The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-27

Charles Belmont Davis. whose latest
book THE Stage Door, has just been
issued by Charles Scribner's Sons, is
perhaps better equipped to write
-bout the people of the theater than
almost any other American writer. He
was present at the Arch Street thea
ter, Philadelphia, when John Drew
made his first appearance on the
stage as Plumper in the farce "Cool
as a Cucumber" This was in 1873.
and since that time there have been
very few stage productions which Mr..
Davis has not witnessed. THE Stage
Door is a collection of short stories
about theatrical life and people be-
hind the scenes. The late L. Clarke
Davis. for many years editor of the
Philadelphia Ledger" used to say
tokingly that he had no sooner estab-
iished a place for himself in the world
than he came be known as the hus-
band of Rebecca Harding Davis. A
few years later both he and Mrs.
Davis were referred to as the parents
OF Richard Harding Davis. And now,
with the publication OF "The Stage
new member of the family has sprung
into fame.
Diana of Dobson's. by Cecily Hamil-
ton. has just been published by the
Century company. One loves Diana
what she most wants to do and to fol-
low the foolishly delightful path we all
want to walk-and don't dare. Diana
Is pretty and clever and wildly re-
bellious over the grayness and mar
rowness of the life of a London shop
girl. Then most unexpectedly, she in
herits three hundred pounds. Instead
of safely and sanely investing her tiny
fortune. she decides to blow it all in
on month of glorious fun. She has
the fun-Paris gowns. a trip to Switz-
erland, two love affairs. and a grand,
good time. until her last pound goes.
Then, turning her back on both her
her lovers. she returns to London,
penniless. to hunt a new job. How
she doesn't find work. and how the
right man finds her, gives a delight
full ending to an absorbing tale, which,
though light in touch. is deeply signifi-
cant. Diana of Dobson's" is a ro-
nance of much charm, much interest
and great originality.
A Soldiers Letters to Charming Mel
lie. by ]. B. Policy of Hoods Texas
brigade. Is a book just published by
the Neale company of Washington.
A soldiers letters, written in crowded
camp, in hospital or on the deserted
field. when weary with waiting, flush
ed with victory, discouraged by defeat
or sick for home-a soldiers letters,
and hope and comfort. relating scenes
OF march and camp and bivouac. SOL
dier's heart in every nasty world How
dear they were. those letters. and how
near they brought the war, the charm
and the horror of it, This soldier wrote
his Jefferson some of his letters-to
young lady named Nellie. the dearest
friend of the soldiers own dearest
friend. "The lady" he says. "the lady
10 whom all but the last (of these let
myth from 1851 to 1869 than now, when,
a gray-haired wife, mother and grand
mother, she presides with the grace
and dignity of the truest womanhood
over the home made for her by the
gallant officer of the Tennessee army
whom she married. Her letters
kept him so advised of all that was
occurring in Texas. and were so friend
ly, entertaining, and altogether charm
ing that, without leave or license, he
substituted that adjective for the more
conventional Miss" The letters re-
late to the soldier life of Texas man,
J. B. Policy of Hoods Texas brigade.
and they give a succinct and intelligent
history Of that famous brigade and the
part he took from the beginning to
the close of the civil war. The very
headings must have been a promise
and a delight to the eager girl who had
torn open the envelope: In Camp,
Somewhere" Camp near Fredericks-
burg" Crossing over into Maryland"
Camp near Richmond" Second Man
assas,'' "In the Trench near Peters
burg" or Howard Grove Hospital"
Made to sell for 81. Postage IS cents.
Some years ago was published a lit
tie book entitled Everyday Etiquette"
by Marion Harland. 1t was favorably
noticed as an excellent manual of
manners, written without priggishness
or a trace of the snob. The only criti-
cism to which it was subjected was the
claim that it did not cover all the
multifarious phases of the social life
of the woman of today, and particu-
larry of the young woman. In order
TO meet this objection new edition