The record-union., 1899-10-09

his conversation are all drawn from
the stable and the track. But the book
opens with Harum's recital of the story
of a horse deal of a very questionable
character, which he had just consum-
mated, which recital is given with evil
dent marks of strong approval. Harum
had been swindled previously in
transaction of a similar character by
a fellow townsman, upon whom he had
now reta:iatcd in double measure, and
for all that can be found within the
covers of the book the impression seems
to be given that the ethics governing
horse trade, is something that may
be regarded as bearing no relation to
practice which should hold in all other
dealings in the mercantile world. 1t
seems to me, however, that there are
many circumstances in which decep-
tion respecting a horse, in the possible
consequences to precious lives. reaches
to the lowest Depths of moral turpitude
Harum at another time chuckles in his
egotism at having overcome the
scruples Of a professor of religion, and
practically accomplishing a horse trade
upon the Sabbath by suggesting that
the trade be made in imagination only,
while the actual transfer need not take
place until the following day.
But what does my clerical friend
think of the transaction in pork. in
which Lenox, at Harum's suggestion.
invests every dollar of his little estate
and the savings of five Industrious
years in pork purchase of large pro-
portion, but upon the narrowest of
margins, a transaction which would
have ruined the young man but for
Harum's assistance in keeping good the
margin when the market temporarily
slumped. Pork was however, cornered
at last, and Lenox now comparatively
we'll to do is admitted to a partnership
in the bank.
To class the book as immoral in the
general acceptation of the term, would
be, to be to it manifestly unjust We
have the exhibition in it, however, of
the dealings of a shrewd, unlettered.
Opinionated man, redeemed somewhat,
it is true, by natural instincts of loy-
atty to family and friends, but who
lacks entirely the finer sense of scru-
pulous honor, which should character
ize all dealings upon the exchange. In
this sense the book is immoral just as
its vulgarity is the vulgarity of ego
tistic ignorance alone, for there is not
a prurient suggestion on it's pages
The question arises, however, what
are the qualities which may be sup
posed as instrumental in lifting a work
of fiction to the topmost crest of popu-
lar favor? If it is literary merit. a
truthful portrayal of some real, though
singular, type of human nature, an at
mosphere of honesty and elegance, and
intellectually, qualities that shall
make work of the imagination to
possess something of resemblance to
life as it is, or to life as we should de-
sire to have it, these requirements are
not met in the portraiture of David
Harum.
Two or three fascinating and en-
nobling books, ''The Ragged Lady" by
William Dean Howells, THAT For
tune by Charles Dudley Warner. and
"Old Chester Tales by Margaret De-
land, came almost unheralded to the
world, excepting to very select cir
Gle of intelligent and appreciative read
ers. And yet in such works as these.
there are the elements of a liberal ed
ucation. Men and women move through
their pages who furnish standards of
conduct for many young man or
maiden, who would fain have life illus
trate in it's common daily practice the
sweet amenities that speak of honor
and gentleness and mutual respect. If
you desire one of these books. your
bookseller will most probably have to
order it from the publisher. for it will
hardly be found upon his shelves. and
yet for those who can catch their in
spring suggestions there comes with
them an inheritance of higher things.
an inheritance which includes the
knowledge of lofty ideals. the appre
citation of an exacting honor. and the
possession of motives that make gem
tier and holier the common life of men.
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