The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-08-04

Of Prof. Heron, a distinguished scholar
socialism, fell in love with a rich young
woman III his congregation who worked
with him in helping the poor and shared
his view point. divorced his wife, and lived
He sent his wife and children to Polk
county, North Carolina, and with his
young Wifc-they were not married by any
ceremony-went to Europe. His doctrine
was that when Il man loved another Wo.
man it was a sin for him TO continue to
live with his wife. And 50 he abandoned hi
wife and children, and, hynotized by the
charms of the younger woman, commit
ted the gravest sin of this age. His action
was approved and c-ountenanced by some
CT the educated socialists OF this coun-
Try. The papers were full of the per
formance at the time and Prof. Heron
and his new wife were duly excoriated.
The deserted wife and her children had
the sympathy of the world. That was
fact. MI. Dixon's fiction Is not more
strange than that incident. In truth as
you read the-unfolding of tne story you
cannot resist the feeling ,Aat its inSpira-
ZION was found in the career of Prof.
Heron. It seems to have been made the
foundation for a thrilling and powerful
sermon in fiction against socialism, divorce
and their kin enemies OF society and
civilization.
The wide reading of this tense story
would do more to kill the mIasma of
socialism and those teachings that break
down the family thar all the philliplcs
that could be directed against them. The
impression produced against them IS so
strong that YOU cannot shake 1t off. The
story gets into the very fibre of your
thought and IS SO realistic that you carry
it about with you. You are made to
feel that the characters are alive and neal
y0u-that they pollute the atmosphere you
breathe by their plausible and high-sound
mo tommy-rot about 'afhnity," soul
love" and like expressions that are the
cover for free love and the destruction
OF the sancity of the home.
You turn away from the tragedy and
sin OF Rev. Frank Gordon and his female
companion in sin to the neglected Wlfe
with a feeling that, in spite of the wreck
of home and all the evil that Wrons
doctrine has wrought, the old-tashlonec
woman still abides-the woman Who II
neglect and basely treated, still holds thc
world together because she IS true TO mel
marriage vow-'for better OF Tor worse.
The author has written nothing fine
than the picture he draws OF the lathe
Of the cratic preacher, coming OUT 0
his quiet home IN the West TO pro'et
and care for the devoted wife. HIS Wofd
10 the wavward son seem like a Whit
from across a field OF new mo"h ma
vban compared with the malarial atmos
nhere that pervades the mlasmatlc SUI
roundings into which his son has gone.
OF course the story TURKS out right. IN
sinners who have covered their crimes by
believing or affecting to believe IN ann
itv, and the like. are uncovered IN Tue!
.in and the old-fashloned mofahly i
cnthroned as the only salt mat saves
Socialism and Divorce are MADE the 1ei
rihle creatures that they are and the stor'
ought powerfully to quicken the pupil
mind 10 active efforts to check the laAit
of the marriage ties and to put up IN
local fences with regard to divorce.
prcONsTRUCTION IN ORT CAL
OLINA.
" TJa~a;Jton win
: Nh J. G.. de ROulhac Hanlllloh, W.