The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-19

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70 s LED o.
position TO the adoption Of the Con-
stitutlon has always repelled even the
most liberal. It is this opposition, per-
haps, even more than Jeffersons d.
famatory innuendoes, which has
clonded Henry's fame in the North,
although every soldiers grave from
Seven Pines to Gettysburg, and from
Gettysburg to Appomattox, proves ,hcI
prophetic vision OF the man. Now,
Mr. Morgan understands too we'll ALI
the Influences OF tho great orators en-
vironment to fall into this pitfall, al
though his approval is reserved for
hose members of the convention who
favored adoption. But this does not
lead him to do injustice to Henry or
belittle his whole career, az q recent
reviewer in the Nation has done. In
stead, hc sedulously seeks to get Mt
Henry's point OF view. and to enter
into It's spirit, without, however, per-
soneliy sharing It.
1t Is this ability to understand and
sympathize with whether exactly APP
proving or not) every aspect of Henry's
career that makes Mr.. Morgan's biog-
raphy one OF tho most interesting. one.
OF the truest, in recent literature
truest to the spirit OF It's subject.
which is far more difncult than being
LtIuest to the mere facts. I have dwelt
chiefly upon the authors power Of
sympathy as thus exhibited. for this Is
the first quality required in n biogra-
pher. And II to that quality which
mellows and informs everything, there
is added polished yet simple style o
lively perception OF character and
manners, and capacity to picture tho
past with vividness and fuiness. the
remarkable charm OF the book may be
Inferred. And that charm Is further
enhanced by CHEEKY, almost at times
a jocund, spirit in the writer, which
hero and there breaks out into humor-
GUS strokes that impart glow to the
page. For the, period OF virginian his
tory covered by the orators life. Mr..
Morgan's biography offers one OF the
most graphic accounts In existence. and
1t can be recommended to the student
with as much confidence as to the Or
binary reader seeking few hours OF
recreation.
PHILIP ALEXANDER BRUCE.
BETTY PEMBROKE. BY Elizabeth
Lakewood Hancock. The Neale
publishing Co., OF New York and
Washington, D. C. $3.50.
AS the work OF q young Virginia
authoress, who has many interested
readers throughout the state. the adj
vent OF Betty Pembroke" has been
looked for with eagerness and greeted
with Joy. Those who prophesied the
most and the best for Miss Hancock's
hook find their expectations surpassed
by Its realities.
For. independent OF It's authorship
this novel has merit OF unusual order
to commend 1t. 1t is full Of local color
with Just enough folk lore and super.
stition to relieve 1t OF the slightest
Isuspicion of monotony and invest Its
pages with piquancy and render then
strongly Individual.
/ Miss Hancock has not attempted TIL,
the bizarre or the unlike
-llihood Of the highly mysterious. In
4 stead, she has written tale of Vir
'Igiria people after Virginia fashion
land her entire freedom from affecta
lions and assumptions renders what sh
has accomplished far more enjoyable
than II her ambitions had tempted he
! into different and less pleasantly IA
miiiar lines.
admirable creation, and the question
as to who sat as the original for he
character portrait will be inevitably
raised. That her home is placed Il
Albemarlc county. near Charlottesville
, Va, is at once apparent, and is plalnl
. Istated. Consistent throughout, she |
original. independent. sweet-naturet
and altogether womanly. Possessin
. all the advantages OF position. etluca
tion and assured belleship, she remain
: Iquite unspoiled by admiration an
claims for herself the right to decid
for love, against wealth and the world
ly advantages that wealth bestows.
One of the best bits of conversatio
: in the book. and one which best illus
y trates Miss Hancock's point OF view
. occurs indeed in love scene betwee
, Betty Pembroke and wealthy Ne,
= York sutton, whom she rejects. /
: assigning her reason for so doing sh
says to him:
!. reverence Is a very important wol
> in my vocabulary; 1t was left out
: yours. You think churchgoing and a
I that sort Of thing perfect bore
could never be contented with living,
: life that was only restless pursu
II of my own pleasure. have an acti,
5 disposition, and I get pleasure out
Il many things that would seem dull
you. The woman you marry shou
Il love society above all things-to DIRE
9 we'll, to entertain. to spend her tin
n in round of gaiety. to live in e.
= citement-but it would bore me
- death.
st There is q still greater difference
J. Betty said SLOWLY, "and that is t
y, question Of divorce. TO me marria
% is something sacred, to be lived up
II faithfully. TO you. it is a mere co
s tract, to be broken at pleasure. II U
% happiness forces people to separa
Is then let them separate, but do not
In them make other vows to be as cas-
le broken. A mans word should be
SO bond-and woman's should be he
20 If a tie so sacred has to be broke
le then let them live out their lives sine
n and bravely. ain weary of heari
ST about people who ore too weak to
- what is right"
In the present confusion Of Ideas.
AZ clears tho moral atmosphere, to he
so distinct an enunclation Of standal
yt~.N