The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-05-05
One ofthe Timely 7aLes.

Oneofthe Timely Tales.
The WFners," by Gertrude Potter
a'ah''is 'JaHiesoq Higgins Co, Chicago, Is
strong coftras, to the historical novel
mat seems 70 haze claimed the reading
| world for Its ownaudcncc. II Is ono of
the few Timely tails" that are beinp nuh.
llshed, and is just What It claims 10 he
AN American storyNf today" Tho hooL
has absolutely no met wbntaver Of st,io
or diction. hut 1t is Mtten With a forco.
| full simplicity that drits +he lossop ho,,o
very vigorously. Coucht in the American
Of today. sometimes apso into sI,nc ,,o
language is simply vehle for tbo ,..,,
er's purpose. and this is to rescnt a ro,,,or
ful picture Of the helplessiss of Tho Mo-,
| against the rich
Cyrus Warner is n self-mao ma, 4, MON
| of the people--but one Singulur n,,na a,,,
| good for the conditions thatsrr,o,,,,,ad
him. From a very dubious beglIng whom
sit was a part of existence to b,,rnr,. ;,
| he works up gradually but sure olv.ars
| with ambition to succeed, which ,o,,o.
| passion after he has met ''Bcttybn no.
iaure," typewriter in the ofdco,r n,
factory whore Silas works. Work. FOR
her he almost starves himself, bn s,,o.
ceeds in getting sufficient for the In
marry upon, and with his excellent rhrd
he secures good position In the fact,
The picture of these two people, *,
simple ways and wants; their pure 4,
constant ana self-sacrlheing love for eat
other and their only child, Betty TIL
Second" is beautiful one, and is por
trayed in such an unobtrusiye way, Is 81
simply told that the impression is onl!
marred by the certainty that trouble is IL
store. And 1t comes in such force, and l.
so terribly destructive of the happy littl'
home that ones heart aches in the read
ing.
Little by little the bank account OF thu
Warmers grows until Cyrus Is able TO buS
n home In Western State, on which is al
oil well that supports them only comfort
ably. Here in peace and contentment theil
lives are passed, the only child growing NJ
to womanhood in sweet home atmosphere
And right here is the great defect In the
book unless the author can claim the force
of heredity and the daughter Il speci-
men of what Atavish can produce, for she
is vain and selfish-the opposite In char
acter of both father and mother How
ever these traits have not yet de'eloped,
and the picture of peace and happness Is
complete when the rich man appeFs on
thc scene. with the eyes of desire cast
upot the little oil well that has supported
tho warmers with comfort only, but Which
pives secs can, by use of his captal he
made very profitable. Cyrus refusN to
coll. the rich man warns him that he
ncrsists he will be ruined, and he Is 1t
IL frlghtful arrangement of the 'ich
speculator versus the poor holder an, is
indeed timely one to those VINO Kpw
how to read 1t. -, III
The prlce of oil goes down until Cyts
Is forced to use up his little capital up
finally sell out at a much lower price ina
he had been offered and the boomers s
back TO the city with only enough TO Keei
them for a short while The giving W
Of tbe home is a pitlful story; the strus
gyas nj the father and mother to get worl
and spare their daughter; the quick de
yelopment of the evil In her under tn
changed circumstances and her SAD ooWh
fall ARE all simply told. but not the les
forciblv for that very simplicity. Here II
their old home Cyrus falls in again VIII
man named Kirby. a professional laOo
acitator. whom he had known in nj
younger days. This character Is admlraoH
dawn. A man whose intentions are by ~
means wicked, but in whom rage agains
the sufferings and wrongs of the laborinl
men and women raise a perfect demon ina
sweeps him into all sorts of excuses. III
is weak. easily led and has a great powe
over men through mis- magnetism and en-
thusasm but no power to check what III
sets in motion the anger Of the people.
The latter part of the book is terrible u
the picture of disappolntments aud safer
ing of the Warmers, and worst of all tn
fate Of the daughter. The story Of he
degradation and suffering, 50 great tina
In her desperation she kills the man wh
has ruined her. who by the way, Is tn
rich mans son: and her death Is fright
fully strong. The book is one that. If
does some small degree of good, Is IA
more ant 10 stir mp feelings of bitterness
md strife that may lead to much harm.
The trouble is that but few OF the rle
will read and take warning, but IT wonl
be we'll In these days If all classes wonl
fake time to think, for the people are
fr,rhtful force when they are driven TO
far nv wrongs and suffering. The case o
''the rich man versus the poor Is power
fully presented, but why should 1t al
WAYS he ''yersusg'' why can there not i
turning TO that pure lofty and unfallin
rule. .'Do unto others rs We would ina
they should do unto your
Margaret Hadiey Foster.
.--Azp~---