The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-18

The women chosen to represent the
tendency to shun maternal obligations are
club women, SO called who belonged to
a lunch club in New York, the like of
which seasoned club women scott at as
never having existed and never likely to
exist. Into this circle Of social degen-
crates is introduced happy young
mother, Madeleine Dillon, who becomes
infected with the dangerous theories of
her confreres, who regard children as a
burden and an obstacle to social success
She is reclaimed to the simple happiness
OF domestic life by series of startling
tragedies in this club circle and by the
almost supernatural observation-disclosures of
her husband
There is no plot to speak of, only an
argument, the incident being attached
to this very loosely Several Of these have
much merit both of execution and thought.
The strong scene of the book is the visit
Of Mrs. Penfold, the woman of the world
who has chosen the path of race suicide,
to DR.. Morrison, a famous specialist In
this interview and one later with Made
leine's husband he says most of the real
earnest. fine things in the book, and,
altho his virtuous qualities seem rather
overdrawn. he is the most admirable and
nearest normal Of any of the characters.
This little bit OF the conversation with
Aida contains the kernel of it and Of Mrs.
Van Vorst's praiseworthy purpose:
life is very short said Aida ''and my aim
is to develop myself in every way possibly can.
| Isn't that legitimate? Why should women more
, then men be made to sucrfce?
Their most sacred obligation-maternity -
said Morrison, sis sacrifice
1t may pc their most sacred obligation, but it
is not their unique end and aim
i have had an opportunity,' the doctor an
swered, ito study a great many women
don't say that all those who are mothers are
happy. by any means but can affirm that l
has not at some time held in Ter arms a child OF
her own M S. A.
Miss Elizabeth Robins. the author of '.The
| Open Question has written a new novel 1.-THE
Magnetic North Frederick A. Stokes com.
pany.
The swing from the love Of the city and
its many attractions back to the love Of
nature in animal and plant life is show
! ing itself in the fixing up Of small sub
urban homes as we'll as in the country
! places" of millionaires. The owner Of the
| small home, however, has had compare
! lively few guides in his efforts, whereas
the millionaire has had many; the latter
could always appeal to the architect, ir
any event Helps to the man of the fifty
/ foot lot. tho, are becoming more numer.
Gus. and one of these, full of good phiIo-
sophy. lucid advice and useful diagrams
and illustrations is Little Gardens, by
Charles M. Skinner. The book Is a ''series
OF hints and suggestions which may be
unendingly diversified It is book fol
Improvement associations as well as indi-
viduals to study and find pleasure an6
profit In.
The war on the tubercle bacilli is being
waged with increasing activity. The
germs may as well give up. Their ulti-
mate fate Is as certain as that of the VIC
tim OF the villain with sandbag. The
fight against them has reached the point
where even their victims are taught how
to carry on a winning fight at home. The
self-cure Of Consumption is the title of 8
little book by Charles H. Stanley Davis
NJ. D.. Phi. D.. OF Connecticut. The au-
thor says at the outset: "One Of the note
worthy advances for which the TWEEN
/ tieth century promises to be distinguished
| is the practical suppression of the dis
case" campaign of education will prove
more deadly to the disease than any other
means, and books of the kind issued by
Mr.. Davis will help such a campaign