The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-03-26
Ont Of the Under world.

In the Bishops Carriage by Miriam
Nicholson. is a new book by new
writer and its originality is striking
enough 90 warrant the prediction that
the author VIII be much better known
than she is before the year is out.
clever story by her recently published
i'm -McClure's Magazine Prince Rose
leaf, attracted much attention. and all
the vigor, cleverness and fun of that
little tale are to be found in this more
ambitious work, with here and there
touches of pathos and tragedy.
The heroine. Nancy Olden IS a quick
witted. warm-hearted, courag eous little
street waif, brought up by the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Chill
drel-which she briefly calls the Cruel
ty' in telling her stOry-and becoming
pickpocket and burglars assistant foc
love OF The burglar. Tom Dorgan. She
tells her own story-the story Of her
doUblinss and twistings and lodgings 10
escape the law. the story Of her ascent
from the under world. by way Of the
vaudeville stage. the story Of her final
happy marriage. And II is all as real
as If the living. breathing woman We're
sitting there before you.
In books. hitherto. the convention has
been 10 present the woman with a past
in q different way. She Is either a sort
OF human hend fun OF nefarious designs.
or, 81 the author is inclined to be char
table she arpears in the last chapter
in a meek black gown and white apron,
devotirg her life TO some one Of the
disa greeable jobs happier people refuse
20 do. But when we take our last look
at Nance OIden she IS rolling off to the
thcatcr in a hanson. wearing gor-
Eeous fur-trimmed cloak and toque
which her husband has bought for he-.
and with her husbands arm. one sus-
poets fondly encirclinE her waist Not
much like the conventional repeutant
sister is she certainly.
The fact is. however. that this frdepe-,-
dence Of convention makes her good
deal more attractive than she otherwise
would be. The life which she leads. as
the pal Of a thief. is not made aIlur-
ing-thc parents of the land need have
TO fear that their young sons and
daughters viii be led into wronedoing
by reading this lookout Nancy her
self. poor little hunted. plucky creature.
is urdeniablv fascinating. Whether ca.
ryirg herself with gay insouciance be-
fore the Bishop ard Mrs. Ramsay. or
softenins TO wistful tenderness when
Latimer, the cripple. shields her from
the police. or risking everything 10 serve
CbermCller. the man who has given her
the chance OF her lie. Nancy is gen
timely human. winsome. and deIightful
And after all. what harm can II do
the virtuous reader 10 look upon the
under world as a place peOpled by HUI
man beings? Whv should one insist
with such solemn pertinacity that re-
penJance be clothed in sack cloth. while
sheltered and untempted virtue may dis
pert itself in diamonds? This vivid.
strong, fascinating book reiterates the
conclusions to which we Of the TWEEN
ueth century are coming-that men and
women must be judged. if at all. in the
hight Of their circumstances and temp
tatiCEs; that what is past cannot he
undone. but need not for that reason
be forever mourned; and that the spirit
is more than raiment. Indianapolis:
~ Bobbs-Merrin Company