The news & observer., 1905-12-24

lST. CUTHBERT'S-A Parish Romano
by Rev. Robert Il. KNOWLES. Illus
trated. Cloth Price, S1.oO. Pun
fishers: Fleming H. Kenen Com
pany, New New York. n. 4.
1t will interest Southern readers.
particularly those of North Carollla,
to know that one of their former anu
well-beloved residents is centrai
figure in what gives rich promise Oh
being one of the years best DOCKS IN
| fiction. Although it comes from the
far North,-at least so a Carollnlan
would think,-"St. Cuthberts by rev.
r. E. Knowles, of Gait, ontario, is one
of the most warm hearted OF DOCKS.
In a parish romance the author mas
made more than liberal use or ms
own people as characters. Natuf~
ally there is many a conjecture as 10
the identity Of some of the charac-
ters, but here is the secret of the mis-
tress of the manse. She was former
ly Miss Emma Katy Jones. OF New
Bern, North Carolina, and reignlng
belle of Eastern North Carolina.
Many a Southern reader Will want
to know of Miss Emma Katy life
i'm the North. while a peculiar interest
will attach itself to that portion OF
the book dealing with the call OF Mr..
Knowles to his present pulpit ana
of the part played by Mrs. knoWles,
for the church officers having hedru
vague rumors of a romance at va
rance with a Scotchman's ldea OIL
courtship and matrimony sent a COM
mittee of inquiry to the former par
jsh. Needless to say the call was I'M
mediately made unanimous Tor Wheh
or where has Southern Womanllness
failed? 49,.
The book. which has done for life In
"a Canadian parish what Ian Maclafeh
IL. xts,ala faI
made a decided hit and no novel OF
this period has received warmer praise
from the critics. 1t is the very sort
of book that will delight North Car"
olina folks, even if the woman OF the
story were not native of New Bern,
~ c., and one of the most charming
bellies Of a generation Of lovely women
in a section noted for beautltul women
OF this story the New York Sun says:
"Raph Connor did good thing for
his publishers when he introduced
Robert f. Knowles to them with the
manuscript of "St. CuthbertS un-
der his arm. for the book. when mas
been out only three weeks. has al
ready gone into the third edition. Mr..
Knowles parish is in Gait. Ont. little
town of 5000 inhabitants. the scene
of the book The local booksellers
of the parish had advanced orders FOR
almost an even thousand copies OF
their popular minister's books
The Albany Argus, strong in its ut
erary department, says: What Ian
Maclaren has done for his Scotch par.
ish and what Barrie has done for
Thrums, that Robert Z. Knowles has
done for his Canadian church folks.
Mr.. Knowles has written with a rare
sense of humor which is not TO DC
overlooked. Beyond the kindly humor
of the sketches. they are in part as
instinct with sentiment and pathos as
the most lachymose page of the Bon
ME Brier Bush" or "A Window in
Thrums." 1t is a new field of ro-
mantle interest Mr.. Knowles opens up
in est Cuthbert's.'
Following somewhat the same line
of review the Boston Times says:
There is nothing of secondhand
fragrance from DR.. Maclaren. how
ever, in this Canadian parish romance
1t breatheS it's own atmosphere, II
has it's distinct individuality, and it is
well worth reading. the scene between
drunken Geordie Lorilher and his So
ber minister being one of the most
delicious bits of fun that was ever
penned. But there is vast deal more
than amusing things in this beautlful
romance There ie poetry and pathos
and love in it that will bring tears
into every reader's'eyeS and sympathy
into his SOUL