The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-12
w. l. Locke's Neov .s
= and Interesting Book.

aeNS~>~~NN~~~ NNN~NNr~~|~>~~ Oe~~/~N~~~N
-. house Of John Lane New York and London
rom 49, and interesting book "1he Usurper" which is
les nv .snects novel deserving OF the highest
m sp The theme OF the story is somewhat unreal
80 statement docs not in any sense lessen the
n he work from the viewpoint of its artistic pre-
Y ~ Locke, the author OF The Derelct and
auon y, .,orics has put into the warp and wool OF
s GOV a fabric deserving stand with that other
Il iss Of the season, "The Right of Way" OF the
L II is safe to say that few could tell Immediately
~ csding which has the greater merit. Totally dis
,Lose two hooks much alike in their general
a. To- both are rythmical and faithfully presented
W. ~ ocke is a poet born is readily in The
W. ~ tor his vivid imagery finds vent in many charm
p,io,s and beautiful ideas throughout the story.
tn tIsuper obtains its title through the career of
"vouorot an Englishman who went to Australia
Y 30 Gained fortune. We find him in the opening
o. Of the book busy with the details OF new hos
!, North Ham, just out OF London and which is just
80 under the guardianship OF royalty. lie is engaged
A,e nd many other great English charities his riches
I;r;,less Millions with him like hundreds with
r. and his luck is phenomenal literally turning to
.b;e story is gradually revealed OF Jasper Despair
80. dav on his Australian farm, he loathe re-
Ionger in country lily capable OF turning him
a. A travelling miner noticed the black soil on Jas
land and informed him that it almost pure tin
al that il was worth millions. This proved to be true
,hc man soon became prince in wealth This, how
was not the real Jasper Vallecot the OF the
The latter became the victim OF an accident at the
a. bn appearance of the miner who pronounced the
en- valuable and disappearing, was never heard Of
M The attendant assumed the name Casper Naecot)
coming to England established himself in the work Of
,nsng great charities Among his hobbies bringing
men that nation who became through adverse
~ The victims of financial distress One of these,
4 Of the name of Burke, brought over from San
,eisco and Jasper Valecot at thought he recog
i him as the original owner of the tin land in Aus
Here begins the usurpers battle with himself Should
bake himself known to Burke and surrender his mill
and submit to public disgrace1 He had stood for
3ament and was duly elected His charities and great
ID at Manchester and other points were well managed
eping thousands. Burke proved his right to be called
hbitant Of Nagabonda after Jasper had given him
en at handsome compensation, by being utterly worth
{ and untrustworhy
II the meantime Jasper had met Lady Alicia Harden,
Il woman Of many graces possessed OF youth and great
uy and between the two ardent attachment sprang
N Lady Alicia claimed kinship with him because her
ia was named Vallecot, and he too had gone to Aus
h She proves delightful heroine, and is character
much strength and beauty Her works along charit-
lines and she fell in with Iaspers doings quite
4er OF fact brilliant coorng is added to the story
tgh the introduction OF young poet Bonamy Tredgod
Ned Bunny" by Lady Alica) and young and beauti-
ltaian girl Vittoria She is attendant in her
s dingy London cafe but she is of poetic tempera-
1t and infused with the SOFT seductive ensemble OF the
lhn girl OF the middle classes. But Vittoria above
average in strength Of character and herein lies part Of
authors subety in weaving in this touch of color to
already harmonious whole. Bunny is madly in love
n Vioria, who sends him to foreign in spirit
Easing where he has hole shot through him. Jasper
1zns him to England, where Lady Alicia him to
1ssain
~ the moment when Jasper Vallecots is every
ne in England, and when he ready to be elected
" to parliament, the man Burke looms up at grand
~ meeting and claims be the real Jasper Vallecot
i latter makes denial and the disgrace like
ebolt Being badly handled by Jaspers friends Burke
w dies but oonfesses to being mposter and Naecot
Virtually reinstalled. He marres Lady Alicia. Bunny
~ tragic death, Vtora becomes griefstrcken and the
~ ends happily with Jasper and Alicia united and happy
'synopsis do justice to a book OF such good
'@ht and purpose 1t is high in tone filled with power
dramatic situations, and ali couched in language that
npes admiration for its beauty and style.
VI CHARLES THOMAS LOGAN