The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-05

Another Kansas man, Mr. John Sto-
well, of Seneca, has taken his pen in
hand to add to the flood of literature
concerning the memorable search of
| Coronado in quest of Quivira.
Mr.. Stowell would prefer to be
known as novelist rather than a
historian and his book is therefore a
novel that is, it is a 0omance bound
round with historical facts and data.
He calls his book Don Coronado
| Through Kansas" with this sub title
which promises even more of histori-
cal interest: "A sgtory of Kansas, Usage
and Pawnee Indians" 1t is rather bur-
dened with title pages and introduce
tions but that may be accounted for by
! the wide range covered. This is what
the author says about the purpose of
1 the book;
1.-The aim of this book is to endeavor
! to make interesting a few historical
events, so as to extend knowledge. The
dates, names and locations are with
| few exceptions authoritative.
| mo attempt has been made to imt-
tate others in the use of supposed In
| dian vernacular, for the reason that at
the period of the story, 1497-1541, it is
not possible to do so with any regard
| to truth.
Indians of the state of Kansas ought
| to be introduced to this and future
| generations, and if this work throws
| light on their customs, traits and loca-
| ton OF villages, one OF the aims VIII
have been accomplished.
Here is another explanation:
But the burning desire and most
earnest wish is to have you exclaim,
who is the author?"
IN THE HEART OF KANSAS.
In 1541, when Coronado passed
through Kansas, he traversed near the
spot where Fort Riley is located. There
fore, to assert that he was in the heart
of our great republic is very appropri-
ate since Fort Riley, Kansas, is the
geographical center of the United
States of America. The Don Coronado
exploring expedition first entered Kan
sas at the place where Barber county
is now located, and passed through
Kingman, Reno, Harvey, McPherson'
Marion, Dickinson, Geary, Riley, Pot
tawatomie, and Nemaha counties. He
visited at the city of the Twenty
Four" which in 1541 was located on
independence creek, a little north OF
Atchison, Kan. :.
is unfortunate that it is so poorly
printed for the story is we'll and
graphically told,
1.-THE Well in the Desert" by Ade-
line Knapp, is new publication by
the Century company. This is a strong
drama, dealing with the elemental
and vital things of life, the scenes set
on the edge of the Arizona desert
Gard imprisoned for murder Whlcn
! he never committed, robbed OF his all
| through the treachery of one Westcott,
breaks Jail, a wreck of man. ana
seeks Westcott for means to get back
home-and die. WeStcott again pays
him dirt" but Gard escapes death
and recapture in a cloudburst, Wnlch
leaves him alone, and with practically
only the shabby clothes on ms BACK
in the midst of the desert. Chance,
seemingly, leads him to wooded ana
watered plateau, where Tor many
months he lives a Robinson Crusoe
life a little burro his only companion.
He mines gold, builds a hut, and fasn-
| ions furniture, all with desert-made
implements, and the free, wild llfe
| builds up health and wealth ana
nobility of manhood in which hatred
| and the petty things of life have no
! mart Then come the return to c1v1li-
| cation, Cards finding of his WORK ana
his own, the plotting and doWnfal OF
Westcott and at last the coming OF the
deep. strong, enduring joy which
crowns Cards life. That the writer
has known the desert and It's faSclna-
lions is evident in every line; and her
men and women are not puppets nor
pictures but real and appealing 1nol-
vidualities.
A great story of the Olympic games
was published on August 20, in James
B. Connolly's new novel, IAN Olympic
Victor, a Story of the Modern Games.
This is a vigorous, stirring love story
of modern Greece, full of delightful
sentiment and the highly interesting
atmosphere of that country today,
which reaches its climax in the great
Marathon race at the revival OF the
Olympic games in 1900. Loues, the
hero of the story, Is one of the Greek
contestants in that race. No descrip-
ton in modern fiction OF an atnletlc
struggle can equal this account of that
thrilling race. Mr.. Connolly is him
self an athlete of distinction and took
part in these Olympic games. His
story of the straining, gruellfng strus~
gle, the heartbreaking efforts OF the
runners over those twenty-four miles
of country roads from Marathon to
Athens, the gradual collapse of one
man after another until the Stadium
with it's thousands of unanimously
cheering spectators greets the victor
with the cry, "a Greek" "A Greek,
is soul stirring.
'Yule Tide Editions" are IN prepara-
ton by Paul Elder and Company
Christmas Books in Christmas Boxes
Each book, selected for its attractive
ness and appropriateness for holiday
presentation is placed in its own indi-
vidual Christmas box of rich material
and quaint device-a gift and sur
prise by itself The delicate personal
touch that doubles the significance of
a gift is added by adjoining each book
with a holiday sash of bright ribbon
to which is attached an original holi-
day card. The series is to include
fourteen titles.
Messrs. Charles Scribner's Sons an
nounce that early in the autumn they
will publish the first volume of The
Encyclopedias of Religion and Ethics,
edited by James Hastings, D. D., editor
of the Dictionary of the Bible and the
Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels.
The purpose of the Encyclopaedia of
Religion and Ethics is to give a COM
plete account Of religion and ethics
throughout the world. 1t viii contain
articleS ON ALL the RELIGIONS of the