The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-07-09

family Intelligent md deeply Interested
listeners to his brilliant conversation.
Nathan Youart Is the most vcracio,is
portrait In tho story, n noble type OF
that practical righteousness which the
Dunkard system evolves with almost mo-
n ne.s.1.,. resularlty. But Benammi. the
authors erratic hero Ia the unlikely
fruit Of an improbable union unmodifled
by an invinclble environments Jacob
Youart, his father, never married a
French woman: but Il he did, Bcnamn1I,
the son, hardly grew UP in idieness on
Barzley Manor and among the She
marian Dunkards. That he should have
been the most PHENOMENAL figure In a
boom town enterprise might also have
occurred once In thousand years, but
that throughout all Of It he was straight
and clean was to be expected Of a son
OF his fathers people.
The authors picture of the Shemaria h
meeting Is graphically vivid and true to
NE. This exterior thing he saw and
told with more precision than a camera
but his narrative OF the official visit Of
the "Housekeeper" Is caricature, with
Naomi and "Old Man Hoppergrass'
very nearly. II not quite. In the same
condemnation.
The picture of Tirzah Is delightful
teen. Just from three years in the city
seminary" should converse in the YER
'lacular OF the ignorant mountain whites,
and fall In love with grIzzled bachc-
Tor Of forty. Is unthinkable, and indicates
that Mr.. Gordon, although living near
multitudes OF them in the lovely country
surrounding stanton, is nevertheless not
very we'll acquainted with the rising gem
Grafton OF Dunkards. who are rapidly
acquiring all the accomplishments, not
IN the city seminery." but In their own
five flourishing colleges, and in the end
marry, as they all do. a mate OF suitable
age and usually Of the hearts choice.
The boom-town incident Is as foreign
to the story as the hurredly arranged
murder and the monstrous Vingal, Inn
ported. all, doubtless to heighten as much
as possible the violent contrasts in the
career Of the hero, who at last returns.
chastened and wise. to the deep peace
Of the Glade. to his Fathers house, and
holy shemariah. The love story is
deeply disappointing. for January exas-
perates us all by woong and winning
May, and then adds the crime of ga cri-
fcing her heart upon the crumbling al
tar OF dead and forgotten ascetcism.
Thus much In friendly criticism OF this
latest attempt to elaborate a mass OF
interesting literary material which has
baffled more than one artist. On the
other hand much. very much. can be
said In praise of the spirit OF the story.
It's cxubeYant imagery, its musical dlction,
Its clean page. and tina t pervading atmos-
phere Of practical righteousness which
rightly sums up, on behalf of the Dunk
ards, all ethics. philosophy and theology.
the secret OF the life that now is. and
. the life that Is to come. in that one
word. obedience. as It Is Interpreted by
these last Of the Purltans. resulting In a
type OF character severe perhaps in It's
o,itlinos carelesS possihIv NJ the soften.
Ing amendities OF our modern culture
but solid aszthe historic rock inscparably
linked with the name and fame of the
spiritual founders of this western world
BENJAMIN c. MOOMAW.
Ben, Va.