The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-08-05
ncW Book ncWS


 Tie L&wsr<akers---By Robert Grans. "A book by Judge Grant is s,,tsra nIeasing event in the world of Hteras tnre rarely an exciting one. Life itssM is at best made up of pleasing a ra.ne than exciting episodes. Tnis voiu'.,e is made up of seven short stories. Al ideal sort of volume for summer rsau- ing when tho hours are Just avns enough for one story and when ,,ssr, uo door life invites us for outoooI spvA r.s os field and stream or woodland. The Law Breakers Is the first of the seVsn !, stories. The hero. George Coirax, is from the outset very mitch of MISS Nancy.'' Sissy" or prig. whenever !. term suits the reader best; yet ne mas almost succeeded in winning the iove of Mary Wellington. Mary Wenins- lady to classify as good ordinary, in- asmuch as she had bsen out seven years ana yet unweds also sne mus. have had interests enough within ana without herself to be Constantly inter ested, if not alluring interesting, Tor she has several times refused MT Col fax. her admirer. since all those seven years.
 Judge Grant thus pictures colfax and his attitude to the world: He is q passive reformer.7 good enough pf1rase: aHe could talk knowingly. too, by the card, of the degeneracy of the public men of the nation, and had at his fnger-ends inside information as to the manner In which President This or Congressman That had sacrf- ficed the ideals of vigorous manhood to the brass idol known as a second term" These reformers who know so accurately the faults of all the world but themselves, rarely stand the test when applied to themselves. Colfax q 4 r II. rx-@ in of-xr crime of failing to declare" at the custom house was his, but 1t was his one opportunity to lie-and he took 1t. Mary's Judgment had him on proDa- tion outside the door of her heart :. She learned from mutual friends Of his crime. the friends were with great self graduation guilty of the same in- greater degree. the portals of her heart wers closed against George for ever.
 This story of two rather uninterest ing young people is contrasted witl that of Jim Daly. ward politician, ans his lady love, Miss Burke. public schoo teachers Jim impersonated one of hi heelers. took the civil service exami nation in the heeler's name. and got coveted position for his friend. His de ceptioa was discovered and he was sen tenced to six months in jail, It wa George who told Mary of this flag rants crime of deception. George il just. that sort of a man who wouls condemn any lie that did not beneft hinsself. and lie to help his brother ran, was depth of viiiainy to whicl he could never.--shan he say?--attain In settlement work Mary chances | meet Miss Burke and to receive he confidence. and plea for advice.
 Shall she marry Jim after that Her asks Miss Burke,
 Mary does not decide. but suggest that she could not herself trust Jim af ter he had lied. Suppose you fal you could trust himT' from Mis- Burke. who possibly weighs her love more with the heart than the judgment
 If I loved him enough for that. dare say should forgive him.
 Miss Burke does forgive him and doe marry him. Mary decides to give he life to settlement work. It is just 3 we'll since in seven years of society If she has found no more attractive sutto than George
 "Against His Judgment is of ma who plans a life of self -protectivenesi much as George Colfax of the forme story planned for himself. But som touch of gold in the clay causes hir in one moments instructive sacriffcs to give his life for another.
 st. George and the Dragon" is to frafl a shinmer of words over to mere an episode. to be called a story Walter Dryden and Miss Florence May berry resent the reporters propose account of the funeral of two yer dear friends of the two. Miss May berry is deeply angered at the gray because the reporter will doubtless de scribe the dead lover as "a leading so ciety girl and a well known elub-mar and they will turn in their graves" Mi Dryden, like a very knight errant, pur sues the reporter and prevents thi catastrophe. It seems that in the most lofty (we live in America class wherein people are born to tn greatness of being leading socies girls and well known club men, the do not wish these honors to be men toned. Yet does not the very fac that worry over the wording of an ui important newspaper report read toda and forgotten tomorrow. should fill tn minds of two funeral guests, purpol much of little-mindednes and marrow ness.
 "The Romance of a Soul" Is the Iii story of Marion Willis. public schoS teacher, perhaps the most uninteresl ing of all the uninteresting and con monplace heroines of this volume Tn inference of this story Is that even th dunce of the public school may becom President of these United States. Ar other deduction is that the dunce be comes a slow wise man and will surel forget the teachers who painstakingl set his first step in the right way
 "An Exchange of courtesies'' is tn more pleasing relation of two ladies ( well-to-do New England descent wh prefer a good sea-view, a comfortabi cottage home to a quarter million ( mere money. This refreshing bit ( originality in a day like this is ful thermore made refreshing by the stor of an athletic young niece of the maid en ladies who saves the life and wir the heart of the neighbor millionaire son. The millionaire's confession ths his fortune was rooted in evil and tn two old ladies decision to let bygont be bygones so far as young love is cor cerned, is a piece of silent decentio dIsconcerting ideas of everlasting jur tice," of which we are at liberty { approve or disapprove as dispositio inclines. Surely 1t proves that the dea