The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-14
A Novel Abou. General Grant.

In the first chapter of The Captain" by
Churcn;l Williams, whose I~oi.tIcIl move.
j. Devlin-Boss, nada a hit two yea
ago, we encounter General Grant out on N
Gravois road a Jew miles IRON st. Louis
building tne humble home Low taDlogs. u.
the Grant cottage ana Likely 10 be eX-
hibitea al The Mo.Id'S rair next year.
But at that time. hack in tae Mines. he
was not G@neral orant. He was Il pSoi
and obscure man, a retired Amy olncer ar1
a gool Ceai of i failure, anu SOM g ;s.i
mad II that he was 10 longer d bearer U,
Uncle Sans COMMISSION .eCause ne hau
developed 100 great a fJnuncs, ICr WHISKY
He was known is Tine Captain, anu lie
wore an GA army ov,rroat ana stands be
fore Us u rather rat.le.ic Iisure. AN unlucky
man. with wnom tninSS GENERALLY went
wron..
He vas a happy man, however. on the
dag wn.n Mr. Williams chooses to intro
uLce Us to HIM IN the present lovei. IFS
home IN the woods reached by the GravoIs
roau was soon 10 Ee completed am tnat
ii.eant d IanilIy reunion IN Il home lie that
ND been Interrupted bec-use Vi auve.s.
late. Two OF has cliiuren were .iayns
near hiul as he wUTeIu. anu he IaLgueu
ana JUhed With tam anu piC.uIeu The
rooms lii the house auCu. ready Ior the.n
anu tne.f motfef, am nm 10 ave In. 1t IS
d shEliful openInS Ior Il Love. o. Nnic.,
Grant Is tins uoi..iiant rsure. II touches
NS $1,000 - "a iSoSSA aiAL 4 emphasizes
tiie tienienuous coAt!-sts tat toi~w.
FOR 1t IS not .ung unti IEe C.v.i War
period Is reached. al 4vt.unc mas lvIIoNc u
urant Win cedseieSs nlal.,e ~Lu ie Is Worn
anna weary anu uis,ouraeeu. l4e has p~eii
d falure as a "a. es."tc u~a.ef lii 81.
Louis and .ost d iIiinor imuL.c-rai cItfhSL.p
~.tiiii d m~itn aL.eI aipO.ntineIi. ne o.
1eis MS SERVICES ~ lbs Uo,e- N-.rn,, lei
lag il 10 NC las Luty as Che Who Lou re-
cci-ed Ms education at west ECine. But
AIS ie,ter seas ~ NE LS-n iS.Io.ed. al
u shorl tiine, LoN'eNef, he maiias.s ~ set
l. commission ana SOCn his l.Surc ycgIIS ~
grow IN MI. Williams novel untu the silent
and sem anu SUCCESSFUL Grant "a Civil
war history assumes Shape before tne
Inc Captain moves as The mas.cc per
sonaiity OF a historic cas-, Whose par Us
were Prayed upon a tremendous stage.
1nere IS d Pretty love soy III Alr. WILL
NaIns's howell. put you are never lar away
from Grant ana history. The author has a
strong loucn IN recalling the IRON Jays OF
the early s.xtIes. OGce, tof Instance, We
see Grant and his Genera.s and engineers
in council OF war or Inc west Jain Of the
Mississippi, N~lcksburg across on The cas-.
bank. Inc sei1-centeie ed u.a:I las Jdst IN
formed his omcers Of MS pan OF reaching
SlcksDurg by means VI UrulnAry steam
boa,s protected by cotton bales. Sherman
piotcSlo against lEe pan. 1Hcy "ouAu
stand no Chance at ali. Riddteo: Tney u
be sunk before ,hey wee Gear OF lne
bend!'
The Captain heard and was silent. One
after another of the council condemned the
suggestion. and his liIs oniy c.osed tighter
on his cigar. When they had Iinisheu, ne
said quietly: I have not changed my mind.
Be prepared to move down the river"
Sherman remained u demonstrate. I
shall give my heartiest support to what
ever move you order. but l believe it is my
duty to put my protest in writing"
Send along your protest. answered the
Captain with a smile. The letter was sent.
Months afterward the Captain drew the let
ter from his pocket and returned it to its
writer. The seal was unbroken. Here is
something to interest you.' he remarked.
Things had happened in the interval to
make Sherman twist his mouth over the
letter, in a wry grin"
Mr.. Williams has written a strong novel
in THE Captain 1t is a marked advance
upon his first effort. creditable as that eff
fort was, and will do much to establish lis
standing as an American novelist.