The Washington herald., 1906-11-26
THE VICTORY"
MRS. sEAwELL's NEW NOVEL


The distinguished Washington author
ess, Mrs. Molly Elliot seawell, viii un-
doubtedly find her literary reputation
greatly enhanced by her latest novel, just
published by d. Appleton & Co.. New
York, The Victory" 1t is a carefully
constructed, well written, and vital book,
dealing with that gigantic phase OF Amer
lean life, the civil war, at once the sad
dest, most pathetic. and poignantly dra-
matte episode in our history.
Il Is a subject so wide In its scope,
so infinite in its variety that, though it
is probable that the Iong-iooked-for
great American novel; will deal with
this theme, no writer can ever hope TO
compass all its sorrows, its heroisms, its
se.f-sacrifce, it's patriotism into one
story. But the most familiar phase of it
the disruption of families, the war OF
father against son and brother against
brother-must always appeal. on account
OF its tense dramatic value, to the liter
ary artist and to the reader because OF
the tenderness and the purity Of it's SEN
tlment
THE Victory" is a Virginia tale. a story
OF the family Of the Tremaines, al Har-
rowby. in lowland Virginia. The family
stands as a type Of the best Virginia fam
lies, courtly and courageous, tender and
true, generous to a fault; fearing none
but God, and respecting with all true
knightly grace the virtues and the beau
ties OF Virginia's fair women.
It Is doubtful whether. Mrs. Seawell has
ever excelled in literary portraiture the
nfCfr1ra cha 1rur of b,f g. 81 ~ H.
ginian, Col. TTemaine. If he can be COM
pared to any other Courtly gentleman
who comes TO mind it would be to Col
Newcome, whom In gufleness and child
ish and gentle simplicity he much resem-
bles. Mrs Tremaine, too. is another
character that Mrs. Seawell has drawn
with firm pen. The mother Of three
stalwaTt. clear-eyed sons, and with more
than an ordinary mothers reason to be
proud Of them she Is yet willing. when
the South calls. 10 give them up 10 the
cause, and she bears what Fate brings
with heroic fOTtitude.
This is a novel without a hero OF a
heroine. The most heroic character in
the tale is Neville Tremaine. the eldest
son, who, following his fathers footsteps
has Joined the United States army With
the question of the rights or wrongs of
the South ne does not concern himself
much. What matters 70 him is that he
has taken the oath Of loyalty 20 the
United States, and neither the anger OF
his father nor the grief Of his mother
can move him from what he deems the
path Of honor
Living in the house with the Tremaines
Is Angela Vaughn. no kin 10. them al all
and with no claim upon them, save that
at an early age she had been left home
less and orphaned. She has grown Up
like one OF the family; the boys are her
brothers, she is daughter" 10 the
colonel and his wife But on the last
trip home from the North Neville had
fallen in love with her, and she had con-
sented 20 be his wife. and when the war
breaks out. and NeviIle-fCr what the old
colonel deems his traitorous defection-is
no longer regarded as a son. she mar
ries him. and promises to be faithful "a
him, as Neville rides away.
That part Of the story dealing with the
adversities that come upon the Ire
maines is repetition OF the story that
has been told SO many times about the
brave gcntefOlk who stood adversely
smiiingly. did their own work. and wore
old clothes. and whose only regret was
that they could not do more for the cause
son was fighting for the North; their ne
sroes who seemed to be part and parcel
OF their lives. deserted; but brave and
uncOmplaining they fitted themselves as
best they might 90 the new order Of
things.
And fhen the tale becomes sad. indeed
Richard, the second son, is brought home
by his bOdy-servant. slain bravely with
his face 20 the foe. Angela, still living
with the Tremaines while her husband is
away is suspected Of being 4 SPY. Then.
too she has ,eETned-though she does not
confess IL even 10 herself-that she loves
another man. With the true spirit Of the
Southern woman she goes forth 10 the
Northern lines TO see Neville. and the
next day. leading a forlorn hope. he is
shot and out Of the chaos and the wreck
Angela's life begins anew.
The Victory is a novel that both in
its workmanship and its purport deserves
10 rank considerably higher than the bulk
Of ephemeral novels that are turned out
50 fast nowadays. It has style that Is
positive. and the excellence Of its char
acter-drawing has been excelled seldom
among the recent novels The persona ges
who people these pages are vital. living
persons, from the quaint old Hector the
butler, who never works. but who IS toll
Grated because he followed his master
during the Mexican war. to Lyddon. the
English tutor. or Mrs Charters, who SO
gallantly lies about the age Of her son in
the hope he may enlist The atmosphere
of the whole book is delightful: it stands
for the highest and noblest ideals OF
American citizenhOod- BY recalling the
sacrifices Of the past in no mawkish way
but honestly and tTuthfully, il urges the
lesson of patriotism for the future. II
stirs up 10 sectional animosities, bu,
shows in a delicate. but fOrceful. way
that in the higher feelings Of sentlmen,
and love and affection the hnship OF the
nation Is as strong as the ties OF the