The Kansas State Traveling Art Gallery owes its birth and much of its success to Kate A.Aplington,the author of that typical western story,Pilgrims of the Plains.Since Feb.,1907,the Art Gallery has been a recognized state institution,and as its Vice-President and Superintendent and as the writer of the art lectures that accompany the work,Mrs.Aplington's broad-minded,artistic temperament and student's persistency have made the gallery truly a work of art.
At present,the Aplingtons are living at Miami,Florida,but for a quarter of a century,Council Grove,the most famous spot on the Santa Fe Trail,was their home.Special investigations and researches on the subject of the old Santa Fe Trail days and lecturers on educational and literary topics resulted from years spent in that historic place.
Pilgrims of the Plains,which came out in Feb.,1913,is worthy of a place in the front rank of western stories.In July of this year,Grossett and Dunlap will bring it out in their Popular Edition of novels.
Mrs.Aplington is now working on a book on Art-Museums of America and judging from the comments of prominent Museum Directors,this will be as great a success as her novel.Florida of the Reclamation,a character story with scenes laid in and around Miami,Florida,is also in preparation.
