The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-24
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>1s7-7Ta-rf SEE 7rf-sT :. ~ ---7' m N
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thorough course III the principles Of rflc-
toric and English composition. We wish
1t were not impossible to add that hnv.
ing done this, he would seem to us to be
we'll equipped for the business Of writing
novels.
| THE BLACK sBARQUE.-By r. jenkins
Hains. PIP, 1923. $780, L. c. Page and
Company, Boston; Bell, Richmond.
This is Captain Halns's first long sen
story, aid It is rndeniably a good one.
Easily the most striking thing about 1t
is the remarkable air of realism and
simple truth with which 1t is told, which
makes the narrative read like a page Of
personal experience rather than n sailors
yarn. Gunner Haywood tells the story,
and he tells 1t with such convincing
artlessncss as to make you believe that
he actually lived through the events
which he describes. This effect Of
reality. enhanced by Captain Hains's
thorough knowledge Of shlp-board life,
and deep-water sailing, has particularly
struck our favorable notice: but there
is much else Of merit IN the5vivid devel-
opments of the plot. The time is 1885, or
thereabouts, and the scene for the most
part the decks OF the SLAYER euphemis-
tically known rs the Gentle Hand. Hey
wood is a young American Of character,
experience and pronounced ability to
handle himself IN almost any sort Of
crowd; and he would never have signed
on the black barque but for the fact
that he was shanghaied, with his eyes
open, in the simplest way in the world.
There was a motley crew aboard the
Gentle Hand, and there was trouble OF
a physical and violent sort right along,
on the slightest pr6vocation. The climax
comes on the homcward trip. when tho
three hundred negroes manaclcd between
decks get loose, sail into the crew, and
there is a rouslng fight Captain Hams
has given us here capital saltwater
tale In full accord with the best tradi-
tons of the literature OF the sea. More
power to his good wrlte-arm!
THE WEIRD PIcTURE.-By John r..
CARING. PIP, 2s5 $3.50 Little, Brown
and Company, Boston. 1
S, That the picture In question thorough
5ly deserved the appelation Of weird
no one will be inclined to dispute after
reading this story. The picture was
masterpiece entitled '.The Fall Of Gaze
sar," and was painted by an artist of
hitherto mediocre achievement. ono An
gelo Vasari. Vasnrl was a decadent
Italian, with! an unsuspected tendency
toward insanity. Having fallen in love
with the beautiful Daphne Leslie. he
perceived an unmlstakable obstacle to his
suit In the fact that Depline was already
Z engaged to another. This Information
/ sheds great deal Of light on Captain
WIZARDS mysterious disappearance on
the night before his wedding. though
naturally It does not come out until
quite near to the end OF the story. Who
could imagine that the captain had met
foul play when a letter in his own hand
writing is delivered to the waiting we'd
ding guests. bidding DAPHNE farewell,
with the explanation that he was leav-
4 Ing England, and when his own brother
was confident that he had seen him at
Dover, en- route for the continent? Vas
gari's scheme to rid himself Of a rival and
by the same stroke to secure realistic
model for his dead Caesar Is quite
triumph Of diabolcal ingenuity, ana ne
plays his cards like master. But sus-
piclon gradually swings round 10 nm
and his second attempt to secure q
dca th-noodel is opportunity and dramatl-
cally thwarted. so that the Italian goes
"a his richly-earned reward. The plot
moves bit slowly in the earlier parts
OF the book, but works up TO- an eXclt-
ing climax. readable and thrllllns
story. built upon theme well out Oh
the beaten rut. Cyrus Cuneo's pictures
are good enough to make US WISH lnet -
had been more of them.
THE VISION OF ELIJAH BERL. BY
frank Lewis Mason. PIP. 29O. $l.5o.
little. Brown e. Co, Boston.
Eliah Berl's vision included the highly
com,y,endable plan Of making oranges
rrow where none would grow before. ny
calling III the aid OF the irrigation dltch
and introducing water where 1t was ne
cessary FOR water to be. The for ma
of company and me a pu,aars
of & q great dam were necessary
prelminaries. Elijah was New England
bred but his vision Of orange trees
snrouting wealth had led him to Califor-
MIA. where the events OF tho story take
Mace. Elijah's ideas were splendid, ana
he had a fine business head; but IN the
last analysis he proved himself weak
man. In the end he becomes involved IN
dishonesty. finds 1t impossible TO cover his
tracks and meets his death In a spectacu-
lar way. AS to business heads however,
there was one that far over topped all
others and that was the graceful head Of
Helen Lansdale. the company stcno-
| grapher. Upon her counsel and advice,
| Elijah relied to marked degree, and his
| feelings toward her. though he had a
| trusting little wife OF his own, grew
| decidedly more friendly than their official
relationship required. Helen. however
! found less erratlc and more reliable
| lover in Berls partner Ralph Winston
| Mr.. Nason's book is a story Of affairs
and pre-cminently an American story,
and 1t is worked out In a way that makes
| 1t well worth reading. The author has
| drawn his characters with spirit and con-
vlncingness.
ON TYBEE KNCII. BY James b. Con-
molly. PIP. 2s5. $1.25. A. S. Barnes & Co.,
New York WI
Mr.. Connally has turned his eye and his
pen from New England southwark, and
gives us In "On Tybee Knoll,'a fairly
good story of the Georgia coast. Tom
Charlton. act 20, strapping and strong
joins forces with one Gray. n tuppenny
contractor. to cut dipper poles to sell to
a Wnnd's Seeds