The San Francisco call., 1908-03-15
''Ihe Broken Road

By A. Z. W. Mason, author Of Running
Water" etc Published by Charles scrib-
ner's Sons, New York Price s1-5o.
There is nothing Of the usual or the
obvious in this latest novel. The Bro
ken Road" by A Z. w. Mason; and
while IL is distinctly a novel with
purpose. its purpose is not evident in
every line.
educating the young Indian princes in
England is the purpose of the story.
Rnd ii is most skllfully handled. Mr..
Mason is a member of parliament in
England and in this novel he has made
good use of his experiences in political
life. His tales up to date having been
adventure and romance. this strong po-
litical story comes as a revelation OF
most unexpected powers on the authors
part.
While being educated in England the
young princes Of India come in contact
socially with the best people They are
treated as equals and in no way is it
shown that they are an inferior race.
When these same people go out to In
dia TO visit the princes, they treat the
latter like slaves. The English women
are especially harsh on them, and
would no sooner marry one Of them
than would an American society queen
marry a negro. The whole situation
makes a very interesting problem, and
the government officials interested in
Anglo-Indian affairs.
Mr. Mason has used this problem as
a ground work for his story.
The Broken Road" is a great high
way; when finished it will run through
Chiltistan to the Hindu Kush mountains.
One Andrew Linforth had begun the
work. and 1t was being carried on at
the beginning Of this tale by his son.
Harry Linforth. The road has reached
q point a few miles beyond Kobara
when Harry is killed by revolutionists.
His infant son is just born in England,
and his letters home to his wife are
full Of love and hope and plans for the
boys future, saying: IF he wants to
come out to India, let him; we Lin
forths belong to the road"
About the same time the khan of
Chiltistan and his wife are in the gov
ernment house. having taken refuge
there during the siege following Lin
forth's murder. The kahns son is born
there, and these two infants are to be
the central figures Of the drama which
follows.
The Indian princeling is sent to Eton
and oxford, against the advice of the
more experienced government officials,
who know the had effect the civilized
training has upon the oriental. At
school and college he becomes the in
innate trleno or DICK LlnfOrth. and
together they plan what they will later
accomplish in India, for the young In
dian fatters himself he has become a
fullhedged white man.
At this time the two young. men take
a vacation trip TO the Alps and by acci-
dent become acquainted with a beauti-
ful young widow Violet Oliver. They
both fall in love with her at once. but
Dick. with the young Englishman's
usual denseness. never dreams that his
friend, Shere Ali, is smitten. Had he
suspected il he would have considered
Il an impertinence.
A year later the young prince is at
home in India; Violet is in India on a
visit: he asks her to marry him and
she refuses The sudden realization
OF her reason for refusing him fills the
young prince with rage and fury He
suspects Linforth has won her love and
IS jealous. In the sudden reaction
which follows all his hopes and dreams
he becomes the sworn foe, in politics
and love. OF Linforth. The plotters
against British rule, of which there are
always thousands. find him easy to
handla The great description here
given OF the pilgrimage which Shere
Ali makes with the echemers TO Luck
now, cawnpore and other cities in or
DER 10 bind him securely to their views
is the finest part of the book. OF course,
the revolution ends in the usual way.
The plotters are overpowered, beaten
and killed and the leaders fee TO the
hills. Linforth is chosen to hunt down
his former chunl, Shere ALI whose pun
ishment is deportation to Burma His
end is most tragic.
The story is interesting and well