ki
stay some with the game Why nc
d better have said simply: "Oh, well,
/ don't profess to be the real thing, but
t ginerally kin stay some with the game"
8 The modesty and the disclaimer are az
parent from the answer without explana
ton. Too much of this mars the stor
as art, but it detracts little from tn
b force with which the story drives stralgf
to the mark in its appeal to the interes
of the reader in the characters and the
life and thru that to an interest in tn
"A work which furnishes the ground for tn
tale.a The story is one that will be, (
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