The herald., 1894-06-10

ldyilc mas passed, the smoothly Rlldlng
river has become part of the tempest
laehed ocean. In a word we are now in
the midst of q nation intoxicated. Some.
thing OF the same madness which is as
cribed to genius has touched a people.
HencefortI, without any exaggeration
or departure from pure realism. indi-
viduals no less than events become col
ossal. The reader is profoundly moved,
because the deepest well-springs of life
on every hand are being touched. No
Gardeners portrayal of Washington after
the battle OF Bull Run, and still greater
passage in which she depicts the struggle
which Griffith Davenport and his loyal
wife underwent while Governor Morton
pleaded with the "circuit rider" to give
mis- country the benefit OF his owledge
of the topography of Virginia and thus
save any future slaughter OF life or dis
astrous defeat through ignorance of the
country. Three sons In the northern
army, fighting against his family and
that Of his wife had not he made saori-
fee enough? No, he would not 20 un-
less the cause was desperate and he was
ordered to perform the task. The call
OF duty came, Griffith Davenport, follow
ing the rule OF his life, answered the call
OF duty. The interview with President
Lincoln is one of the most interesting
chapters OF the book, and what Is more
1t is historically accurate. This gives it
special value as it throws some new side
lights on the character Of Lincoln and at
the same time carries the reader into
the very atmosphere in which the presi-
dent lived during the supreme crisis in
our country'H history. Later, we see
Griffith plotting the governmental Off
cers and engineers through the enemy's
country, giving them thorough knowl-
edge OF the ground, which was SO indis-
peneable il they were to be saved from
future Bull Runs.
Nor are the war scenes confined to
Washington and Virginia. Griffith's
sons are in the western armies, and
some of the most vivid portrayals of the
horrors of battle are found in the de-
scriptions of the conflicts in which the
younger Davenports were engaged. So
far as the book deals with the facts of
the civil war it is historically accurate,
while the broad and impartial vision of
the author gives a special value to this
aspect of the work. Perhaps, however,
the greatest interest of the volume lies
in it's being such remarkable philo-
sophical, sociological and physcholog-
ical study. In Mrs. Gardeners bright
and peculiarly entertaining manner we
are shown the workings of many brains,
reflected in action no less than in words !;
and all the characters are so thoroughly
human one feels that the work is sim
pie narration of facts, known by the
author to be true.
Helen Gardener ia a native OF Vir-
ginia, and she has spent much time in
her native state. Hence she has been
able to portray in a most admirable man
ner the life, characteristics and dialect
OF the Virginia negroes.
This volume is entirely unlike any
thing the gifted author has written here
tofore. 1t is a work upon which she has
spent several years, and it will unques-
tionsbly occupy high place among the
comparatively few historical novels
which possess permanent value The
historian will enjoy It no less than the
philosopher and student of human ma
ture. The simple novel reader will
enjoy it no less than those who are stuff
GENTLY far removed from the stormy
scenes of the civil war to be able to rise
above prejudice, and who desire to know
the truth and realize how each side felt.
Many readers when the book is finished
will acknowledge that it is one of the
most important works OF fiction which
has appeared this year, and will agree
with Mr.. B. l. Flower that it is the best
work get given us from the pen of Helen
III. Gardener.