The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-10-06
ment4 OF the story. IN Its dramatic In
I,idnnfa mud ifs. 81 lt1ln xnH. lh4as

ment OF the story. IN its Dramatic In
Iciuents and It's clii1nxea. sf y.
From first to lust the consistency
isof the book is ono OF its strongest
points. II does not noralize. It's In
terest Is fentliralling, and yet 1t points
la powerful warning against the en-.
Igrossment OF vanity and seliishness
Nothing that Gilbert Parker has yet
written possesses more merit, or ha,
Preached a higher plane than The
Weavcrs." 1t is in direct contrast to
lmany books Of the day and gains
much by comparison with them.
\ c;ALLANTRY. BY James Branch
cabell. Harper 6 Bros. Of New
York, publishers. PIP. s2s.
! The tile page OF Mr.. Cabell's new
book informs his reader that Gal
Ilantry" Is ian eighteenth century
dizain in ten comedies, with an after
piece this last being one Of the at
tractive parts Of most truly artistic
literary mnka-up.
AS an author Mr.. Cabell Is as care
full ana painstnking as was Richard
Mansfield as an actor Mr.. Mansfle1d's
plays We're not only perfectly acted,
but they were perfectly staged, with
strictest attention paid to the smallest
detail. The render taking up Cal
lantry" cannot fail to observe. apart
from the fine merit OF Its compost
sition. what harmony and continuity
OF thought and suggestion Is evidenced
I'm It from cover design, by color IL
lnstrations. the worls OF Howard Pyle,
through epistle dedicatory and pro-
logue. on through to Loves Alumni"
and the epilogue, which is the "bonne
bouche" that the author bestows Tor a
parting gift.
Tho same excellent tasto which OBJ
tains in the matter OF Illuminated
initial letters heading chapters, done
by Mr.. Cabell himself. in PREDATORY
quotation. and the clever introduction
number of book illustrations to four,
the selective choice Of the four rem
dering them extremely effective.
The period of the book covers the
years between 1850 and 1855. The first
comedy Is called "Simon's Hour" and
is played at Stornaway Crag, England
The remaining comedy scenes are laid
In France or England, and are linked
together by chronological sequence,
and by kinship of characterization and
interest Mr.. Cabell says In his fore-
.WOIus LIZ dL taIucSs OK d4lCASu ASh
and without exception drastically
abridged. some portions Of this book
have made an earlier appearance, more
thanks to the hospitality OF divers
magazines. For the courtesy which
makes possible another and more
ample presentation OF these several
episodes. decoruln now demands ack-
nowledgement; and this their author
hereby tenders both in gratitude and
In salutary consciousness that his read
ers are enfranchised as concerns a
rather larger area Of emotion"
The book is dedicated ito the memory
of N1idshipman James r. Branch. killed
at Annapolis, November 5th. 1905. as
both in life and death an exponent of
the true and highest meaning of the
word gallantry."
| The pertinent prologue Is spoken by
| Lady Allonby. who figures In the book
as a pleasure-loving. luxurious woman.
a widow and very rich. She comes for
| ward at the authors behest and ends
her lines by saying:
Yet scattered here and there, I some
behold. 81
Who can discern the tlnsel from the
gold: 4 4Ipts lJ
To these he writess and X by them
allowed. s3t5
'Tis their prerogative to rule the
crowd
For he more fears like presumlng
man.
Their votes who cannot Judge. than
theirs who cam.
loves Alumni touches lightly in
passing upon the good fortune and
conten.ment OF the different book ac-
tors taking chief part In Mr.. Cabell's
comedies and laying strong hold upon
the readers fancy thereby. so that
ono is pleased to say them good by
while the sun of good fortune still
makes their lives happy
The author tersely defines the pur-
pose of his work, and his estimate
| of 1t in the following verse Of the