The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-07-21
One Vie4u ~ ~
y of The Crisis. !"

| ~ vi fSC NJ 1861
Mr. Winston Churchllls last book. 'The
Crisis" has already been spoken OF In
The Post, but It seems to me that the last
word has not yet been said on the Sub
iect At least there is still another point
Of view from which TO view and review u.
In my opinion Il would have been better
for Mr.. Churchill to have rested his fame
on Richard Carvel," book Of much dig.
nifty aud Interest. or even on "lNhe Celeb.
rity," for In that there Is AZ least fund
OF original humOr and the reader can have
hearty laugh at tho many amusing sltua.
tons. In 'The Crisis" Mr. Churchill has
given us a series Of Incidents Of the civil
war and pictures Of the men famous for
the parts they Mayed therein. all taken
from che Northern sidc, however, and be.
yond this nothing. There is no originality
whatever in the story-on the contrary,
the readers Of David CoppcrAeld" Will
easily recognize a tasteless wNrmed over
version Of Urah Keeps romance in Mr..
Enphaiet Hoppcrs scheme for getting pos
session OF Colonel Carvers business with a
view to gaining Virginia Carvcl for his
Wife, and this without the faiptcst rehec
ton of the skill OF the great humorlst. In
fact, one Of the most striking features Of
the book Is the utter lack OF humor. al
though some poor attempts have been made
in that direction In Captain rige and
Uncle Ned aud one or two other instances
hut the attempts are so labored as TO be
only very fadsung.
~
a., arvs ~
Of "The Crisis" a strongly drawn picture
OF a slave auction with no detail Of bru
tality omitted that will bring a feeling Of
shame TO those Of us who are the descend
ants of mon and women who permitted
such things To he, We are constantly being
reminded that this is our common coun-
try, and yet Mr.. Churchill goes back into
her past and brings up for the reading
world stch a scene AS this with which TO
whct the appetite for the horrible, Even
granting the scene be not ovodrawu, the
day Is past when Il could happen, and
what good docs MIR. Churrhll expect to
gain by u for his country When Charles
Dickens gave thr world tho revolving pie.
lures Of Fagin ana Dothehpy's hail, those
evils existed and II was with thc high
hope OF remcaylng them that he disclosed
the dark places. But Mir. Chuchli has
no such grand erruss ms This If "a A
vantor eynoes az What ma, have hecn hun
Is possible no longer
-
on almost every page OF the book Mr..
Churchill noses ms being absolutely Impair
tial I'm his picture of North versus south.
as they were arrairnod against each niher
IN the time Of which .Tho Crisis" tells.
and vet ne gives us two youup men. riyal,
for the heroinc's love one from the North.
the other from the south who seem IA
tvpify the rival sections The Soutberper
Is brave, impenous weak. selfish aud dia
spatcd. tho Nurtherner absolutely without
fault. strong. brave. uuseifsh pure. max
ing a stSone contrast in HIS life OF devotion
result of being successful both In war and
love.
MIR. Churchill is absolutely hysterical In
his pralse of the Southern oristocrati,
class. ignoring all others from the south
but he evidently knows nothing Of III,
clnss as he makes his special representa-
ton Of them. Colonel Carvel. sit In hi
drawing room with his feet on the mantel
piece and his hat on his mead This, t.
those who know, Is simply absurd, ana "
sMr on the tyne. We are treated, too
to a great deal OF "gush" over tho womer
Of the South. and yet. with the exception
Of Vrcinn Carvnl who by the bye, gets
| Aer inspiration for strength from y North
| ern woman. what tyne docs ne give US Of
| tho woman who give her son 10 the wal
/ IN. Mr.. CoIfax? A pltlfully weak. selfish
| creature. an insult to the noble record
| ,,,ao h,. tho vonen of tbe South during
maj war so IN snIte of tho nose ~ i'm
na.,ta, h,,tor,on assnmod nv the nuthot
~ enc rasis =" rben s,fted down mi.
,n,,,,,I,,i,, remains oniy IN a great dea
'r'n.,.,.,,ot onsh =, tho courage ana do
It. =, mo mon and women of IN,
e4'.,h
Mr.. churcnm,s picture Of Abraham LIN