The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-25

Miss Florence Shirk, Miss Emma
Crabb, Miss Helen Dolman, MISS
Laura Gates, Miss Inez Cornell, MISS
Sadie Lindenmeyer; second alto, MISS
Miss Lorena Palmatier, Miss Rita
Burt, Miss Gladys Heath.
Mrs. Margaret Hill McCarter, kan
sas novelist, has issued her new pooh
which she names "Vanguards of the
plains and it has been received from
the publishers, and is in the hands OF
the distributors.
Harper's magazine contains re-
view of the book, with a photograph
of the author, in its department
"Harper's Bookshelf" Mrs. McCar-
ter's books have been well received all
over the country, have ranked with
the best Sellers" and they have re-
veaIed phases of mid-western life, and
especially of pioneer times, that were
new in the realm of fiction. Harpers
critic writes of the new book as fol-
lows:
1.-The romance, thrill, and beauty of
the old Southwest is recreated for US
in an absorbing tale by Margaret Htll
McCarter, entitled 'Vanguards of the
Plains: A Romance of the Santa Fe
Trail. The story goes back to the
heroic, splendid days of the '40s,
when New Mexico was still a part or
old Mexico, and the trade route from
the faintest of trails, stretching across
interminable prairieS, which the white
man traVersed at his peril. 1t is
setting for high adventure and brave
deeds. and the present tale is replete
with them Almost a score of char
acters play a part in the drama which
the author stages in this pioneer coun-
try-Americans, Mexicans, Indians
and there is no cessation of the eXclt-
ing action, altho the time of the story
divides itself into three epOchs and is
spread over the years that intervene
between the Mexican war and the aft
ermath of our Civil war. There is al
almost epic scope and impressiveness
in tale such as this. 1t gives in adj
mirable perspective glowing and un-
forgettable picture of one of the most
picturesque periods of American his
tory. What George w. Cable has done
for Louisiana, Hamlin Garland for
the far west, and Mary E. wilkins
Freeman for New England, Mrs. Nc
| Carter is doing for those portions of
the middle west with which this and
her earlier books deal.
cot the book itself, in its intricate
weaving of hearts and lives. loves and
hates, passions good and bad but glow
ing at white heat, it is impossible to
speak in detail. The surprises are
many and artfully held back for the
full force of their climax; there are
| hand-to-hand clashes with Mexicans
and exchanges of bullets and
| arrows with the red man, and craft
matched against craft with the willy
| Mexican. The protagonists are a
| group of hardy young Americans-two
of them mere striplings at the outset
of the story-and they are a splendid
lot of brave men and true whom one
comes to know and love in these
graphic pages. Here is a novel that is
essentially American product OF
our own soil, that differentiates il
from host of books and distinguishes
1t as real contribution to American
| fiction proper"
The Sheffield ingalls, family OF
Atchison have a new baby The child
is a boy, and is No. on the roll OF
children for that family. The new
baby is a grandson of Mrs John j
ingalls, and of the late distinguished
Senator Ingalls,
The Good Government club is t.
nave Progressive Travelogue Friday
The frst station will be at the home
OF Mrs. P. ]. Clevenger, 500 Yves
Ienth avenue, from to 3 o'clock, and
the program will be as follows:
Vocal solos:
"Tbe HiT9 Ashf2rI
Mrs. Howard searle p''~'
| Reading, Under the Flag
Miss Dorothy McKernan.
Talk by Dr.. A. B. Jeffrey on Red Cross
and Hospital Work in England"
At the home of Mrs. Hattie Horning
1243 Topeka avenue, from to O'Clock
Piano solo, American Polonaise" 49,.
Mrs. Carey 7 Wilson peD'e