The San Francisco call., 1907-03-24
''The Far Horizon"

"lne Ear f0rl70l"
A novel by Lucas Malei-' otherwise Mrs.
Mary ST. Le=er Harrison. daughter of
Charles kingsley. and author Of ''sir Rich,
ard Calmady." Published by Dodd, Mead
Co., New York. Price. $3.50
Charles Kingsleys daughter. Mrs.
Mary St Leger Harrison. who uses the
pen name OF 'Lacas Malet." has written
what viii be called her rssost ambitious
work. The Far Horizon" It is several
years now since her last novel ap-
peared The History OF Sir Richard
calmady." but that was so horrible a
tale and the theme so revolving that
even though II was in many respects
well above the average fiction OF the
day. IL was not a book to be received
with pleasure. The Far Horizon is
above Sir Richard Calmady" in all re-
spects; its literary quality is distinctly
superior and there is in ii no element
OF responsiveness. Essentially it is
character drawing of a most artistic
and finished style. carried upon the
thread Of simple and ever meager
tale.
Dominic Iglesias. the central figure Of
this story Of modern London, is a
dreamer. altogether unworldiy. Little
Of romance is suggested in his life up
10 the time the story opens. He has
spent his life from early boyhood as
CLERK in a London banking establish
ment and is at the point of retiring on
a pension because he is too old for
active service-no very dramatic sit
uation for a hero. When he starts
home from the city after his dismissal
he is restless and despondent.
For two strange faces had looked
into his during the last few hours
those of Loneliness and Freedom. He
had ta-sen for granted, in a general
sort of way. that such personages ex-
listed and exercised a certain Jurisdic-
tion in human affairs. But in all the
course of his laborious lac they mad
never before come close. personally
claiming him. He had had no tine To-
them. But they are patient; they only
wait They had time for hin-plenty
OF it,
Iglesias passes q carriage with some
denly realizes that Loneliness and Free
dom arc not the only guests sitting
beside him. Old Age is the third. lie
believes that his life work is finished.
lie abidos in utter dullness until he Is
spiritually awakened and gives HIM
self 10 the Catholic church. the church
Of his spanish ancestors. The analysis
Of Dominic's character Is most careful
and finely artistic. though wordy ct
times.
OF the woman much can be said. or
little: she viii have the finger OF scorn
pointed at her and she viii have her
defenders who will vote her a superb
woman with great nobility of charse-
ter. Iglesias is sitting on a bench in
a park when he first sees Poppy st.
John:
Looking up he found himself con-
fronted by a young woman. She ad-
vanced slowly, her trailing. string
colored lace skirts gathered up lazily
in one hand About her shoulders she
wore a long. blue purple silk scarf. en-
broidered with dragons of peacock and
scarlet and gold. These rather violent
colors found repetition In the nastur-
tium leaves and flowers that crowned
Z.
was tied down with narrow strings
OF purple velvet. gypsy fashion. beneath
her chin. Under her arm she carried
another tiny spaniel. the creatures
black morsel OF a head peeping out
quantity from among the forms of the
embroidered dragons, which last ap-
peared to writhe as in the heat OF dead
~ conflict as the wearer moved. Her
face was ia sha6ow owing to the
breadth OF the rim OF her hat. other
wise the sunshine embraced her whole
figure. conferring on il a glittering yet
singulsrly unsubstantial effect, as
though a column OF pale. wincsWept
dust were overlsid here and there with
splendor OF rich enamel.
Poppy ST. John is an ex-actress.
Talking Of the dogs, she introduces
herself TO Dominic. Poppy is not
type-she is merely herself. and fas-
cinsting. delightful self. She has been
married to a sodden, bestial wreck OF
a man and has left him out OF sheer
loathing. There Is another man. the
gay young scion OF the banking family
in whose service Dominic has spent his
life. There is no concealment OF this
mans relations with Poppy; even DOM
inic, the dreamer. realizes all that side
of her life and sees her as she is with
no self-deception.. and yet loves the
soul in her that seems TO him un-
spotted. He helps her morally to shake
OF the lover with the same caimness
with which he deals with the beast OF
q husband
There is some excellent character
depletion in the handling OF the sub
ordinate people Serena, the old maid
sister OF Dominic's friend. is the most
elaborated.
'The Sovereign Remedy"