The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-18

Almost the entire book is taken UT with
the details of a single journey In which
innocence and simplicity. personified by
Andrews and Fanny and Parson Adams,
find at almost every step some new form
OF wfckedness 10 destroy them. During
their progress they come in contact with
almost every form OF human weakness.
They encounter the hypocritical church,
man. the ignorant and cruel lawyer, the
unjust Judge, the lewd peasant. the
cringing and fawning yet heartless land
lord, the fine lady fastidious concerning
the proprieties. vet at heart thoroughly
immoral, and everywhere selfishness and
vanity and ohsequfence TO money and
power. The whole vain and cruel age is
before us. held up for us to laugh at.
But there Is never any spite at individu-
ais. never any misanthropy in Fieldng's
satire. I'VE who are admitted behind
the scenes OF this great theater of ma
ture." he declares in one place land no
author ought 10 write anything beside
dictionaries and spelling books who hath
not this privilege) can censure the action
without eonceiving any absolute dctesta-
ton OF the person whom, perhaps. nature
may not have designed to act an Ill part
in all her dramas" The satire IL never
directed against the people; 1t is the act
that is held un TO ridicuie. We Join In
the authors full, hearty laugh. but we
feel at the same time the deep pathos that
underlies IL all.
Joseph, soreiy wounded. is visited by
Parson Barnabas:
forgiveness OF the thieves. Joseph ans
wered: He feared that was more than
he could do. for nothing would give him
more pleasure than to hear they were
taken. That cries Barnabas, is for the
sake of justice Yes said Joseph but
IL was to meet them again am afraid
I should attack them and kin them. too
IL could Doubtless answered Barna,
has, II II lawful TO Kill thief: but can
you say you forgive them az a Christian
ought7' Joseph desired to know what
that forgiveness was. That IS answered
Barnahas, TO forgive them as-as-lt, Is
To forgive them as--in short. II is to for
give them as a Christian. Joseph replied
he forgave them as much as he could
Wei. weii.' said Barnabas. that viii
AgaIu. wheD% Parson Adams IL sent to
the rich Parsbn Truliiber to borrow the
few shsliiugs that win relieve his great
wide reputation for charity. the word
seldom being out OF his sermons. he Il
received at FIRST with Incredibly, then
With actual Insults. The parson Is even
ing him clench his hst. interposes and
beTS him not 10 fight. nut to show hiu-
self a true Christian and take the law
Of him.
Fielaing Is full Of these little hits. His
pages bubble over with good nature
Sometimes he laughs bolsteroueIv brs
more often he chuckies slyly 70 himself
ever the weaknesses. the XanitleA me
petty foibles OF humanity.
Sophia for instance, Is N deep GiAtress
over the mlsforfunes ~ Jnnee ''Oh
wicked wicked eyes" she cries 'sthat
have wrought an this mischief How can
! ever hold them up again. Yet, ali the
time she IS regarding With great satIsfac-
ton her image In the mirror. Again
Parsou Adams. 20 convince Wilson III his
supreme contempt FOR vanity offers ID
walk ten miles TO fetch his sermon on
that vice In the same novel the country
hsfnisman whose dogs have attacked the
parson. calls them OF at once for fear
that they will be spoiled by following
vermtn. Note the irony in this episode ~
Capt Hiifil. who spent much time every
day considering how liable MIR Atfworthy
whose heir he was 10 be. was To ale ~
apoplnxy.
But while the captain vas ono day
busted in deep confemplati0ns az thfs
kind. one Of the most unlucky as well as
unreasonable accidents happened TO him.
The utmost malice Of fortune could in
deed have contrived nothing so cruel -
malapropos. so absolutely destructive 10
all hts schemes. In short, not 10 keen the
reader in long suspense. Just al the very
instant when his heart was exuItinx In
rnedi,ations on the happiness which would
accrue 70 him by Mr.. Ailworthy's death
lie himself died Of an spoplexY.~
the whole atmosphere Of the book X
one 90 sly fun. The very titles Of tha
chapters are amusing. The readers
neck brought into danger by descrip-
tom his escape" The morning intro.