The age-herald., 1900-01-21
I" T That Are & ..1s'.t n1UUMS I.s. =R@ad
That Are

able to compel the attention no matter clow prone lale eyelids to close. It has been long tiine since Mrs. Burnett has given us story of her own southland and read CTS began to think that she had possibly forgotten the fine and simple mountaineers of North Carolina, and even Washington, fascinaffng always in fiction and fact. So It was in the nature of charming surprise that reders found the scenes of her new book ltd among the familiar friends which Mrs. Burnett pictures with such natural ness and truth!
 Before the publication of the book when its title became an open secret, 1t was very naturally inferred that "In Connection With the De WdMoughby Claim" S,ould be pre-eminently study of Washington poli- fics; that readers would no doubt be conn pelled to pursue and witness the exploita-
 ton Of the claim through winding ways and doubtful manipulations within the na- tton's crowning symbol of purity. freedom and Justice-the national capitol Instead of this, the actual political aspect of the claim occupies very limited number of pages. While it is made very clear that ''as rule 1t isn't the Lords truth that carries big claim through" yet some very fine touches are used in describing the modus operandi. This feature, how ever, is, important and very easily falls in- to the background of ones recollections. The novel consists of two plots or move ments, which appear at first wholly uncon- nected While reading, especially when about half way through the story, the reader resents this interference in the cen tral interest of the story and the result is most unpleasant. However, as the se quence of events unfolds, the relation of the two parts becomes more apparent until they bend nearer and nearer and in the eli max the Keystone is slipped into place and they are one.
 The opening scene at Talbot's Cross Roads is placed with a few stelling strokes firmly and vividly before the reader This subsequent tragic opening passes into the sweetest of idyls The counter scene in New England, where the author is just as much at home as among her children of the southland, develops from the fairest beginnings into the darkest and deepest of tragedies. And whole, 1t is just as difficult to decide which is the more at tractlve-the authors light, fanciful touches. swift and humorous and delicate or the deep. rugged, tragioal notes which start into vibration the most solemn emo tions of the human soul.
 Mrs. Burnett's delineation of character Is masterful. showing a large comprehen- sion of humanity, sympathies broad and deep, and a tender reverence for the soul of man. There are the neighbors at Tal- bots Cross Roads. a natural, genial. home iy sort. with the inquisitive. sordid little s1lidiil SkaulpS, une two dDSOlutely perfect old negroes, Aunt Mornin and Uncle Matt; the fallen factory girl, and the rare old maid of Wfllowfeld, Miss Amory Stark weather. These, seem to belong to the wonld rather than the pages of fiction. De Courey, Latfmer and Baird are sometimes melodramatic, not "convincing'' as the phrase goes In exploiting the two strange ly divergent characters of Latimer and Baird the author fearlessly brushes away whatever things are selfish in religious ideals; and while refusing many of the ac- eepted dogmas of faith, delves into the deep things of thought and decides in favor of those altruistic ideals which lead men into sweeter sonship with the Father and broader humanity for his fellowmen. She says: What doth it profit a man if he save his own soul and lose the whole world earring nothing for dts agony, making no struggle to help 1t in its woe and griev- ing" Through the lips of her character Baird she speaks a great and true word:
 Repentance comes too late. We say man saves his soul by it-hls soul! We are a base, cowardly lot. But what of the thing we have hurt-for no man ever lost his soul unless he lost it by the wound he gave another-by dnfiicting in some other an agony. !" I repent and save my
 self; but repentance cannot undo. It is not to God I must kneel and pray for par don, but to that one whose help1eSsness l slew, and though he grant it me, he still
 
 Repent before your wrong Is done." Baird could speak feelingly upon his great theme Repentance" for he had been guilty of a great, cruel wrong; one which no amount of repentance in agony of mind and soul could undo. With the incidents connected with the narrativ of aDtimer and Baird some criticism could very justly be made despite its dynamic force and the tender ness of its pathos. The author has sacri- feed probability and naturainess to an ar tistic ideal and pathetic picture in the history of Margery and her brothers de ceptiorf relative to their foreign tour. Nor has 1t been easy for the author to adjust her narrative to the exigencies of the situ- ation. But we should not carp over the lit- tie things even though they be evident de- fleets.
 Rather let us dwell upon the softer side of the story the hero of which is in reality the hero of the whole booK-Tom De VIII loughby The passion of pity for him in the opening scenes changes into a gener- | ous admiration and then develops into a reverent love In Tom Mrs. Burnett has created a, unique character. He calls q1im- self "a numbering failure" but to his read CTS he breaches in the sweetest possible way-sby his own unSelfah life-that there Is something more to live for in this world than fame or wealth or even power and in- teqlect. Really it is the lesson that is burst ing like an inspiration of glory upon wait ing, longing humanity today-that of pure goodness. Tom deserves a place beside the other heroes of .unselfishness for it was his whole aim in life to secure for others what he had himself missed. Toms thoughts were hemely and sweet, but they enrich the heart of all who take them from his own noble self. In closing take these words of his with you: "One of the things I've thought about good deal has been love- Loves as much an element as the rest of them There's earth, air, fire, water-1ove
 It has to be calculated for. What I've req soned out is that it has not been calculated for enough It's going to come to all of us-and it will either come and stay, and make the old earth bloom with flowers, or it will come and go and leave it like a plain swept with fire. It ought to be pre- pared for and treated we'll. People have got into the way of expecting trouble and tragedy to come out of it. What I've been wanting to see is young love come up like a flower and be given its dew and sun and rain-and bloom and bloom its best. That sort of thing was left out of my life; but should like to see it before I'm done with. Good God! Why can't people be happy?