The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-11

of her life and liver OF course they
are very clever and original and no
doubt the other girls at their boarding
schools were greatly awed and some
what shocked by their intellectual and
ethical boldness and independence. but
we have had SO many of these youthful
petticoated iconoclasts since Gladstone
gave Marie Bashkirsteff's journal that
regrettable BOOST Really, does it
mark one a hopeless Philistine to ad
nit that one is rather wearied by the
egOtism of these young persons. who
are rushing into print with a fresh lit
erary sensation in the way of a verbose
and caIlow confession" every new
moon?
''The Thoughts of Fool" has for
frOntispiece a phOtOgravure of a very
sweet, pretty and kissable little girl
with big, round baby eyes and bobbed
hair. She can't be more than eight
years old Why and wherefore? Is
it just for Ornament2 If so, well and
good and there is at least one thing in
the book which may be unreservedly
commended. But-hOrrible thought!
lis it possible that this can be Evelyn
Gladys, the author of the book? OF
course it seems preposterous, but when
you consider that most of our recent
fiction and philosophy has been done
by young misses scarcely past the
pig-tail period it seems more and more
probable that the next move of the
enterprising publishers will be to pro-
duce the wisdom that comes out Of
Having stood so much from the ire
pressible Young Person, perhaps we
will be able to endure the precOciOus-
ness of the Angel Child.
But If the frontispiece of this book
is really q photograph of the author
it must be admitted that Evelyn Gladys
is going sOme.' in testimony whereof
the following excerpts from her saucy
raps at existing beliefs. conditions.
prejudices, institutions and things are
offered:
ITO be respectable it is necessary
to choose to- be right while we live, no
matter how wrong our actions may be
aItef we are dead me chill
dren in our schools today are taught
to revere the names of the rebels of
the past and to cruelty the rebels of
today The life of Washington was
one of diSObedience and treason to his
king Yet George Washington is our
great national hero. His triumph
consisted in disobedience to the law,
and he became the father of his
country, much revered by school chill
dren on February p, when that date
does not fall on Sunday, and on
July 1, when it does not rain
Another example is that of Jesus,
whom we hold UP as an ideal. yet
whose principles and practices would
be regarded as scandalous if intro
duced into public and private life to-
day Born without a claim of legal
paternity. his cradle was a manger;
allowed to grow up in the streets and
run around the country like a tramp,
leaving home again and again, caus-
ing his mother no end of worry and
anxiety. He discussed an
archism and socialism with a fluent
tongue, and confused the elders
Wherever ne went He stirred up dis
content and subsequent disorder. He
laughed at the laws and customs of
the land. The priests and rulers, hor-
rified by his attitude. saw clearly that
his doctrines were subversive not only /
OF the status quo but of all right and |
Justice He was warned time and |
q gain but kent RIGHT on
with his reasonable teachings. The
common people heard him gladly. |
toouga 1t may be said to tie credit I
attended his seditious gatherings. The
better elements OF society saved the
and they nailed Jesus to the /
cross between two thieves Andl
we persist in holding up as an ideal |