The Washington herald., 1908-06-21
Priest and PuEau.

Priest and Pagan" by Herbert NJ
Hopkins. author Of The Mayor Of War
wick" is a novel OF interest by reason
Of the vivid character portraiture involved
in the portrayal Of some Of the leading
personages of the story. On the male
side we have Cyril Cressou. the son Of
an English gentleman and Jewish opera
singer, combining the even poise and mas
tering will Of his father with the artistic
and mercurial temperament Of his moth
er. with the former finally overpowerinb
the latter and leading him firmly 20 the
end which he had destined for his career
He has n strong and versatile intellect
and. while he does not lack decision
his character contains a certain ele-
ment Of silent deceit, and his failure
TO disclose TO his sweetheart a few
things connected with his life. especially
the intermiXture OF Hebrew blood, causes
him much sorrow. although Il does not
prevent him from attaining final happi-
ness So far as his love is concerned. his
history is one OF hope deferred. and IS.
perhaps. intended 10 show how a man
can live through bitter disappointment
in his most cherished desire, and struggle
with head erect until fate brings its full
fllment 70 him.
The portrayal OF George Berwyn also
discloses a man of fine intellect combined
with many other lovable qualities; but
force is lacking. Fortune has smiled on
him with such unintermittent grace that
he is unable TO Withstand a single ad-
verse stroke, and so he terminates his
career by his own hand, when he should
have risen above the transient difficulty.
and by the exercise Of those talents which
nature had provided against such a time
he should have repaired the evil as by
yielding he simply loses all, and at a time
when life should have been most glorious.
John UXbridge IS a concrete example Of
the man who uses his talents 70 the at
tainment Of the highest results; IN short
he is the man who does things" and
Judge Faile is a type Of the good. old
fashioned gentleman. while his daughter,
Josephine. the heroine Of the story is an
attractive woman. with most of the para
doxical characteristics Of the sex, illus
trating how a woman may be led by some
glittering points in the personality OF
one man. 70 put aside. for a period, the
other man, whom she truly loves. II is
inconceivable, however how the artistic
element in her own composition could
have failed TO have discovered, by sym
pathetic deduction. II by no other, the
artistic element in his life
While the story as whole Is interest
Ing, the leading episodes Of its makeup
are by no means new. The spectacle Of
man supposed to be dead returning to
view his own tombstone and epitaph is
not novel IN literature. and the scene in
the Hungarian cafe, where the hero is
enabled. by the use Of a masters skill
with the violin, 10 disclose his feelings
and attitude to a sweetheart deemed now
beyond his reach, Is not original, although
very effective, especially when rehabli-
tated by such a writing power as IN the
present instance. All these things cou-
sidered, however, the book must take
more than commonplace rank by reason
Of Its literary quality, and will furnish
abundant material for thought and en-
tertainment Of perusal, which is, indeed.
something in these days Of innocuous ink
spilling. Boston: Houghton, Miflin &
Coz