The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-26
JUDGE flBRlDGf."

ople Read's putlic--a largo and growing
one does not need TO be told that ANYTHING
from his pen is virilc, alive with incident,
luminous with reliable Illustrations OF human
character aud loyal 10 the real interests of
mankind.
In Judge Eibridge" We miss none OF the
attractive and thoroughly satisfying features
OF Mr. Reads work. He nbstnIns from tire
some descriptions OF his characters He
makes them self-revealing In speech and act.
and be does this so perfectly that he that
runs may read and understand to the min
utest particulars the heredity. temperament,
habits Of thought and moral qualities OF the
people In the cast.
Judge Elbrldgc. tho scholarly and great
hearted jurist, who has been temporarily
thrown OF his mental base on y single point.
Howard. his manly and wlde-a awake son, who
Is the victim OF that one mental LAPSE in
his father. aud uobly eudures tina wrong;
Florence Rodney. the Judges ward. and
Agnes Temple. his Guest--two thoroughly hu-
man women OF tho lovable sort young Bod.
ney, the imbecile, and Goyle his Mophisto-
phees; Uncle William Elbridge. the quaint
merr.'mhker OF the cast: the Rev. Mr.. Brad
Icy. young and stnlwart minister, whom
saint and sinner alike must approve--these
aud many more are called upon tho stage.
ana do such things and speak such words
as keep the readers interest at high pres
sure and make 1t unnecessary for the author
TO spend time In defining and describing their
characters
| The story rs whole is tho most terrific
nrraignmcnt OF tho spirit and practice OF
gambling that We remember to have seen. !,
/ is a good book for young men to read
Young Bodney's experience under tho evil
influence of Goyie. tho professional blackleg.
and the frightful struggle by which he
finally escaped. are full OF admonltion, But
MIR. Read is too wise to preach--he only
gives, without prlggish comment the
pathology OF what Ia revealed in bis char
acters as well-dedned disease affecting not
only the moral ind mental. but also the
physical man,
As In his other novels. so In this one,
Mr.. Read shows that while no can construct
plot of surprising interest and make nat
ural place for exciting events no Is not at all
dependent on these things for strength. We
come upon single sentences. and not infre-
ducntly, that repay one for reading the book
A fallen woman WIS turning hopefully to
better thInEs She had attended service In
Mr.. Bradley's church. und had gono out with
tears on her checks. An Immaculate lady
c1mo up TO compliment the preacher on his
sermon. and asked:
who 10 that girl7"
~ don't know her name"
"She met me as I was coming IN" said
the Indy. "and was anxious as to whether
or not this was your church. She was evil
IDENTIFY not looking for denomination j." The
authors ability to crowd volume into
sentence declares itself In the following COM
ment: "Sho was not She was looking for
something nearer Coda man"
That same rare preacher. whom every one
must loye-the sinner most OF all-closca the
book with this sentence:
III there were but ono word to express
all the qualities of God should select tho
word forgiveness"
Judge Elbridgo'' 10 an entertsining and.
what 10 better. wholesome book.
Rand Mentally & Co.. Chicago and New
York.