The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-06
THE WEAvErs. BY Gilbert, Parker.
~ Harper & Bros. of New York,
tbrnuel, The Bel Book and Station
cry Company OF Richmond. Pp.

cry Company, OF Richmond. Pp.
n tn. st.5p. n 81
Among the many bookssto be count
Ell into those making nip the outpn, OF
tie autumn, 1t Is relief to come upon
81 strong and tbaughtfnl a piece OF
literary composition MS ..The Wehvers.'
Known first In the world OF letters
the virile quality of his Ca
madam storlcs Sill. Gilbert Parker add
ed next to Ills reputation by choosing
the Channel Islands as tin setting for
his novels. The scene of this last OF
Ills efforts is laid in England, Egypt
and the Soudan The romance and the
REALISM Of II centre in one man who
absorbs the interest of all that Is done
md said throughout.
This man is David Clartdge the son
of d ouakeress Mercy Claridge. and
Lord Eglinston. an English peer who
parried Mercy under an assumed name.
md, forsaking her after few months
Of welded life. leaves her TO die In
her fathers home. when her son is
born The true secret OF David's
parentage Is known only to his grand
father. Luke Claridge. and an old
ships steward, Soolsby, who has been
IN Lord EElington's ship whom. MS
James Fetherdon, he welded Mercy
Claridge.
Luke Claridge despises Lord Egling-
ton because he is an apostatc from the
Quaker faith. The fact that his daugh-
ter Mercy has married out of her own
class and religion is n great grief to
him The additional fact that Lord
Eggleston has chosen to cloak his
identity during his courtship and de-
SORT his Young wife so soon after mar
rying her. adds fuel to the flame of his
wrati, and scor,i. SO he buries his
daughter with Mercy Cfaridge carved
on her tombstone in the simple Quaker
biryinE ground, and calls her son
David Claridge. because he becomes in
affection more really a son than O
grandson.
David knows nothing hut that his
father was named James Fetherdon.
In the meantime, Lord Eglington has
made second marriage and has
second son, who, at his fathers death.
inherits his name aud estates Luke
Claridge keeping his lips locked in
scornful silence.
David is a Quaker and Claridge,
bu. no has Inherited enough of his
fathers nature to want to know life
through experience. The Indulgence of
such desires brings him under the CEN
sure and psnen ,i OF ms sec, and
his sphere Of activity Is outside OF the
community Of Hamley in which he has
lived.
An uncle Of his. Luke Claridge's
brother, had lived in the East and
spent much time and effort in the bet
terment of Egyptinn social and eco
nomical problems. In an uprising of
the natives against the Christians no
loses his life. but sends a message to
David by trusted Arab friend. pid-
ding. hin, carry on the work to which
a life has been consecrated
All the forces of David's nature re-
spond to the appeal. EIe bids good-by
to home and friends and goes alone
TO stupelidous undertaking. In da-
tense of woman. and that woman arr
English girl, almost as soon as he
reaches Egypt he Internationally
takes a mans life. Although he is
justified in his own eyes. his act casts
a shadow over his life and sets him
more surely apart to the doing of his
task.
In the description of Davids first
meeting with the effendi, in his deal
irEs with his enemies. in his disap-
rcintnlent through the treacherv OF
those in whom he has trusted. in his
lack of support from the lnglish gov
ernnent in his consistency and nnsha-
ken firmness In his Cairo and Sou
danese experiences. the book Is strong,
thrilling and passionate enough to be
altogether remarkable.
The romance of the book. and It's
Characterization. the delicate touches
i which reveal the beauty of soul in
faith. the Quakeress: the subtle skill
which gives the reader sharp in-
preston Of Luke CIaridge. soolsbv and
Tim Lacey. the American, bring out to
the full the ability of the author and
his versatility in delineation. Every
work. every action and every person
mentioned has a part in the develop