The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-07-05

BuIwer-Lytton is unique among great writerS Instead of creating a CT ana author, as other mems writinss do. his work arouses antagonism against the author. With few shin ins spxceptlons' pDs,, susn as Tne Last Days { Impress one like the conversation of a brilliant fop--a flop of rare learning, talent, even surpassing charm at times, raj consequence, good bit of c snob.
 His heroes do in the world of imagi- nation what he himself did in real life. vats of strange form. His characters live in a realm of aprigged waistcoats and tight boots.
 But they are heroes for all that. ard when one begins a story by Buiwer- Lytton one is unwilling to lay 1t aside To know him is part of that insen- sfble moiding of our minds. that pro duces the Intangible beauty of life and thought which we call culture. He uio not plant such storm challenging oaks in the grove of literature as did ans; but the grove would lack much dfd lack the fantastic growths, of a species all their own. that he set in 1t.
 Although Mrs Margery Loblkins. more familiarly and pleasantly known as Piggy Lob, ran a thieves den In London and was addicted to gin moro than lady should be, some embers of philanthrophy still burned in her ex- Rremeiy fat bosom. So it happened that she took in the beautiful Judith and her little son without even asking very particularly what their real name Was: and when Judith died amid rav- zngs that spoke equally of remorse and a fsrre desire for vengeance. Piggy Lob adopted the lad.
 The estimabie Piggy had no ethical scruples. Her family tree was liter ally the gallows tree. since all her r1a1e relatives and ancestors had con- making their exit. But she was de- xermined to bring little Paul up a gentleman who would be in no danger Of having his neck stretched.
 Comprehending dimly that an educa- xion was the needful step toward her ps1Kposes. she turned Paurs training over to the only scholar whom she knew, Mfr. MacGrawler. a person whose classical attachments were fully as great as his thirst; and as the latter kept him constantly poor, he really possessed a sufficient fund of learning h Latin and the other polite accomp- man of merry England in that day.
 Piggy Lob's constant preaching of honesty, whatever the practices Of here self and her guests might be, had it's ezKeok on Paul. He grew up in the ken" without becoming part of it. If he prigged q patrons handkerchief or his watch it was done only to display hig skim. and he always returned the abssracted article, habit which made 4he recipients shake their heads in doubt even while they felt grateful.
 As PauPs learning grew, Mrs Lob xins became more and more the willing victim of wondering, admiring awe. Grateful for the honor of having so wonderfully son, she dipped gen. erous hand into the tin and supplied him with enough money to make many fine gentleman envious.
 Handsome accomplished undulIed by the slavish necessity of working for a living. Paul needed only that his fos- termother be Lady" instead of Pig gy" Lob Co take his place among any Of the polished, gambling. drinking debt-making noble gentlemen of Lon don. Being the son of Piggy, he had 70 enter the gayety of social life through a more humble gate.
 The associates whom he found wore as good gold lace as any lord. They carried heavier purse. They swag- 9ered as fnsolently and they drank harder. They despised tradesmen as iierceiy and paid them as rarely. They did not. however. depend quite so much as did their social superiors on fieec. ing their friends. but preferred to col aeek their incomes by donning black niIk masts at night and stopping coaches on lonely roads
 For all that Paul admired them i'm u1ensely and. despite the fact that his 9nxorite literature in youth had been the adventures of Dick Turpin. he re- tained his respect for honesty and dis Ike for jail and the gallows. So, though he ruffied it around town in velvet and lace with them and eambl- ed with them and listened delightedIy 1o their stories of midnight ridings and plundering travellers, he felt no desire to make one of their craft.
 lt was left for that sacred human in- azitution, the law. to do what Paul's company could not do
 One night he and a gentleman named Pepper, but better known as Long Ned occupied a box in the theatre Paul afnmediateIy became deeply engaged in ogiIng beautiful young girl who sat n the next box with handsome, dis dressed as uncle" Mir. Pepper also o9led the pair; but his admiration was centered on a fine watch worn by the gentleman. .
 When the play was done Paul and his long friend followed the couple closely. At fitting moment the watch passed into the possession of Long Ned. who disappeared on the instant. Paul. who had eyes only for the girl was staring at her. quite unconscious of what had happened. when he was seized and arrested
 The evidence was clear that Paul had not stolen the watch. But the robbed person was Mir William Brandon, n most eloquent lawyer. whose services for his party ip the House of Com mons and in other high positions had won him an enviabIe position in public life. He was determined on getting back his watch. Paul refused to be- tray his companion. The idiot who sat on the bench bowed humbly to the great lawyer. He sentenced the lad to three months imprisonment
 Raging furiously at the injustice more than the punishment Paul was ushered into the company of felons and outcasts. His hot heart was fertile soil for the seed they had to SOW. Thus does human society make great St- houses that 1t calls prisons. plants crime in them and then stares agha ast at the cropi
 within a month Paul had broken prison The loving authorities on the one hand and the loving Mrs Margery gerIy but in vain. He had vanished and never reappeared again.
 But in his place there appeared. a few years afterward. a highwayman whose deeds rang through all the coun- try and became the subect of ballad and tale that often entranced the un- suaDecting ears of the bereaved Piggy.
 Captain Lovett. said the tales, could ouptride. outright and outgenera1 any man in England. Captain Lovett. alias