The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-11
LITERARY NOTES,

People are naturally SkepCcaI OF the
excellence of books written by famous
women. So many of them have pub
| lished books with the expectation OF sell
| ing them because of the authors repu
| tation rather than of the merits of the
book that when it is announced that
"The famous Miss or Mrs. So and So will
shortly publish novel, " the readers draw
a weary sigh and pity those credulous
mortals who think because a woman is
known to fame, as the wife or daughter
of great man, she therefore has talent
| in the field of literature. There was
great disappointment even in the Queens
| book, and she was educated with a view
to becoming the ruler of her people.
''The Yelled Doctor" by Miss Winnie
Davis Harper IL Brothers, Publishers,
New York marks an exception to the
rule. Before it was published it was
critically examined by three professional
readers, neither of whom knew who was
the author, and all three of them pro
nounced 1t a novel of rare merit and
! deep interest, and recommended it's pub
LEGATION as a money making transaction.
Miss Davis has very wisely let no trace
of her fathers career, or the Southern
| Cause, find place in the book. There is
not a line of self in it. Interesting, nay
tragic, as has been the sad experience
of her family, she Justly holds all allus
ion to it too sacred to permit suspicion
of it to be found in her novel. 1t said
to be a story founded on truth, and it
may be for that reason that the scene is
somewhat vague, it being an old sea port
town "well out of the course of the pres
ent line of travel" Some have guessed
it to be laid somewhere along the Mary
land or Virginia coast, though there is
no more warrant for that than for it's be
ing located in New England.
1t is sad story of disappointed love,
invested with a stoical and uucanny
tragedy that leaves deep, lasting and
unpleasant impression. But it is an
impression that you cannot get away
from-the novelist has gotten hold OF
You, and you just must think of the pic
ture of unhappiness that is as graphic
and as strongly and realistic as any
pen-picture in the works Of the
masters A young physician, rich and
the leader of his community, brings his
city bride home only to find that she has
no heart for the noble mission that ami
mates his life, that she is lacking in those
higher virtues that ennoble womanhOod,
and that to fippancy and light
medicines, she adds the vice of false
hood She SCOTS at what he holds sacred
and offends his manly pride at the most
vital point. He struggles to lead her
into useful life, but, shocked and
/ Al l. b1,, hra NIL
lieviug that she has carried her firta-
tons far enough to compromise herself,
comes to regard her with hatred and
loathing In delirium he cuts off her
hair her browning golden glory, and
thrusts the glittering mass into the fire,
saying: lyon shall give up that beauty
with which you sought to kill mems
souls, And | have made
holocaust unto the Lord, burnt offer
ing"
de is i'll for many days, and finds that
malady, a grievous cancer on his face,
is to end his life. His father and grand
similarly shortened, and he knows that
his doom has come. Before leaving his
room, he wells his face, determined
that no mortal shall ever look upon it
and for several years, in growing
weakness, practises his profession in
gentleness and sweet ministration. In
all these months he does not see or speak
to his wife, writing her of his loss OF love
and respect. but leaving her mistress of
his house while he takes up his abode in
his Office. All efforts at reconciliation
are unavaillng, and he dies alone, with
out even having seen his wife or permit
ted her to look upon his face. He leaves
letter forbidding her to see his face,
even after death, upon the penalty OF in
curing his eternal curses; but, dying in a
room to himself, he hears her pr0testa-
| ton of love and innocence, and leaves a
note of forgiveness and love.
| From first to last the story is one OF
thrilling AMI weird interest, and the in
terest is kept up throughout Mss
Davis has shown that she has found her
mission, and that sne deserves to be ia
NOUS by virtue If her own talent as we'll
as because she is 1.-THE daughter Of the
Conyederacy." She is worthy of her
father, as this book, orig MI, strong and
Accordingly interesting, shows.