The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-17

IZA CHAT
lF c.
THE UNEASY CHAIR

A STRIKING PICTURE OF A SHOCK
ING PHASE OF LIFE.-"Paul's Case"
one Of the best pieces of work in book
of short stories Of exceptional quality,
Miss Villa Siebert Gathers Troll Garden,
has attracted criticism adverse and IA
vorable. A Philadelphia minister protests:
So horribly pernicious study it
blurs all moral distinctions and suggests GER
tain glory in crime and suicide; moth
ing more abominably unwholesome did I ever
read
We don't see it that way ourselves. It
Is strikingly realistic picture Of an
ugly, a pitiful, life-the life Of youth
whose mind and morals were perverted.
The author SO far puts herself into the
boys position and sees things from his
point of view that at times she seems
to cast reflections on sacred institutions,
but If 1t Is remembered that she Is speak
Ing from the boys standpoint, and also
that the representatives of such institu-
tions sometimes are not above reproach,
no exception need be taken to the pic
ture. g..
The story is that of boy who sees
no value in studies at school, regards the
whole business as utterly trivial and takes
pains to impress his instructors that that
is his attitude. He is taken from school
and put to work. But he has seen the
painted life Of the stage. He thinks it
beautiful. He wants a taste Of the high
life he has seen played there. He steals
$1,000 from his employers and runs away
to New York, where, after supplying
himself with fashionable clothing, he
goes to the Waldorf to 'live'' while his
money lasts, and then .,
There are some moral lessons that might
well burn themselves into the brain Of
the reader, rather than an obliterating of
moral distinctions in the story, we think,
the Philadelphia pastor to the contrary,
notwithstanding. .F.'-
Another story in the same book is Ella
via and Her Artists" a picture which it
seems to us would fairly blister the "tuft-
hunter" the person who seeks lions"
| for guests at her house parties, The
trouble Is the minds of such persons are
not easily burnt; they are made of as
bestos and wear armor plate.
Altogether the book is one Of much
more than usual strength and incisiveness
| Mcclure, Phillips & Co., New York.
HOW RIDER HAGGARD CAME To
WRITE FIcTlON.-H. Rider Haggard
who is in this country, has been inter-
viewed from time to time. According tt
himself, as quoted in the Philadelphia
Public Ledger ard copied in The Writer
a new novel Of his is soon to appear an6
he is working on a sequel to 'She.' Re
writing fiction, he said:
I had, during a residence of some years il
South Africa, written a sort of a political his
tory, when one day in London, while discussing
the merits and dement's of current novel, al
acquaintance badgered me about not being abl
myself to write readable novel the on
we We're discussing. Well, to make lont
story short, 1 set to work and wrote 'Dawn,
which. much to my surprise enjoyed con
siderable SALE OF course, at that time Soutl
and Central Africa was a land of unexplore
mysteries, and as such appealed to me as
background and scene for fction-writing. Wit
of residence there it was easy and natura
enough for me to weave my-ny yarns about il
MORE SONGS BY 1.-THE MORSE
NioHTlNGALE."-W F. Kirk, eth
, Norsk Nightingale" who sings "becaus
he must" of course, has sung some song
of "Lumberyack,' which, with othe
verses have been gathered into a neat lit
, tie volume. One Of the conclusions Of tn
"Lumberyack" relates to the good fel
7 low" the kind Of good fellow" VIII
throws his money away on his compan
, ions for the sake Of being known as
good fellow" He says:
Put dis in yure pipe, tn, and smoke it,
Guide fallers ban mostly dam fules.
Y The Nightingale has some poetic:
;, TRANSACTIONS and Historical tales" i
Wnlcn ne taxes great llOerLleS with ClaS
4 steal selections familiar to every school
2 boy. From his historical tales is eth
4 Courtship of Miles Standish," Of which tn
. last stanza is this: :.
Priscilla, she listen to Alden,
And den give him cute little venk
p And say: ''Vy not speak for yureself, Yohr
o Miles standish ban lobster, ay tenk."
Y So standish get double crossed plenty;
y And OATS yust vat ay want, by zee.
y Eff ever ay get any faller
To doing my sparkling for
j. Small, Maynard & Co., Boston.