The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-10-11

THE CONGRESSMAN'S WIFE-A story
OF American Politics by John D. Barry.
Illustrated by Rollin G. Kirby, IL mo.
259 pages. Price $3.50. Publishers: The
Smart Set Publishing Company.
Everybody is interested in polities-
even those who rave at the corruption
and rottenness of politics. They would
not rave if they were not interested.
The human element, the uncertainty OF
results, the movement of men in the
great game afford the three essentials
that make men always ready TO plunge
into politics either for themselves, for
fridnd, or for a cause 1t is because
everybody talks and thinks of political
problems that novelists write political
stories. They are not new, as some sup
pose. Dickens and Thackeray AMI nearly
all great novelists wrote political novels.
''Tittlebat Titmouse" was the cxagger-
ated figure of one of the most powerful
political novels ever written.
Mr. Barry has written a. strong and
virile political novel, and has made it
of living interest because 1t touches upon
the main evil of American politics OF
today. His hero is a brilliant young Con-
gresham who is attractive, popular and
capable-in every way apparently the ideal
man for public life. He represents his
constituents faithfully and is true to his
convictions except-and that is the story.
He has string tied to him. Beginning
his career as reformer, Mr.. Briggs be-
comes the representative of great rail
road corporation in the House of Rer-
resentatives. How often is that the case
with public men. He is the Senator
from the Sugar Trust" or he is ''the
Senator from Standard Oil'' or "hc repre-
sents the x. Y. q. railroad" or 1.-The
Tobacco Trust elected him. are express
sions common in Washington, indicating
that Mr.. Briggs is not wholly character
of fiction. OF course the majority of
public men are honest, but the greatly IN
creased cost of living In the capital has
tempted too many members OF Congress
to accept retainers or fees or brides (they
are all the same thing) to look after the
interest of certain great corporations or
trusts on the floor of Congress. In all
other matters they are free to act, but
the fact that they are paid by one great
concern weakens their moral power. Mr.
Briggs had a convenient conscience and
his acceptance of money from a great
railway corporation did not trouble him.
1t made him live On Easy Street and
he thought himself rather a fortunate
individual to have enough money to live
in style at Washington. But with his
wife it was different. She was the daugh.
ter of a preacher, her conscience had
not been hardened, and when she learned
where the money came from it made
her thoroughly miserable, and, like {.
truly conscientious woman, she proceeded
also to make everybody else miserable
about her. In the working out of this study
in political morals Mr.. Barry shows skill
of high order and makes the book alb
sorbingly interesting. Of course there are
plenty of political incidents giving views
behind the scenes, and enough of affairs
of the heart to add spice to the study
In political morals. 1t is a story that
ought to do good and that will do good.
THE CAREER OF MRS. OSBORNE, by
Helen Milecete. 500. Illustrated. Price
$3.50. Publishers: The Smart Set Pub
fishing Company, New York.
This novel narrates the adventures OF
two charming young women who escape
from tiresome country relations and take
an apartment in London under the fc
titious chaperonage of Mrs. Osborne. Their
escapades, their many devices to avoid
detection and their final disposition of
Mrs. Osborne are highly diverting. II is
difficult to fancy an extravaganza In
prose that is so entertaining sketch Of
a certain side of London society. The
story runs along with wonderful rapidity,
and does not contain one superfiuous
paragraph. The author reveals a keen
sense of humor, and her novel makes de-
lightful reading indeed.