The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-10
NEW NOVEL FROM HAND
OF VIRGINIA AUTHORIZES
"The Deliverance' Latest Work
Of Miss Ellen Glasgow,
Of Virginia.
THE STORY STRONGLY TOLD
Author Of "'['hc Battle Ground
Has Added Another Leaf to
Her Wreath of Laurel.

rhc literary sensation Of January has
been compassod in the publication ~
Page. Doubleday Compa any, OF LIS MISS
Ellen Glassow's new book, THE Deliver
ance"
.'rhe Deliverance" has all tho prestige
Which The standard attained by its nn'
thorcss IN "rhe Descendant" The Phases
Of An Interior Planet" ''rhe Voice Of
tho People and "The Battle Ground
can confer Miss Glasgow has become
known all over the United States ana
In England, as a writer of uncon1lnonly
Z strong and purposeful fiction. Bohemian
Journalistic and literary life IN New YORK
city as centre, hns been depicted by
her with force and realism that mas
been rarely eXcelled.
Ante.bcllum social conditions in Virginia
and the hard years Of struggle which nave
succeeded have been reproduced III her
wages with astonishing fidelity 10 clar-
acterzation and setting.
Every line Of Miss Glasgows work IS
instinct with lifo, with the vital princi-
ME which bites into the consciousness of
the reader and makes strong and ihsls-
tent demand for sympathy and recognl-s
ton. Every line of her work shows
careful thorough and accurate sWorknan-
i ship, painstnking research and harmonl-
Gus blending and welding, so mat the
whole with her Is finished and fine' both
in detail and aggregate.
As for q Richmond woman born Nand
reared in this community, where most OF
her work has been done and where she
has her home, Richmond people feel
deem interest In Miss Glasgow's growing
SUCCESS and are especially pleased ana
glad to herald the placing upon the oooK
market of whatever will add new prli-
liancy to her reputation SO Worthlly won
and held.
ures, recalls 1.-THE Descendant ana IN
others, ''Thc Voice OF the People," It's
Individual flavor Is something altogether
distinct from either Of the two, Inc
scene Is laid In the tobacco-raislng sec
ton Of Virginia und, II one might judge
as to locality, perhaps In Caroline or
Hanover county.
Tho story concerns mainly Two lamlllcS,
the Blakes and the Fletchers ana the IN
dying feud between them. The Biakes
the hereditary owners, for more than TWO
hundred years of Blake Hall, one or the
famous Virginia estates. had fifteen
years before the time OF the opening
chapter in 1.-THE Delverancc.' been De
fra,lded OF their inheritance by one, VIII
Jam Fletcher who for twenty years haa
acted as the confidential man Oh alairs
and trusted oVersecr q Ill 4''tot''S'i
Blake, the elder.
Ths Christopher Blake was suffering
from, brain decay and d i before Wllilam
lcletcher's evil intentiNls were carried
out. The widow Blake had been para
lyzed and was entirely blind. Inc orly
son Christopher, the younger, was mere
boy and not able to employ legal cou!ise'
and have fraudulent sale set ASIDE NC
Two daughters could only suffer IN silence.
When 1t was known that they must leave
the Hail. brother and sisters conspired
together to keep the Knowledge Atoi''
their mother.
Erail and delicate as some rare piece
of porcelain; unable to walk, with the
light gone out OF her eyes, forever, sle
was vet the survival Of the Lucy Corhln
who in the heyday OF : her youth and
beauty set hearts aName and drove men
TO distraction over hcr oeauIy. AS
Madame Blake. she had been the mistress
of an estate TILED by three hundred
slaves, an estate on which all, from the
least to the greatest, were ever ready
md willing TO serve her
So It was that :hc members OF her
little family said the one TO the other:
If this last and worst misfortune tasl
upon her she Will never survive It. We
must 60, but she must never kno" 1t,
One day when she Is taken out riding
+ we VIII STOP. Inc CdIllhSt az ihc NNiN'
house, ~ She cannot sec. and so shc VIII
not know. Whatever Of happiness that
can be preserved to her, whatever OF
harm that can be kept from her snail
be brought about through our incessant
care and watchfulness.
So the fitting was effected the
Blakes owned an oversccrs house ana
few acres OF ground that had been
set aside by deed as home for their
r Mod tulYn nya-
lcssy crippled in the Confederate Army.
Here they gathered around her Madane's
treasured little belongings and u few OF
her old family servants Here was bcgup
and kept up the series Of loving decep-
lions which made the brightness Of her
narrowed life. One Of the most beauti-
full Of the book Illustrations pictures
Madame sitting in massive Elizabethan
chair of Dlackened oak, in gown Of
rich black brocade and a fine thread lace
cap, her feet resting upon an embroidered
ottoman and her general air OF rcpose and
dignity exemplllying Just the. conception
in ones mind concerning her
Christopher the younger was lad when
his father died and dark days came. The
burden of years was laid upon his shout
dels aud the iron of undclonling, unceas-
ing poverty ate into his soul. With his
growth grew his hatred OF William
Fletcher. lordng it now In Blake Hall and
enjoying the ease. born OF wealth and
prosperity. The meager farm where tho
Blakes had taken refuge cut right Into
the midst Of The broad acres tllat had
been filched from them Fletcher tried
10 set rid OF the Blakes to buy their little
p!ttance of land, but Christopher setting
his teeth close. thought Of his wasted lie,
his lost opportunities for educa!on, his
3ncessant round of drudgery. remembered
how the bloom had faded from his sisters
cheek-,hen threw back his head and re-
fused,
William Fletcher had n granddaughter
cast IN a different mould from himself
fearless straightforward aud refined
young girl, towards whom Christopher
Blake, was attracted before he learned
her name. WAen he knew her as Il
member Of tie Fletcher family ne told
quite frankly OF hts hatred for them All.
Soon afterwards the girl married IIr.
ANyndham ard went abroad, Size left
behind her brother, named WIN Fletcher
What: Shall We