Life — June 6, 1907 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

vides godly fruit. Lydia Languish no more repairs in secret to the circulating library, in terror of Sir Anthony’s anath- And Lydia’s grandmother no longer flouts fiction as ‘a pack of lies.” For the novel has been made not only innocuous, but a first aid to the spiritually injured, and the credit thereof is Ralph Connor’s. * * * (YE SEE in Ralph Connor our Luther Burbank of literature. To the dead- sea fruit of fiction he has grafted the early-blooming persimmon of the timely tract, and the product thereof, though a trifle pulpy and suggesting the propinquity of the pumpkin patch, is wholesome and filling and digestible. ‘That it is market- able goes without saying. Since this pastor of a Winnipeg church (his real name is the Rev. Charles W. Gordon) put forth, almost by accident and after re- peated rejections, his first essay in fiction, his publishers have been busy tabulating the returns. His latest work, “The Doc- tor,” vies with the best of the “best sellers” in point of sales. All told, his six tales have found purchasers for 1,500,000 copies representing several times that number of readers. se & E ARE aware that the thing has been done before—but never so impres- sively and significantly. Certain homilies thinly disguised as fiction have attained, it is true, an incredible circulation among people who are not readers of “literature,” even in the lowliest sense of the term. Nor have we lost sight of that littérateur who has been immortalized in the adjuration of the poet: “God save us all from a death like this On the works of E. P. Roe.” The heirs of that good man, in the face of profane pronouncements, are reported to be still drawing royalties. * * * Be Ralph Connor is entitled to more serious consideration. His books, at least, breathe the hardy spirit of the mis- sionary, and are informed with some knowledge of human nature. They have taken their place on even terms with the most popular novels of the time; as phe- nomena they challenge attention. A New York critic who would lay bare the secret of their popularity ascribes it to Connor’s daring “to give his heroes a capable mus- cle as well as high moral principles.” This seems to fall short of complete analysis. A Boston Transcript contributor has found them “alive with interest upon every page.” But doubtless this reviewer has a similar opinion of The Transcript, and so his views cannot be regarded as final. It seems to us that a Kansas City journalist gets nearer the truth when he says: “Peo- ple who would scarcely sit through a ser- Studebaker Vehicles Win Blue Ribbons Next to the horse himself nothing commands so much attention and admiration at the Summer Horse Show as the fine vehicles with which he is shown. Since the establishment of this most notable of Summer events eS has occupied the foremost place as a builder of vehicles for this special purpose—types which not only embody the very finest material and construction, but which are recognized as authoritatively correct to the very last detail of style. It is characteristic of Studebaker methods that the uses for which a vehicle is destined are thoroughly studied in advance and each requirement anticipated. ‘This thoughtfulness is exemplified in the vehicle shown, which is representative of the extensive line of Studebakers embracing types suitable for practically every pur- pose. It is likewise evident in every piece of fine Studebaker harness— carried in stock at all Studebaker repositories and displayed in conjunction with vehicles and accessories designed for the best American stables. Studebaker Bros. Mfg. Co. SOUTH BEND, IND. REPUSITORIES: NEW YORK CIY.—Studebaker Mires. Co. of New York, roanay ab anh Stand 96 Warten St CHICAGO, Wt—studetaker res. Mig. Co. 378 and Watish see KANSAS CITY, MO—Stadetaker Bros. Mfg. Co., 13th and Wickory st, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL —Studetaker Bros. Co, of California, Market and 118 S6 PORTLAND, ORL-Stuebaker Bros, Co., Northwest, 399 laad q36,E, Merrion St SEATTLED WASH —Studctaker Bros. Co, Northwest, jo TY, UTAH.—Studebaker Bros. Co. of Utah, 1d 199 State St 5 b& Make Ses 327-319 Elm St, WHITMAN SADDLES Known the world over “Everything from Saddle to Spur” CATALOGUE FREE The Mehlbach Saddle Co. Seccessors to Whitman Sadie Co, — 108 Chambers St, New York WANTED—Onre or two per- sons in each town able to present a subscription proposition of unusual merit to their immediate friends. A very few new names bring hand- some retums. Full information and particulars upon application to LIFE, 17 West 318 St., New York comicbooks.com