The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-12

quality of the reality and truthfulness of
the theme is emphasized no doubt by the
narrative being told in the first person.
In addition, we have in "AyIwn'' vivid
enthralling, absorbing love story full of
movement and life and vigor. The thrilling
interest or the story and it's intense and
noble passion, than which there are few
finer examples, will make it a worthy addi-
ton no tonly to our best works of fiction,
but our masterpieces of prose. The au-
sthor's innate love of purity and his I'M
compromising attitude toward everything
like uncleanliness in literature is strongly
in evidence in this work; and in conse-
quence we have story that is singularly
pure and noble and uplifting and inspiring
in all its varied presentment OF life.
"Aylwin'' has already taken strong hold
upon the reading public in England, where,
of course, Mr.. Watts-Dunton is best known,
for it is said that three editions of The
work were exhausted in as many days.
There is every reason why the book should
do so. because there several strong ele
ment sin the book which should make its
success, aside from the interest which clus-
ters around the central motive-the love
story. The complexity of the work Is soon
apparent, yet so smoothly and completely
does each element adjust itself to the other
that perfect whole is the result. First,
there is the love story of Aylw1n and Wini-
fred. which is wonderfully tender and earn
est and true-a study of noble and passion
ate love between two hearts that are will
ing to suffer every sacrifice because of
their devotion. Aylwins complete, absorb
ing love and conservation is beyond the
power of description, and is one of the truly
beautiful and appealing characteristics of
human life. Scarcely anything since
Shakespeare created Ophelia has been so
unimaginaby sorrowful as the madness of
L..
the recital of the story is of absorbing and
vital human interest until the climax in
their life's history is reached, which rests
upon Winifreds cure by magnetic trans
mission. This application of mesmerism
as curative agent in extreme cases of
hysteria, substantiated as 1t Is upon real
experiments effected by M. Babinski. OF the
Salpetriere in Paris, will have an interest
for those Investigators in this city along
similar lines of phenomena.
Then apart from the human interest In
the fortunes of Aylwin and Winifred, is the
intellectual pleasure and sympathy expert
enced by the reader for Aylwin In the
struggle of his mind and heart against
what he coneeives to be mere superstition.
A very considerable part of the plot of the
story hinges upon 1.-THE Moonlight Cross
of the Gnostics." 1t was a rare, costly and
most exquisite example of jewel work as
arranged by the Gnostics to catch the
moons rays and answer them. This cross
was the love token possessed by Aylwin's
father. When he died he not only aked
that the cross be buried with him, but so
firm believer was he in mysticism that he
had placed on his bosom also a curse
against anyone who should remove It. So
dreadful was the curse In its consequences
that II extended even to the children of the
desecrator. The belief In the dead mans
curse Aylwin fought against with all the
strength Of his manly mind and heart.
Darcy said to him:
r" What are. YOU going to do with the
cross?
"'Lock 1t up as safely as cam said
What else is there to do with it?'