The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-12
LITERARY NOTES

A Georgia writer's novel is hailed by the press as 'The David Harum' of the South, and is one of the best selling books" The author is Will N. Harden of Dalton. Ga., and the title of the story is "Abner Daniel" (Harper). One critic in describing 1t. says: Tt is not only about the south, but it is decidedly for the south" The working out of the plot shows this It is evidently one of the au- thor's pet theories that the crude moun- taiueers and the better class citizens of the southern states are surpassed by no people in America for native shrewd- ness and sterling worth. Abner Daniel
 the leading character, is declared by many critics to be wiser and more amus- ing than either David Harum or Eben Holden. But 1t is chiefly in his plot that the author betrays his southern sympa- thies. MT. Bishop-a Georgian planter has loaded himself down with an enor- nous purchase of wild understands, and is about to wreck the happiness and love affairs of his two children. a son and daughter, when his son, Alan, conceives the idea of building a railroad through
 
 prosperity out of ruin. This plan reaches the ears of a shrewd Boston speculator, who manages to get an option on the property and promptly proceeds to squeeze" the young southerner in the most up-to-date Wall street manner. The Boston man Is a graduate of Harvard, and thinks he has easy prey in the moneyless young planter, who has only had the education afforded by the coun- frxr co1n 1u tsa h nfeynln nnr1 1arIf f1ao story shows his mistake. Alan Bishop calls to his assistance MT. Rayburn Mill Ter, a shrewd young southern lawyer, who is in love with Alans sister, and to- gether they cleverly outwit the northern capitalist, rescue the Bishop family from ruin, and incidentally remove all obsta- cles from the rough path of two pairs of lovers.
 But all this is chiefly to furnish a good setting for Abner Daniel, whose dry hu- nor and philosophy is now being quoted all over America. He is the bachelor uncle of the hero, and his shrewd advice has much to do with the happy outcome of the novel He Is an old Confederate veteran, and when his sister and brother in-law are deploring the necessity of their having to resort to certain mild trickery to protect their interests from the designs of the northern speculator. Uncle Abner says: "I look on it sorter like did on scrambin' fer the upper holt in war-times. remember shot straight at fellow that was climbin' up the enemy's breastworks on his all-fours. I said to myself. 'ef this ball strikes you jest right, old chap, bore you drap over the bank, you'll be one less agin the onfederacy; eff it don't, you kin pop away at me- I don't think I give i'm anything but a flesh wound becase he jest sagged down a little an crawled on."
 The author well reserves the success he has won. for he is said to be one of the most earnest and tireless literary work CTS in American. He spends half of every year gathering material In the Georgia mountains and the other half in New York city, where he is a mem- Der of the Authors club, and where he stands on an intimate footing with some of the most famous writers in America Six years ago he married Miss Chandler, Of South Carolina and they have one | child a son 4 years of age. They make l frequent trips to Europe. and have apart ments in New York, where, in the fall | and winter. MT. Harben does the hard | est part of his work-the putting of his | ideas on paper. MT. Harben has writ | ten several other novels, the most notable | of which was "Westerfet," in Harper | & Brothers "American Novel Series," | last year. He is now at work on another | southern novel which will be eagerly | looked for by the reading world