The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-14

WEN WIsTE2's new story,
LADY Baltimore which has
been running in one OF the
maya zines han just been pup
lished in booi. form by Inc
Macmillan company There are
very many sound, artistic reasons why
this story should be preferred TO Ihe
Virginian," there are also some OBVIOUS
ones why its popularity, as expressed IN
mere numbers, may prove TO De not 50
great Lady Baltimore IS far more
delicate art IN the creation or an at
r7osnhers the gradual unfolding OF
character, than the earlier book ! "
1t lacks the glamour of one heroic ng-
ure. an fdealized type to which every
thing else in the book IS suDordlhaleo,
There is this resemblance between the
two stories, however, that each presents
the apotheosfs of a fast disappearing
uhase of American life and character.
After cowboy stories innun9eraoie,
..The Virginian" came as the last ana
dadnftive word on that romantic SUD
let IN our fiction. Lady Baltimore"
will serve in much the same way as me
most subtly drawn picture or the Ola
world dignity of the vanished SOUTH
Pictures such as these in Mr.. Mlstet
new book have been given to US oeioIe.
nv Mrs Hanks for instance, ana, u
course bv the older writer's OF the
south but none Of them IS hhely 70
leave quite so finished an impression OF
a disappearing civilization IN us 49,
stage of passive and consciously Iutlle
resistance to the brazen rush OF nou-
ernism as this tale Of KINGS Fort, ~
South Carolina which was nlesseu VII
a negro collector OF the port by Re-
publican president.
Succeeding the brave, coul leou 10
shirt of a quiet past there marches IA
these pages the incarnation OF our lat-
ter day material progress The old re-
treats with dignity, the new steps
rude1v on its heels to hasten the man
ner Of its going. Mr.. w lsler nleailu tS
a little too far away from his story
once or twice in his discussion OF MOD
ern tendencies. but it is only once or
twice and one readily forglNes nm
Moreover. it is in the daininess OF ms
picture of the old, and not in his DIS
content with the evils OF the new, Ihdl
lies the enduring charm of his book
In saving this one must not forget,
however. TO pay tribute TO the cnal-
acters and the plot The love aHalf Is
drawn on large, strong lines; here are
a man and a woman deeply involved
i'm the mysterious duel Of sex which
love complicates just because it brings
the only true solution.
Lady Baltimore has many merits
As picture it is charming: as a story
it has genuine strength. One reads it
with sustained interest a first time;
one resolves to return to it, later on.
for a more detailed appreciation of the
great EGCEIlEIEl6S Ol It's w VI Al4AuAloA44 r.
Through the Zercher Book and sta
Honery company of Topeka.
Beatrice Harraden. author of "Ships
that Pass in the Night" and others,
has written new book, THE Schol-
ar's Daughter just published by
Dodd, Mead & Co.
A new edition of Oscar Wnde's
works is shortly to appear in London,
sion of his De Profundis." The addi-
tons consist of the passages that have
heretofore only appeared In the Ger
man. Russian and Italian versions OF
the book, and of letters which Wilde
wrote to a friend from Reading jail.
Mrs Humphrey Wards new novel.
"Fenwick's Career now appearing
IN Harper's Magazine. will be out next
month in book form. 1t finds its
scenes and subjects in Westmoreland.
London and Paris. in the art world
of thirty years ago. and is the rise and
decline of a great painter. drawn by
Mrs. Ward from George Romney.
Sir Henry Irving" by Mortimer
and Dorothy Menpes, to be published
shortly in London, is described as "a
momentary glimpse of Sir Henry as
he was in real life. with all those
subtle variations of expression that
help to give one a true idea of the
man 1t Will contain eight pencil and
tint portraits of Irving.
The manuscript of Robert Burns
lines ITO Mary in Heaven was sold
at auction i'm London late in March
for $3.50.
Alfred de Musset has at last been
honored with a public statue. officially
tnaugurated at the Place du Theatre
Francois. OF the original committee
formed for the purpose of collecting
the necessary subscriptions, only NJ.
Jules Claretie is left 1t was at first
intended that Falguiere and Antonin
Mereie should collaborate. but this
project was abandoned, and the work
has been designed and carried out bv
NJ Mercie alone, and has met with
very general approval.
Gertrude Athertbn. who is now in
California at work upon new move
for the Harpers. recently contributes
an anecdotal letter about the late vii
liam Sharp to the San Francisco Argo-
naut Almost interesting fact i'm cor
nection with Sharp was that he pos.
sessed the knowledge o fhis exact term
of life, Mrs. Anterior asserts. 'sWher