The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-15

HANDSOME new book from
the press of the Outing COM
pany is the Balance Of Pow
err by Arthur Goodrich. A
strong man who reminds you
somehow of Abraham Lin
colin In his simplicity and broad vision.
4 clever generous fellow, mis- friend,
who calls himself "a COMPOUNDED play
actor" but who is much more than
thati girl Of many moods, plucky
IN hour Of trial, sensitive, eternally
feminine and charming, whom both
leye- These with the sage Colonel;
mr. Lumpkin. with his megaphonic
voice. Joe Heller sswho amt any
good" Jimmy 0 ROurke, Of the cab
met; a typical American mother, and
dozen others. are the leading char
acters of q vital struggle of every
Gay American life
Marion Harland, whose name has
been a household word throughout
this country ever since the publication
Of "Commen Sense in the House
hold,' has written a novel which has
just been published by the Scribn ers
called THE Distractions of Martha
1T is tale of the difficulties and trf-
umphs of a young housekeeper told by
q master hand. Marion Harland cher
real name is Mrs. Il. p. Terhune) is
one of the busiest authors. She said
recently: My average mail for the
dred letters a week That makes over
twenty thousand letters year.
Besides these. have my per-
sonal spondence, which is large.
+ could not get through with it all
but for the help of an exceptional sec
rotary. Then I am strong and work
maeically- I write an abstract
Of my reply TO every letter, either on
the envelope or a piece of paper at
tached to it. Ny private correspond
ence write wholly myself. People
write to me about everything. Some
want me to write the story of their
lives and divide the profits with them
Others wish me to write stories, the
plots of which they offer to furnish
me on TIE same terms They are not
iufrequently offended when I decline.
One such I told I could not write on
all the subjects I had in my mind If
I lived for hundred years. One
protector Of an English paper wanted
me to contribute for a year without
comp ensatiOn. with the promise that
after that I should be paid better than
I had ever been paid by any paper. .
The September number of the In
ternaional Socialist Review contains
the famous speech on THE Socialist
state" delivered by Jean Jaures in
the French chamber of deputies. It
is pointed out that the question Of
compensation to the appropriated cap
italists depends on the method of
transition and that confscation is not
essential to the Socialist program. The
methods of distribution of the prod
uct under Socialism and the adminis-
tration of affairs are among the points
covered.
A timely significance attaches to
Mrs. Mary DillOns new novel THE
Leader in the fact that the life Of
the hero is said to have been inspired.
by the political career OF William Jen-
nings Bryan Certain events in his life
certainly follow closely after the most
dramatic incidents in that Of the elo-
auent Nebraskan, who is just now so
prominently in the public eye. 1.-THE
Leader" however, is a genuine Amer
lean novel. in that it deals with a man
of great personal magnetism and strik-
Ing tenacity Of purpose who leads the
forlorn hopes Of his party He is a
Westerner, sslf-made. fights the bosses