The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-01-05
Gilbert Parker's ~ - -
- ss 1.-The Right of Way"

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"The Right of Way" by Gilbert Parker and published by
Harper Bros has proved one Of the remarkable
stories Of the day 1t is tale Of old Canada before the
days OF present civilization the plot being laid pary
IN Montreal and partly in the little country village OF Chau
deere peopled by French Canadians most OF whom were
devoted Catholics. This novel might almost be called a
Catholic novel; for the beautiful and simple faith OF the
inhabitants of this village OF the forest l. mostly of thar
creed and the characteristics OF these people form striking
features OF the story which might almost be called play
for is intensely dramatic and the author has most prop
erly staged It. realistic writer all times has lent an
additional charm in The Right of Way" by the perfect
stage setting, and time there any false acces
sores 1t be said however that from beginning to end
he has produced most narrowing tale for the whole of it,
in some form other, tells OF the sin OF man In many
respects 1t is Disappointing for nothing
is supposed 10 have things In story II might very prop
ery be called book of despair and and sorrow
At the time tells much of the poetic beauties OF
pastoral love As book OF complete fascination The
Right OF Way might be called wonder Its spell is
something pfodgous and it forms the most powerful
of modern literature, and it
duenee that will be long felt in the annals OF the church
II might be said to have fault at all lies perhaps
the fact that it is all too powerfully human. 1t is full OF
human heart throbs human walls Of and misery and
the cries come alike from the city the village and the will
derness and all through the night time and the day time
OF the story agonizng cries heard but these like the
yeping OF foxes wolves in the forest They only
stated intervals but they always there Humanity
weak and vacatng and much of the time strong and
These are the types that arc mostly pictured in this book
There priests and members OF the church devoted
men, who know but duty above life itself and
there lawyers and doctors woodmen and tnbermen,
sacrifice their lives for, aud there are purderers.
Briefly, the story tells principally OF brilliant young
lawyer Charley Steele who becomes prominent IN the
ing chapters through his mastery defense OF murderer
Joseph Nsdeau Without any defense whatsoever, Steele
faces the jury and makes Of those eloquent appeals
touched with sophstry and learning crowned with
marvellous oraoriea ability which his client free al
without the jury leaving their His victory was
almost appalling in its influence on the future OF the man
He himself realized that he had defended his
words, who guilty hell words were
used Nadeau by Steele the leaving the
Charley Steees long friendship with Kathleen Want
age, who had watched hm from the galleries OF the court
and had witnessed his triumph brought matters an
immediate crisis and the two married unhappiy
1t seemed but unfortunately hdtheen realized all too
her former love for Captain Pairing the Royal Fusl-
lees and this ate into her heart Her husband
Charley Steele Beauty Steele because OF his
handsome face and marvellous genius. He a poem ia
every phase of his intellectual and physical makeup but
poor fellow became enamored OF himself because OF his
and the tributes of all the people his genius and be
became branded it with the mprnts OF his own
talents. He became dspaed and finally sank the lowest
depths. 1t while terrific spree after having dis
covered that Kathleens brother, Billy Vantage was
defauter and having provided Tor his wife in the transfer
Of properties he owned in order to the good OF
the family he became desperate and semctaed on GER
tain night in the Cote Doron resort OF unsavory reputa
ton Montreal Here in OF maudlin ineiec-
tual frenzy he weak enough descend religious
who in the cafe, and the latter, becoming angry
tackled him and threw him bodily into the St Lawrence
river. Thus Beauty Steele disappears from the
his tr,umphs and becomes suddenly dead to the world Hi
supposed hiatus Kathleen after waiting
months belieNng MN really dead WarrleS hcf toTne
lover the military captain 1t Just here that the grea
depths of the dramatic ability OF the author int
their first full swing Joseph Nadeau the murderer coming
down the river in his skf the the body
Beauty Steele" splasng in the river and him
CARRYING him the woods the village of Chaudiee
The blow unbalanced Steele mentally but his
him back to life only find his patient suffering from
lapse of memory After long months of this dual existence
and with knowledge whatsoever OF his former life he
restored to condition through the trepannng
his skull by sillfu surgical operation by the brother OF
Catholic priest Through the Incidental picking up OF
newspaper the cabin Of Joseph Nadeau he learns OF thu
remariage of Kathleen and thus the story winds its thrilling
length through another life which he takes in the village
OF Chaudere where he becomes tailor but OF course,
of his intellectual capacity could not long live thus
without being marked above The story simply
rroongs itself chapters Of intense interest and human
passion until the reader thrilled to the He meets
finally loves simple maiden of the village who at las
reciprocates his affection and after vicsudes thu
story ends with tragic death the lot OF the hero
II would be telling much to attempt TO draw or syn
opsze the latter Of this remarkable story. 1t 4
tragic dramatic, thrilling. AS book OF intensity it hs
scarcely had equal within quarter OF century.
! CHARLES THOMAS LOGAN.