The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-29
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
Arrows of the Almighty.

Owen Johnson. author of the book bear
ing the above striking title. is but twenty
two years old. His early development of
literary talent is perhaps TO be ascribed to
heredity and association. his father. Rob-
ert Underwood Johnson. being editor OF the
Century Magazine. and also a poet. and
other relatives having manifested ability
as writer's in various lines. He belongs to
the Wayne county Qndiana) family OF
Johnsons. Ex-Congressman Henry L. John
son being his uncle.
Arrows of the Almighty" is a very m
bilious effort. The plot. while not especially
complicated. covers a good deal of ground
In its workings and introduces many
characters. The story has ,hree general
divisions. The opening event takes place
In Baltimore. I'm the Juveniles" but the
scene Is Immediately transferred to a
plantation on the eastern shore of Mary
land. There the hero, John Gaunt, is born
and there, save the time OF his college
life, he spends his years until he Is twenty
one. His father IS addicted 10 the opium
habit and falls into the hands of one
Captain Brace. an adventuror, who gains
ms confidence. gets control of his bust
ness and finally becomes a fixture at the
Gaunt home. Gaun becomes a wreck. and
his wife, n proud-spirited woman, dies of
heart break. This leaves the boy much to
himself and he. grows up rather morbid In
disposition and with a melancholy tcn-
dency. Ills father dies when he is twenty
years old and when the time comes for
him to take possession of his estate.
Brace, tho guardian and supposed friend.
discloses his rascality and disappears. car
rying with him oil the property that can be
converted into money and leaving little
save debts for the boys heritage. This
shock, together with "A blow 20 hia vanity
given by a girl with whom he fancies him
self In love and who has treated him i'll,
gives John Gnunt more gloomy views OF
life than ever. He gathers himself together.
however. ana with u small remnant OF his
fathers wealth In his pocket goes out to
SOCK me- fortune. taking with him q college
fricnd. Jack Hazard, who In bent on a Hike
quest, Hazard II a lively young fellow
who serves as "A foil To Gaunt.
The next scene OF operations II clevc-
land. o., where Hazard becomes a newn-
paper men and Gaunt finds employment
on the wharvca NJ superintendent OF n
gang OF men, In the course OF six years.
by aid OF n timely legacy of $4,000 from
AN uncle he becomes partner in "A steam
boat company and n rapidly growing rich,
Meanwhile he hap fallen Ia love again. this
daughter OF a United States senator, Ills
suit meets with favor and his marriage IN
fastened by the breaking out OF the civil
war. ny the advice OF his father-in-lew he
enters the commiaRhry department OF the
army, the argument being that men OF
ability are needed there To protect the In
forests OF government and s%oldiets' lie
served IN the West for u time. but II even
tually transferred 90 Baltimore, whore he
engages I'm n contest with n ring or dis
honest contractors. This II ~ far the
strongest pnrt OF the story and IN told ef-
fectively and with dramatic force. Gaunt
makes bitter enemies, he ~ threatened ana
his life II In danger, but he pcrseveres IN
his effort To root out rascality and finally
| succeeds. Evidently this feature OF the
tale is based on some historical lore not
found In books, Mr.. Johnson has made The
mistake Of many young authors In crowd
Ing too many happenings ana TOO many
characters into his story. Not all the
characters nor all the incidents are neces-
sary 70 the development OF the tale, When
he has had more experience he VIII learn
the artistic truth that even a picturesque
or striking figure loses It's effectiveness
when IL is introduced solely ana obviously
tor it's picturesqueness or oddly, ana II
not present because the exigencles of the
plot demand II, lie will see. for instance,
that the Blodgett family In Cleveland
rich. In so indirectly connected with events
that IL could be omitted entirely without
loss 10 the story. He VIII also see that IN
pursuance of his desire 10 set iorth a num-
Der of peculiar characters whom he has
had in mind that he has depicted three
family groups, so extremely unpleasant
I'm their several ways that one might al,
most wonder that the hero is not frightened
from the thought of marriage. Also ne
will see that the final episode OF the tale
Is something of an anttclimax ana ine
proper ending Is at the close Oh the bai'i-
more campaign.
But. while faults are to be seen they are
as has been said, those of ineXperlence
and IL Is because of their contrast VIII
| the strength and merit of certain other
parts of the book that they invite atteh-
ton. The author has produced a work ina
on the whole is remarkable for one sc
Young. He shows or a good Vo-
cabuiary, a fair mastery OF a clear nter'
arv stvIe and a cleverness at character
drawing which promise much for his fu'
ture work. 1t is safe TO predict that M
.,ho or twentv-two can produce 1.-The Ar
rows of the Almighty" will be heard IRON
L a unin