The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-21
BOOKS OF THE TIME.
The Puritans, MIR. ArIO Bates's Latest
Venture in Fiction.

1.-THE Puritans," by Arlo Bates, is a
novel which is Bostonese to an extreme;
yet, it is none the less a good story. The
very first chapter introduces the reader to
Persian mystic, a few pages farther on
there is spiritualistic seance, yet little
farther and you are made acquainted with
faith healer In order that these mental
features of the story may not be the only
Cnes that will appeal to the reader there is
terrific railroad wreck, to say nothing of
knock-0own- and-drag-out fight in the
slums. Mr.. Bates thus provides good scenic
settings for his characters, every one of
whom is a marvel of character drawing
The author of THE Puritans'' assuredly
sets forth the men and women who figure
in the story in such a perfect style that
one can almost see them. The Puritans
haven't much to do with the story, aside
from furnishing the title and occasionally
giving the characters a chance to talk
about them. There are two heroes-Philip
Ashe and Maurice Wynne-both novices in
the clergy house of st. Mark, Boston, in
training for the priesthood in the Episcopal
Church. Wynne is a Whole-sCuled, manly
sort of fellow, who takes ones fancy at
the start, perhaps, because he has the good
sense TO fall in love with a very pretty
girl. AShe is man entirely different-a
man eminently adapted to the priesthood
The story hinges upon the fact that the
two young men fall in love, and Mr.. Bates
carries US through mazes of mental argu-
ment between the hearts and the heads OF
the young men. In depicting their charac-
ters he at times gives a namby-pamby
tinge to their makeup which is not entire
ly pleasing. With Wynne he succeeds adj
mirably and the story of WyEues finaI
remuneration of the priesthood anG success
in his love affair is a most entertaining
story of itself. But with Ashe Mr. Bates
is not so happy. He has Ashe get brutality
pounded by ioafer in the sums while
widow with whom Ashe is in love. No
reader of novels wants to see the lover even
so much as scratched in a bold battle in
defense of his fair lady. Then Ashe. with
blows he has received mumbles a declara-
ton of love to the widow. This is certain
ly poor Judgment on Ashes part, rather
on Mr. Bates's part, for there never was
real man who would do that There new
er was a real man like this character of
Ashe, for that matter. In another place
Ashe heats a crucifix and brands himself
on the breast as proof of his fealty to
the church. 1t might have been made a
strong part of the story, but as 1t is here
handled it savors too strongly of strain
ing after effect. There is also some inside
information on church politics in the book,
and a great deal of society chatter. The
latter is bright and epigrammatic, more so
ALL there are many more good points than
weak ones in the story. The tale itself
is strong. But it would seem that Mr..
Bates takes up too much time in observa-
stions on the actions of his characters and
the impulses which move them to so act.
Tt would have been better had he made two
books of il. one of the story and the other
of the philosophiZing. Nevertheless. It is
get disconnected as to the thread Of the
story Houghton Miff1in & Co., publishers.