The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-09-30

A NOVEL ny PUTNAM p. s1sHor.


NOVEL BY PUTNAM p. HTsHor.
G. p Putnam's sons: New York and London.
Knowing the author - we do. 1t would be
difficult to give other than hearty praise to the
book. II would have been . surprise had the
language been other than the best English-in
fact, that it should not have been good whole
some book, both interesting and instructive.
George Bidrop the chief character in the story,
is the son OF q clergyman who died just As George
had. completed his Sophomore year at Brown
University. The death of his father necessilated
the sons leaving college to accept the position
OF drummer for q wholesale hardware hrm IN
New York city in order to assist in supporting
widowed mother and schoolgirl sister. Whist
travelling through South Carolina in that capac
ity he had the good fortune to break the axle
tree of his buggy near the home OF Col. Orling-
ton, typical southerner no had risked aud lost
all in the civil war; but who was bearing up
and bearing on, still believing that his sacrifices
were made in glorious cause. Here bdrop
loses his hear, with Miss Martha Orlington, and
having heard that young lady express herself as
DESTROYS of living at Ellermere, her mothers
birthplace. Bidrop determined no, alone to pos
sess Miss Orngtou but also Ellcrmere. To ac-
complish the latter he must make $4,000 lie
resigns his position drummer TO go IN Mon
tana for the purpose OF investing his savings in
Mackopah lois, the terminus Of a railroad. At
ter many perplexi,ies apxie,ies and vexations
he realizes fortune, buys Ellermere, marries
Miss Martha Orling,on, and, the fairy stories
.l,..ls, tktho
Whilst with the hardware firm Bidrop's vau-
able services secured for him check OF $500
and Il vacation Of six weeks. His outing
spent at Wes,bay, on Lake Champlain. Here
he met Mr. Ralph Jorman, of New York, the
Psychologist Mr. Jorman is a whole-souled,
generous fellow, though his "gates" are very
much "ajar" on the subject Of the soul but he
finally comes across a copy ola Greek New Tes
lament, studies it diligently, becomes convinced
that it is wiser than all the teachings of Herbert
Spencer and the evolutionists whose disciple he
had before been,-indced it flung the gates
wide open. He determines 10 abandon his sell
fshness, which however does not seem to have
been Of IL very aggravated character anu devOtes
himself 10 life OF active bcnefcence, taking for
his motto the Masters words from the Greek Of
the New Testament: Ouk diackOne henai ALA
diackOnesai. Not 10 be miuisieresl unto, but to
minister. He marres widow, Mrs. Erdsby,
another of the Westbay acquaintances-"Se
rena'-a thoroughly good Christian woman who
helped him "pr"digiously Ia carry out practi
cay his rule of lite.
In Miss Kitty Evalsione. niece oi Mrs. JOr-
man, "a nut brown maid" one becomes con-
siderahly interested Her lover. Orrn B,rleck,
sows and haiyesis gop'lly crop ot wild oats
He then became rigid Calvanist-iudced seeks
to out Calvin Calvin. III" studies for the minis
try onJ an leaving b@s Eutrhi,r.ai
locates in New York CIV as Il missionary. He
finally becomes 30 asc' tic he determines " that
he should be false to his soul il he should
adopt lower rule o ac'Inn than ,hc one cxcul-
plitird in the crbacy OF s. Paul" Kitty is IL brave
stout hearted little girl-nrver d"Ii',iug Orrin's
love for her, but "Ie-ls proud ol his being con-
scientious and strong enough 10 give her up"
Kitty, howev 7, loses her appetite and can't sleep.
Orrin grows pale and hnpgard ami his tana-
cism is in danger of making him maniac To
bring about marriage with Kitty seems neces-
sary To preserve his sanity. lawyer is en-
ployed to do ihis-Mr Nexior. After much
circumlocuion Grin is brought To tell the history
OF having loved the most precious girl on
earth " and of his abandoning her without any
flul on her part on account of his duty 10 his
Master" Mr.. Nextor replied: Well if your
Master wants you 10 act Ike an internal scoundrel
towards woman, he cant be nv Master. I've
got The case of poor widow against cursed
ShyOck who is trying TO cheat her and God AL
mighty wants me to get justice for her" The
shock produced by the lawyers remarks brings
Orrin TO his senses and he concludes that there
will be sufficient opportunities tor seif-denia in
following in the Osieps of st. Paul without
making two people miserable by his failure 10
marry Kitty. They are married and Orrin be-
comes one of the most practical religious work
ers in New York. Mr.. Jorman's New Tesla
ment motto permeates the life-work of all the
happy friends and the book ends with letter
from Mr. Jorman, concluding as follows There
is great deal OF good work going on in this
world of ours, Molly, and we will take great
deal OF comfort in looking at it, There is plenty
OF evil, too, but we won't allow il TO worry MS.
When we see thai we can't do anything with il,
we'll turn away and find an excellent pillow for
our heads 10 the celestial regulations"
The style OF the author, as we have ntimated,
is excellent the language, if he trips at all in
grammar we have not discovered it; neverthe-
less few slang words and phrases might we'll
bc ommltcd in future editions-this for instance
(Jornan is spcaking) :" From one point of view
wickedness is Identical with jackasstsm," and
some Others not quite So questionable
The book deserves many readers and We hope
it may find them. Mr.. Bishop, AS is well known,
rendered most efficient service 10 the memorable
campaign Of 1876, when it required no little
courage for Northern man OF Republican au
tecedents TO dcnOunce the mlsrule of that party
10 Florida. 1t was understood that some of the
boldest and most effective speeches OF that con-
test were delivered by him TO audiences com
posed largely of Northern men settled in Florida
and bringing with them their old prejudices
against Democracy and the South. In remem
brance of these services, efforts have been made
several times since to induce Mr. Bishop to be-
come the Democratic candidate for Congress in
the Second Congressional District, he, however
refusing to accept the honor.
MRS r. A. HILTON
TALLAHASSEE, Sept 9th, 1886.
The Prohibition Candidate.