The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-12
Copyright, 1907, by Irving Klng)

ten any other story, the world still would be in his debt beyond all hope of repay ment by any honor 1t might do his name for that one splendid, noble, human char aoter.
 There is in the story of this gracious and simple life such a sermon on honor and truth that no youth should be per ,ltted to become an adult without being O essed with the companionship of Thom- as Newcome.
 fWere it possible for the book to be without Colonel Newcome, "The New comes" would still be one of the great masterpieces among the great novels. It unrolls like tapestry, dazzling the holder with a vivid, restless, endless, bewilder- ing vision of life-London draw ing rooms, Baden gambling hels, Rome studios, Brighton Lodgip :, balls and re- captions in palaces COT sivial gatherings in tap rooms, lords, artists, preachers, money lenders, dowagers, adventurers, reprobates and saints.
 XVTHEN Lieut.. Col. Thomas New w come, c. B., of the Bengal Cav w airy, returned home to ngland on his first furlough, after 34 years { con- tinuous service, he came back as mple and naive as he had been when he qt itted his country as a lad. Years had srved only to emphasize and sweeten tn t good and noble nature, to make that tender brave heart Sllll IlOT0 lSHuCiJ ebiAo W transmute the generosity of youth lnto beautiful, unconscious unselfshness.
 The simple gentleman was filled with delighted astonshment at the prodigious cleverness and learning of the friends or Give, his son, whom he had sent to Eng land on the death or his mother. He hunted out every one who ever had done his boy a kindness. lie hunted out the child of every friend in India. He trav- eled many miles to visit his old nurse, who had filled the dual position of ser- want and relative in his fathers house. hold-a connection not at all pleasing to Colonel Newcome's two stepbrothers. Hobson Newcome and Sir Brian New come, whose families had long since dis covered that their ancestor was a New come who had been barber-surgeon to King Edward the Confessor and who was killed at the battle of Hastings; which noble pedigree made them rather anxious to forget that their father had been a poor, ignorant weaver and, as rumor had it, a founding besides. Colonel New comes own mother had died while he was still child His stepmother. with whom he did not succeed in finding favor end whose sternness had driven hin from home had died during his long abSence. In her will she had left him nothing; but she had spoken kindly of him and she h. d been most kind to Give when he reacheG England-and that, be sure, touched Col one Newcome more than if she had lett him all the Newcome banking business and all the money in 1t.
 Wonderful were the plans that the proud Colonel laid before Clive for his future The old warrior had dreamed and thought of nothing but Give from the day he was taken away to be carried to England. He had studied books of travel and poured over maps of Europe to pre- pare for the tour on which he intended to ka hoy To ba6 brushed his Greek and Latin. He saved that he might lay up a little fortune for him not that he saved at others expense; for Colonel Newcome's house and hand al- ways were open to all, from a comrade In distress to the furthest removed relative of a comrade; and he was ol such a na- ture that he spent five rupees here an other would save them and make fine show besides But it is not a mans gifts and Inequalities that generally injure his fortune. It is y9' themselves that prodi- gals spend nr Newcome had no per sonal desires He lived as frugally as a Hindu. He wore his old clothes and uni forms until they were the laughter-lov- ing laughter-of his regiment
 The Colonel regaled all the ladies of the regiment with Clives wonderful letters and Gives wonderful drawings, the young rascal having developed a most as- founding facility in making ludicrous pie lures of every one and everything. Some Of the irreverent young officers used to bet on the number of times the Colonel would mention Gives name in the course of a dinner. But those who laughed at the Colonel laughed very kindly, for ev- erbody who knew him loved him; ev- erybody that is who loved modesty and generosity and honor.
 At last the day came when the Colonel touched English soil again and trod once more the muddy pavement of Smlthtield, on his way to Greyfriars, where his son was, way that he had trodden many times in his own youth. Looks like a fine, manly fellow, the cock of the school, gigantic Smith, was good enough to say as he looked majestically down on the tall figure in the loose clothes. He looks very odd, and very kind, and like gentleman, every inch of him." thought Give, glancing sideways at the Colonel s yellow face and long mustachios.
 'Isn he a fine fellow, James?" said the Colonel that night, his face illuminat- ed with joy as he sat down to smoke a last cigar with his old Indian friend, James Binnie, who had returned home with him to rest after twenty years of service in the legal administration of the Indian empire.
 Have ye been breathing a prayer over your rosy infant ssslumbers, Tom?' asked MT. Binnie.
 And If l have, James Binnie," the Colonel SalQ grdVely, ana HIS SallOW race bushng somewhat, If I have, hope I've done no harm. The last time I saw him asleep was nine years ago, a sickly little pale-faced boy in his little cot, and now, sir, that see him again, strong and handsome and all that a fond father can wish to see boy, I should be an un- grateful villain, James, if I didirt-if I didn't do what you said just now, and thank God Almighty for restoring him to me-"
 Binnie did not laugh any more. By George! Tom Newcome," said he, If all men were like you there'd be an end of both our trades-there would be no fight ing and no soldering, no rogues and no magistrates to catch them.
 Give Newcome had indeed turned out all that a fond father could wish to see a boy-instinct with health, strength, ac- tivity and good humor, his head crowned with waving light hair, a laughing mouth, and blue eyes that sparlled with intell- gence and frankness. He had grown up clean, without becoming a ninny, and scrupulously honorable without becoming sa that sad and depressing creature, a " "mo1el boy" yef/ e
 A saving grace-perhaps hv 4heritance of a good part of his faf r's simple downright nature saved hD from being spoiled, which was somethiA / that all his friends tried to do, as people always will h the case of such charming, lucky young