New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-20
JOHN WARD AND HIS WIFE.
A STRONG THEOLOGICAL NOVEL.
JOHN WARD. PREACHER BY MARcARIr DELANp
i2n mo. Pr. s73. Houghtsn Mifliia Co.


In this powerful novel is presented deeply
interesting study Of the effects of religious belief
upon love and happiness. Another phase of the
same problem was dealt with in the recently trans
lated Spanish story entitled Leon Roch' That
also was strong piece of work, bat Margaret
Deland has surpassed it in delicacy and subtlety
mot less than in the vivid realism Of her charac-
ter-drawing and the artistic simplicity of her die
ton The leading motive is not complicated, but
one none the less capable OF large consequences
A girl who has been brought up in the family OF
a liberal easy and worldly minded rector in the
Episcopal Church falls in love with and marrios q
Presbyterian minister of fervently spiritual char
actcr. The young wife is il anything, an Ag-
nostic The young husband is Of the martyr type.
He has never doubted that the obligation lay
upon him to convert his bride to Calvinism, but
she will not be drawn into argument on theo-
logical questions and, resting content IN her love-
constrains him for some time TO postpone all en-
deavors to convince her of her errors.
The situation, however, is strained, and cannot
lost The sudden death. while herocally attempt
ing the rescue Of child from fire, Of drunkcp
workman is the means Of precipitatipg crisis.
Helen Ward indignant at the declaration OF one
Of her husbands deacons that the dead man is IN
eyitably lost, tells the widow that there is no
He'll and that her late husband is certainly not
in any such place Thenceforward the preachers
wife is marked as a hereto, and both she andJohn
Ward arc pursued by popular censure, ana more
directly by the deacon whose doctrine Helen hah
traversed so boldly. The struggle which now De-
gins between the husband and wife is described
with great skill and force. The former gradu-
ally comes to believe that he is SHINING against
Helens dearest interests in shrinking from overt
attempts to convince her. Under this convic-
ton he breaches an Incorporating doctrinal
sermon directed really ut her. The only result
is 10 bring from her an explicit statement OF her
disbelief in eternal punishment. Then strange
idea terminates in John Wards mind. Ills WIG
is away from him ON a visit. lie writes 10 her'
inst as she is about to return home, thai she usI
not come TO him until she has " found the truth'
The practical effect Of this is to decree final and
hopeless separation between two souls that love
one another perfectly; and the mystery Oh tne
situation is that John Wards apparent cruelty is
the direct, the logical consequence Oh the depth
and greatness of his love. Tins is beautiiuiy
brought out in the discussions which exhibit the
average shallow construction put upon inc iacts
by people of the world. OF course these distrln-
ute blame freely between the husband and wlic
without in the least understanding either. Heleh
shows herself to be capable Of the noblest nlghts
during the terrible ordeal to which she is sud-
iected She will not permit her husband 10 Dc
abused She never for moment doupts the iui-
ness of his love. Her clear-seeing spirit rccog-
nizes IL in the mask of cruelty. She knows that
be is really seeking to save her by new klno Oh
vicarious atonement; that he is Inficting upon
himself the most poignant suffering In the nope
that her perception Of his agony may quicken
her spiritual insight and lead her to the light as
he sees IT, Helen for her part, does not deceive
herself. She realizes from the first that what
John seeks is unattanable. II is not possible Ior
her TO unlearn the religious beliefs which nave
become her very self She cannot accept ms doc
trne of future punishment, and neither can she
insult him and herself no less by pretending TO a
change of belief which has not come 10 pass. III
fact she is required to accomplish the lmpossiple
and because he cannot see this, because ne is pro
foundry convinced that it is his duty both 10 0od
and to her to put this suffering upon her anu en'
dure it himself, the case is altogether hopeless
Neither Of them can withdraw, neither Oh pheni
can propose or accept any compromise.
Tho strength of such situation for the purposes
Of fiction must be seen at once; Dut IL inc s'.u",
tion is strong. it is equally difficult. To deal
With II falsely or weakly would be very easy
So TO handle it as to throw into high relief TIE
exalted and noble aspects of line of action so
liable from its externals, to be condemned sum-
merilv ms cruel demands very high order OF tai
emit and an exceptional and almost instructive
'delicacy of execution. The combination is OF the
kind which while embracing tragic elements
may, by clumsy inapt presentation DE mace W
sppear only disagreeablc and repulslVe. Inc "ar-
Yowuess of John Ward in many respects is helVner
concealed nor pallieted In the manner OF MS
separation from his wife there is oold ignoring
of social even of legal obligations, which wouia
probably in real life have prevented the consuni.
nation Of such a project. ms touch vi
rnnracticality, however, is readily excused seeing
that it is necessary TO the working ouo Vi 'no
ss,,cho,ooical problem which is the central theme
what the conclusion Of the strange cohhico Is
need not be indicated 1t is clear that there can
he no solution of the main point in contention
Tho struggle lis essentially unequal, being De-
tween two minds holding irreconcilable bche1s
and equally loyal to the truth as each sees IT,
II is the mathematical problem OF the pfoductioh
Of parallel lines to. infinity. They can never
meet, howsoever far they 60
The reception by Helen of John Wards heart
breaking resolve is not the least beautnul paro
Of the story. She is. stunned at hrst' crusned
almost TO the earth But she does not even 1or
an instant misunderstood her husband. she
GEES how masterful is the love that has dictated
this great remuneration; her heart goes OUT 10
him. il possible, more warmly than ever, even
while her intellect is r5ognizing the hnahty Oh
the bereavement she must school herself TO en-
durc Helen indeed is q lovely character; though
the author has done his utmost TO make John
Ward Ineligible; though there can be no aoupt
as to his exaltation his gentleness, his altruism'
and his manliness it is after all the wifes Dear
ing and doing and suffering which interest US
the most deeply, and touch us most powerfully.
The most impartial critic cannot wholly dlvest
h,,osaIf NJ some imDaticnce when contemplating
the waste of love and human happiness caused
by the preachers intensity Of conviction; but there
is no room for antagonjstic emotions while OBJ
serving the ineffable tenderness. humility,
patience. fulness OF comprehension, and utter
loyalty Of love. exhibited by this sweet and noble
woman.
The setting Of this study is worthy Of IT. Inc