The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-07
SOME NEW BOOKS
WORTH READING
THE FOWLER. BY Beatrice Harraden

THE FOWLER. BY Beatrice Harraden.
Dodd Mead & co. New York
II has been stated on excellent au-
thority that Of two books 10 divide the
| honors Of the spring season. MISS lara
| denis Fowler il certainly one-a STATE
ment TO be understood and appreciated Dy
all who recognize I'm rs pages the clear
| impress of the authors purity ana ten
| dernegs her wonderful insight into the
| hidden realistics the subtle phhoa ophy
| OF life and her exquisite sympd'"s'
| broadcned and deepened by a soJourh III
| the CITY OF Suffering" For this latest
| EFFORT Of Miss Harradcns has been inter-
| rupted more than once IN the writing ~
| serious Illness. and part al least, vi
| Necessary rest following upon lOhB su,
tanned and continuous mental enoI' va,
| be spent next winter-let us hope WIN
| the happiest results-in the mild res'o'@-
| tive OF a California climate
Ruskin says that Shakespeare mas no
| heroes. only heroines. While ne
Fowler does not demonstrate wholly
| the same truth or its creator. and lh the
| creation. yet its central and all-absorplhs
| figure is a feminine one Who takes pos
session Of us ia its first paragraph ana 10
whom we bid q reluctant goodbye Wheh
| the last is read.
She Is so gay and eallant-thls charin-
| ing woman-she cares and considers so
| little I'm lbsen-wise fashion over the 'puI-
| den OF living" she is. instead so simply
and healthflly happy that she tells US
! of herself. by way Of Introduction;
81 am strong and can work and play
| IN nv hearts content without any EFFORT
without any restraint / have enjoyed
myself with people. and with books. ana
Win myself. The city ia mine and the
| country is mine. too. The pest mus
clans have played for me- the best paint
ers have painted for me; In the country
| the birds have sung for me. the healnor
| has bloomcd for me. and for my sake me
| grass has taken unto itself q sun Hio'0
| golden hue. ne o,1,,
~ have always thought there was o",y
| one thing which couid pit"h "'s 80
and wound me beyond all heahnB' 70
g. 80, and We, not 20 care for liie-to
| live an having no part in ones rlcn ll
| b.ritsnre ~ appreciation for all thh'-'
| hc,ntif1t I'm nature and art ana huiiiN"
| oor,nanionship. and everything III lac1
| mat life has 10 offer. ] could pear a.y
| do,ri,ation. any grief. except that srlei'
for indifference means paralysis vi
| soul and I should dread that illness De-
yond any other -, ,,.,.ti,
rho world does not, to-day, hold "llh
rsclf much room for the aged OF 'he III
man race They seem. in their aiooi'
In be but the sorrowful SURVIVOR -
| -, he despised Past, without piao1
| Il"' .,...,,~,, in the busy ranks of tho
| present and they are pald hel'nV' -
1.,,..,eree nor the regard which Is lhe'r
| ,,,o ono Of the most noteworthy tnaP
| ters I'm "The Fowler, ehlueu 49,
eternal Battle" calls into question -
-, ,,rnotural strife between the youns
- ,t., old and our charming woman. III
| c..-,,,,, ia AN embittcred expression 81
| a,,i,,io,, Gives. as her own. that ii y poy ,'
~ any real value Is 20 be written -
me fl should not be "a youn6 ',,',,,,,,-
- "a, hook hut a book for an human
an o'n 80 from an bitterness. and so
,SS',,tif,,f, courteous. that the o'u "''
| -. INC r,ight study IL togeiheI' am,
-, road if. might stretch our li,,'
''., d, longing for 4 better unders''i'N'
| ing and friendship. ,o~,ets such
,rbo charming woman mas h.i' . i,c-
| lovable gentie-hearted ola ls'n I'i,,, ,fip,
~ - has poured ont for her quahil7
-, Goblet trimming with inc GU
= -, and the Joy of living, inc COM
| ra1esbfn between the two Us Ny. t,,fs
| and very strong. so. in lc'~'
| doar fatter-fricnd she Wrll-s' .,. from,
ar ho,.n learnt everything ] Know oi"
|
80. ,,oture books. music. art piiil"7opms'
| - "a I'm them all / remember 80 ~
.t,a,t,. one Of the first stories you 'olu
IL, 7 was quite a. wee child' IL ""'
! ahout a little old man VINO HAN -.
! 3.,e,,o1 II, over since any one couiu
...'ar,l,or and an because he had 4os1
-. treasure. which he did not laNe
| ,be trouble 10 find again. al once .'.N
J without delay And then II oeoiule W.
N
| late And he began 10 shrlFel ""Ns ~
| nothing. And you told me the nam ~, w..
| the treasure: 1t was JOY IN al oo'
| beautiful gifts 80, has
| ,o,.ers twain. though one OF them. alas'
&, tho very little old man who had lo7'
a srea+ treasure. and IS shriveled INTO
rotbiro but with whom, because he inter
| ests and amuscs~ her, Nora Penhuist
! nlavs as with n novel experience IN her
| ,r,.botaor,e sphere Of activity until she
| vreu-nirh loses cher enthusiasms' her
honest belief in people and things even
| her simple confidence in God the "ieat
| Mystery Of whom one may aSsureuly
cofcb a clad glimpse through ony one
NJ the cracks of creeds-or all OF them
Rut finally. the scales fall from her
| c,os and with sense Of newly-acquired
| ord restful strength. she realizes that II
| IS well with her. again.
Her other lover. the historian, IS wor-
TN, suitor for even the charming woman
bcing man who does not keep a petty
| shop i'm tbac slum. but who deals with
motives on a large scale, n man. In fact,
| who is a theological and historical NiNi
| sector. and yet, with all the story OF
mans strange method Of worshipping
God. and Gods stin stronger acquies-
cence-with all this story at his fingers
ends. God remains I'm his heart and In his
intellect as an unalterable necessity; and
man as q pilgrim starting off on jour
ney. and. in spite of all devations for the
moment. keeping to the main road-God.'
His love for Nora Penhurst Shines out
with q great warmth and golden light,
for no has not weakened his power Of
loving 10y frittering IL away: he has II.
therefore. unimpaired in strength and
purity, with a freshness which lends II
an the greater charm because IL Is the
freshness of wise and pure heart"
When he lays himself and his work at
the feet Of his mistress. he tells her, 1T
is through your help that l have brought
my task 20 an end. because II has been
done for YOU. But for you | could never
have begun il. But beginning IL for your
sake | have finished IL for your sake
and mine And now l may tell you my
hearts desire"
When the adverse shadow or an alien
Influence closes the doors of Nora PEN
bursts heart against his pleading. ne pa
tieutlv saws. Il can wait, and when you
1y-uf me / am here for you, now or hefe-