Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-09
TEE LAST WORD. Alice MCGOWAN

al.
cloth I-sH. L. c. Page & Co. Bcs
ian. For sale here by Miller & RhoaG,
- ISIS MACGoWAN'S book l.. or.
N{sss which may be read 1T first per
AfA baps unEnowinEly. But eyei
iSTEf With such a reading as m;
ksSz.--4 there comes easily quick an
probation OF the breezy fresh
ness a the dauntless Western heroine.
s-HrnfRi liking for the silver-voicc6 nrtc
hero ana hcart-ycarrinr Svr,n,ths
.5r Tie wasted life whose sadness ~.
sageincss touched SO nearly those NV
whose fate was OF happier hent. Thls
much pleasure and Interest is gained ev.,
ps q rarc!esS peruSal of the sso-v. N,
~ The deeper thought taa; follows !,
more earnest reading Of X comes
,t-anee sense Of its intimate hu-,o,
and knowledge. 1t is so brave an,
laughing, so frankly s~ce; s76 :.
vriiy tender. 80 simple in its plan an.
iuna'ciy sincere that Il seems indee
r sgtual part OF the world 81, which ~
seen with vision more clear an
pathetic than our own and set fort
ssiiy and IN iovlal style, for GU
rasiro ahf ~- ui-ease. as we'll as 70
- hertcrznsa-
Tic scene and plot Of the story are mos
nsags}y laid Tor the Safa.rg of z 6cub}
4Tound and atmosphere With the ~
and long visible use OF but one Tt
Is concern themselves almost cntisc
WIN The life OF Darlington West afte
mas left the Wild free range of III
Texas plan aad coree TO civilized am
nF20ticnal New YORK; 10 earn bread ane
me- as 81 writer there Eut il spito a,
.a Cra71pinC brick alii stone Of q erea;
.r ard TIE compelling conventions an
'rTcuons Of many people. there is
sat IN amcaSst il all a widening
Hse ot freedom, ease. unfetter@d
sveme,t. and vigorous hope simply
tho coming Of one cpresSibIe and
aEether young person from the doni-
ing and likewise wide plains and the
lran sky of Texas. So that rot only New
surk IS here with its aspirations and its
mla1ions- but all the spirit of Inc
aGndless beckoning, uplifting West is
10 expand and flourish in its very
midst.
writer shows many moods during
trs stoTy's telling. Courage. self-conf-
dance. wit gaEaty. Iightness of heart. a
Clicking. piquant irresopnsibility. the
EST OF work. and the JOY OF living run
riot with moods Of keen. eyed sympathy
rr ugi.ness and pain. suffering. discour-
cement. the pathos of untragic tragedy
aae numb sweetness OF selfless failure
au5 hurt.
She is a maker. too. Of epgrams and
of pftily sayings. and from the sweet and
uncomfortable sirl-heart OF her heroine
well as from the viii Of the people
whose lives arc round about hers. come
many bright and thoughtful bits of wis
1orn such as these:
Instead of taking new idea by the
aand, you take il by the throat-thats
conserVn tisrn.
Tho thing which makes woman worse
than man. when she fails to be better,
Is hat she fights behind barrier.
have heen q sort of moon, to absorb
corr sunny brightness. Surely now when
-ou have need OF It. / should be able to
brow back a pale glin1ner of your radi-
arce.
DID YOU ever consider the enormous
psychological significance OF certain very
simple actions? Take. for instance. the
looking out at windows. and the going
upon long aimlcss walks Who that Is
content or happy ever falls into either Of
these practices?
Love is the finding OF some one whose
faults you can tolerate
IYht n forms of beauty no longer say to
me. 'fpeace," love" truth" / shall
question Il my soul wazes not hard of
hearing,
An running away is futile. life's prob
lens follow life like its own shadow.
F1durance-res ignation-l could never
compass that: but give me Little time
and much work, ] could always achieve
some happiness.
Sometimes The things which are thought
md not done are hardest TO pardon.
To my thought-Iny understanding
here is no way Of making life good and
.aiean and satisfactory. but by each day
.arnfrE the right to be here.
While now and then in the midst of
.-. tales brightness and bravery come
faart-touching verses like this:
tell You, I have lived house-lnate to
Sorrow,
And those her gaunt. dark kindred.
Pain and Care.
sat with us often. and my life did Dor
IRON them its shade and bitter, Yea.
and died not, when tomorrow and to-
Brought ta my secret hope but fresh
despair
or little poem like the following
lines:
Dear My Lord Death, hast thou called
Long have waited TO spouse thee.
AND PRAYED. but no prayers arouse thee
aEeil-beioved Death, hast thou called
me?
10 NV Lord Death. ana ready
For life it hath spurned me and shamed
me
The world 1t hath shulnc6 me and
blamed me.
Lo. lovely Death. j am ready
Yea nv Lord Death. am waiting,
Waiting the kiss of my lover.
An5 his uerciful cloak for my cover
Yea. blessed Death. ] am waiting.
The only fault the book possesses IS
tAat II is too long. II might easily be
shortened without confusing the details
or losing the spirit and sentiment o. as
telling. One fec Is now and then that good
rews9s ner copy mas here heen allowed TO
crgep Inadvertently into the permanent
eorflnos Of q book and ti?at the story
----ht be slr.one.r Tor SIS removal