The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-09
BUT IT is A STRONG BOOK.
"Cheerful Americans" by Charles .
Loomis; "ADuke and His Double, by
Edward S. Van Zile-L!terary Cos
sip--James Lane Aliens New
Book a Success-Nothing In
View from Richard
Harding Davis

In Richmond by the Bell BOOK anc
Stationery Company.
The remembrance of THE Leopard:
Spots is still fresh In the minds O.
American readers, who through 1t have
known Its author as one of the mos,
virile and fearless Of writer's, a man who
has not hesitated to embody the convlc
t!ons which have been haunting dread
in the minds of others, and put them
down In plain black and white, for all
the world to see.
Mr. Dxon's new book is not pretty OF
artistic. Considered as a work of fiction
1t will not rank with many others that
have been written within the past year.
The story Is that of the minister OF
Pilgrim Congregational Church in New
York, who has been called to Its pas
torate from Southern Indiana, when the
church was about i to be sold from its
down town location. and who has sue
ceeded within q few months In attracting
such crowds that the building becomes
insufficient to hold them.
The minister is described by Mr.. Dixon
as man of powerful physique, big and
blond with waving hair and steel-gray
eyes. with deep vibrant voice and
power to touch and thrill mems hearts
through the medium Of an Irresistible
gift of eloquence. Added to this, he Is
characterized In the opening chapter as
IAN idealist and a dreamer, In love with
life colour, form, music and beauty with
the dash and brliancy, the warmth and
enthusiasm OF born leader Of men,
He Is portrayed In everything he says
and does, and through the wonderful
skill of the man who paints him with
graphic word power, S an ardent adVo-
cate Of Christian Socialism, believing
above all else in the brotherhood of man
ha coli6o rifv of he COnSlu-
cred by tho conservative element of his
CONGREGATION as tending towards unor-
thodoX. he develops strength enough to
carry out his ideas and to sweep with
him into Temple of Humanity which
he and his followers erect in the stead
OF the Pilgrim congresa iona, Cnurcm .l
the people whose champion he avows
himself.
Up to this point. Frank Gordon, for
SO Mr. Dixon names his hero, seems
very Samson among the Phillistine ele-
ment, who are his opposers. But when
Of old, Samson pulled down the house OF
Dagon about the ears of the merry-mak-
ers assemniea within its walls, he also
was buried in its ruins. And 1t all came
about because Samson had first found
his Delilah Frank Gordon finds his pro-
totype in Samson, who preceded him
by some thousands of years.
Before he holds his first service IN the
Temple OIL humanity, It ildS Aoi SonS''
the wife and children to whom he gave
the love Of his early manhood, and, avow-
ing his realization of 1.-The end Of slave
marriage and the dawn of perfect love-.
unites himself In socialistic ritual to an
other woman, whom he prefers, or VINO
has enslaved his fancy. On his return
from Europe, where he takes the second
woman of his choice, the attention of
New York Is claimed by the opening OF
his socialist temple. the magniiicence OF
the building being thus described BY
Mr.. Dixon.
'.The auditorium filled the entire space
OF the first four stories. 1t seated hvo
thousand people within easy reach OF the
sneakers voice. The line OF its ceiling
was marked outside by the scrrled cap
dtals of Greek columns spr!nging from
their ma ssive bases on the ground. The
grand stairway was of polished marble,
its wainscoting and. walls of onyx.
"Resting on..the.capitals of the columns,
the outer walls Of. rough marble rose
twenty stories to the first offset, Drop
ping back fifty feet. another structure,
crowned by Greek facades, sprhng ten
stories higher forming the base of the
central dome. From each corner rose a
tower of bronze, supporting the ngures or
Faith. Hope, Love eHd Truth. wmle
scores of minarets famed upward, flying
the flags of every nation.
1.-THE dome was crowned by statue OF
liberty. holding aoft a steel staff, from
which flew the solid red battle-nag of
Socialism, hinging into the heavens It's
challenge to civilization, rising. falling,
waving, hutterng. quivering. ripping In
the wind, scarlet blaze sweeping hum
dred feet across the sky far above tho
cross on the Cathedral spre.'
Having attained the summit OF his de-
sires, life seems to spread out fair and
full of promise for Frank Gordon But
as In the midst OF all perfection there is a
hint Of decay, so In the lot of the apostle
al free love there arises a factor TO work
his undoing, and that factor !S--hs Deli
lab. She binds her Samson and drugs
his senses while his strength Is shorn.
Afterwards he awakens, but to WHAT
To find that he has neglected his work
and his people; that he has not comforted
the sick and the dying; tina, he has with
held from the faint and weary in spirit
the need Of his sympathy and his help.
That he has become estranged from the
friend Of his boyhood and manhood, and
that, because his free love doctrines have
recoilAd on the head of their originator,
he has slain his friend and put the brand
of Cain, the murderer, on his own fore
head.
What then is let,7 why, only this
When he is forsaken by all others Frank
Gordon goes back TO his w!fe-the woman
who has loved him through all the es'
arrangement and grief which his cruelty
has wrought. She protects him, stands by
his side, succors him in prison, and pro-
cures his pardon through the power of hel
ell-compelling devotion. The book closes
on the meeting of husband and wife after
the Governor of New York has yielded
to the wifes prayer and given her back
her hearts desire from the very thresh-
held of eternity.
The moral of THE Only Woman" is
too obvious 10 need explanation OF COM
ment, 1t is powerful exposition OF the
dangerous tendencies of Soclallstc and
free love theories. II is written in way
that is calculated 10 make men and
women pause and reflect 1t contrasts
faith with unfaith spirituality with sen.
suousness and tenderness with cruelty
Best of everything, 1t makes the American
home and Its hearthstone an altar or
which should be burned the richest and
rarest incense that II Is within the power
of mortal man and woman 10 contribute.
The book is already selling rapidly Il
cannot be otherwise regarded, even b!