The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-31

HUGH wyNNE: FREE QUAKER. BY
DR.. 5. Weir Mitchell. The Century Co.
DR.. Mi,cfeil.s claim 10 fame has hereto
fore rested. not any too securely, upon
few novels that had no particular hold
upon the public, q number Of essays, and
a volume OF poems containing work of real
merit. And now, at last. comes his really
important work. which IS being rather fool
.shly hailed as the great American novel,
considering that there have been not few
great American novels heretofore. Hugh
Wynee' Is aovel OF the Revolution. with
its interest concentrated in Philadelphia.
Mr.. James Macarthur. writing in the
Bookman. says of it: mo finer or more
highly executed presentation Of the war
OF the Revolution has ever been focused
in fiction But. valuable as the book Is as
an historical romance. its chief charm Hes
IN the picture il presents of the gayety,
ceremony, the elegance OF manners and
dress. which marked social intercourse in
that period when the colonial style had not
yet passed into the Republican. Again
referring 10 the Bookmans review. Mr..
Macarthur says of Gen. Washington OF the
story: 1T is the most accurate and human
portrait Wa have yet had In fiction OF that
much behaloed character If we except
Thackeray's portrait in The Virginians.'
II is pleasant still to find in this
generation writer's who remember Thack-
cray. Mr.. Macarthur does more than re-
member, and honors DR.. Mitchell by say
Ing OF Hugh Wynne: 1T approximates
more nearly than any novel we know to
what may be regarded as the only great
novel of early American life and history.
Strange that this should be the work of
an Englishman. In The yirginans'
we have the best model of what
an American novel laid on broad lines of
human life and dealing with the periodic
movements OF its history should be. In the
wide sweep OF The virginians,' extending
from Washfngton's enlistment before Brad
docks defeat TO the resignation of Wash
ington after the seven years war; in its
picturesque presentment of the contrasts
OF life in the Old World and in the New.
in it's portrayal OF yirginian colonial life
and character; In It's subord nation OF the
historic trend 10 the social aspects Of life
IN the two countries; still more in its faith
full portraiture of the young Virginian. in
whom Thacksray's sane art found a lit SUBJ
ject for the blending OF human weakness
and strength, of foibles of temperament
and conduct. with nobility of character
and high endeavor-in these essentials
Thaekerays great novel stands unap-
preached by anything that has since been
written. There Is one great scene In the
last chapter where with a few strokes
Thackeray painted one OF his undying pic
lures. 1t Is when the general lays down
his victorious sword and meets his ccm-
rades of the army in a last adieu. In DR..
Mitchell's novel this scene is also described
and forms an artistic climax TO the his
torical cast OF the story. but it fails to rise
to the dignity, the reserve, the complete
ness OF Thackeray's picture. The parting
as Thackeray portrayed 1t viii remain one
of the memorable scenes In historical fic-
ton. Eye witnesses reported il, historians
have described 1t. but Thackeray immor-
talized IT,"
- =.
Apropos of Captains Courageous, Rud-
yard Kiplings first book on American life,
just out, the CIitic says that publishers and
effforc rauf Mr. Liuifpr hana1tea ha an