The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-04
ON SECOND THOUGHT
BY JAY e. HOUSE
tFrom Philadelphia Public Ledger.I
Blister and Emollient.

Slr2The' popularity of the column
Is generally recognized. An occasional
yeip from one of the minority means
no more than notice that a pet corn
has been trodden on. In matters
where we cannot shade your point of
view, most of us find consolation in
the reflection that without differences
OF opinion there could be no bills of
fare nor horse races
But when as a statement of fact
you declare "the literati think Theo-
dore Dresser can write" YOU are 'on
the opposite end from the truth. As
Stunning that correct composition is the
component to which you refer you
should know that Mr.. Dresser is the
bad boy of the illuminate. If you have
dehperateiy chosen the most sloveHly
OF our Wen known writer's to bait one
of your favorite traps for suileless
gudgeons, count me as your first vic
tim.
Your reference to your own writing
ability as insignificant" proceeds
from one of several sources: false
modesty, designed distortion or igno-
rance of values. AS a carver and pol
isher of phrases which, despite hur-
r1ed manufacture, are seldom flawed
or specked, you show rare facility. You
flow gracefully within certain limits
staked out by yourself with ostenta-
tfous announcement of scorn for the
finer field that lies beyond.
Competent to prepare an epicurean
repast, you confine your. service to
cornbeef and cabbage, meanwhile
shifting contemptuously at Conrad Sand
CabeH and. I anticipate, at Herge-
sheimer's "Cytherea.' You will re-
fuse to understand why Arthur Mach
ems "A Fragment of Life" delights
after n score of readings. And l do
not believe you ever heard of Arthur
Machen. VERB SAP.
We don't pretend to know what the
1iterati think of Dresser; we couldn't
know. We merely recall having read.
some years ago, an appreciation of
Dresser written by member of the
New York Society for Mutual Ad =
miration. He conferred upon MT.
Dresser the distinction of being the
best writing man in America. 1t had
not occurred to us it might be per-
sonal opinion; we thought it dictum.
All we personally know about Mr..
Dresser is that he can't write for us.
: Pursuing the matter a little further
and conceding, to avoid argument, that
we have the ability to prepare an
epicurean repast, Verb Sap would get
it. He has understanding and grace.
But the boys at the Good Luck Garage
wouldn't know what we were trying
to do.
AS it is. they are in doubt more than
half of the time.
Mr. Hergeshelmer's "Cytherea,"
which should be spelled "Cythera" or
.fCythera ea," reposes on our desk with
the compliments of a friend. We in
tend to read it if it taints every moral
we have.
Doubtless. since you probably con-
template engaging in a similar adven-
ture, you will be interested in our en-
counter with "Cytherea." We have
penetrated the book to a depth of
past the first OBSERVATIONS violation of
the seventh commandment. vacant
say that "Cytherea" held us in intoxi-
eating embrace. altho there was liquor
on her breath. Several times we ceased
reading to engage in casual converse
ton. When, at 1890 o'clock, adelaide
suggested that it was time to retire
we laid the book down without reluc-
lance.
Ten years Or so ago 'Cytherea" would
have been a sensation; probably it
would have been barred from the
mails. Now it is "old stuff" 1t is
the thing over which those of US who
think we think have been mulling for
the Last two or three years. 1t IS
audhcious. but it has in it no, element
of surprise. The situation is about
as bad as Mr.. Hergesheimer makes it
out to be; but since everybody knows
about it, vigorously or otherwise, it is
not, in any sense, a revelation.
The liquor motif of "Cytherea'' is q
bit more intriguing. Those who real
the book will wonder where the East
lake people got their stuff; they had
it in such quantities. Those who
merely drink liquor will be interested
in Mr.. Hergesheimer's folk; they
bathed in it.
Another Attempt to Thwart the
Column.
Sir-Please discontinue your cam
paign against the wing collar. You
have driven it out of the retail stores,
and I am compelled to send to the
factory for it, and the factory tells me