Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 August 1893 — The Way It Goes. [ARTICLE]

The Way It Goes.

In the analytical novel character is not allowed to speak for Itself; the author considers it his office to supply motives for' the simple act* “Truth” gives an amusing example a, the style now in vogue: TelluLa walked into the garden. Here wsw shown a distinctive trait of the girl's character. It will he observed that Tellula walked into the garden. Other women might have acted differently under the same circumstances. They might have run into the garden or crawled or jumped into the garden. Tellula did not. She walked into the garden. It is by such developments of hidden impulses that character can be gauged. In this connection it is exceedingly important to note that Tellula walked into the garden. She did not walk over it or under it or around it or across it* No, her physical and mental and moral structure did notadraitofsuch possibilities. Casting aside the vagaries, the whims, the petty caprices of her sex, she walked into the garden. Ah, how every act of our lives leaves its impress on the character: j

This fact could hardly be demonstrated more forcibly than by Tellula’s action in walking into the garden. She might have walked into a garden —any garden. But she didn’t. Not much. ‘ She walked into the garden. How pregnant with possibilities is this subtle distinction on Tellula’s part! Finally, in order to gain a clear understanding of the girl’s character, the reader will observe that Tellula walked into the garden. Alas! How many women might have walked into the duck pond or the corn bin or the pig pen! Tellula did not. She walked into the garden. We may wonder at the young girl’s insight into the true nature of things, and her marvelous judgment; but then it must be remembered that Tellula was not an ordinary girl.