The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-04

The following, under the caption
1.-THE Passing OF the Novel," appeared
as an editorial in the Chicago Chron-
tcIe on Wednesday,.
It begins to look as If the passion
for novel reading had begun to die of
Its own excess Certainly the desire
for this form of reading is on the
wane. The sales of 1904 are reported
to have been far below those of the
years Immediately preceding. The de-
crease Affects all sorts of novels. from
the profound psychological work to
the highest fight of fancy in the
daintiest romance.
OF course, novels viii continue to
be read, for the story in some form
has lived through all time and Will
continue to do so, but evidently the
all-absOrbing interest in works of nc
ton is about to give place to some
thing else or perhaps to many Things.
Real life has its destinations PeOple
enjoy society rather than the novel OF
high life. The historical romance has
led to greater interest in history
proper. The sociological novel has de-
veloped a desire for participation IN
civic matters, a devotion to slum work
and the kinds of activity that may
benefit the masses.
Naturally, then, newspapers and
unagazines are read far more than
formerly, since they deal chiefly with
current events and with those things
which are of Importance at the present
moment. They offer a glance OF the
entire world and emphasize those
points VIII ere present activity IS great
est They deal with the real world
and people OF today want facts rather
than fancies; live issues rather than
the possible quarrels of representative
lovers.
The stage, too, is somewhat respon-
Eible for the decay of the novel Tired
people want entertainment and often
prefer to take it passively- They can
r1f of a three
or five acts of a play and the access
series often give a more vivid pre-
sentatiOn of plot and denOuement than
the lengthy novel is apt to do. This
does not mean that drama will take
the place OF novel reading to any
great extent, for there are evidences
that the drama is itself to give place
to something not yet determined
If the novel has seen its best day 1t
can certainly claim that its day was
great and brilliant one that 1t accom-
plished a genuine purpose and that
humanity is broader in its intelligence,
its svnpathies and its activities than
1t would have been but for the great
popularity of the novel during the
past four decades.
Forty miles from the nearest habi- |
tation. the body of LeOnidas Hubbard
was found buried beneath eight feet
of undisturbed snow Beside him lay /
his diary. in which he had MADE /
records to the day of his death, telling /
of The bardships he and his COM
paniOns had encountered as they pene-
trated the wilderness OF Labrador-
This diary, with twenty pages OF Hub
bardfs own photographs and sym
introduction by Casper Whit
new is the principal feature of outing
Tor. March. and one of the most dra-
matte magazine articles of the year
Here is the final entry in the Hub
bard diary;
probably hopeless for me to try to go
further with the boys. so We coun-
seled. last night, and decided they
should take merely half blanket each,
socks etc, some tea, tea pail cups,
and the pistols. and go on They Will
try to reach the flour tomorrow fhen
Wallace will bring a little and come
back to me George will go on to the
milk and lard and to Skipper Blake,
il he can, and send or lead help to u.s.
want to say here that they are Two
of the very best bravest ana grandest
men I ever knew, and If I die it viii
not be because they did not put forth
their best efforts. Our past two days
have been trying ones. 1 have not
written my diary because SO very
. Last night I fell asleep
while the boys were reading to me.
This morning I was very, very sleepy
After the boys left-they lett me tea.
the caribou bones and another end of
-four sack found here, rawhide
caribou moccasin and some yeast
cakes drank cup OF strong tea
and some bone broth. I also ate some
of the really delicious rawhide (boiled
with bones) and it made me stronger
to write this. The boys have
only tea and = pound of pea-meal
(T1rbswurst)- Our parting was most
affecting. I did not feel so bad
George said THE Lord help US, Hub
bard; with his help I'll save you if
can get out Then he cried. SO did
Wallace. Wallace stopped and kissed
my cheek with his poor. sunken,
bearded lips"several times-and I
kissed his. George did the same, and
I kissed his cheek Then they went
away. God bless and help them.
am not so greatly in doubt as to
the outcome. 1 believe they will reach
the flour, and be northumberland
Wallace viii reach me-that George
Will find Blake's catche and camp and
send help. So I believe we Will all
get out
Ny tent is pitched in open tent style
in front of a. big rock. The rock re-
fleets the fire. but now it is going out
because of the rain. think I shall let
It go and close the tent, till the rain
is over, thus keeping out wind and
saving wood. Tonight or tomorrow
perhaps. the weather Will improve so
I can build a fire, eat the rest of my
noccasins. and have some more bone
broth. Then I can boil my belt and
oil tanned moccasins and a pair of
cowhide mittens. They ought to help
some. I am not suffering The acute
.