The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-15
1.-THE REIGN OF LAW"
James Lane Aliens New Story Of the Kentucky
HenlpfeldS.
WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPuBLIC
Mr.. James Lane Allsn's new book. The
Reign OF Law" seia Of the Kentucky
hemp fields, IS told with all tn authors
oldtime happy choice OF theme and words
Mr.. Allen is the real historian Of Ksntucllv
No one. save this spirited philosopher with
q gentle and dreamy s;yie. has so imp.ts-
oned in books the vivid life Of the strong
and forceful people who dwelt fist in Vir-
gfnla, settled Kentucky and from thence
spread through the Mississippi Valley. Aside
from merit Of composition ard plot. Mi
Aliens stories are invaluable TO the reader
OF to-day, ana they will mean much more
TO the reader OF to-Tnorrcw. lie has pre-
served in clear. and incisive drawn: pic
lures Of the conditions Of living. the hopes
and aims. and the intellectual forces o: 4
strong people
With that gentle rerrospecti1n which IS
one OF Mr.. Aliens charms and the grr q
the true essayist he has brought 20 light an
interesting chapter Of Kentucky life in the
Reign Of Law" Conditions before. the great
upheaval called the Civil War. and liz. ana
social economies after that bitter strife was
ended. form the background of the story.
In Itself the story is a simple record Of
the life and intellectual and moral deyelo;,-
ment Of a Kentucky youth. The story q
the woman who was destined To b. nj,
mate. the true heIpma.e. is also a simnla
thing. She was earnes; --io,-i-,t:.--tr true -r,l
possessed an understanding heart AID a
large sympathy. The creation of such a
character is an earnest tribute to tho worth
Of woman. and to the author. as we'll The
words OF the authors dedication show the
appreciation In which he hofts the fnfii.-
once Of home: ITO the memory Of father
and mother whose srlf-sacrifice. high s..I-
pathy and devotion the writing Of this story
mas caused % live afrcsh in the Cver-g-ov--
ing. never-aging gratitude Of their SON
The outlines or the story Of The Reign
Of Law are Simple. The youth. David
was descended from sturdy hiah-thinkin.,
pioneer, vino had been a power IN his
reighbOrhCod AMI who. turned cut % lis
church because Of his liberal views b;!ilt
a church which sho,id DC free 10 all r-o~-
shippers. Of whatever creed. TIE great
grandson. David. was bsEr into a family
whose circumstances were narrower t.au
those Of the preceding generation Ills
fathers farm small, and tlle family
lived plainly. lie was youth at the cl1se
of the war. but On eager one. ambitious for
a life OF high thinking -snd gracious loa,ie
1t was with devotion this ar3hitIn. thar
he worked very. very hard IN order L. Ice
founded at Lexington. He would h.rorna
an educated man, and preach the word Of
God. He had a strong dcvout nature; he
familiar with the prophets n Oh. and
lie held to the belief that the world and
all therein was made for the use of man
The broadening Of mental viSsEc brought
doubts to David. and he heard about The
great advances in science ana philosophy
made by two great men. Darwin and Hulk
icy. and he read their books. Natural law
became clear to him as the great :orce dI-
rect!nG all things. He lost his faith in the
religion in Which he was trained. but not
without a struggle. ------..--....-
He left the college and went liome-homa
10 the reproaches Of his father aud mother.
their lack Of sympathy and understanding
and the hard work Of a illjer OR poorly
conditioned farm He had the sympathy of
n bright being who had found a home in /
his neighborI,ocd. She was tire school
teacher who had come from a. luxurious
home broken up by the war Gabrielle IN
6erstood him, and the young man rejoiced
Their loving was simple and as natural
s.s the growth of a flower. and when the
crisis of their lives came. II was the wo-
oman who was brave and sensible. and who
led the man to the clearest action. They
r.ere to GO together to- some university
rUhere David would finish his investigations
an natural science. to which he had re-
isoIved to devote his life.
: Wi)rth the quoting are many, many par
accaphs from tIse book. Here is the. begin
ming of the story, a remniscence of the
hemp fields. uncommon things in Kentucky
to-day:
The AngIo-Saxon farmers had scarce