Life — February 7, 1907 — page 7: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Lafeadio Hearn: World Wait HE letters of Lafcadio Hear, which have just been published by Houghton, Mifflin and Company, will be to the student of literature al- ways an exceedingly interesting book. Whether it will appeal to the “general” is a question. Ls tio Hearn was a genius, but he was not a great genius, or a great man, Perhaps one of his chief defects was that he was not at home in any one race. His father was an Irishman, his mother a Greek. It is almost pathetic to notice in his letters the feverish desire to lear. He spent his. in forming a library of curious books —as he called them, “queer.” As a result of his long, hard years of work as a reporter and a student of literature, he formed a magnificent style, full of color. His relationship to literature is much the same as Russell Sage’s wastomoney. He hoarded s golden images, and he has given to the world some of the finest pieces of descriptive writing ever known, But he had no sense of dramatic situations, and very little of plot. He had no big ideas. He had no fundamental impulses. All that he has written about science, for instance, he absorbed from other writers, his god being Her- bert Spencer. Throughout the pages of his writ- Elizabeth Bisland, like a guardian angel, hovers insistently. Indeed, there is no better ex- ample in literature of the pure devotion of a good woman for a world waif like Lafcadio Hearn. Following are some extracts from the Hearn book : about the disinclination to work for © for pure love's sake, without hope of reward, touches me—because I have felt that despair so long and so often. And yet I believe that all the world’s art-work—all that which is eter- nal—was thus wrought. And I also believe that no k made perfect for the pure love of art can h, save by strange and rare accident. But there is one more absolutely essent jormation of a strong style—science. nce equals it. Tone What you s ese studies I should think one could not help ng a good style at least—an impressive one cer- ‘The journalist of to-day is obliged to hold himself ready to serve any cause—like the condottieri of | Italy, or the free captains of other countries. par: pendence in this really nefarious pro- fession, n, indeed, he is able freely to utter his heart's sentiments and indulge his tastes, like that esthetic and wicked Giovanni Malatesta, whose life Yriarte has written. Our magazines—excepting the Atlantic—do not ir to be controlled by, or in the interest of, rs. Fancy how I felt when asked (indirectly) by the Century to write something “sNappy!"? Belief 1 do not think is ridiculous altogether— nothing is ridiculous in the general order of the world; but at a certain point it prevents the mind from expanding; its horizon is solid stone and its vault. One must cease to believe ore bein le to comprehend cither the reason or beauty of belief. I felt somewhat startled when I first read the Only 1900 pounds Franklin Type D 1900 pounds moved by 20 Franklin horse- power:—There’s speed and climbing energy. 1900 pounds, every ounce tested, calculated and treated, for fitness and endurance, as scien- tifically as a lapidary cuts a diamond. There's strength, handiness, safety. 1900 pounds:—There’s cutting the usual fuel-cost and tire-cost in half. 1900 pounds; and the Franklin power- saving, passenger-saving jarless frame :— There’s comfort and touring mileage positively unknown in any but a Franklin. You'd better write for the Franklin 1 ve de (ure and learn the reasons beneath, and the results that follow this Shaft-drive Runabout $1800 4-cylinder Touring-car $2800 4-cylinder Light Touring-car$1850 6-cylinder Touring-car $4000 H. H. FRANKLIN MFG. CO., Syracuse, N.Y. MAL VM, Type D Touring-car $2500 105-inch wheel—base Fiye. Passengers Mrs. ont, Kosmeo Creates a Perfect Complexion sokonmeo ts a dainty, anow-white, sweet amelling cream, delight. ful to UKE. It Immediately cools and soothes a burning, sensitive skin, and healsa rovgh.chapped or otherwise Irritated skin inane application, ‘It's en absolute protection for men, women and children front sunburn, freckles and tan; excellent for men’s uso after shaving. ‘Koameo cleanses the pores thoroughly and promotes a healthy circulation, thus removing the cause of pimples and blackbeads. It makes the flesh firm and the skin smooth and clear, free from wrinkles and glowing with health. Price 50 cents, Atail dealers, or sent by mail postpaid, A Sample Box of Kosmeo and Booklet Free Mrs, Gervaise Graham, 1301 Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Ii, comicbooks.com