The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-05
NEW BOOKS RECEIVED.
"IHE CHRISTIfN"-HALL CAiNE'S
LATEST NOTEL.
Author Scored by Katharine Pearson
Woods ia the September boohman'
"stultinsd by inaccuracies"


the "Bookman' is the best possiD'o PiVO-
Of its claims TO attention.
1t Is one OF the most readable OF 20
the literary publications when c'ilio
this office It's criticisms OF new DOORS
are discriminative and bright i7 com
pilatiOns from current literature are az
ways most intellgenuy made' ana i.S
| literary news IS always interesting. we
have read with particular interest "'
article in this number by Katherine rear
son Woods entitled Han came as
Docadcnt' In which she deVotes nor az
tention 10 that gentleman's recehly pun
lishod story-"The Christian as follows:
When. some months ago, We read that
Mr.. Hall Caine had stated or allowed It
20 be stated. that the plots of his novels
We're drawn conformity from the bio'e
and the New York Herald-that one was
the story of Jacob and Esau' another or
David and Bathsheba, not forgetting
Uriah the Httte-when we read TINS
We were very sorry. Not that we are
squcamish about the dignity OF scrip
ture, or that q great deal OF truth as
well as of human nature may not ne
found in the New York Herald but that
il seemed 10 us distinctly q pose, ana
that a pOseur is too sclf-conscious for
great achievements en- literary art. But
let us be perfectly understood.
The MauXman is a great book; II the
motif were taken from that immortal
story of Uriah. the Hittite gentleman
we have only 90 say that the ManN fish
erman Pete Is not unworthy OF his protO-
type though Philip is scarcely a King
David. Nevertheless, there is certain
scene in The Manxman which. in It's re-
aiistic effect upon the Imagination. is
distinctly immoral: and when We ind
the worst features of the scene dragged
by the head and shoulders-With no
justification whatever. into The Chris
tian. we feel by no means disposed 10
submit without a protest.
II Mr. Game had dared, he would have
called his new novel The Christ, so hard
does he labor 90 convince us of the Christ
Ike character Of "the Hon. and Rev.
John storm And. indeed. as first pre-
scented TO ms. there seems very little harm
300 The young man: Do is deeply. darkly
and desperately in love with Glory Quayle
and trihe fanaucal in his proposed
methods OF accomplishing certain re-
forms. Glaringly necessary. and which
despite the modern date Of the story. no
one but John Storm has apparently ever
thought Of attempting. But am youug
rcformers are. 90 their own selves. first
in their particular field. and invariably
just a little fanatical. we could easily
pardon these things Glory. who has
come up from the Isle OF Man 10 serve
as nurse in "a hospital we are required
at tho expense of as great tax upon
our credulity as I'm the case Of Mr.. Har-
dy Tess. 10 accept as pure. innocent.
and unsophisticated maiden. but although
there are girls who. ont Of sheer inno-
cence, do things quite as risQuc. and ass
d. O.
as does Glory. they are not altogether OF
the same brand. Glory is not for "a mo-
ment innocent at heart. and the sequel
proves &c.
Other characters of the story. together
With ihc entire stage setting. impress us
as ~ seen reflected ln convex mirror.
there DIS Canon Wealthy" who Though
wealthy and worldly clergymCn abound
never so unhappHU strikes MS ms an inn
possible sort Of type. there is "a mOnas-
terry of the Anglican brand. stricter than
any Ia Trappe. except in regard 90 the
Facility with which John Storm enters and
leaves 10. there are bad bold. and FASH
i0nablo men folks and "a herd OF theat-
real ana other sinners for whom Storm
has q marked reUulsOn and Glory am
equally marked affinity Finally. having
taken his "life-yOws' John Storm goes
utterly and totally insane. pr0phcsies the
Judgment of God as about 90 fam on the
modern SpdOm. "a ll SavOnarOla D. ar
rested on the charge of melting "a breach
of the peace and thereby causing MUIR
der; and the charge being fully sustained.
he is married 10 Glory-for reason good
and sufilcicut-aud dirs in the OlOur of
sanctity after refusing to give the names
of the men who caused his death. muir
muflng. Father. forgive them for they
know not what they do"
Now we submit with AN Difference. that
characters ana thc New York Herald may
not bc ont of reason. the conjunction of
the life of Christ and the Police News is
great deal too strong: and in the Sec
oud place that if Mr. Caiue wishes TO
draw such character as a wOuld-be re-
lieious fanatic. insane for love of a WOO
man. and such woman as Glory Quaylc
it is am insult 90 AN ChristondOm 10 speak
of him as "Christ-like person" and TO
indicate by certain pscudo-resemblance
such as That above cited. am analogy
which Of surety We should never have
discovered for ourselves
Undoubtedly Mr.. Cainc wrote his story
with moral purpose. nor does the pres
emit writer belong tO that school which
would consider such "a purpose as vitiat-
INC ITS claim to rank ass work of art.
on the contrary we consider that art
without "a moral purpose le no art at AN,
or NJ the best IS of the grade of blue
Jars, tomatoes. and carving kulVes-ali
very good things in their way 10 doubt.
but To- serve any purpose. moral or 9TH
crwise. art must be- true: the represen-
tduon. even of blue jar. must be cor
rlrf
Mr. Han Gaines drawing however IS
such as might be accomplished by a
pocket kodak. held just little Off line.
his colorlug reminds as OF the toy books
OF our childhood. in which the red of the
Princess BadrOulbOudOur's dress was
washed over Aladdln's nose. and Cinder-
ella slipper. by "a halo of weaker blue.
was enlarged 10 M a Chicago girl. But
these reflections are frivolous, while 10 Is
very serious indeed 90 have such book
10 reckon with as The Christian, which.
When an Is said. has sort of insand in
tensiiy and power that holds the readers
interest from first Co last-and very
long last is more than five hundred pages,
is u possible 20 show just where and
how the book itself. not merely any or all
Of the characters is insane? ANY read
or VIII detect that John Storm is perfect
Is futile that he takes up Orphanages
working girls clubs. and what not. and
lays them down at Glory bidding with
as much readiness as the fellow IN Venice
Preserved plays dog and barks az his
mistress command. is this the typical
reformer2 Are such institutions man
aged by such men2 IT so, then. indeed.
good Lord deliver u.s.
As "a matter OF foot. however, dcsnite
the popular superstition that all reform
crs are cranks the reverse is the truth;
and no rcformcr can hope 20 accomplish
anything at all worth while until. as
was SAID 10y somebody. his sympathy has
ceased To be am emotion and become
motive.
The very sanost and iollicst people |
whom the present writer knows are re-
formers. The next jollicst are both re-