The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-28

dblt DIODOIllOIlS anu SlIEA6AA NAGN NCo
ings, human Indebtedness and even death
leaves its ferocity undated Preacher
Warwick Of the Knobs, with the Bible
Rugged close TO his narrow soul. chanting
his doleful refrain Of foreordination and
predestination, dead TO all human cries and
natural instincts, challenges admiration
in the midst Of severest condemnation.
lie is the soul Of honor, courage and sim
cerity, and the reader feels impelled to
rush TO the breach, when he sees death rob
him of his sons. disgrace steal away his
daughter. and pride close the door on his
only remaining son. while he is left alone
before the bleak hearth with only his Bible
and his humbled Warwick pride.
There is not too much theology in the
story to make that feature monotOnous.
There is enough TO cause the reader to see
how Christianity is handicapped by a mar
row dogmatism. In this regard the book
cannot be too highly commended. 1t is so
fairly and clearly put that it becomes very
apparent to the reader that the author is
in no sense a ~sectarian-that he takes no
delight in assailing the creed of another.
but rather is a lover of the truth and a
vigorous opponent of error.
Around this character OF Preacher
Warwick is woven a story of pathos, love
and tragedy that leads the readers imagi-
nation captive through the stirring scenes
in which the optimism of youth and hope
the pessimism born of experience and ma
turity, are alike the playthings of the for
tunes of war. The scenes are clear and
skillfully projected, events following in
their natural time and place with inevi-
4oI1a III 90 nhn-
acter is so strong that the reader waits
impatiently for Joshua with his mountain
eer lingo to set things right by his show
er of unOrnamented facts.
Into Warwick's home comes a young stu
dent from the North to pursue his geologi-
cal studies, and is henceforth dubbed the
rock hunter" by Joshua. He becomes an
object of great suspicion to Joshua, whose
crude but accurate character reading
stands in bold relief to the blind Warwick,
who substitutes REORGANIZATION and predes-
tinatiOn for every responsibility in life.
Mary. Warwick's beautiful daughter, I'M
taught in all else except the fathers dog
matte precepts. falls an easy prey to the
wiles of the rock hunter of the North.
Upon this the plot hinges, and under the
determination to avenge his sisters
wrongs, Joshua, the uncouth mountaineer,
develops a strong character that towers
above Warwick himself. The dramatic in
terest is very intense when Joshua, gun in
hand, starts for the cultured districts of
the North in pursuit of the rock hunter.
In the Stringtown grocery, when the
events of Joshua's departure had been duly
discussed and followed by a series of fire.
side stories, occurs one of Professor
Lloyd's finest efforts at pathos. 1t is the
experiences of the school teacher with the
dirty faces" The graphic description Of
arrest and consequent detention
on suspicion of his loyalty, when on his
honor he had promised to be at home to re-
ceive John Morgan, the raider, and later
when the timid, trusting Mary pilots Nor
gan to the mountain cave, which Journey
ends in the terrible tragedy of her brother
SamueIs death, the authors great ramatic
ability is thoroughly taxed. With power
and skill the interest is sustained through
out, and the reader is betrayed into an in
voluntary lament when he turns his last
page and finds no more chapters.
If a book leaves its readers better, hap
pier and more alive to the higher things OF
life, it has accomplished its greatest posi-
AeAN IL TINS NOAuliC 10 IOuuu uO dpOlOkY
for vice. The ethical teaching is pure and
good. 1t is written in the happy style char
acteristic Of Professor Lloyd. He has the
genius to go into new fields for romance.
In this respect his books are unique and
unlike the modern novel. Without appar-
emily aiming to do so their purpose is to
better human conditions. One feels, after
reading "Stringtown on the Pike" or "War-
wick Of the Knobs" that the author has
cleared our mental and spiritual atmos-
phere; that we have been in touch with a
master mind and a loving and sympathetic
spirit. We nave less tolerance for bigotry.
more hatred for treachery, and a higher
and broader conception of courage and in
tegrity. We despise not only the man who
betrayed Warwick's daughter. but all men
who trihe with honest love. We admire the
tenderness and fidelity Of Joshua War
wick and find in him a broader and purer
Christianity than that preached by his
father. Dodd, Mead & Co., of New York,
are publishers of Warwick of the Knobs"
WILL CUMBACK.