The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-14

! home In Brussels PETIT Ridge returned
only short time ago.
win the ways Of youths. like his
nero Erb. who drove parcel vans. and
CT East and North London characters
generally. PETIT Ridge has grown ex-
ceptlonally familiar through spending
practically ali his time In their com
pany. AT the theater you win and him
| IN the pit and I imagine he always
travels third-class on the under
ground" He even lives up in frowsy
camden town-a district that seems an
Tram lines and fried fish and under
taxing shops. His bachelor quarters
there ara snug and surprise after the
STAIRS you climb to reach them. but /
Iancy the author has seen to it that
Dotn the charwoman, who docs" for
aim, and the Slavey, who admits his
frequent visitors from the outer world.
are both absolute types, and good for
untold copy"
Perhaps 1t is what he has seen OF
chlld-life in London while wander
Ing east Of Aldgate and south" that
mas made the novelist so keen about
Frightening their lot by every means
IN his power. His services always can
De had when it is a question Of char
lty for the benefit Of the real poor. and
II was only few weeks ago that
saw him acting as auctioneer at a ba-
zaar to help needy girls. He T. a.
witty In his speech as he Is in print,
ana Kept the crowd amused and stimu-
lated with his bright sallies. He was
selllng fancy workbasket, and ask
ing for bids when a girls voice cried,
slxpence Young lady over there
offers slxpence," drawled PETIT Ridge,
reproachfully. but OF course that's
only for fun!"
This writer was paid a high though
deserved compliment not long ago. His
! story, "A Son of the State" concerns
| itself with the career Of a boy Of the
streets who gets his training in the
| sort of institution that PETIT Ridge be-
| lieVes should exist In this country, but
winch is unknown at present The book
| happened to fall into the hands OF a
member of local vestry board. who
| was struck so much by the way In
Wnlch the noveliSts suggestions could
\ pc utilized in his own locality that he
saw TO 1t that a copy Of "A Son OF
| the State" was sent to each OF his
| associates - they numbered thirty or
forty-and at last accounts there was
| rather good chance OF something
| practical coming Of It,
| 1t Is rather pity that A. T.. w. Ma
! son, author Of Miranda of the Bal
| cony,' who Is running for parliament
/ at coventry, has not had an electorate
| 10 appeal to entirely made up OF book
| lovers. For in that case he would be
| almost certain OF election, not only
on account of hts own claims upon
readers, but because OF the influence
OF some Of the folk who have arrayed
| themselves under his standard At the
novelist's first meeting the other night
he was supported on the platform by
Augustine Birrell, the essayist, and
| Mr.. and Mrs j. NJ. Barrie.
AS 1t Is just possible that 1t may noe
| nave been cabled, mention may ba
| made here Of the suggestion thrown
out to English literary men at a din
ner few nights ago by Sir william
Ramsey, the scientist. Apropos OF
| witty speech by Frankfort Moore. the
novelist. concerning the extent to
| which writer's had "foreshadowed"
scientific discoveries, Sir William hint
ed that a nightly good novel might
be written on what would happen I'm
the world If gold-owing to the trans
mutation Of other metals by means OF
radfum-became practically worthless.
| what would happen to a capitalist
asked great authority on the new
metal, who had invested his money I'm
stocks and shares In case OF such an
| upheaval2 Would he be ruined. or
would he be landed on the summit OF
prosperity? Hayden Church.