The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-08-26
Mr.. NJ. D. POSTS BOOK.

"Tla Strange Schemes OF Randolph
Mason by Melville D.. PoSt,ot this city.
has been entertaining the cultured
reading public for a month past
Strange. startIinGly strange they arc.
The success OF Mr.. Posts work lies not
only In the fact that It's actors move
in a new and rare atmosphere OF fic-
ton, but that 1t also has the attrac-
tive merit OF being well written. There
are no tIrrsoine pages OF analysis OF
character or prolonged descriptions OF
imaginative environments. 1t Is many
times removed from the banality OF re-
cent. or. for that matter, past fiction. II
Is II book that will be read with mingled
feelings OF surprise and rage. II treats
OF the law, and although written by n
lawyer, Is SO %cunningly constructed and
50 happily phrased that the layman
Will read II with equal, II not more in
tense interest, than he whose profess
iJnal acumen 1t most strongly appeals
20, II is new In conception and most
novel in treatment. The schemes OF
Randolph Mason are possible. but 1t is
not probable that any OF them will be
| carried out by any one who may read
uf them. The author, himself, would
regret II more Khan anyone.
That "a prophet Is not with
out honor save in his own
country" and that mo man
Is n hero to his valet" cannot be ac-
| Ccpied as true In every instance. At
any rate Mr.. Post Is q very notable cx-
| ccption OF. their application. for he has
| been praised to his face. and compli-
mCnted behind his back. which Is the
- -.l ,. 4.
| his success. As the author OF the book
| he deserves all the Commcndatory re-
marks that have been made. II he has
any enemies they will not rejoice be-
cause he has written a book. Mr.. Post
has succeeded In interesting a remark.
| ably large number OF readers OF polite
literature, and that. In this age OF cul-
turc,. Is an achievement that many OF
long established reputation have fall
ed In. His friends in Wheeling and
through the state take n pardnnable
pride In speaking OF him as a West Viz
gilman.
Randolph Mason's schemes relate to
crimC, burt have nothing to do Win
"Dld Slcuth'' or Sherlock Holmes -
detective marvcls. Mason's schemes
succeed: the villain Is not finally
brought to book and the curtain Of the
narrative runE down on the triumph
OF virtue and tho hero and heroine "liv-
Ing happily ever afterwards" In some
respects Mr.. Posts book might be class
Cd with n few Of Balznc's novels, but
only relatively. The motive OF his work
Is best appreciated In his introduction.
wherein In an explanatory mood he
expresses himself as follows: "ThC
high ground Of the field OF crime has
not been explored: II has not cvcn been
entered. Tho bOOE-stallg have been Ill
cd TO wcarinCss with tales based upon
| plans whereby the detective. or ferret
Ing power OF the state might be baf-
fled. But, p]rOdiGlOus marvel! no writ
or has attempted to construct tales
based upon plans whereby the punish
Ing power Of the state might he BAT
fled. The distinction, II one pauScs FOL
n moment to consider 1t, Is striking. II
Is possible. even easy, deliberately tC
| plan crimes 81 that the criminal agent
and The criminal agency aGnuOt be dc.
tectcd. Is 1t possible 10 plan and exc.
crtc wrongs In such Il manner that they
will have all the effect and all the re.
SulllnE profit Of desperate crimes and
yet no be crimes before the law"
Mr.. Post mgCrlously and entertain.
ingly aIswers the query In the affirm.
atIvc In scvcn sketches tkat set faril
"rhc Strange Schemes VI Randolph
Mason" Tho latter IL Il lawyer wht
directs his clients to cheat Justice with.
out suffering the legal penalties. b,
which 1t IL shown that great wrongs
are not always crimes In the tcchuica
acnsc. The schemes OF Mason "den
with the law nA it Is and with no ranci,
ful Interpretation Of It," claims Mr.
Post In his Introduction, aud bclng,n
lawyer himself he OuGlsL u know WIN.
hc IL talking nb0ut. This Is the rentur,
of the book that Is sturtlIngly strange
but true.
Tho Corpus Dclccti." the opcnln.
tale, Is perhaps the best OF the sketches
although "Tllc Men OF the jimmy Ger,
ta!nly comes next. WIN The Anlmui