The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-15

, in which it is introduced-or rather the
simplicity and naturalness with which
it introduces itself, apparently, in the
midst of gaiety, happiness, festivity or
deep content, exactly as the shadow of
tragedy falls upon real life.
Miss Bellard's Inspiration Is the story
of the love affair of a very modern
Young woman who is connected with
the department of oratory of a western
co-educational college and who meets
a young Englishman, one of those
younger sons, who come to the states
to try ranching, and who falls in love
with her. Her position as self-sup-
porting, Independent and unchaperoned
maiden is so opposed, as she knows, to
all the social traditions with which he
is familiar, that she is unwilling to ac-
cept him under those conditions and
therefore lays claim to the hospitality
of an aunt, her mother being abroad
with a. second husband. This aunt and
her husband, Mr.. and Mrs. Cronabie, are
another pair of those delightful, middle
aged childleSS people for the portrayal
of whom Mr.. Howells has such happy
knack. They have given up their sum-
mer home on the coast because of the
heavy drain and kinfolks, and have
built a house in the mountains in order
to enjoy peace and solitude from June
to October. This seclusion is broken
by Miss Bellard'S letter announcing her
arrival and her entrance upon the scene
brings all the disturbing elements of
her romance for her lover follows her
and Mr.. and Mrs. Crombie find the re-
sponsibility of her love affair forced
upon them. However it may be said for
the young people that they are perfect
ly willing to assume all that RESPONSE
bility themselves and they do their best
in the week or so of their stay to make
their entertainment as little as possible
a burden upon their host and hostess.
The tragic note is supplied by another
married couple. the oppoSiteS in every
way of Mr.. and Mrs. Crombie, who are
soon added to the house party and who
furnish for the lovers the diverse OF
the medal which their youthful irnagin-
alton and the fine example of Mr.. and
Mrs. Crombie's middle aged devotion
has supplied. These new corners are the
worst sort of horrible example and the
lesson is not unheeded by Miss Bellard
skepticism of marriage which has kept
her unmarried until nearly thirty, and
for time the book threatens to lend
badly" But this is where the title gets
in It's work. Miss Bellard has an Gin
spiration" Enthusiastically feminine
but perfectly adequate to leave all
promising to go we'll in the last chap
ter even to the mismated pair, who had
all but proven to the heroine that mar
rage is a failure, and who are by this
time settling the details of their separa-
ton in a divorce court. And by the
way: Mr.. Howells may not know much
about the mystery, woman, but he
knows all about her effect upon the
wondering intelligence of man. His ad-
miration, his fascination, his fear
and his suspicion of the wiles and
ways of the gentle sex" as done by
Mr.. Howells are always delightful
There is nothing better In Miss Bel
lar1's Inspiration than Crombe's i'm
perfect reading Of his wife'S niece's
character unless it is his equally i'm
perfect but completely satisfied under
standing of his wife.
Miss Bellard's Inspiration, William
Dean Howells. Published by Harper &
l Brothers. Price, $3.50.