The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-06
Miss eJwetfx New Book.

Miss eJwett's New Book
THE Tory Lover" BY Sarah Orme Jew
ett Boston: l.. c. Page & Co. $3.50
Miss Jewett's name on the cover of a
book is a guarantee of artistic con-
scieHtiousness. Nothing that she writes
will be poorly done. There will be.
however. natural speculation as to her
success in field in which this new
volume Is her first venture ANY tears
as to the result may be put aside
Never has her touch been surer. her
art more thorough, her story more in
teresting, her treatment more delight
ful. In no other book has the range Of
her imagination been so great. Inaeed,
1t is most unfortunate that this volume
has appeared at this time, just as the
tide is setting in against the so-called
historical novel; The natural rcac-
ton of an overfed public literary taste
will perhaps operate to deny this spIen-
did book its merited popularity and ap-
probation. After the weary Journey
through the barren wastes of "historI-
cal fiction it is a soothing balm to
reach such an oasis of delight as The
Tory Lover" Here are no swashbuck-
ling heroes, no blood-curdIing duai3, no
fields of gore, no impenetrable dis
guises. no impossible heroes no diplo-
matte heroineS.
But this is not to say that action is
- lacking in plot or story. There is ac-
ton and plenty of it, Indeed the dra-
matte power of the book will surprise
even Miss Jewetts most enthusiastic
admirer. Herein it differs from the So
~'caned books of power. 1t is d pleasure
to cOnsider.hew simply and easily genius
works, with what straightforward di-
rectness and conservatism of energy,
with that absence of trickery and art
fee, with what power of Illuminating
Interpretation it handles everyday ma
fn crixr
e nif1eance and vital power
The difference between the average
historical novel; and this book of
Miss Jewett's is the difference between
the vital and the spectacular clements IN
literature and life.
1-e- Where others have laid hold Of the
surface facts merely, she has grasped
the inner meaning; and in the descrip-
ton both of character and of scene, she
s has touched the heart of things vhere
g Others have but elaborated the Access
cries of the event.
f.The Tory Lover is a love story Ct
Revolutionary times the scenes NOV
ing between Portsmouth and Berwick,
g. France and England. Roger Walling-
ford, the hero of the narrative is a
Tory by tradition and instinct. but sails
with Paul Jones in Inc Ranger because
of a. partial conviction of the justice of
the patriot cause and entire conviction
of the loneliness of Mary Hamilton
WallingfOrd is suspected of strong Tory
procliUties, and just as things are as
suming unpleasant aspects for him per-
sonally, Mary Hamilton secures a lieu-
tenants commission for him from Jones,
who himself loves the charming Ber-
wick lass and gives in to her eager plea.i-
ing, not wholly from unselfish motives.
Wallingford is suspected by most of the
crew Of being still unloyal, and Paul
Jones mistrusts him somewhat but dur
q rNE Do, -
France becomes warmly attached to
him, as the only one on board whom
he can wholly rely upon. scheming
villain, DicAson, who would undermine
Jones, attempts to make trouble be-
tween the two by repeating to Wal
1ingford a conversation between Jones
and Mary hamilton, which he has over
heard.
Wallingford refuses to listen but at the
close of an interview with Jones in which
a complete understanding between the
two seems effected, he discovers upon
Jones finger ring given him by Mary
Hamilton. He believes that Jones has
given him his commission only to keep
him from Mary Hamiltons side After
several sullen days Jones discovers the
cause of Wallingford's sulking, and in a
burst of magnanimity assures Walling-
ford that he is the one Mary Hamilton
loves. The dramatic elements of the
story begin with the historic attack upon
White Haven, where Jones well-laid
plans are thwarted by Dickson, whs
roUses the town guard stabs WaIling-
ford and leaves him for dead in the hands
of the English. and returns to the Ranger
TO prove to Jones that Wallingford has
betrayed them and has deserted to his
friends. By a clever manipulation OF
facts and by hiding important private
papers belonging to Jones in Walling-
ford's books, he persuaded Jones against
II
English prison to die Of his wounds.
News reaches New England that WAL
81 lingford has betrayed the Patriots, and a
mob attacks the home of Wallingford' 5
mother. Mary Hamilton and Mrs. Wal
1ingford sail for England in search of
=, Wallingford- Securing a pardon through
influential friends in England they dis
cover that Wallingford has escaped from
prison. In an English country church
Mary Hamilton meets Paul Jones in dis
guise, confesses her love for Walling.
ford, pleads so passionately for her lover
that Jones is convinced that Dickson and
not Wallingford, was the traitor. To-
gether they plot to find the missing lieu.
tenant. Jones plans a skillful trap fol
Dickson and the story ends in a graphic
account of Diekson's surprise in a tavern
just as he is dickering with English spies
for the SADIE of Jones. secret plans. This
is the brfefest outline of the story. 1t Is
full of stirring. Incident and dramatic in.
terest. =
Perhaps the thing the reader will be
most thankful for is the splendid pic
ture of John Paul Jones which Miss
Jewett has given u.s. Within the past
few years a dozen lives of this mas
terly "sea WOLF have appeared. None
of them has set forth the character Of
Jones with such life-like reality with
such flesh and blood "humanness' as
does this story. Here he is shown as
he most likely was. Passionate, proud,
enthusiastic, tyrannical, impulsve kind
hearted, stormy and tempestuous. SYM
pathetic, ambitious, raging and loving,
shaken with anger touched by pity,
daTnfing as often as praising but al
ways keen, intellectual, undeceived, and
withal his faults, wholly gentleman
ami a nobleman. Perhaps lie finest
chapter in the book is that describing
the interview between Jones and Ben
janlin Franklin at Paris The sage and
scholar, trained by long experience to
patience, and the eager sailor chafing
because he must wait for the glory he
desires. "Giory is all my dream; there
is no holding back in me when think
of it; my poor goods and my poor life
are only for it. help me, sir, help me-
to get my opportunity. You shall see