The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-05-05
sDavid Grieve and "Miss Wilton"


by Edward A. Kelley, Esq, native of
Winterport. Both works are in the Bel
fast Free Library:
''It is with feeling of relief that one
turns over the leaves of ''Miss Wilton
after laying down the depressing pages
of David Grieve."
The former is agreeably optimistic-the
latter painfully pessimistic.
"David Grieve'' is written from the
standpoint and with the aim of the advo-
cate who has theory to present and en-
force for the conviction of its readers.
The author believes that our ancestors
''are the dead but sceptred sovereigns
who still rule our spirits from their urns'
and argues with all her power in favor of
this belief.
She does not give David and Louie even
the benefit of good environment, which
certainly would be just in a full and inn
partial discussion and trial of heredity.
PROFESSIONALLY we come into this world
with inherited tendencies, qualities and
characteristics which greatly influence
and shape our destinies; but in order to
test the truth of the hopeless doctrine
that they rule with despotic power the
breast and drag us on with viewess chain.
while taste and reason plead in vain
ought not the heirs OF this inheritance to
be placed in relations and under condi-
tons and circumstances which will enable
them, if possible. to throw off the iron
rule OF their ancestors?
Over the entrance to this earth, Mrs.
Ward writes the words, i'll tine characters
OF Louie and her mother, certainly. ''All
hope abandon, We who enter here.
In Miss Wilton, at first the author
with some difficulty places and arl3mges
her many characters but when once Sc
lected and fixed, the order of their pro
cession is marked by ease, grace and
strength. The book has firm basis OF
sound common sense-a sense which Dr.
johnson has pronounced most uncommon.
and manifests a close and reflective obser-
walton of nature and mankind.
The purpose of the author is a good and
humane one, and it is executed fairly
consistently and iudicially. This purpose
is ito S"othe the cares and lift the souls
of men, and thus make them happier and
better
Miss Wilton, the principal character, is
one requiring close and analytical thought.
This thought the author has given it, with
excellent results in the lesson which it
{ O.
an angel and devil dwell within her
When left to herself she is wilful, extrav-
agant, selfish and unprinciped When
she comes under the influence of
Robertson, like the plant which woos
the sun, she inclines towards him.
This is natural, and in obedience to
the emotions of respect and love which
he inspires in her. She loves him, and it
is this love which Influences her to assist
him in his work. She can be good, She
can do good with Robertson. and this
shows concluSively that there is that ele-
ment i'll her character which enables him,
lifted up as he is, to draw her unto him.
When Robertson left her for 50 long Il
time, and she was without any word from
OF OF him, and entertained fears that
he might be dead, the new growth within
her is checked: it could not continue and
flourish without the gladstone sun of his
presence. Her old selfish and ambitious
nature reasserts itself.
She is again left to herself. Heredity
in her case, having been deprived of its
beneticent environment, controls her. She
is now her natural self Her relations
with Gardiner show this. She must have
some one to provide her with money to
crafty her ambition and love OF display
Gardiner is rich. One rich man to her is
now as acceptable as another. SO they
become engaged. But ii is altogether a
mercantile transaction. 1t is not a true
and sincere attachment founded ON mutual
respect and love
Their relations end as all such should
and better far before than after marriage.
She cannot love him. and therefore she
does not pretend to love him. This prov
ed that the element of good in her is still
living and controlling.
She now retires from all intercourse
with the world She is a victim of remorse
She despises and hates herself. is this
the act of an incurably wicked womano OF
one who is not conscious of her faults
and is not trying to correct themo No. 1t
is the act of one who feels that she has
been wicked-is repentant and strives to
become better.
She is discovered by Robertson i'll he,
guarded seclusion. They meet All the
past of him and with him, absorbs, poss-
esses and overwhelms her.
Robertson, whom she had loved e
only one whom she has ever loved, she
now finds reciprocates her love. The sun
of his love now shines upon her and the
new growth, which her love for him had
)IOtttlCcu III llcI-Sus pellttetl ALMOST SUIT
ed by THEN separation is now released
from the baleful shade Of his absence and,
reaching and towering, climbs to the soul
and heart of her beloved Robertson.
Now she loves what he loves. Her aims
in life are his aims.
The angel of her being now possesses
her. The devil is exercised. Here we
have an illustration and proof of what a
good environment can do for heredity.
In the case of Miss Wilton, it had all the
sweet blissful and blessed influence upon
her which the perfect days OF June have
upon the earth
Without Robertson she would never have
become the good woman which she turned
out to be. But without the instinct. the
principle of good within her, she would
never have become and remained good
His was the plastic hand that moulded
her, but she furnished the material for the
moulding.
Every reader must like Mr.. Wilcox and
Bessie Folsom. The account OF their court
ship and married life is nat ural and admir-
able.
The descriptions of country scenery and
| life could only have come from the facile
pen of one who loves them and has enjoy
ed them long and often.
There are throughout the book many
! comments and suggestions on life. cEarac-
ter moral duties and actions, which show
i'll a most creditable manner, the refined
taste and the intellectual and moral
StrenUt h of the aIlthor