The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-16
THE BOOK OF
ROMANCE is THE
BEST IN WORLD''

bark Is to kindle a snappy FIRE to warm
toes these frosty October nights"
You are very severe said the trick
DRY. Aren't you going to let me show
the PROCESSION l represent at allT'
"Of course!" 1 cried. II am not SO
marrow as not 10 give o your chance.
I'll admit all the good there Do IN you:
but when I balance against u your
frauds and deception. and worm infested
fruit. I will not Omit that you are the
best tree In the woods. You are real
enough that l a see why you cham
pion the book of realism. but YOU will
have TO show me YOU procession before
l grant YOU the place that you claim"
Then the hickory waved his topmost
and through my rood came
a motley throng like one other tina.
ever walked this earth before or ever
agafn. There was youth. there was
strength, There was beauty, there was
truth. there was a little Joy. but far
more SORROW, whdle over all hung n big
black cloud Of shame that darkened the
entire wood and every instant became
more lowering and menacing; shame for
lies, shame for lust. shame for broken
vows. shame for theft. shame for muir
der. shame for pollution Of the soul.
My heart was nNiou and afraid as
I watched the passing OF Jean Vatican
and the vicar of Wake1eldx Jane Eyre.
Ivanhoe and John Halifax were more
h~eartemng; Barnaby RudGe, with his
raven trudged past in silence. Silas lap
ham was tellin& tho virGinian his
troubles. the recording angel walked
with shuffiIly step and outstre4ched
hands and even before her ckcsed eyes
I pulled my sk!rts lower, while the
Iron Woman stretched a firm hand to
steady her. The Pastors Wife and the
Circuit Riders Wife were telling each
other their troubles. for II could easily
he seen that all OF them had roubles.
but they seemed decent folk. not with
out hope. and / might rave granted the
hrkory's contention IL II had not been
that close behifsd them same a sicken-
ing group. the lying. cheating. intrigu-
ing women. the Becky Sharps and Lily
Barts of fiction.
Then tall and somrbre. with set eyes
and sealed lips walked the tragic figure
of Hester Prynre, and by her side Lynn
call OF the African Farm Lyndall, who
gave all for love and then spread her
cloak against the rain over a tiny
mound. and refusing protection and
shelter went Out alone to Join the pro-
cession now passing through my woods.
because the man she loved had not loved
her enough in return not to dishonor
her. Next came three specimens of
superb manhood. Tito Meema, Arthur
Bonnithorne and Dorian Gray. and
~shivering in their shadows followed
three little golden haired. pink child
women. with tear bliStered facea. Otrug
CHM to choke down sobs they could not
control.
And close behind came Tess Of the
DUrbervilles. Anna Karenina, and
Hedda Gabler. mi then a throng Of re-
membered names and faces, from Rahab
on the walls OF Jericho. own to the last
harlot intimately described in the
realms Of realism. until I hid my face
and cried aloud for very shame's sake
| But that was not all, for through the
golden darknes Of closed lids drifted
by another host. visions evoked by those
passing. nameless wraiths. victims OF
sins SO scarlet they dare not be painted
or described. Since even realism at its
worst does not deal with the ultimate
evil. l wondered why 1t Is necessary tc
rile the pool and skim the froth for ou
~edification. when the deeps are pro.
tected by law. for thank God there Is q
law that shields human nature from IL.
self and suppresses tho history OF the
superlative degree Of the Dorian Grays
] hoped that the last gaunr
form had left the woods I dried m,
eyes and ooked up but l realized thai
the mark of that procession was forever
left on my sou In an indelible stain.
""o hotNNN W A1SSkiOil WfNCtutI b6 u
passed on. to be studied In minute de
tail by the world outside, the lesson 4
taught might not quite as often be on,
OF unbridled license, since IL made tn,
whole world appear hopelessly corrupt
as a factor for good. / was quite will
ing to grant that the hope to do goot
had prompted the majority of the work
but the majority was pitifully small ant
nothing but putrescence OF mind coult
account for the remainder. 1t also ap
pealed to me that no Fagin of the sluml
Of our greatest cities ever gave sucl
realistic lessons In the gentle art Of be
ing a thief n no p%rocuress eve
painted more glowing pictures thai
those TO be found on the pages Of NOS
Of these books.
Just then a slender rough little con,
dropped at my feet and ! picked 1t VI
to find that II was literally burstinI
with good seed. seed that would seattle
from 1t over the forest fioor and grov
new trees wherever II went.
where do you come FROM" 1 asked
Look up" called a lusty tree vote
above me, SO l raised my eyes. but be
Ing stin by nature. my neck would no
bend far enough to see to the top O
that tree / was forced to arise an
step far back In order to see the crow
Of the tallest tree Of the wood. but In
l recognized the friend Of a lifetime.
II know YOU have something to tel
me-" ! said. "Whax are u charac
teristics and for what book do 20
stand|"
Said tulip poplar: MY merits ar
few. but you might consider then
. From the lake you can see my hea
towering high o you other tree'
Not another has n body so straight,
heart OF such pure gold. Test my woo
and It will warm or shelter you see m
leaves, the cleanest cut and the larges
remember my head each year covere
with big creamy flowers with which n
other bloom Of the VOC can compar
In size, wilderness and perfume"
l. Good l cried You know tulil
l love you. You are an Ideal tree, Com
and tell mo for which book do 20
!, stand"
For the book Of pure tdealism," al
I swered tulip poplar. II stand for III
tallest, straiRhtest book In the worl
Q with a heart of gold, q head OF beaut
I and sweetness for every empty heart"
Blu tulip" l objected. That's te
= good TO be true. No one will believe 1t
But am I not here to prove II ?" askt
I tulip. Examine me and see for you
r self"
For myself. ] know, tulip" ! al
swered. "You live In my woods.
u people come here ] can prove you a
h true and NO can they with whom yc
y live elsewhere. but you are very pr
vinciai you know, you will persist
clinging to n spot you IKE; very re
o people in the world know about YOU
h "Then you tell Them" said the tuli
but have" / insisted. "and they d
e am mistaken that you are not 80 ~