The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-04-08

serious deductions of the logical argu-
ments. The "Old Timer" appears in the
preface. With no indication of the
baneful consciousness Of superior wis
dom, he tells the need of good men in
politics. He thinks more men would
come if they knew how much they were
needed" He thinks every man should
enter the arena and learn Intimately
the purposes of party leaders,"
The "Old Timer thinks when wrong
things are going on and all the good
men understand, then that is all that
is needed. The wrong things viii stop
going on"
The six stories deal chiefly with repre-
sentatives in the political arena.
The Aliens" while a story of simple
sentiments is one of pathetic appeal,
1t tells the love of Petrie TObigil, a
happy young chestnut vender. for Ber-
tina, a pretty waitress in a little Ger
mans restaurant. Mr.. Harrington says.
THE acquaintance began by the song
and PietrO's wonderful laugh, which
had grown tender. The chestnut vender
had a way with him."
The description tells also that "PietrO
looked like the 'NeOpoIitan Fisher Lad
of the chromos, and you could have
fancied him Of two centuries ago, put
ting a rose in his hair, even as it was
he had the earrings. But the smile of
him, it was that which won Bertha,
when she came to work in the little
restaurant. 1t was a smile that put the
world at its ease. 1t proclaimed the
coming Of morning over the meadows,
and, taking every bystander into an
April friendship, ran on suddenly into
a laugh that Was like silver"
When Bertha scOrned his suit be-
cause he was handorgan player, he
would explain that he was a merchant,
a. citizen of the republic: that he was
a voter; that he had been naturalized
and marched in the parade. The pathos
/ came with the day of the election. The
lover failed to pay his usual visit Ber-
! tina in loving faithfulness sewed on her
/ wedding gown.
| An INSCRIPTIONS ward boss who feared
/ PietrO's vote and that of his fellow
Italians had managed, during a small
! pox epidemic, to have the young Ital-
/ ian quarantined in the pesthouse, while
/ Bertha watched for him in vain.
Boss GoFgett" is told by a man who
/ has been an assistant boss, and de-
/ scribes the terms he made with a GER
/ tain reform candidate. This narrator
! states somebody said a pessinist is a
man who has the choice of two evils
and takes both. There's your man that
/ don't vote"
The method by which Boss Gorgett''
! defended himself from a clustering en-
envy shows him of no insignificant char
| acter Ihe picturesque story is one OF
| decided human interest and illustrates
! the difficulties which face the uninitia-
| ted IN the game where men need to use
wise ana d1SpaSSlOnate words even il
the white heat of ambition.
AZ for the other stories, Hector" the
selfish egotist, with his oratorical ten
denotes, and "OId Uncle Billy Rawlins
| honest as the day is long. they are typ
zeal parts Of the collection. Nature
is presented in contrasting shades amid
pathetic and amusing episodes. The pc
litcal studies exhibit human folly and
| perversity and the spirits better moods
and the stories can but increase the
authors reputation.
An India story by a real East Indian
Is one Of the literary novelties of the
day Such is THE Verdict of the Gods
BY Sarath Kumor Ghosh. published By
Dodd, Mead & Co.
Aside from its novelty the book is
Wen written and the weird, strange
story is delightfully."- told In the fore.
word the author gives a hint of tht
framework upon which he has con,
structed his work. For know that tn
s9t king lay sick unto death, and
When the wise men and the physician.
had tried in vain to awaken in his SON
d wish TO live, the story teller was can.
Cd and, sitting beside the royal couch