Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 March 1901 — THE GENTLE READER. [ARTICLE]

THE GENTLE READER.

He (or She) Seems to Have Disappeared with the Stagecoach. What hag become of the Gentle Reader? asks Samuel M. Crothere in the Atlantic. Qlle does not like to that he has passed away with the stage coach and the weekly news letter; and that henceforth we are to be confronted only with the stony glare of the Intelligent Reading Public. Once upon a time—that is to say, a generation or two ago—he was very highly esteemed. To him books were dedicated with long, rambling prefaces and with episodes which were their own excuse for being. In the , -nr middle of ‘the story the writer **.. 'rt and with a word of apol•ouldn- . ddreMtd toYh. oar or expltMi... ■ Gentle Reader, or at tn» . with a nod or a wink. No matter the fate of the hero be in suspense or toe plot be inextricably involved. "Hang the plot!” says the author, "I must have a chat with the Oehtli Reader, and find out what he thinks about it.” And so confidences were interchanged and there was gossip about the universe, and suggestions in regard to the queerness of human nature, until, at last, the author would jump up with: “Enough of this, Gentle Reader; perhaps it’# time to go back to the story.”