The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-24

with which she shortened that moment
OF leaning upon him AMI feeling him
trcmble." s
THE ride to New York city. where at
length the train. came rumblng down the
track. was only just barely more ac-
ceptable than walking
HE Judged from the carriages only.
They were gathered before the gallery
and all down the street. like a herd Of
prodiglous, blackly glistening beetles I'M
easily moving about, their side-lamps
glistening Ike fiery eyes. The context
would seem to indicate that beetles have
side-lamps but we are confident that
Mr.. Mighels is advancing no such con-
tcntion. g{i
We have marked great many more
passages that arrested our attention, but
dearth Of space forbids further quota
ton. The story occupies itself with the
political aspirations of one John Hakon
who shrinks at nothing to obtain the
coveted nomination for the presidency
The same sort OF obliquity that throws
Mr.. Mighelss literary expression so com
pletely out OF joint. sadly mars his
handling of moral questions. A reader
must Judge a book character by that
Characters deeds rather than by what the
author tells us that he really Is, and
Judged by that standard, John HAkOn
is anything but an admirable character.
1Io is dishonorable, a liar, an inefficlent
and incoming worker, a grave Weakllng,
who, for the sage of obtaining the nolnl-
nation from a financial group whom ne
meant to bctray Just as soon as he had
gotten through using them, does Boss
Graystone's biddings like a faithful Fido.
One Of Graystone's stipulatons had been
that Hakon should marry his daughter,
the passee Clara. Hakon tacitly con-
sents, bnt while presumably engaged TO
Clara, no does not hesitate to become
secretly married to Ruth. A secret roar
rIage was necessary, also, because Hakon
felt sure that If Ruth knew the truth
about him she would never have married
him at all. After 1t was done, he became
enthusiastically uneasy--"there was fear
OF detection to sharpen his wits, and
need for cunning to meet the craft. I'm
which all the Graystone moves We're
made" Fancy this from presidential
timber!
Mr.. Mighels, however, Is entirely salts
fled with his hero. We are told that
IIakon's mental and moral equipment m
cluded an iron will, faint rare smlie
that played the deuce with female hearts,
and a knack for brilliant conversation,
AS to the latter. we have also Ruth, S
Testimony OH page liS, where we Ieaa:
'1rhen she led him forward to DO intro
duced, saying, as she went. DO say
some Of your clever things to the glr|s.
30 real charming to them, please. I
llakon complied with this request, though
his clever things have been cnrelessly
omitted from the text. But We note that
"the girls" who were art students,
''coaxcd him into dissertation on the
canons OF their craft--a mild, witty iee-
ture. before he had finished, Instructive,
amusing and enargiRg TO the views o.
allN The appositeness OF the clause pc
fore he had finished" may not at first
glance be apparent to every one
The real hunorist Of tho story, how
ever, is Waiter Breemc, who dodges
In and out with the timeliness Of
cuckoo. Invariably opening his pleasant
rles with the word. Say" Thus, atteF
.automobing with Ilakon, he discovers ..
"dust upon their garments and ne mrs
Off the incident IN this irresistibly droll
way: Say said he, l'll run free
special train to tho back Of my neck, have
n picnic on the grounds, and sell parcel
of Jersey lots Tho young man IS tre-
quently even witticr than this, bnt we
have reached point where We simply
must call a halt
IT is our sincere belief that Mr. Mlshe|s'
40 a writar o,uaa ia 4 a himself to lake q