Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-04
Notices of New Books.


RED ROCK. A Chronicle Of Reconstruct
ton. BY Thomas Nelson Page. Illus
trated by W. West Clinedinst. New
York: Charles scribners Sons. Pages,
5eL
In this powerful story OF the darkest
days in southern history Thomas Nelson
Page stands before the literary world In
the full ripeness Of his maturity as an
author. "Red Rock" Chronicle OF Re-
construction Days, is the most ambitious
of all the productions with which this
gifted virginian has delighted the public.
The novel carries the reader into a field
which has heretofore been but little no.
ticed by light literature, and. though
there are moments when the rapidly
shifting scenes evoke our tears we fol-
low the plot with mingled feelings OF
pleasure and pain. The former emotion
Is the outcome OF that commendable
pride we feel on hearing again Of the
fortitude and patience with which the
conquered Confederate soldier bore the
anguish of defeat, and the gnawing sor-
row. which was the aftermath OF Apo
mattox.
And the pain we feel is but a revival
Of those bitter memories which remind
US Of the days when the Southland, tram
pied and crushed by the iron hoof Of
war struggled in tie travail OF an ago
nizlng renaissance.
II is an ugly tale TO tell-this story or
reconstruction under duress-and one
would suppose. on undertaking such a
task. that at least. one faction of the
reading world would finch at the written
truth. But DIR. Page, without rancor,
and IN a calm judicial way. lays before
us the facts and leaves us TO draw our
own conclusions. RED Rock" is the
mirror which reflects the hideous deeds
OF the "carpet-bagger" and the insolent
conduct OF the ex-slave when he saw
himself the pampered ward OF trium-
plant North.
In order 10 allow himself wide range
for fiction as well as fact, the author
discretly declines to give his reader the
exact locality Of the scenes he depicts.
In his exquisitely written preface he de-
scribes II thus:
oft lies in the South. somewhere In
that vague region partly in one OK the
old Southern States, and partly in the yet
wagner hand OF memory. good
" land in those old times rolling coun-
try living at the foot of the blue noun
tain spurs. with forests and fields, &c"
The scene opens in the troublous years
when the first mutterings Of civil dis-
cord fiji the air. and, though even then
we know that blood soon must flow. we
! cannot but dwell lovingly on the picture
of the aute-bellum South In her last days.
Secession and abolition ere the subjects
Of the hour There are differences con-
corning minor questions, but on the one
/ great. paramount issue the population Oh
the SUMMER section is a unit.
At "Red Rock" a grand old planta-
ton. which is a landmark in populous
southern section. the Gr1ys. an honored
and ancient family, extend their boun-
teous hospitality to the residents Tor
miles around Hospitality is the watch
word OF that household; chivalry is the
predominant characteristic or It's mas
culine inmates, and purity Is the badge
which marks its women.
When the first laundering guns OF
strife turn the plowshares Of this calm
section into swords. and make soldiers
OF her citizens. there is grand rush TOT
army service. Young and old, rich and
poor. high and low-all, all alike, JOIN
the ranks of the Spartan minority. The
Gravs foremost in all public movements,
organize the local military. The senior
holds an important commission. and
soon gives up his life for the South
cause His son, Jacquelin, the hero OF
orr little romance, then takes his place.
while long ere this Steve Allen, a cousin
of the Grays', has won captalncy.
Indeed. for the nonce we bid farewell 70
many whom later we learn TO love ana
honor.
Rrt II IA not OF war that the reader
hears the most RED Rock" Is an ex-
qualification not of martial strife, but
OF the ancient proverb, WOE TO the con-
ouered" The MANNED and grief-stricken
heroes-or. rather. a pathetically small
mart of them-at last come back from the
battle-helds and prisons. Desolaion,
! excruciatng I'm its every aspect reigns
in the land Of pristine peace and plenty.
and new conditions face the struggling
survivors. Poverty and want stalk hand
IN hand: chaos is the handmade OF grief
and. worst Of all, humiliation and indig-
mites are 10 follow. Like harpies gloat-
, ing over distress. the "carpet-baggers'
spring I'D among the ashes Of defeat, and
grind down those who fam would rise
and seek resuscitation. True, there are
among the representatives OF the new
ragime n few who battle bravely for
the exercise Of right and justice, but thell
honest protests are as naught against
the greed Of those who would sap th-
ireblood Of the conquered.
Hiram Still-ex-overseer Of the Gray
nlantation. scoundrel, traitor, and vul'
garian--is the lesser villain or the nctloh
Jonadab Leech-Yankee provost-marshal
CARPET Dagger. coward, politician, aho
trickster-is the arch fend. The former
nv the loans he extended 10 his former
| natrons In their hour OF need, ultimately
acquires the "Red Rock estate, ahe
other valuable property In the nelghDor
hood. Combining with Leech' ne con
hives at the humiliation or those belort
whom he formerly cringed- Inc sour
less pair are unceasing ana revenues
{, their villainies. They incite the hither
- neaceful negroes to insubordination
nrefer charges against the innocent anc
! inoffenslye. harass the unfortunate, ana
braw dlscord month after month ano
,,oor of,er wear. At their instigator
| bouses are searched, women insulted, the
gentry imprisoned. honored institutions
wrecked and the whole neighDofhooo
maddened by q tyranny which Is uneh
d,,rahle vet unavoidable. Despite the
lash of despotism hanging over them tht
people several times rebel, and, Tor Tn,
time being. curb their tormentors' bu'
in the end Leech and Still and their hire'
lings prevail.
AS a protective measure against many
outrages at the hands OF negro troops
the Klu Klux night-riders organize aho
wreak vengeance on the chiet oIehueis
I 81 a. ~