The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-24
SOME RECENT FICTION.

Doom In the Wheeling Public Library.
some Timely Hints to the Board Of Edu-
cation.
Mr. Thomas Hardy has, in his latest
novel, Jude, the obscure" perpetrated
an otfense against decent literature
which should not be allowed to remain
on the shelves OF the Wheeling Public
Library. In the preface to the book
the author refers 10 the fact that Hnr-
per & Bros. Insisted on the expurgatlon
of certain parts of the story before
they would allow It to appear in the
Monthly Magazine, and states his
opinion that there is nothing Of an I'M
moral tendency In what he has written.
The great mass OF Intelligent and re-
spectacle novei-readers cannot agree
with him, after. their startled minds
have fully realized the abominable, and
entirely unnecessary Nth OF Jude's
first experience with the woman at the
brook. and the bald insistence OF nearly
every lascIvious detail OF his conquest
by the amorous pig-tender. Mr.. Hardy
has dwelt on these details with such
evident enjoyment that one suspects
his reluctance 10 stop, even where he
does.
The plot OF the tale, which Is bestial
enough without the addition OF these
prurient and more than suggestive cpl
sodes, Is, in effect, as follows: a woman
(the plg-tender) marTies man (Jude)
by fraud; leaving him, mnrrles an
other; lives with the first again; then
goes back TO the second. Appetizer wo-
man leaves her husband, whom she has
married TO escape degradation. 70 1--we
with this same man (Judel with her
husbands consent: then, after spend
ing several years with her lover. goes
back to her husband again. to be re-
ceived by that very complaisGnt per"
son with open arms. The two women
are, apparently. not punished for their
wickedness, but poor Jude, who has
been more sinned against than shining
all through, is Kicked about from pillar
to post until he dies IN misery.
Mr., Hardy says the book Is more a
series OF Impressions than n novel. II
so, he got the impressions leaning on
the bars OF plg-sty, with his back
carefully turned towards all that IL
beautiful and noble and elevRting IN
human life aud intercourse. No story,
with such Impressions for a ground
work. can be other than debasing In Its
influence on growing human character.
The Pharasaism Of the managers OF
the great publishing house, who would
not permit the story. as originally writ
ten, to appear in the pages OF their
magazine. and yet bow Il broadcast IN
book form, with every filthy incident
retained. is manifest
The members OF the, board Of educa-
ton OF this city should. by examina-
ton. find out for themselves what kind
OF book this is that they are placing
within the reach OF our youth. who may
have II for the asking. II Is natural to
be misled by the standing OF the great
firm which issues the novel with Its
sanction, but ten minutes perusal
will not fall to convince them that II Is
totally unfit for public circulation.
Another novel, Just published, de-
serves notice on account Of the great
popularity OF the author, Stanley ].
weyman. rather than from any IntrIn-
sic merit OF It's own. II is called The
Red Cockade," and. while not us blood
thirsty in detail as some OF Its prede-
cessors, is a thoroughly sensational and
ridiculous story. A former criticism OF
Mr.. weyman's literary worth in these
columns having been considered some
what severe. Il may be justlhable TO
give a short synopsis OF his new work.
The events are described as thking
place at the beginning OF the French
Revolution. The hero OF the novel Is
n certain Vieomte de saux, young
nobleman who sympathises with the
people in their uprising against on
preston. BY this course the vicomte
subjects himself TO public humiliation
and contempt ut the hands OF his old
associates. He saves the bittercst OF
these whIlom friends from death ut the
hands OF the mob, and receives a
tongue flashing from his friend's moth
er as a reward. This Incident is re-
peated, with variations, more than once
in the course of the story. and each
time the hero trembles with rage-by
the way, this bombastic parsonage Ia
e,ernaliy either trembling. or hating
in his speech, or coloring, or being Eek
trnordinarily moved" or "gaspinH," or
almost breathlesS with establishment"
etc, etc, ad nauseum This same per-
son. when. after speaking, 'tartly" and
CURLY" and "sulkily," not 70 mention
numerous other dlsagreeRble ways OF
speaking. to his blacksmith. he is called
q liar by the blacksmith, takes It like
n lamb. on account of his refusing
to Join the peoples committee OF public
safety, the mobiles receive him back
with open arms. and he Joins their
ranks. Shortly afterward, in moment
OF piaue. he Joins the people again,
After this vacillating performance,
the Viconite hurTies hither and thither,
always In trouble OF some sort, and
"tremblIng with passion" or speech
less with horror or frantic" with ir-
represslble emotions OF one sort or an
other. nearly oil the time. The brother
OF his sweetheart carries her away
from under his very eyes, and he, after
talking "doggedly," and even passion
ntefy'' about II. says that OF course he
can't fight him: why, II Is hard to I'M
dcrstnnd, as he has been on the point
OF engaging in duel with another
brother only tho day before. The FIRST
mentioned brother. BY the way. has
Just been heaplnR insult upon insult
on him rs return for saving his
sister from the mob the night before.
No wonder the vicomte felt logged
After long 1eries Of the most aston
ishing experiences, during which the
poor gentleman IL continually In the
most dreadful state OF mind, he finally
reaches the city OF Mines, where his
beloved aud ali the other dramntls
porsonae OF the tale have betnken them
selves. Instead OF Aadiag rest here, he
In Instantly plunged headlong into
even more startling adventures. He en-:
tiers strang houses and finds beautiful
widows and delicious breakfasts walt
ing for him, which he ndmires. and
cnts. In a constant state of utter
Amusement" or OF being "lneNprcssibly
puZsled," as is quite natural under such
bcwIiderlnE circumstances. The widow
looks Mt him with terror" whom he