West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-01-23

/ 'n this part OF the Mountain state The
gentleman whose opinion is given below Is
/ a native West Virgmian Of education and
/ culture Tie is a student OF human nature
as seen tn men as well as books and Is a
| person ot wide observation. His ANALYSIS
ot Ihornwood. Emma and Lucy comes en-.
urcly from reading OF the book. lie has
never been valley district aud has "A very
slight acquaintance with either Grant dis.
trict or the town OF Kmgwoodl
The romance very often deals with poRt.
icol celebrities or with wealthy persons.
But it is the common people" on which
our national lie is based From this stra.
tum como the most substantial elements of
our American society. Yet this very stra.
tum is much neglected 10y our nov lists.
Some OF the popular stories OF the day are
not only unreal but they present the sub
jet of love in a harmful guisc They fro.
qucnuy deal with phases of life which the
reader impcrfcctly understands aud OF
which hc frames a distorted image
This new volume Is a fortunate exception
There is an inspiration in It's pages which
appeals with special forcc to the Young
Ihe influence of the book Is entirely ON the
side of what is wholesome. hopeful. and
good, The love element in the story is In.
deed the central thought yet ii does not by
any means shut out everything else A halo
OF praise is thrown upon the tolls and strug
glos OF those common people whom Lin.
coin said the Lord must love because hc
makes SO many OF them
The characters are intensely lIfclike and
there Is no resort to caricaturc The au.
thor is in full sympathy with his parsonage.
From the pages of Winning or Losing r"
the real home life of the West Virginia pco.
pie is reflected with the truthfuuess of
photograph To use the words OF another
critic. the picture is drawn in way TO
please she generation now living aud with
an accuracy that will render the book of
historic value In times to come
The story opens With a characteristic
picture of our Hill life. The farmyard
scene. the nquisuyeness Of the men
as they deliberately size up the stran.
ger the unaffected manners in the home.
and the sincere invitation TO return. arc all
wonderfully realistic and arc verified i'm
everyday observation. The tcachcrs insti.
tute with lbs amusing events is another typi-
cal por,raituro, and il well illustrates the
propensity Of our people for practical jokes
Tho closing chapters touch upon the Span.
ish-Amcrican war and they call vividly to
mind the stirring events OF 1893 and the
wave OF patriotism which then spread over
our land
The new book differs from Under the
Cottonwoods in both style and treatment
The writer shows a happy power OF adapt.
ing himself to different themes.
James Ibornwood the hero. has his
faults and failiugs like any one else. yet he
Is man Of sterling worth and he improves
on acquaintance. II hc Is simply a man OF
the masses hc Is none the less deserving
OF our respect TO some minds he will ap.
pear tame for the reason that hc is not
fast young man addicted to bad habits But
this ideal OF our hero has been presented
entirely too much TO the American reader
Ihornwood is quiet undcmoustrativc. in
dusuious and perscycring lie has con.
victions and he holds to them Hcis CON
stant both in friendship aud in love. He
does not make friends rapidly yet he holds
thcm when made lie has much reserve
force and is not cast down by discourage.
mcnt When be returns to his native hills.
hc IS lacking in experience and hc runs up
against some rough edges lie is at that
time quite reserved and entirely too scnsi
tive for his own good These traits had
been made al the kocncr by his previous 40
success iu getting on in the world In his
new home be- quickly becomes a part Of the
community and la this fact he illustrates
the power Of adaptation which Is so charao-
tcristic Of the young American
lie had greatly neglected the society Of
the other sex. although his face and figure
render him attractive TO the female eye.
Toward womankind he is neither nppaut
nor forward Ills regard for fhc sex will
not allow him 10 nirt wilmlly. and he will
not marry without love. Thornwood has
taken the vIcw that he should first build
DIS cage before taking any stcps 10 secure
his bird Later on be comes TO believe hc
has been following the wrong course but it
is even sooner that Doe finds 10 all but impos.
siblc Co make bis head control bis heart
The young man profits by experience. and
when thc story leaves him. be- has thrown
on much Of DIS crudcnoss and has greatly
added Co his knowledge Of bis own capa.
buitcs.
Author and hero are not ono and the
same person There is much boz common
between them. yet there arc points of I'm
likeness in Ihoruwood the writer has
drawn personality distinct from himself
Itis true that more or less ofthc personal
character Of an author is sure to crop out
in his pcrsonages and especially ms hero.
This is something Doe cannot help The
high qualities he puts into lis hero must in
some measure exist iu himself
Emma Brlndon saa worry interesting
person strong character She rs honest
modest and upright natural sensible and
matroniY Sire is handsome. but not afor
tnc order oi doll Hcr good looks arc off
@ sahsunua. sore She has "a cheerful dis.
position aud enjoys Ufc She bias dcDti
and soHdIty of character. and understands
human nature She s coy bat not coquet
tish and is not To- bc won zoo easily. She
is independent and rhornwood finds
rLis out
Ihc attachment between Thouwo3d and
Emma isa case oi true love Two gounv
people honest and eioIchraftcd and differ
i1g bob temperament arc drawn together AZ
choir hrst SIGH, of one another on ,bc
village street their eyes cxcbsnec
signals of an unm.sakablc kind Alter
ihoinwood becomes acquainted with
Emma her presence Is a haven of rcet ,o
him Awa} from brr bc is restless The
bcst proof that hc loves hcr and She h.m
's io'nd BOZ Che .cusitivcncss shown by both
and thc foolish was they act toward each
other Their msundcrsmndines are im
aenary dimcu'ucs Both lovers arc