The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-14

III AOl AAlGI QcA6 upon the tables OF the
cultured.
Nowadays we content ourselves
and our readers also, I am inclined to
thing,-dashing her off with a few
bold strokes. We say that when she
entered room there came to one
dreams of an Old-world garden the
echo of far-pm bells; or that her pres
ence brought with it the scent of holly
hooks and thyme. In the case of the
hOmely girl I don't see why we should
not borrow from Mr.. PIckWiCk'S ex-
perience. and define her by saying that
In some subtle way she cOntrived to
suggest an OdOr of chops and tomato
sauce. If we desire to be exact we
mention, as this particular author
elusive expression" A wise friend Of
mine. who knows his business. de-
scribes his hero invariab bly, in the vagu-
est terms. He will not even tell YOU
shaVen or bearded. Make the fellow
nice, IS his advice. Let every Nvo-
man reader be able to liken him to her
own particular man. Then everything
he does and says becomes OF import
ance to her She is careful not to miss
word" For the same reason ne sees
TO 1t that his heroine has a bit of every
girl IN her. Generally speaking, she is
a cross between ROmola and Dora
Copperfield. His novels command
draws man to the life but does not
knew much about women. The men
like his women, but think his men are
stun lG. OF another famous author no
woman OF my acquaintance is able to
81 eitk highly enough. TIev tell me
his knowledge of their sex is simply
MAJ Vicious, his insight his understands
ing of them almost uncanny Think
ing Is might prove useful / made an
exhaustive study of his bookr 7 no
rr1r,1 faF1 vii Ts.,
exception. brilliant, charming crea-
lures possessed of the wit of a Lady
Wortley Montague, combined with the
wisdom of George Eliot They were
not all of them good women. but all of
them were clever and all of them were
fascinating. / came to the conclusion
that his lady critics We're correct. He
dld understand women. But to return
TO our synopsis.
The second chapter. If appeared.
transported us to Yorkshire, where
Basil Longleat, a typical young Eng
/ lshman, lately returned from college.
resides with his widowed mother and
{ Two sisters They are a delightful fam
lly What a world of trouble to both
writer and reader is here saved. "A
I TYPICAL young Englishman." The
author probably wrote five pages elab-
ofatug that youth The sub-editor with
nVe words presents him to me clearer.
the effects of soap and water. see his
clear blue eye; his fair crisp locks, the
natural curliness of which annOys him
personally though alluring to every
body else; his frank, winning, boyish
smile He has Lately returned from
college That tells me that he is a
frst-class cricketer, and a first-class
rover It doesn't tell me much about
MS brain power, ] confess. The de-
scrlptlon of him as a typical young
Englishman' suggests more informa-
ulon IN this particular point. One as
sumes that the American girl, with
the elusive expression, is going to
nave sufficient for both. "They are a
delightful family" The sub-editor
: does not say so. but I imagine the two
sisters are likewise typical young Eng
llshwomen- They ride and shoot, and
cook and make their own dresses. The
third chapter is taken up with the
/ hum0rs of a local cricket match Is
/ Ihank you, Mr.. Sub-Editor, I feel I
owe YOU gratitude. In the fourth, Ur-
sula Bart q was beginning to get anx-
1ous about herr turns I'D again She IS