The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1900-11-23

Book Review.

Il
oils, publishers. Price, $3.50.
This book tells graphically OF the
rise and downfall of young Quaker
preacher. "Hidden away in this
worn and care encumbered world,
Scared with its frequent traces OF
lprimeval curse, are spots 80 quiet
and beautiful as to make the fall OF
man seem incredible, and awaken inI
the breast of the weary traveller who
comes suddenly upon them vague
and dear delusion that he has
stumbled into Paradise. Such an
Eden existed in the extreme west
|ern part Of Ohio in the Spring Of
l1S49," and it is the scene Of the
|boyhood and early manhood Of the
young Quaker, David Corson.
lat this time utterly unacquainted
with the ways Of the world
|he seemed to have found the
pass key to natures mysteries, and
Ito have acquired language by
(which be could communicate with
all her creatures.
Into this secluded spot came a
,|traveling quack doctor, beyond mid
die life, selling universal panacea.
with him is a young gypsy girl,
Pepeeta, that he has just made his
wife. The quack gives q perform
ance and sells his medicine and
Pepeeta tells the fortunes OF the
crowd. The doctor suffers 80 badly
he can only talk with difficulty.
He is in search of some young man
lto.travel with him and talk up his
! goods. "For," said he, "if l can
: ind man that can do the talking
I mean talk, you know, talk a
crowd blind as b-bats,) I've got
something better than California
Z gold NINE"
"Better get Dave Carson" said
I the village wag, and up went wild
! shout Of laughter from the crowd.
"Who's Dave Corson?" asked the
doctor.
e "Quaker preacher; young fellel
bout twenty years DID,"
n "Can he t-t-talk?"
n "Talkl he kin talk a mule into |
= ntrottin' horse in less than three
4 minutes.
J. Determined to secure the younl
q preacher he goes that night to church
= for the first time in years, and which
!. is the first time his young
wife has ever been to church
,i|She is profoundly impressed, ant
r is irresistibly drawn to young David
4 and the attraction is mutual.
. The doctor is delighted with tn
q sermon. Hes a snake charmer
| was laughing in my sleeve all tn
,tt|time, and saying to myself, 'he'
Il bamboozled Pepeeta, but he can
ts bamboozle me- When he up an,
te did it. Tee-totally did it. And
a he can bamboozle me, he can BAN
ve boozle anybody" "But
70 between you and me and the tow
70 pump, it's all the better, for if b
. can fool the people with that kind 9
b. gibberish, he can certainly fool thel
IN with the Balm Of the Blessed Il
N lands" That night Pepeeta ca
!. not sleep. There are all the eli
n ments Of tragedy in the heart OF
=. woman who has never felt the emo
!. tions Of religion or love until she
:. married.
Il On the following morning II
Il. preacher ploughman was aield
=. break Of day. Here soon come Il
y doctor and Pepeeta. After vainl
- hattering and arguing with Davit
n. the doctor gives up in disgust, 81
n ing him this parting shot: "Goc
n.bye, dead man. l have alwa,
he hated corpses. l am going whel
: men have red blood in their veins.
~ David has fallen violently in lo'
'. with Pepeeta, whom he believes
= be the daughter 0! the doctor. Ur
,er able TO resist this love, in few day
"a he joins himself to the doctor, wi
iteIis in a neighboring town. H
he downfall is swift. He elopes vii
a Pepeeta, comes very near, an
re- thinks he has, killed the docto
He descends into the lowest depth
m No crime is too revolving for him
M commit. He runs the gauntlet
70 dissipation, debauchery, vice an
n. crime.
=. How his redemption is finally .
he c0mplished Is the really strong ar
eir magnificent part Of the book.
his return to his better nature Il
al hero sounds the keynote to b
he he character, and the closing chapt
"A is his vindication as we'll as his r
zee demption.