The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-09-09


MOTHER, WILL AND l. by MILTON Corr.
story showing the modern tragedy OF life.
Paper, 90 cents; cloth, $l.25. Published
by the Arena Publishing Co., Boston. For
sale blythe a. w. Berry Stationery Co., lZO
South spring street.
This is a story OF our own day, and
shows some of the possible factors OF
social disaster and disintegration cre-
stsd by our civilization. 1t deals with
some OF the ugly facts Of life as they
are to be seen in any OF our great elites.
10 reveals the fearfully warping ip-
fuenoes continually moulding and
crushing all the higher idssla and
standards OF life. and often twisting
some OF the finest and tenderest and
most beautiful natures out of all recog-
milton, hurting them in their passionr
ate revolt against sin into that skepti-
oism that mocks at all it formerly held
sacred, and accepts the brutal laws OF
our society with all the fervor OF the
ancient Jewish lawgivers. Since pity
and mercy and love and justice are mere
empty words, cry these beings. made
for passion, and starved into cynicism by
the brutal mockery OF life, then let us
have an eye for an eye and tooth for
tooth. 1t is all very natural, when one
calmly considers it. The tigress at bay
does not temporize. Those unfortunetes
born for passion, cannot understand our
more phlegmatio amusement. Life can
never be comedy to them. 1t mnst
either bo pastoral or q tragedy it is
usually the latter. For this they are
much to be pitied for the only possi>
l. il. hat
stoicism that touches tolerance for all
most men, bad az they may be, are,
perhaps, after ell, but the pitiable
victims OF certain mental diseases?
The author has wildly portrayed the
influence on q naturally noble soul of
the crushing, inhuman power of our
present social and industrial conditions.
This story is o startling revelation OF the
possibilities wrapped up in even the
most generous, loving natures; and as
such, aside from its decided literary
merit, is worthy OF the serious psrusal
of every thoughtful man and woman,
every lover OF Justice and humanity.
yDe hero. Will Colt. has an extraord-
lad nature; from his early childhood
erFJ OF his youth is an inspiration to
IT, beeader, and tears spring to the eyes
tS1e's heart echoes the noble septi-
J ants. The very first chapter holds one
7 Outbound. 1t gives US an exquisite
word painting OF the childhood aud
youth OF the two brothers, Will
and Authorization, who tells the
story and who worships his older
brother, and in spite of conscience. ia
impelled to follow him later into for.
hidden paths. Their one passion, aside
from their great love for their mother.
was the serving of humanity with their
utmost powers. But with manhood
everything changes. In moment all
his beautiful castles-WilPs dream
houses-crumble. They crash about his
ears. But it is not of himself that he
thinks, even now. 1t is OF his father
and mother, of Milton and little Dow.
lie grows old in an hour. Life takes on
color al! undreamed of in the DAYS gone
by. Dreams are no longer to be suffered.
Acts must take their place. He sets out
TO win his way i'll the world. with hope
seemingly invincible. Alas and alas
How many thousands could tell the |
same story of Encouraging search for
work; OF from 20 10 200 applicants for |
every vacant position, of the rehuffs, the !
disappointments, the failures and the |
heart-aches.
Then came long illness, caused by
hard WORK and lack of proper food. For
weeks he hovers between lie and death.
always tortured, even in delirium. by
the lear OF his mother succumbiug 10
overwork and privation. She ia falling
fast. ls he never to earn enough to give
her the necessary food and the rest che
Graves? Slowly he wins in the battle
with death. But, weakened in BODY
and spirit, courage weakens too. and.
worst OF all. 30 does faith in God. He-is
too late. She wastes and deg. Will
stands as if turned to stone. Others
can find relief in tears. For him there
ls no "mothsr''-no hope, no God, no
heaven-sll great blank!
The story then shows how the pinch
ot circumstances can warp a man of fine
feelings and high ideals. Will feels
that he and his have been crushed to
earth by social laws and greed, and he
rebels agoinst society. He begins a ca
reer OF lawlessness--not promiecuously.
but dealing his blows for humanity to
he schemers and plotters against it. He
10 sets forth the righteousness-as he
ees it--ot the cause that he even in
iuces the peaceful Milton to Join him
md seven other men OF his choice in the
work OF adjusting for themselves some
II the existing wrongs. All this to chow {
low misery can utterly pervert some of !
he finest natures. The story from this
'oint on is tragedy, and it ends
bruptiy in a mystery, about which the .
eader can speculate to suit his fancy. G
The author of Mother, Will and has '
ttemr ted very interesting psychologist '
al analysis. which, read in the right a
pirit, should be warning to us not to I
ontlnue to create such perverse and i
nti-soclai dangerous minds by warp Il
og their moral impulses by legaized d
INJUSTICE and inhumanity. The book
~ be condemned in some quarters and n
III produce thought in others. 1t is a O
Lrong book, we'll written, and can do I
o social harm, however boldly it pro- h
laims the social dangers bred by soci- V
by. !,
as +
HE STANDARD DICTIONARY of the Eng n
ilsh Language, en- bodying new principles in a.
lexlcography, containing over 1900 iarse "
sized pagss, 1000 illustrations and 200 600 II
words ana phrases. Edited by a com petapt | Il
slan cf photographers and educators. Pub-
ilsheu by funk Wagnalls, New York city
for sale py L. u. Bronson, 100 South Spring G
street.
The editors, who number 247. that
ave been engaged upon the yariouo de-,
OF this dictionary, have been
elected from the front ranks of Eng
an and Arnaripa oohola -