Elliott Flower is another of Wisconsin's writers who came
into the field of literature through newspaper work. He was
born at Madison in 1863, and after receiving a common school
education there, he went to Phillips Academy at
Massachusetts. He was editor of the Rambler in 1885 and 1886,
and after that he was for some years engaged in editorial
work on Chicago papers. Since 1899, however, most of his work
has been of a purely literary nature, and his residence has
been in Madison for some time. He is the author of "Policeman
Flynn," "The Spoilsman," "Nurse Norah," "Delightful Dog," and
other books.
The story from which we quote is "The Impractical Man." It is
fairly representative of a considerable portion of his work.
It shows a keen sense of humor, a skillful handling of
conversation, and considerable knowledge of human nature. Our
selection embraces the first and last portions of the story.
Between these selections many experiences fall to the lot of
the "impractical man." There is an adventure in the woods, in
which the men are lost, and there are many laughable
experiences in a canoe. In this story, as is frequently the
case in Mr. Flower's work, the unexpected happens, and the
character whom the reader has been inclined to pity because
of his inability to take care of himself suddenly proves to
be shrewd enough to outwit those with whom he is dealing.