The herald., 1894-06-10
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In their band OF authors there 10 no
one who is more thoroughly acquainted
with the heart throbs and human pas
sions and faults than Helen h. Garden
or, aud no book reviewer or critic bet
ter educated to judge OF the books on
subjects Of the present time than the
editor of the Arena, Mr.. b. o. Flower.
And so this little notice will be COM
bination of their thought and observa-
ton and writing, coupled with the writ
er's ideas and opinions. When the
reader scans the title of this new book
from the Arena press, he will exclsim.
"An Unofficial Patriot What, another
war story?" No, not another war story.
but the first great sociological and his
torical novel OF the civil war which Ia
fairly entitled to an honorable position
among the volumes destined to hold a
place in the permanent litera-
ture of the nation. There is a
very strong claim to make, and doubt
less those who read the first two or three
chapters of this new romance by Helen
HI. Gardener may feel that this estimate
of its value is exaggerated, but ma
jority of the thoughtful men and women
VINO peruse Its thrilling pages to the
end of the story will agree with Mr..
ElOWdE bubb tu0 NATURALIZATION 10 I'LL
under rather than an over statement OF
the merits of this work. 1t is true to
life, and yet thrilling, because it deals
with life in supreme moments. 1t por-
trays humanity Intoxicated with hero
ism and profoundly moved by all the
major emotions which enter the cham
Der Of the human soul. 1t deals with
crises and events in which years were
loA txnkn hNr tnh afr
men with tender and sy mpathetic ma
lures grew old in year, and patient,
loving women became haggsrd shadows
of their former selves under the weight
of an all but intolerable suspense. The
great breadth OF the authors philosoph-
zeal mind and catholicity of spirit fully
pervades this volume. The story opens
with q brief and rapid retrospective
glance, in which the author protrays in
her own peculiarly forceful manner the
great waves OF Methodistic enthusia Ism
which swept over Virginia and the south
during the third and fourth decade of
our century.
Griffith Davenport, the hero of the
story, is the son of wealthy squire in
Virginia. He comes under the spell of
the gospel of Methodism, which is so
father, q staid Episcopalian, is naturally
Disguised. But what was disgust when
his son determined to celebrate his 10Th
birthday by transmitting himself into
a Methodist ass, with leather lungs"
changed into dismay when he found
that Griffith had decided to become "a
circuit rider, man with no traditions
shouting and having fits and leading
weak-minded women and girls, and
weaker minded boys and niggers into
unpardonable, disgracsful antics, and
calling il religionp p But the old gen
tleman's denunciations were futile the
boy became ''circuit RIDER" And
most charming and idyllic are the pic
lures presented of those early years
the lonely rider, the religious enthus-
asm which intoxicated him, and the
passion awakened by a bright-eyed
Presbyterian girl which threw him into
an ecstasy; the Virginisn courtship, the
happy life on the plantation the love
and fidelity OF the slaves; the mental
torment of the minister who felt con-
WINGED that the ownership OF men was
criminal, and the dismay created among
the slaves when he announced his de-
termination to free them. In the pages
dealing with these subject, while de-
ecri bling q charming home life, with the
addition of bright-eyed boys and wee
little girl not a wit less philosophical or
curious than her brother, the author
furnishes the best picture of the slavery
problem, as it confronted conscientious
slave owners, ever presented for consid-
GRAFTON. 1t was all very we'll for the agi-
tators to hurl sweeping denunciations
upon every nan who held slaves; but
apart fiQza all considerations of q COM
mercial character, from a purely human
itarian and ethical point OF view, the
freeing OF slaves under the then existing
conditions, while it might ease an indi-
vidual conscience, was doubtful kind
ness to the slaves, nay, more, it WAS in
many instances cruel kindness. This
is not, of course, claiming that slavery
WAS right, but the author gives to
northern readers new angle from which
to look at the great problem, and by
which they will better understand the
feeling of the southerner during the bit
ter strife which preceded the civil war.
The broad, philosophical spirit which
pervades this work, 10 very marked in
this discussion. One feels that the au-
thor is a ueep student of sociology and
psychology; that she is true philoso'
pher as we'll az an impartial historian.
Indeed, the reader will look in vain,
from cover to cover, for evidence OF a
partisan bias. The writer is far enough
from the great struggle to be impartial.
She ia also great enough to be humane
and just
The circuit rider at last leaves Vir-
Rlnia lie has secured a position in
college in Indiana, and he removes with
his slaves to Washington. where he
learns that no negro is allowed to be
employed in Indiana. This blow to the
husband and wife is scarcely lees bitter
than it is to the faithful negroes who
were going with them to Indiana. The
Gritfiths arrange. hewever, tor the ne
money at stated intervals, and leave
Them free, but not without support. in
the capital city.
The trials and joys experienced in In.
diana are portrayed, and one catches
touching and deiig htful glimpses of home
life. The boys, who have grown to man
hood, are profoundly stirred by the ire
mondous moral agitation which is in
progress. The eldest son becomes rad
icsl Free Soilery while the father holds
more conservative views. Inc boy finally
gains permission TO 60 to Missouri to
edit Free Soil paper, aud becomes go
aggressive that he is burned out and
narrowly escapes with his life. He then
turns up in Kansas, and when the call
for troops ia made he raises regiment
and enters the army. Two OF the other
sons werelshortly afterwards enrolled in
the Union Rrmy-one by dint OF persua-