The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-09-22
TDeUlm Boss. -

II Francis Churchill Williams gives us
another novel MS consplcuously good as Is
j Deylin--Boss" OLothrop & Co. Boston,,
Just issued, his place in American lltera-
ture Is secure. In ID DevlIn- Boss" Mr.
Williams has chosen 10 portray homely
type of American manhood, and SO sym
pathetcally has he told Of this, so deity
drawn character that the story along sim
pie, vet striking, lines stamps Itself on the
mind and captivatcs the Imagination There
has not come from the press OF any pub
fishing house In twenty years n hook Of
greater charm, 1t Is the extraordinary
naturalucss of the entire story that makes
It's fascination, There Is an old definition
Of art which says 1t Is painting nature rs
It looks and not as It Is, which is truth,
and this, perhaps, is the secret Of Mr. g,
Williams success. He has given rs n pie
ture of perfect coorlng and onucng per-
spective One marvcls always at the like
ness to life. In -. Deylin--Boss" we have
an every day type-n not the kind we pass
In the strcct--bUt that one which we all
know exists and which is an essential Gle
neut Of the American body polite. The
'hoss" in orr system Of political rule Is
known as a necessary evil, but his literary
likeness has never somehow been COM
pletely apprehcnded before. Some have
attempted It. hut none have succeeded ae
has Mr. Williams
u Devlin-Boss," or lust Jimmie, ms he
Is known In the book, Is born TO rs as q
street urchiu I'm a great city a. might have
been Plttsburg or New York; ana we find
his FIRST exploits in newspaper Office He
rises by easy stages from office hoy thcrr
10 small place in politicians office,
where he becomes the object Of his own
ambitions to be real "hoss Jimmie
Is no ordinary boss. however md he differs
from the average in that his fame is built
upon the absolute confidence Of bis fol-
lowers and his cherished personal intcg
rty. Throughout his entire career he l.
the same square dealing, unpretontous type
Of the American self-made man, boss, but
at heart n clean, straight man His ca
rccr in one way Is an example 10 American
youth.
The book deals with the famous conven-
ton which nominated James A. Garfield
at Chicago In 1880. The description Of this
historical event. In which Jimmy plays an
inconsplcuous hut potent part Is stirring
and realistic. II is refreshing 10 he trent
ed to such cear-cut pictures Of Roscoe
Conkling and Garhcld; the pcroratlon Of
their nominating speeches Is presented as
with power Of oratory and eloquent
thought Of which we rarely have ilnstra-
lions now
without going further into deals It must
be added that Mr. Williams has woven into
his political romance as delightful a love
story--two Of them, in fact--as one would
care to read. Both Jimmy and his protege,
Jack Doran, have their bearts' idols. aud
though there Is some OF sadpess in Jimmy's
romance. II Is n part Of his life and gives
us glimpse Of what is in the heart Of
many Of our fellows But Jack Doran's
love-making is full Of sparkle and sur.
prises. It Is everything that is sweet and
full Of amiable contradictions. Here, as
elsewhere, It Is the perfect naturalness of
the story that captivates the reader. The
characters are those we know OF so well,
those we despIse those we applaud, those
we love. No American, man or woman. can
read the book without feeling Its vitality
in every line. and y will be read not TO he
forgotten. II is a lasting contribution to
American romance, and we must have more
from Mr.. Williams gifted pen.
Charles Thomas Logan.