The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-25
HENRY VAN DYKE has most
Ill suggestive article In Harper's
HI HI Magazine for October on "The


HI HI Magazine for October on 1.-THE
School of Life" in which he dis
courses pleasantly of books and other
good things. Il want books not to pass
the time, but to fill it with beautiful
thoughts and images" he says. ito en-
large my world, to give me new friends
In the spirit, to purify my ideals and
make them clear, to show me the local
color of unknown regions and the
bright stars of immortal truth"
Mr.. Van Dyke is one of the few
men who has that rare love for a book
which once was no uncommon thing.
But the rush and hurry of modern life,
the immense amount Of printed matter
poured forth constantly to large ex
tent, have swamped the modern biblio-
phile and ne is unable to expend that
love for one book or a few which hith-
erto characterized him. The pleasures
Of reading, are dwelt upon by Mr.. Van
Dyke as among the very good things
of life, and although modern books are
given in too great profusion for them
to be appreciated, a really great book
is usually recognized and lives in spite
of the multiplicity of others. Mr. Van
Dyke is one with the majority in be-
lieying love stories most legitimate
form of fiction and it is not to be gain
said that even now, when problem nov
els are the fashion and the erotic is too
common to be pleasant, simple, sweet
love story well told will always find a
public. Mr.. Van Dyke says very
charmingly of what he likes best in
books: The two things best worth
writing about in poetry and fiction are
the symbols of nature and the passions
In the human heart. I want also an
essayist VINO will clarity life by gentle
illumination and lambent hunlor;
philosopher who will help me see the
reason of things apparently unreason-
able; a historian who will show me
how people have risen and fallen. and
biographer who will let me touch the
hand of the great and the good. This
is the magic of literature. This is how
real books help to educate US in the
school CT life"
1t seems to be the latest thing in
magazines to expose trusts and syndi-
Gates and write real stories of real
people for the purpose of exposing al
legged frauds. The precedent set by
Miss TarbeI was followed by Mr.. Law
oOi4. anu llOM III Leslie monthly 1Or
October the editors have published the
first chapter of history of the theat-
rical syndicate which controls nearly
all the amusements of this country
No magazine is now complete without
an exposure. This first chapter is
mainly descriptive of the beginnings Of
the trust in 1896, when half a dozen
managers got together and obtained
control of all the leading theaters. The
article is illustrated by pictures of
Daniel F'rohman, Klaw, Erlanger, Hay
man, Charles Harris and several ex-
cellent portraits of leading women who
have been made by the syndicate, such
as Mrs. Clara Bloodgood Margaret IL
lipSton, now Mrs. Daniel Frohman,
and several others. 1t is quite evident
that this is to be a contribution to the
"trust-busting' literature of the times,
and there is no doubt that it makes in
teresting reading. OF the several man.
ayers who have tried to remain out
side OF the syndicate and live, only
one on two, Harrison Grey Fiske and
David Beiasco in particular, have been
able to keep their heads above water
and remain in the theatrical business
All the small men have either disap-
peared or been swallowed up in the
trust. There is much bitterness of
feeling shown in this first chapter
in regard to the syndicate, and it is
evident that it is considered Stand
ard Oil On a small scale and has been
responsible for many failures and
heartbreaks. The theatrical business
is entirely gamble, depends upon
chance circumstances and feels f1uc-
tuations as quickly as the stock mar
ket. 1t takes deep pocketboolk to
stand the strain of managing a COM
pany and sending it from ocean to
ocean without certainty of success.
Naturally combination of men can
do this better than one and can stand
a few losses in one direction. as they
are usually made up in another But
like all syndicates, the theatrical trust
has resulted in ruin for some men
whom it froze out and the story of the
process is to be unfolded from month
to month.
The crossins-By Winston Churchill. The
Macmillan company. For sale by ST.
Paul Book and Stationery company.
Winston Churchill is writing a
series of novels of American history
and is finding excellent material in the
great crises of our national life. 1.-The
Crossing" should have preceded his
other historical novels, and those who
have not read any of his books should
begin with this latest book, then take
Richard Carvel," finishing with The
Crisis" thus covering over century
of the formative history of this coun-
try. The first and last impression one
has OF 1.-THE Crossing is that it is en-
tirely too long, and all critics agree
that it would have been much stronger
II not so drawn out. For good and
excellent in every way as it is, the
hook tires the raader ont and this