The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-11-03
The Latest NoVeI
Julien Gordcn's The
Wage of Character.

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To a considerable part Of the popula-
ton OF Kansas, Julien Gordon's new
novel, THE Wage Of Character" would
be interesting, il it were only that it
gives peep at the life the business OF
which is in Wall street and the home on
Fifth avenue. a life that Kansas holds
| not to be wholesomely American, but
menacing, rather. TO a republican form
| Of government, for the rich of New
York are held by the West in varying
| degrees Of conviction, to be q social ele-
ment that is seeping under democratic
| foundations.
In that light julien Gordon's social
study is re-assuring TO any western
mind. There are two men in the book.
both miserably self-analytical and inef-
fectual.
This is the story briefly: Hamilton
Darrell, son of a western railroad mag
nate, and Hazard Thorne have rooms
together in Cambridge. Darrell has a
sister, Coralie. in love with an English
man. The Englishman afterward fades
out and Thorne marries Coralie. Thorne
is the child Of culture; his wife is a
, strong, honest pure, |homely girl who
doesn't know imitation cabinets from an
tique, or how 10 dress in taste, or how
not TO over-dress. She learns in time
Thorne becomes a national legislator. His
wife's talents flourish IN Washington.
They have been married fifteen years,
when Thorne in delving around in him
self finds that he has never really loved.
He gets to watching the 1uttering eyelids
of another woman, and offends his wife;
little later he warns to a gay widow
in Washington. He has not gone very
far, but he has gone far enough to break
his wife's heart, and she rids herself of
him, to the great JOY of the reader. He
marries the widow, and his political ca
reer ends. for the two go TO Europe and
become fat. Avoirdupois ends him. The
brilliant woman he could not love passes
her life in a villa near Rome, happy in
the beauty and promise Of a daughter.
Which goes to prove, mayhap, that
while the democrats may have something
to fear from the rich women of the ex-
elusive OF New York, they are safe from
the men If a few generations Of IN
mixed blood viii turn out Hazard
Thornes.
Julien Gordon's story is brilliant, its
chapters tremendously assembled, its
style charming.
She is best in episram. Here are some:
There is a certain form of moral su-
periority in men which women secretly
resent.
1t is only when we have gagged our
own helplessness that we are really pre-
pared to stand on our feet.
we must not undervalue ephemeral suf-
fering. It's results are sometimes lasting.
What belittles the responsibility Of ig-
norance serves but to increase that of
insight and education. OF what worth
are the refnements If they teach not
self-control?
He was one Of those men who, II they
take the trouble, can turn women to
slaves or foes, but rarely to sisters or
friends.
Eventually one wearies Of the unpro-
ductive, of the hens that cackle and lay
no eggs.
Those whom God has set asunder let
no man put together.
He was an odd mixture Of geniality and
ungregariousness, being the kind OF man
who, in certain moods, will walk a mile
out of his path not to meet his best
friend.
Pullman carriages are at least easy and
comfortable when one is not writing at
their ornamentations.
Clever women understand that the So
cial career. Ike any other. must have a
meaning; that a campaign is not a sue /
cession of disconnected maneuvers, wild /
and inconsequent, but that to every move I
there must be concerted plan and pur- (
pose, else it's doomed to final failure.
4 dead lover is a dangerous rival to a (
living husband, in an imagination of /
twenty-three.
1t has possibly escaped casual observers !
that just as women grow more masculine /
men have a tendency TO femalize.
A man of the world does not entertain +
you with a detailed record Of his chiId's I
illness. his wife's symptoms, his sisters /
marriage, or his depleted bank 1
account; he leaves his household gods at
home
There is a form of egotism which the
salon has wisely banished.
Culture dislikes vehemence.
A mans attack on men alarms women.
a woman's on women amuses men
a well-dressed woman is sure OF her
self.
1t is pleasant to be IN the winning boat.
To the man who has not touched
hand. her physical charm is
only food for the imagination, so to him
who has not fathomed woman's soul
Its harmonies remain unwritten music.
The friction that irritates may spur and
stimulate while softness humans.
The novel has many similar bright
flashes It is published by D Appleton
and Company. and is handled in Wichita
by GOldsmith's.