The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-09-25

man. THE Mastery, Is decidedly good
| story. Aside from Its theme, 1t Is writ
ten with sureness of literary touch and
an aptness of expression which will make
| it appeal to those who can distinguish
between books that arc written and those
that are merely tossed together.
1t is Philip Drew's mastery that the
story tells. Drew was corporation law
ger In the city of Two Rivers. New YORK .o
State. with a healthy interest On traction
lines. and no thought at al o. PONIES 1,,,sh
Having rather a long head. however, Win ~
a good deal OF gray matter In 1t, he awoke
one day to find himself something of a
power In big affairs and was hnai!y
drawn into the maelstrom OF pubic ne
because 1t Glanced that he could help
friend in that way. This friend was a.s.. me
snunt old Senator Wentworth. q. surviving
landmark OF past Astounding IN great
| names in o,lr history, who was Just now
in danger OF being shelved to make way
for younger blood. a reason why Drew
was especially anxious TO stand by the
old Senator In this emergency was his
daughter katherine, whom Drew hao
loved from the minute be pulled her out
from under the overturned cat-boat.
Drew took the craftsmanship OF the state
Committee. worked like beaver and re-
elected wentworth. Even then. however,
the course of true love failed TO run
smooth. There were a number of misun-
/ derstandings between the girl and Drew
some of which do not appear to be al
together necessary, and 1t Is late IN the
volume where things really begin to be
Strengthened out.
Drew and katherine are the controlling
figures in the story, but there are other
characters whose dongs make interesting
reading. Types OF the boss are shown In
SPEEDING and Maddox. There Is also
Dick, Drew's nephews and McQuade his
trusted heller and lieutenant, whose tax
| and actions give evidence of n certain
breezy freshness of nature. Dick is one
of the best done characters in the book.
Though conversationally attractive, how
ever, It is to be feared that he lacked
some Of the more solid qualities which
are supposed to go to the making 81
strong character. His volatility is Illus
trated by the facility with which he
turned his affections from he love of his
boyhood to Harriet Reeves, the pretty
settlement enthusiast. Dick was along
the daySthe cat-boat turned turtle In the
Hudson, but it was Drew who dived under
! after the missing katherine Katherine
did not fail to notice this and naturally
| she drew her own differences.
Committee meetings, caucuses, conven-
tons are described in the graphic manner
| of one who knows what he is talking
! about. In the last convention Drew was
nominated for governor BY the faction
Opposed TO him. move which they
I
| plete humiliation and downfall. Acting
| on clever suggestion Of Katherine's.
| however, he makes little speech which
rather neatly puts the boot on the other
| leg, and creates a certain amount OF SEN
| timent for him tn those hitherto apa-
| thetic. 4 Later he made a whrlwind tour
| of the State, addressing voters every
! where. from the rear platform OF his spe-
| cial train. At Thermopylae 1t was ru-
| nlored that trouble was waiting for him,
and Dick begged his uncle to leave the
town alone. Drew had himself received
an anonymous letter. misspelling dne
| threats and warning him to keep away,
| but he was not that sort Of man. There
! was big crowd waiting for him a the
lystation. and among the cheers which
greeted his appearance Drew's ear readily
| detected a few ominous cat-calls.
TT looked harmless In bulk, but as one
| Of the local politicians made the super
fluous introduction. Drew here and there
singled out q sulen or a vicious face.
Ell received a letter this morning which
ought to interest this audience, he be-
gan, without preliminaries. 1T Is post
marked Thermopylae. is undated, and
regret to say, unsigned.
3".If you know what's hethy for you
Mister Money Bags Drew. YOU won't
make no speech in Thermopylae! Us
folks has got our Bellyful of street-car
Magnets, and a!n't much particular what
we does. We dinamted l car--lookout
for yourn. KEEP OUT!'" 81
"a profound quiet reigned while Drew
slowly tore the paper to bits, which he
dropped contetnptuously upon the ground.
\ Tim here, he commented tcrsely.
There was a roar Of applause little
| later Drew's eye was arrested by some
thing in the crowd OF particular sisni-
sou loafer.' he called, dwelling his finger
at a rough slouching beside semaphore.
4 Drop that stone.'" The man did rs he
4 was bid and was Immediately we are
i glad to say, booted out of sight by those
IN reach of him. An instant later the
storm broke, and he was forEUten "A
shower of missiles from the freight cars
rained upon the platform around Drew.
4 who was seen to reel and fall.
AS to whether Drew was killed by this
i attack, or whether he got well and was
elected governor. we are going to leave
the reader to find out for himself. a very
good story. indeed, which stands out with
some prominence In the present-day
hurly-burly Of literary mediocrity.
THE AFFAIR AT THE TuN, BY Kate
Douglas Wiggin, May Findlater. Jane
Helen Findlater and Allan McAulay.
!. 900 pages. $l.2 fF1oAlghton, Mitiln g. Co.
Tho unbending OF somewhat icy
hearted and mlsogynsic young Brltisner
is simply and pleasantly told In THE
Affair at the Tun." The cause OF the
unbending was Of course. an enhancing
young lady, this particular one haiIing
from Richmond. Va, Sir. Archibald. in
true British style, instlnctivey fought
against this personal aspect OF the Amerl-
, can invasion. but 1t was no USE AT the
! last we find him admitting that some
I thing--so like a lump of ice that l had
/ always carried In my breast until ] saw
II VirginIa-melted entirely at that moment
: and began to beat"
= The story Is interesting as a novel ven
!, ture In four-handed collaboration. Or
I binary or dual collaboration being con-
r ceded by those who have tried 1t to be a
q difficult art. the fair assumption would
I be Ahat a quartette Of literary co-part-
ners would result In a multiplication of
I difficulties. The authors have disposed of
a the matter effectively, however, by killing
T the story In the form Of diary entries. and
! apportioning the four leading characters
q individually among themselves Thus
i. when Virginia Pomeroy's diary Is telling
ba etor ha tbnrc M,