The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-09-18
In THE
Literary World
THE GfIORGIANS. by Will n. Har-
ben, author Of Abner Daniel. Price
$3.50. Publishers: Harper & Broth

THE GEORGIANS. by Will n Har.
ben, author Of Abner Daniel. Price
$3.50. Publishers: Harper & Broth
ers, New York.
"Abner Daniel" which appeared
about two years ago from the pen OF
Mr.. Harden was a better character
sketch than "David Harum'' in many
respects. 1t might truly have been
called a Southern rural David Harum
t was character that illustrates the
best type of the Southern countryman
sensible, shrewd, honest, patriotic
lneighborly, devoted to principle and
detesting a fraud and pretense ans
tinsel 1t is perhaps true to say that
Mr.. Harden did not himself under,
stand how virile and quaint char
acter he had drawn until the book
appeared and took strong hold upon
its many readers. Every person Who
read "Abner Daniel'' was sorry when
the book ended and wished for more
of the life of that homespun philoso-
pher and all round man OF every day
genius. Mr.. Harden has gratified that
desire in THE Georgians.' 1t might
with equal truth be called 'The Carr
olinians" for the characters drawn fill
any rural section of the South, except
those few sections where education
was general. OF course there is a Iowa
story that is good, and a detective
story that is absorbing, but the novel;
list has in this novel gone further
and made his story a practical and
effective defense of the South ana It'll
vital problems. 1t will. therefore
have peculiar interest for all student,
Of histories and political conditions ia
the South. 1t has been called ~
Vigorous Renly to Uncle Toms Cabin.
The plot of THE Georgians," briefly
stated. is this: Old Henry Vaughan
the father of the whole-souled younS
hero, Eric is a wealthy, narrow min
ded Union man. who prior to the end
of the Civil War, foresaw the defeat
of the Southern cause and sold his
slaves for land ana turned his Confed
crate money into gold. On his mothers
side of the family Eric's relatives are
of the South and for the South and
the young mans sSinpathies are nat
urally drawn that way. This produces
a widening breach between father ana
son, and when a carpetbagger by the
name OF Bowman. who is the william
of the stor',, appears on the scene
further poisoning old Vanghan's Minis
against his son and adroitly suggest
ing a plan for the building and en-
dowing of 81 big school for negroes
with Eric's patrimony the old man
falls a victim to his wiles and is on
the point of disinheriting Eric.
1t is just here that the plot of 1.-THE
Georgians" becomes absolutely alb
sorbing. and the reader. be he Norf
thern or Southern. earnestly hopes
that the villainous scheme will fail.
Right here Mr.. Harden has introduced
the popular hero of former book
of his to wonderful purpose, AbneB
Daniel, an old Confederate veteran
and a staunch friend and admirer on
Eric, champions his cause and il
really making fair Roadway agains.
the plans. of the carpet-bagger ana
the obdurate father when Eric fur.
Their displeases his parent by falling ir
love with a beautiful but poor gr3
and lavishly spending his money t.,
save the life of the father of the girl
who is in prison falsely accused of
murder.
This complication makes Abner
Daniels task more difficult, but the
sly old farmer is thoroughly equal to
the emergency. Abner has been Mr..
Harben's most popular character
his sayings and doings being quoted:
the world over, and in the present
book the author has given the OLD
veteran soldier a wonderful opportun-
lty to exercise his shreWinesS and
rare mental abilities. His tits in
The Georgians" on questions of vital
interest to th1 South with the carpet
bagger and the Union man are strong.
interesting. and original. His views
on social equality and of negro educa-
t1on are those of every intelligent
Southerner-or Northerner who haa
lived III the South. BY most skillfuf
detective work, in his crude way, and
by taking frequent trips over the
country, Abner finally succeeds in pro4
ducing evidence that Bowman, thd
carpet-bagger, is professional swind-
Ter and returns home Just as Bowman
IS on the eve of absconding with q
large sum of old Vaughan's money,
rms brings the story to a happy eli
max. Vaughan is brought to see thu
folly of his position: he forgivea
Eric, who rescues the father of his
sweetheart from the gallows and
gains her hand in marriage
The book is sure of a great success.
1t had been only out two days when
a new edition had to be printed ia
supply the demand. The N. Y. Herald
has already spoken of it as one O.,
the most important books of the sea-
son. and Mrs. l.. II. Harris of Nash
vile, the noted Southern critic, in
writing of Abner Daniel in the N Y
Independent said: II recall only one
original man tvDe that has been pro-
duced with the last year-'Abner
Daniel is one of the few living char
acters to-day in recent Southern lit
erature." And a Northern critic. who
read the advance sheets of "Ths
Georgians," not only pronounces il
Mr.. Harben's masterpiece, but adds
that, mot since Uncle Toms Cabin
was published against the interests O,
the South has a book appeared which
so conclusively iustifies the Southern
point of view as does 1.-The Geor-
gians." This beautiful book, appros
bound in gold and Confeder-
ate gray, will carry conviction wher-
ever it is read
Santa Claus Wonderful Candy Circus
Verses and sketches by Olive Aye,
pictures by A. r. williamson pub
liShed by Laird q Lee. Chicago.
An unusually clever and original
holiday book for children. Freddie
takes a trip to Santa Claus Land, and
on his arrival he finds Santa's palace
is made entirely of candy. Good old
st. Nicholas shows him through his
mysterious palace, his gorgeous rooms
and candy halls, exhibiting his Won
Gerful Candy Circus" Monkeys made
of pepsin gum, caramel and chocolate
CRATES, peanut pigs, clowns of taffy
and butterscotch were trained to act
and race like living creatures" Even