The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-19

FAO For many years in the south the name of Joel Chandler Harris has been one to conjure with, for in his writings and his work he has endeared himself to the peo- pie of the southland in peculiarly inti- mate and tender way His portrayals Of the old-tirne darkey and his sketches of Georgia life have long since gained for him an extended and appreciative audi ence. Mir. Harris Is not only southern er but a Georgian, and knows intimately the people and scenes he describes in fns work; and there are few southern writ CTS who depict these old time characters with the same degree of mellow, human interest and sympathetic insight as he. Of course, 1t will always be as the crea- tor of Uncle Remus." that MT. Harris will be most affeetionately known. For in these sketches, he has not only made a notable contribution to the literature of folk lore but has created a unique char acter study of the southern negro. Ills Uncle Remus" stories delight old as well as young, and all who have fallen within the spell of their quaint homely philos- ophy, dron imagery and witching humour hold ever afterwards very tender reconec- tions of their creator.
 So that while we think of MT. Harris first as the author of Uncle Remus," yet his reputation for enduring work is equal ly sustained by his longer efforts. His success with Sister Jane" novelette,, "The Making of a Statesman" and others was pronounced, and his friends have waited with eager anticipations for even a more ambitious piece of fiction. Their wishes are gratified in the publication this fall of Gabriel Tolliver," by MT. Harris and without question their fond est desires and hopes have been fully realized for, in the new work, MT. liar ris has written a full, fine piece of fic- ton.
 The canvass Is a broad and obfiging one and accommodates within It's ample scope merry troupe depicted in the au- thors ripest and mellowest favored thought. He has dipped his pen in times hallowed with memories of the past and only tenderness and love coupled with genius could have drawn the masterly picture presented.
 The scenes of Gabriel Tolliver'' are laid in a little Georgia town during the war and the succeeding stormy period of reconstruction days. If the reader is not introduced to every inmate of the little village, he nevertheless feels perfectly sure he has met all the noteworthy ones from the mistress in the dimly lighted parlor of each house to the black, but no less interesting Aunt Rhodies," who preside over the kitchens. And what a sweet, merry picture 1t all is! There are the troubulous experiences of the recon struction days and every one knows now bitter they were; but they in no way mar the harmony and sweetest of the story.
 There Is no bitterness in the authors pen He does not evade conditions, but describes them with business and fidelity; conditions that are now part of history. While they furnish the framework for his story the true art of the author is evil denced by the way in which this frame work is never allowed to obtrude itself but is kept subservient to the more im- portant parts of the work.
 The author, with rare fidelity and ten-. derness, presents the scenes and char acters to the reader who is early im- pressed with the conviction that MT. liar ris is writing largely from his own ex- perience and of the incidents and people that are real. This Is especially true in the prelude where the author takes the reader behind the scenes, as it were, and introduces him in a familiar and intimate way to several of the more important
 
 miniscent freshness and charm about this prelude that Is very fascinating in- deed
 In it, Mir. Harris describes the child hood of three children, Man. Gabriel and Cephas, and the little extraordinary African Tasma Tid This picturesque de- scription of their happy childhood makes them seem very real to the reader and many thoughtful reflections about the axrra orfa md makes one suspect that in him MT Harris Is recalling something of his own per scnal experience as boy. And, what happy children they were! Full of the innocent 1oyousness of life.
 
 There Is only a quick glance at the war, the story really opens after Appomattox. In the opening chapter, the wondrous Shady Dale" is described, in whose se- rene repose clustered the many ininita- ble village characters of the story There is hardly the suspicion of a plot for many pages of the story, and the only in- cidents are those found in the spirited conversation. But, finally the threads of the story culminate in few strong dramatic situations as naturally, easily and unexpectedly as such affairs usually happen in real life. In the meantime the reader is absorbed with the charming village folk and their entertaining fndi- vidualities.
 In the first chapter we have one of those delightful conversations between Nan, the little girl, and old Uncle Plato, who was Merriweather Clopton's carriage driver, that lovers of MT. Harris so much enjoy. After twitting Uncle Plato about his boasted ability to spell, Nan replied:
 T don't believe you know how to spell goose" with something like soorn
 Don't you fool yose'f, honey remark ed Uncle Plato, in a tone of confidence. You git me great big fat un, not too of, and not too young, an i'll Ter fuller stuffin', an bake Ter brown in de biz oven, an save all de drippin's. an put 'er on de table not fur fun what I thought be settin' at, an gi' me a pone CT corn bread. an don't have no talkin' an laughin in de game-an eff I don't spell dat goose, I'll come nightly nigh if. l sholy will. Elf I don't spell 'er, dey won't be huff lef'. fer de nex' man ter spell. You kin pen on dat, honey"
 Uncle Plato, the faithful white folks. nigger, is one of MT. Harris most char acteristic productions, and the reader early becomes attached to his quaint phiI- osophy Few writers tell of childhood with greater intimacy and grace than MT. Harris, and In the description of the mim- ic war carried on by the children with Nan as the captain. we have one of the most charming pictures of the entire book. When the company was ready to take the field, 1t was discovered that Nan would also have to be orderly, sergeant