Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1879-06-11
wEATnEn ossRRVATIONs.
WAR DEPT, SIGNAL SERVICE. u. S. ARMY,
TUESDAY, June 10, 1879, 1908 pm.
TIE "NAsTER OF RED LEAF" BY
MRS. + A. MERIWErHER.


TIE "NAsTER OF RED LEAF" BY
MRS. + A. MERIWErHER.
At last we have a novel that is not only
historic but defensive of the south. 1t
has been printed and published in Eng
land, where so much is current in re-
gard to our section that is erroneous,
and where, by reason of the once exist
ence Of slavery, there is a public opinion that
ia opposed TO and impatient OF the southern
States and people. Books on the civil war,
it's causes and consequences, we have had in
abundance, essays on our great military
chiefs, memoirs Of our gallant navy, and re-
views Of our political aspirations without
number, but never until the appearance OF
the Muster of Red Leaf, a novel, or TO
nance, that pictured our people as they were
before and during the unequal struggle, with
6heir high social culture, their political aspl-
rations and theic Inbred independence tena-
pered by edCcabon and founded in assured
wealth. Ia no book. no matter what its
title, IT'S ellibsr or its source, have we read so
muoh that Is GEOGRAPHICALLY true OF the
south as 10 this novel, so strong 10 its state
nenGs, 30 wildly real in its pictures, SO
mastery in its deIineation of the pas
sions in which Cffense and defense, during
the most stirring epoch in our history, found
their recruiting reservoirs. Southern life
tho life Of the plantation-with its ease, It's
high-b bred courtesies, its nameless CHARMS
born of intercourse that was never obtLusive,
rude or coarse, is painted with free hand
rs If by master who was putting on imper-
ishabls canvas the scenes Of MS own early
experience. All the shades of high and low
life are depicted il native eGioss, from The
iadies and gentlemen of what May nov
be termed the ancient regime, to the
poor held-hand, to whom life was q
round of ungarying labor, like that of
the mule IN the tan-bark mill, and
the well-ied, pampered meaial who, as house
servant, enjoyed the confidence CT master
and loissus--ali are put IN, not merely to
ill uP. be- as accessories without winch
the picture would lack the special element,
the historic feature which gives it greatest
value. Tne provinciahsms to which we still
cling as evidences OF the days that are no
more; the quaint usaSes; the tethered inGs-
oendenee OF speech that characterized the
favored body-servan5 or maid; the grace and
sweetness Of the ladies, whose fame as lead
ers of society has become traditional; the
beauty Of the giris, now grandmothersi the
dignity and stately manhood of tie men,
who ara dead or have passed into the
obscurity that il worse than death
all have been put upon the broad
canvas with a fidelity that will challenge the
admiration and approval OF every southern
MAJ and woman, and canEot fail to
end thousands of northern friends who
have no political fynlpAthies with us. The
villain Of the story Is woman, and love
prompts her to the elimination Of her diabo-
lism, though 1t Is first begun as an emissary
of the underground railroad company, that,
before the present generation was born, vas
the established highway along which negroes
passed free lrom slavery to freedom. from the
south to the north, generally TO Canada.
chester Gtanhope" tells the story Of her
life. The novel IS therefore autobiograph-
ical, and the plot Is the natural product
of the life OF the heroine. 1t Is not our prov
ince to open up to our readers even glimpse
Of q book Of 30 much merit. 1t would be an
injustice to the reader, as to the author, to
sketch evec 90 family the incidents and
scenes which follow each other in such
rapid succession, or to attempt the reproduc-
ton Of the strength and power OF statement,
the ole2mess, logic or force with which points
are made for and against our section. 1t will
suffice Tor Us to say that underlying all the
eharSsters there is the basis of naturalness,
and under the statements which portray our
a
fates the foundations Of truth. Neither sec
ton is apared neither Is belSbored with abuse
or despatched with praise. There is nothing
fulsome in any Of the pages Of the Master Of
Red LeQf There is now and then the echo
OF a deep, profound regret, but the author,
who has labored with tongue and pen for the
freedom Of her sex, is too devoted lover of
liberty to fail for a moment in her allegiance.
The earnest, ambitious, yet seemingly simple
girl tells her story, as il she was making a
final cociession. There is no attempt tG
overdo, or divert the narrative to foreign
purpose. 1t il Direct, plain and pointed. From
the hour when she left her New England
home to begin a career ihat ended for her so
wretchedly, marked By vicissitGdes that bear
their natural relation TO it, she goes straight
forward 10 her purpose of holding back moth
ing, of telling everything, even TO the degra-
dalton of her sister and that sisters heroic
death rather than linger in the lap of DALI
auos after "Hester's" solemn, earnest pro.
test. In and about this sister-"Emily" the
author eenters Gn interest that has relation
TO the social and worst of all evils, the only
connection between it and the war being the
eorraptions which result from civil commo-
ton, the recklessness not only as to life but
living, and the license which leavens the most
ordinary intercourse at such time Mrs
Meriwether avails herself of the opportunity
which this character affords to indulge in re-
Elections that few will fail to admit are cor
rect. She institutes no comparisons between
meu and women that are not warranted by
facts aad existing custom. Her conclusions
are therefore Irresistible. She paints in vivid
colors the results Of seduction, and the evil
following upon tbat oger-confdence in So
called holy meG" that 40 often out
crops in priest or minister-ridden
communities. She pleads for her sex-for
SIS freedom, for lis education in right ways
and by right methods, and she marks for
detestaton the debauches who, under what
ever disguise, invade to wreck peaceful homes
and upright hearts, and to whom the life to
come is rs nothing when their brutal instincts
prompt and their beaslly appetites are 20 be
satisfied Ia reading the life OF poor Emily
Slanhope," the reader will forget the general
a Al. r. 4.