The Republican journal., 1901-10-31
OLD JED PROUrY,
"a Narrative of the Penobscot.)

Accompanying copy of this new
book, which is most attractively bound
and printed, was the following note
from Richard Golden, who needs no in
PRODUCTION to our readers. He says:
81 am sending you to-day a copy of my
new novel, Old Jed Prouty, a narrative
of the Penobscot. 1 am sure you will
give it the attention l know you feel it
will deserve. AS the story of one of
the honest old sons of Maine, l feel
that it will appeal to every man, wo-
man and child in our glorious old
State.''
In "Old Jed Prouty' the reading
public is presented with New Eng
land character story of unusual interest
and merit. The plot, although not an
involved one, hides enough mystery to
lend the spice of the unknown to the
readers zest, and the simple and
natural denouemeEt emphasizes the
high moral ethics of the story, and
throws into strong relief the deep
human sentiments that dominate the
tale.
Standing out above all, infusing into
the fibre of every chapter the rugged
sincerity, the homely wit and the
quaint philosophy of New England, is
the central character about which the
pivot of the story turns, ''Old Jed
Prouty," real in name and real in good
mess, who at the time of his life, some
thirty years since, was landmark in
the Valley of the PenobScot, where
| of win
bered and quoted to this day. The
scene of the story is laid in and about
Bucksport, where the Prouty Inn was
famous, and the local coloring, dialect
and descriptions of Characters all dis
play fidelity to life, and are drawn with
a convincing reality that can not fail to
interest readers of every section.
( The story is the result Of the collabor-
ated effort of Richard Golden, who for
a number of years has starred in the
name part of "Old Jed Prouty," in a
long and successful run before the
public, and Miss Mary G. Francis, a
well-known newspaper woman and a
popular writer of short fiction stories,
and the happy combination of strong,
picturesque material and excellent lit
erary work has made a novel that is
worthy to become New England
classic, and to cause the name of ''Old
JEDI to be as widely known in the book
loving world as it is ON the stage.
In brief outline of the story it may
be said that old Lige Prouty borrows
$4,000 of John Todd, doing so without
reason, his mind having fallen into the
childishness of age. The same day his
wife discovers his action, and quietly
takes the money to give to Todd and
receive back the mortgage which the
old man has given on the Prouty Tav-
the mortgage with his trusted clerk,
to record it. Owing to an insane and
unfounded jealousy Of his wife, Aaron
intends to leave town that night, never
to return. He takes the money, tells
the old wife that the mortgage is lock
ed up in the safe, and that Todd has
the key with him, but that it was all
right. That night, the coolest ever
known in the history Of the Penobscot
Valley, Aaron fees, vainly pursued by
his distracted wife, who follows him
until she sinks exhausted upon the ice,
where an hour later Jed Prouty finds
the wailing infant, the Tretty of the
story. He takes her to the tavern, and
that hour marks the turning point of
his life from materialism to spiritual
light.
The old people, old Lige and his wife,
die Of paralysis within few hours of
each other on that same night, and
John Todd, coming home from Boston,
demands the missing mortgage. Jed
Prouty knows nothing of it; and from
that on throughout the story to the
final chapter the mystery Of the mort
! i,
not suspected of wrong doing by his
fellow townsmen. This constitutes
basic motif for the tale, yet is but
foundation for strong character draw
ing of ''Old jed" for the increase of
the feud between John Todd and Jed
! Prouty, and for the thousand and one
humorous and pathetic touches which
! fill the pages of the book to overflow
ing, with a genuine Kaleidoscope view
of New England life.
Incidental to the principal theme
there is presented the charm of dou-
| BILE love affair." that of Martha and
Beacon Hill, and of Fanny Todd and
young Lige Prouty, Jed's son, delicate
ly and carefully worked into the warp
and woof, so that the pervasive odor of
romance heightens the deep human in
terest that is characteristic of every
| line OF this story, story which the
reader will not willingly put aside until
the finish.
The humor of the book is far beyond
that of any New England story yet
published; and Bill Peaslee, DR.. Dewey,
Joe Stover, Pink-eyed Purdy, Zack Will
cox, Zeb Hardy and Trib Prouty will
all contribute to the joy of the reading
public, and all of these are ''real," and
came from the historic town of Bucks
port, Maine In the end, the mystery
of the mortgage is solved just in time
to save the old inn; the lovers are
happy, and so will everybody be who
reads "Old Jed Prouty." 12 mo. Cloth
bound, Price, $50. At all bookstores
or sent, postpaid, free, on receipt of
price, by 6. w. Dillingham; Company,
Nos. 119 and 121 West 23d Street, Pub
fishers, New York.