The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-06-02
Sidney McCaH's -
~ Truth Dexter 2

NielN' hN sidney Mccall. Boston, Little,
I Brown & Co.
| The modern society novel seldom reaches
those heights that satisfy for a longer
period than The mere reading. So much
I that Is commonplace, trashy and really
nnimportant as hction comes from the pub.
fishers at times as to both mlslead and an
1 noy. But Truth Dexter Is a refreshing
Innovation. as well as au Impressive, I'M
posing creation, Sidney Mccall. the au-
thor, Is new to the American field Of let
tors. but " his future contributions prove
as wholesome as 'rruth Dexter" we have
irdced new star In the literary nrma
mont His book Is sectional IN It's char
actcr somewhat. the scenes being laid
partially in Alabama and also IN Boston
The plot Of Truth Dexter" Is not Of the
conventional kind, albeit Il deals mucn
with modern society--whoily. IN fact. II
Is tale that deals with tho disposition
Of 4 large fortune left by an old MIR. pcx
ter. who fought ON the Union side during
the civil war lie had made constant ct.
forts 70 have his brother, Colonel pexter,
living in nexterville, Ala, take part Of his
fortune during his lifetime, but without
avail the Alabama brother having cstra,
cIzcd the Boston brother because OF his
afrIliation with the North during the great
struggle which tried mems souls" IA
the win Of tho dead man, however. The
granddaughter Of the Alabama brother was
70 hc given the entire estate, provided she
could he induced 10 accept t.
~
At tho opening ot the book appears Van
der weydc CraIghcad. brilliant young
Rostou. LAWYER Just past thirty. lilo ~
ambitious and handsome. and has a prom
isng future Mt the bar AZ tho ontsc, he
Is about II take ccrtalr trim - Alabama
aud before going is saying his adieu 70
the most famous society leader NJ BOSTON
Mrs Thomas Wiley she IL In many 70
sFccts q remarkable woman. With few OF
the virtues Of true womahhood. and u yer
table slave 10 the cnuvcnt innaitleS of tho
400. Her one ambition IN NE appears 70
be to have men adore hcr, and her belt Is
ornamcnted with the scalp " overv intel.
lcctnal man who ever came under her spell
Marble hearted uud almost without blaon
In her veins. she cuts her admirers ms
with a seythc, aud they fail by lcgions.
Cnichoad. however, almost proved her nm
doing, aud It Is at the moment Of his nc.
partrrc that this soullcss creature Of tho
drawing room realizes that she has az last
met her conqucror lie Is tho soul Of
honor, and whom this society sircn VIM
might also nc called female ihcrunc
leads him 90 the worry verge Of prcclpico
aud almost lands him on the rocks below.
he awakcns from The spell aud throws her
aside Tier revenge comes In time But
q moro revolving character would hc nara
TO paint AZ the same time she Is always
Interesting because she Is full NJ vHgarics
and surprises Tho writer has her appear
at most dramatic periods Of the story, aud
sbc is always dazzling IN her beauty scin
tllmtng in her wit. sparkling IN her con
ycrsatou and bewilderins IN her mysteries.
With tho mind of man she has the
sicalt hof tigrcss Her victims cArc slam
with her brain ms with a great paw
=
The purpose Of Cralghead 20 Alabama
was to ind the young hcress to the for
, tune She was living on tho old plantation
with her grandparents. she was a Ycrita
bic child Of the forest aud spent hci
time among the trees and flowers OF I'M
adjacent woods. Old Colonel Dexter, the
, grandfather, rcpuses the attempts OF
Cralghcad to fasten the legacy on Truth,
whom he and his wife idollze, and IN .
moment Of unexpected excitement, when
alone In the wood broodlng over the mat
(, tor, and trying to come ia a decision ns 10
whether or not the money should at inst
, come 10 Truth, nc dies suddenly. THIS
throws his wife. = lovely woman Of the old
school. into violent Illness, and In order
IN save her life the doctor urges trir
away az once the only possible expcdi
= eut But the estate was too poor 10 ar
ford H. aud Craighcad not being possessed
Of sufficient money 10 make the advance
! srizes upon the happy thought that the
girl should marry. and he quickly induces
= her to marry him, startling condition
= but not fncongruous TO the mans hdelliy
TO Ills sacred trust Truth consents to the
ceremony IN order 70 save her erandmoth
: er's lifc. and the old lady is carried away
in special car to the seaside Biloxi, Miss
She soon RECEIVERS, and Craghead takes his
!, untntored bride 10 Boston, where he In
stalls her in fashionable apartment no
: eel. the Hanover. few months ~ IIar
: ward university attending lectures ana spe
cial courses Of study, and az last trlI
= 10 Paris. soon brushes the young woman
: into budding genius and although hci
y timldty az times shocks society she sooI
!, rises 70 heights unlocked for. she Is
dream OF physical beauty. The autnoI
! 3
n snd sls, rpcns with sweet hopes and adora
= ton for her husband.
. ~
But the temptress, Mrs. Wiley, appear
n upon the scene al n time when Truth coul,
+ he wounded deepest by her Vaccinations
4 She let's Truth know much ~ Cralghead'
q former affair and the little southcrne
= is stung 20 the core, although she smother
her pride and says nothing. The power o
* the author shows Itself In dealing Wit
u many complex conditions Just a. this stag
= Of the story. Mrs Wiley again induce
= CraIshead to come 10 her at her summe
home on an island in the sea. while Trut
i Is In Paris with MrE. Adams, a friend q
!. cralehead. Mrs. Wiley uses an Enelis
lord and diplomat as bait craIghead
. ambitious now 20 become diplomat hin
:, self. bites rendiy at the fly and the dI'
n cusslon on Eastern complications and th
posltlon Of England Is mastery piece G
a. animated dialogue, the author claimin
l. that his polltca! argument occurred In IN
u year 1896 which now readE almost PR
b phecy. Mrs. Wiley comes near bringin
I.t.N utan ~