The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-14

Charles Kingiey's Westward Ho" = q novel dealing with those stirring times of Queen Elizabeth when Eng land and Spain were fighting to the Heath for the mastery of the seas.
 Its characters are those hardy men of Devon called in those days gentle man adventurers, whose exploits led them to high honors in the state. In later and more civilized times men or their kidney were called pirates and their exploits led to a high gaiiows Instead of high places in council.
 The book is perhaps the most read of all Kingsley's works and gives an Admirable picture of the life and times of the men who laid the foundation Of England's colonial empire in the era bf Elizabeth. The Spanish were rob- bing the New World and the English Were robbing Spain in those days. Each thought the other children of the devil and enemies of God. The bitter, fanatical hatred of the Catholic re- ligion which is displayed in the story fs in consonance with the spirit of the men of Devon at the time of which Canon Kingsley wrote, and the gusto with which the reverend author lays about him with his theological fiail makes 1t apparent that he himself in- herited a large share of the prejudices of his Devon ancestors. Perhaps 1t is just this innate belief that there are no really noble men but Englishmen, and that there is no true religion but that of the Church of England, which enabled the author to enter so thoroughly into the spirit of the times of which he wrote, and breathe such real life into the characters which move across the stage in Westward Ho."
 In all the steeples of Bideford in Devon the joy bells were ringing. The streets were filled with people all in holiday attire and the houses hung with garlands. That stout, blond giant, Amyas Leigh of Burrough, and four other sturdy men of Devon had just returned from their voyage with Drake, the first English sailors who ever broke into the South Sea and sailed around ne world. It was five years since Amyas had kissed his mother goodby and Sailed away with Frank Drake. He went away a we'll grown lad and came back a fuli-grown man with a beard and an air of com mand and a love of adventure strong in his heart-one of those sea dogs or Devon who at that time were singeing the beard Of the King of Spain and finding new zdworlds for the Virgin Queen beyond the rolling seas.
 All the gentry of North Devon had gathered to welcome Amyas home Standing beside his gray-haired, widowed mother was his elder brother, Frank, fresh from court, with court manners and court dress which were the envy of the provincial gallants. Frank was tall, like his brother, but not sturdy like him. His form was 1.-the and graceful and his face like those which Raphael used to paint; but hectic spots on either white cheek BhoweS too plainly the presence of disease which already had begun to sap his vitality.
 Among those who pressed forward to take Amyas by the hand was his cousin, Eustace Leigh, son of MT. Leigh of Chapel. Eustace was a man from whom his bluff and sturdy cousin snrank instinctively. His father had remained a Catholic upon the accession of Elizabeth and 1t was whispered that Eustace had served his novitiate as member of the Society of Jesuts- crimes in those days in England which were likely to bring a mans head to the block or his body to the stake. However, though Elizabeth occasional Iy burned Catholics for discipline's sake--as her sister Mary had burned Protestants for conscience's sake and their father, Henry, had burned Catho- IFS ana PTOIeSIdulS dlIeIAdlSiy TUT hio own sake-Quiet old gentlemen like MT. Leigh of Chapel, who paid their tithles to the established church regularly and kept their religious opinions to themselves, were occasion ally allowed to live unmolested in re- mote parts of England under the pro- lection of powerful relatives.
 In this day of his triumphant home coming Amyas was generous and hi Gh dially, but he looked for one face only. and looked in vain; though to see it he would have been gladder than to see any other unless 1t were the dear face of his mother. Rose Salterne. daughter of tile rich Mayor of Bderord the Rose of Torridge, she was called after the river which ran through the town--was not visible at the rejoicings.
 In fact, her father had packed her off to some poor relatives in the neighborhood for her beauty had turned the heads of all the wellborn gallants in North Devon. as well as the heads of all the prentice boys in Bide- ford; and, as the Mayor frankly told Mrs. Leigh of Burrough, he was too proud, plain burgher though he was, to have his daughter marry Into a family where she could not be received as an equal. Tn the reign of queen Bess a burgher, however wealthy, was a burgher stul and gentleman, was a gentleman, even though he mad no second coat to his back
 Rose Salterne was a thorough speci- men of a West coast maiden, full Of passionate and impulsive affection and of wild, dreamy imagination. Lert early without a mothers care. her father had petted her and spoiled her until she took attention as her natural due; and if people praised her wonder ous beauty-why. did not her looking glass tell her that their admiration was justly bestowed?
 Years ago, as a schoolbOy, Amyas