The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-19

that can be dipped into anywhere and
any time, and a smile or a laugh ex-
tracted to change the current of ones
thoughts and divert one, if only for
brief space, from the care or the worry
of our busy lives. Mr.. James Mont
gomery FlaggS If: A Guide to Bad
Manners" may seem at first glance
trivial accomplishment but it is adj
mirably adapted to serve as a care
killer, and therefore has a laudable
use. Left about the house to be picked
up and dipped into at random, it will
provoke hundred times more laughs
fun of the verse and pictures, there is
an underlying stratum of good sense,
which, properly assimilated, may cure
some of the bad manners the book
processes to teach.
"An American in New York" by
Opie Read, is as much and no more
the series of sketches originally pub
lished under that title in the Saturday
Evening Post as the book, "The Vir-
ginian,' is the series of loosely related
short stories which Mr.. Wister printed
in the same periodical. AS Mr.. Wister
took his fragmentary tales and fused
them into a splendid serial story that
went straight to the heart of the
American people. so Opie Read has
taken his brilliant sketches and alb
sorbed them into a novel of plot, of
mystery, of thrilling modern romance.
only Opie Read can depicts the CEN
trail figure of the book. He declared to
a bell boy that che had lived out in
America and this was his first trip
abroad" The whimsical humor, the
quaint philosophy and the fine senti-
ment of the chivalrous colonel delight
the reader while the plot holds with a
grip that gives new meaning to the
words Substantial interest" And
what a delightful surprise awaits the
reader in the denouement of this de-
licious romancet Not all of Opie
Reads stories make a sure appeal to
the interest of women readers; but this
will surely win the most Obdurate or
critical of the sex-and women are
said to be far more discriminating
readers of fiction than men. One of
the noteworthy things about this story
is it's atmosphere of protest against the
sordid. 1t is instinct with a noble jus
LITIGATION of chivalry of romance and
of the old-fashioned things of senti-
ment. While it is delieiously satirical
it leaves the right taste in the mouth.
will find a rare pleasure in reading this
present day romance. The publishers
are Thompson & Thomas, of Chicago.
A good deal has been said both for
and against the personal character of
King Kalakaua, of Hawaii. Isobel
Strong, author of "The Girl from
Home not only in her book but out
of it, speaks in his favor. Mrs. Strong
may be regarded as an authority. She
lived several years in Hawaii and was
one of Kalakaua's intimate personal
friends. She describes him as every
inch a king when there was need, but
with a little twinkle in his eye for his
friends, to show them that he realized
he was king of comic opera empire.
Handsome and straight. the flower of
the type of Malay manhood, he had the
physical qualities to carry off regal
dignity. He was a man of infinite ac-
complishments; above all, musician,
with a fine voice. Often to entertain
his court he used to sing native songs
to his own accompaniment on the ma
tive instrument the eukalele. Though
Mrs. Strong admits there may have
been some basis for the stories of his
drinking, she feels that they lave ex-
aggeratedly belied him. All in all, she
found him true gentleman, kindly
follower of the instincts of noblesse
oblige.