The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-17
THE CHRISTIAN. By Han came. Price

,fo- by his poverf1sl novels. The Manx-
man" and THE Deemster" and today re-
ceives higher compensation for his writ
ings than any living author. Thus. WIN
the early struggles for recognition all
back OF him and az the maturity OF his
powers. he has given 20 the world an
other book which ne pronounces his mas
terpiece. That the novel Is the proper
medium for serm0nizing is mooJed ques-
ton. Mr.. Game thinks il Is, and giories
in an avoved purpose IN The CHRIS
tian" Certainly The Christian" is
dark and gloomy sermon that viii reach
thousands in its cloak OF fiction for the
tens who would hear il from the pulpit
Does Mr.. Game think Christian socialism
the new Land OF Canaan unto which the
children Of men should turn their eyesP
Nothing in his book stands out more
clearly than the hopeless tnadeduacy of
the church 10 cope with the evils OF the
social body. We are inclined 10 DOUBT
very much the good morals or good art
OF a novel which harrows and bewilders
us by a social lesson leading nowhere;
picture OF life which includes only
hysterical and sentimental points Of view,
ard IN which only the skill OF the work
man Is admirable. Was Il not better IN
Dickens time-and back 10 Sterne.
Marryatt, Lover Srnollett and Fielding,
less sadly than we do today? For them
there was laugh in every page or two
and we OF this age need laugh more
than they. The novel Of today seems
deliberately TO set out TO cap the worries
OF life with the woes OF Imaginary
cranks. eternally bent on getting into
avoidable troubles. mental and moral.
and unloading their sorrows on US. In
"The Christian" Hall Game has forsaken
Al mild H. If SNa Tel Of
and laid his scenes in London. His
hero. John Storm. is the son OF a noble
man, who begins his career by thwarting
his fathers hopes in the choice of pro
fession and becomes a clergyman. John
Storm is a man full OF spiritual STRINGS,
quixotic and chivarous. with a set de-
termina ton 70 succor the weak and fight
the devil in whatsoever subtle and mani
fold forms he may appear What hap
pened TO him, and how his work was in
terrupted by the woman he loves. of vast
~ different temper from his own. is told
in long story Of dramatic power and in
tensity although not free from bombastic
effects and false sentiment.
Glory Quayie. the daughter Of a Manx
clergyman and a French mother comes I'D
20 Londan with John to become a nurse.
This Glory is blithe. active. high-spirit
ed. laughing, loving girl. with a sunny
lace ana a SUMMER nearl, ana a GDO1.
healthy desire for the vanities OF the
world: altogether n most fascinating little
pagan. All the brightness and sparkle OF
the book are the witty letters she sends
10 the old folks IN Manx from the great
Babel. Glory is taken 10 a nurses ball
against Johns will by a companion, a
weak shallow faced little beauty who
comes to ruin and finally suicide through
her friendship with two nobiemen. Lord
~. l.
scoundrel. His friend Drake is something
more than not bad sort of a fellow.
Drake turns out to be a lad. now grown
to manhood with whom Glory eloped at
the tender age of 6 in a sail boat, and was
rescued by John Storm. Drake and his
scoundrelly friend are interested at once
in Glory. and Glory is immensely inter-
ested in Drake. John in the meantime has
been a curate to a fashionable London
minister OF the Established church, and his
experience with West End congregation.
and particularly with the Ornament Of
virtue and religion who presides over il.
has wrenched somewhat his idea OF the
modern Christian, following very closely
the life which Christ led and showed the
world in his precepts and examples. From
now on till the last chapter poor Johns
life becomes a struggle between his emo
tional religious zeal his love for Glory and
jealousy of Drake. Out OF harmony with
his church associates and the spirit OF the
church and saddened by Glory's refusal
10 follow HIS advice. he enters the Society
OF the Holy Gethsemane. a Cathotc
brotherhood and tries 10 forget Glory in
the practice Of ascetic virtues. But Glory
will not be forgotten. and when word
comes that she has left the hospital re
goes through a terrible struggle. resigns
from the order and starts in search OF her.
The life of prayer had become too quies-
cent for his feverish soul. He was going
TO work among the poor and outcast, the
oppressed and the fallen. He was going
to search for them in their haunts OF sin
and misery. IT was a monstrous and
wicked fallacy that religion had to do
Work was religion work was prayer
work was praise. work was the love OF
man and the glory Of God"
Glory. in the meantime. had been drink
Ing in a large experience Of the ugly, baser
side Of life. while going through the igno-
miny Of soliciting work from amusement
mongers Of the lowest type.
The slummery Of theatrical life has prob
ably never t.,en so thoroughly explored
as hy Mr.. Caine. After many efforts. in
Guiding "personating'' In fourth-class
music hall. she is taken up by a concert
master and through her singing and act
ing OF the Manx ballads becomes quite the
talk OF London.
John Storm. fresh from the brothsrhood.
attracted by the name Of Gloria" on tbs
bill boards. enters the music hall 20 see
the woman Of his heart throwing kisses
from the stage. Hopeless rae,a yearning
pity and despair take possession Of him.
and from now on he rarely displays a
glimmer OF reason or any stability OF pur-
pose. He seeks 10 draw Glory away from
London and the influence OF Drak.S and
for the time succeeds and Glory goes
hack 20 Manx. while he establishes a
church and home for the outcast His
work seems 70 be prosperiug wh,n Il Is
cut short by Drake and a syndicate OF
fashionable friends, who purchase the site
FOR theater, where Glory may star in
the legitimate. DraAsa IN a more practical
way has also some solicitation for the sal
walton OF Gl0ry's soul and deems himself
better able 70 assist her than a fanaheal
parson. but. bearing in mind that Johns
love for Glory and zeal for social reform
are the pD3omnating passions II his life,
this action seems the quintessencs OF
cruelty When Glory learns OF this, her
sympathies are with the man who loves
her ard, confessius ~ love IN his arms,
asks him 10 take her away from London
and the scenes o. her piti8Die struggles.
This John readily agrees 20 do, ana. Father
Damieu's death occurring and cutting
short his work in the leper colony S1Hn
proposes TO take his place. and asks Glory
70 go wilh hin as his wife. but 1--we with
him as sister.
Whatever the real beauty o. Giory's
character. there certainly was little q
mysticism and asceticlsm IN u. and she
quite failed 10 see the moral beauty Of
wasting her life 70 save Few iepsrs'
souls. pecialIy when on The other side
there was London 5eckoning 10 her. ready
kasp