The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-01

People who liked Lavender and Old
Lace"-and they were many, evident
Iy, for the book has been listed among
the best sellers for several months
will doubtless enjoy a new story
''The Masters VIOLIN" by the same
author, Myrtle Reed. 1t is a light but
wholesome little tale of the sort most
people like to entertain themselves
with and although 1t is unexciung
enough to be laid aside unfinished II
necessity should demand, 1t holds the
interest, with counter disturbances
quite successfully until the end.
The scene is laid in one of those
dun, unimportant but proudly self
sufficient little eastern towns which de-
velop in their narrow civic egotism
so many original characters and the
portrayal of the town spirit and the
social pharasaism of it's upper class,
that is, the citizens who live on the
fright side of the little river which
divides the town both figuratively and
literally, is the best feature of the
book. But there is also charming
old spinster, Miss Peace Field" of
the sort Miss Reed enjoys writing
about, who lives in a fine old colonial
house with copper saucepans in the
tiled kitchen, old silver on the side
board in the dining room and fragrant
herbs hanging in the attic. Miss
Field" is aristocratic, exclusive, dainty
and charming in all her tastes and
manners. She wears soft black silk
=
throat and wrists" and all her habits
and environments are such as one
might expect from the kind of spin
ster who would give as her reason for
never having married that she had
always thought it was indicate to
allow ones self to care for a gentle
man.. She has an ancient admirer in
the family doctor who visits her reg
ularly on Wednesday evenings, greetS
her always with the same formula,
plays a game of chess with her and
starting to leave exactly a the hour
of ten is detained regularly by his
hostess to eat the same kind of little
cakes and drink the same kind of rich
Old wine that she has served him ev-
cry week for the past years. And al
though they have this old and tried
Iriendsh1p; known and recognized by
all the village and she admires him
greatly and would sadly miss his COM
ing she never forgets that he is far
beneath her according to the town
the mention of his name that so fine
q man should have mo social posi-
tom
THE Master" a middle aged Ger
man who makes violins. plays the in
strument divinely, teaches a few IA
Vored pupils and owns a priceless Gre
mona, the gift of a sweetheart of his
youth There are three love stories
IN the book but they are the sort which
you confidently expect from the first
paragraph to end happily and they do
not disappoint you.
The book is very prettily printed and
lavender 1eur-de-lis on a pale blue
background and it proves its right to
distinction from the common S1.OS-net
class by coming in a pasteboard box
beauty.
The Masters Violin, by Myrtle Reed.
published by G. P. Putman's Sons
New York and London. Price $3.50.
Some one who knows should disclose
who Philip Payne has caricatured in his
nelineation of "Alonzo A. Farson.' the
multi-millionaire owner and builder of
tne Pantheon, the great Chicago
hotel which is the scene of his latest
novel, The Duchess of Few Clothes"
The character is evidently modelled
from life although sufficiently dis
gulsed by eXtraneous facts to prevent
a ready discovery of the original by one
unacquainted with the personal peculi-
critics and characteristics of Chicago's
foremost men of affairs. The book is
a decidedly clever picture of certain
phases of life in the great western
metropolis and contains a number of
eXcellently executed character studies.
In choosing for the mise en- scene of his
noNeI a great and fashionable metro
pol1tan hotel and combining his charac-
ters to the denizens thereof from the
bell-hop to the proprietor and mis-
naughty and beautiful daughter who
q part of the year Mr.. Payne has made
It possible to give a faithful study in
immature OF many contrasting classes
OF society 1.-THE Duchess of Few
Clothes" who gives the book its name
and is the heroine of the story is the
girl at the hotel cigar counter. The
nero Cif 1t is possible for the hero to he
other than the man the heroine loyes)
plays the first violin in the hotel or
chestra- The Duchess has red hair
and the taking way with men, that
goes with it, according to Casey the
philosopher who in the role of Parsons
valet and confidential servant is one of
the real powers in the little world of
the Pantheon and one of the best done
figures in modern fiction There may be
something in "Casey's'' theory. anv-
way, the Duchess receives proposals of
marriage from half the men around the
Pantheon from Alonzo A Farson down
TO the humble vfolinist but proves that
shrewdness and good judgment are also
not incompatible with the auburn-hair-
ed temperament by selecting valentine
Quarles" who is far and away the best
catch on her string Readers will gem
orally agree that she did pretty wen
for a poor Fed-headed girl from Manis-
tee, Michigan, or wherever it was she
had formerly taught a country school
and if some be inclined to doubt if it
IS as easy as Mr.. Payne made il apDear
Tor a cigar "saleslady' to win the
hearts and serious devotion of million
aire capitalists, club men and cotiIlion
leaders one is still glad to see humble
virtue and beauty triumph if only on
books. The Duchess certainly won no
more than she deserved for she was a
dear little thing although her language
and manners were not always lust the
sort to please Mr.. Box
The Duchess of Few Clothes" by
Philip Payne. Rand. McNally and com
pany, publishers. Price $3.50.
Crane & Co., of Topeka, have re-
sumed the publication of their classics
which were deservedly poular two
years ago. The first number TO he is-
sued is "Evangeline," with biographv
and notes by Prof. P. H. Pearson. of
Bethany college The other numbers
in course of preDaration are ..NInn