The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-12
(Copyrigft. 1907. by Irving King)
 Ali. Rirhfs Reserved.


 William Makepeace Thackeray never had drawn any other character, If ne never had written any other story, tne world still would be in his debt beyond all hope of repayment by, any honor It might do hisname for that one splendid. noble. human character.
 There Is in the story of this gracious and simple life such sermon on honor and truth that no youth should be per- mitted to become an adult without be. ing blessed by the companionship of
 Were it possible for the book to be without Colonel Newcome, The New terpieces among the great novels. It unrolls like a tapestry, dazzling the beholder with vivid. restless, less end,ess, neos, drawing rooms. Baden gambling hells. Rome studios. Brighton lodgings, balls and receptions in palaces. conyi,viai preach CTS money lenders. dowagers. adventurers. reprobates and saints. x
 When Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Newcome C. B.. of the Bengal Cavalry. returned home to England on his first furiough after th.rty-four years of con- tinuous service. he came back as sim ple and naive as he had been when he quilted his counry as lad. Years had served only to emphasize and sweeten that good and noble nature. to make that tender. brave heart still more tender. and to tfansmute the generos- ity of youth into beautiful, uncon- scfous unselflshness.
 The simple gentleman was filled with delighted astonishment at the prodigi- ous cleverness and learning of the friends of Give. his son. whom he had sent to England on the death of his mother. He hunted out every one who ever had done his boy kindness. He hunted out the child of every friend tn India. He travelled many miles to x,faif hf~ old nfiraa who had filled the dual position of servant and relative, in his fathers hOuseh old--a connection not at all pleasing to Colonel New come's two stepbrothers Hobson New come and Sir Brian Newcome. whose families had long since discovered that their ancestor was a Newcome who had been barber-surgeon to King Ed ward 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 1t, a founding besides.
 Colonel Newcomeis own mother had dsed while he was still a child. His stepmother. with whom he did not suc- ceed in finding favor and whose stern ness had driven him 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 had been most kind to Give when he reach- ed EnEland--and that. be sure, touhed Colonel Newcome more than if she had left him all the Newcome banking busis ness and all the money in 1t.
 Wonderful we're the plans that the proud Colonel laid before Give for his future. The old warrior had dreamed and thought of nothing but Give from the day he was taken away to be car- ried to England. He had studied books of travel and bored over maps Of Eu- tn F0x tna teJ. he intended to take his boy. He had brushed uu on his Greek and Latin. He saved that he might lay up little Fortune for him--not that he saved at others expense: for Colonel Newcomes house and hand always were open to all. from comrade in distress to the furthest removed relative of a com- rade: and he was of such a nature that he spent five rupees where another would save them and make a fine show besides. But 1t is not a mans gifts or hospltalities that generally tnjure his fortune. It is on themselves that prodigals spend most. Newcome had no personal desires. He lived as fruRally as a Hindu. He wore his old clothes and uniforms until they were the laughter-loving laughter of his regiment.
 The Colonel reGaIed all the ladies of the regiment with Clsve's wonderful letters and Gives wonderful drawings. the young rascal having deveIoped a most astounding facility in making ludicrous pictures of everyone and everything. Some of the irreverent young oncers used to bet on the num- Der of times the Colonel would men, ton Gives name in the course of a dinner. But those who laughed at the Colonel laughed very kindly, for every body who knew him loved him; every % DouS tnat is. who loved modesty and
 At last the day came when tba coIo- nel touched English soil again and trod once more the muddy pavement of Smithheld on his way to Greyfriars where his son was; way that he had trodden many times in his own youth, Looks like fine, manly fellow" the cock of the school, gigantic Smith. was good enough to say as he looked ma Jestically down on the tall figure in the loose clothes "He looks very odd and very kind. and like a gentleman every inch of him." thought Give glancing sideways at the Coloners vel. low face and long mustachios.
 Isn't he fine fellow, James?" said the Colonel that night, his face iIlu- minated with joy, when he sat down to smoke 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 adminis- tration of the Indian empire.
 Have ye been breathing a prayer over your rosy infants slumbers, Tom?" asked MT. Binnie.
 And if I have, James Binnie," the Colonel said gracely, and his saIIow face blushing somewhat, If I have I hope I've done no harm. The last time 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 a boy I should be an ungrateful villain, James, if l didn't-if 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, eff ali men were like you there'd be an end of both our trades-there would be no fighting and no soldering, no rogues and no magistrates to catch them"
 Give Newcome had indeed turned out all that fond father could wish to see boy-instinct with health, strength, activity and good humor, his head crowned with waving light hair a laughing mouth, and blue eyes that sparkled with intelligence and frank ness. He had grown up clean without becoming a nlnny and scrupulousIy honorable without becoming that sad and depressing creature, a model boy"
 A saving grace-perhaps his inherit ance of a good part of his fathers sim pie. downright nature saved him from being spoiled, which was something