The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31

10 turn to his pen for a living and re- suited in those incomparable novels oi manners and humor which have so long delighted the student of English litera ture. It was the mawl1ish sentimentality of Pamela which induced bdm to write the story of Joseph Andrews-and Rich ardson never forgaye him. The story is in fact a satire on Pamela" but one which has surpassed in fame, as 1t did in merit the novel it was written tc ridicule. Poor Pamela, once so famous is now chiefly known through the brother bestowed upon her by Harry Fielding Joseph Andrews was Fieldings first nov el and at once won him fame and an as- sured position. Several centuries ago de- scendants of Rudolph, Count of flaps burg and Rheinfelden (whence Ffelding) settled in England and became Earl of Denbigh. Of this race came the author of Joseph Andrews, and Gibbon says of him: ''The successors of Charles V. may disdain their brethren of England, but the works of Fielding will outlast the palace of the Escurial and the im- perial eagle of Austria" Fieldings novels are characteristic of the times in which he wrote and spade Is called a spade fin them with frankness rather calcu- lated to shock the present more polished if not more moral age.
 IOSEPH ANDREWS, brother Of the
 Incompatible Pamela, whom MT. 0 Richardson wrote a book about. was brought up in the family of Sir Thomas Booby of Booby Hall a landed gentleman of Somersetshire, and uncle to that Squire Booby who. as every one knows pursued and persecuted Pamela until overcome by the contemplation of her adamantine virtue he fell to remorse, admiration and matrimony. Joseph, in a lusty manly way, was just as beautiful as his sister and quite as virtuous. For Parson Adams, the village curate, had taken the training of the youth in hand and had thoroughly imbued him with the moral principle that a man was entitled to no greater latitude in matters of chas- tity than a woman. Good Parson Adams also made Joseph's education a part of his care so that when the young man had reached the age of 21 and had worked his way up to be footman to my Lady Booby he had good store of book learn ing.
 When the family went up to London for the season Joseph was enabled to see much of the fashionable world and being young and full of life he got to frequenting the playhouses with his fel- lows and also Joined with his parti-colored brethren in some other of their diver sions. His hair was cut after the newest fashion and became his chiefest care; he went abroad in the morning with 1t in curl papers and dressed it out in the aft ernoon. They could not. however. teach him to game, drink, swear and some other ,f ! in.
 He devoted most of his leisure time to music, in which he soon became proficient. He was a little too forward in riots at the playhouses and assemblies, and when on Sundays he accompanied his lady to church his manner was not as devotional as formerly. However, if he was outward ly pretty fellow" his morals were en- tirely uncorrupted.
 Joseph at this time was of the highest degree of the middle stature. His limbs were put together with great elegance and no less strength and formed in exact pro- portions. His shoulders were broad and brawny. yet his arms hung so easily that they gave all the symptoms of strength without the least elumsiness. His fore head was high and his nose a trifle aqui- line. His air was of chestnut color and hung in wanton ringlets down his back. His beard was rough only on the chin and upper lip, but his cheeks. which mantled with a robust health, were overspread with soft down. He had full, red lips, firm white teeth and his eyes were dark and full of sweetness as of fire. Add to this most melodious voice, and 1t will be seen that Mir Joseph was possessed of the fatal gift of beauty, and it was no great wonder that the women all fell in love with him. But he was mindful of the teachings of the good parson, and, moreover, had left behind in Somerset shire sweetheart to whom he had plight ed his troth, one Fanny Goodwill a rustic beauty with whom he had been long ac- ouainted and who, though once in Lady Booby's service. was now working for farmer in the parish.
 Fanny was two years younger than Joseph. and when 1t came to good looks and virtue was a match for him or his sister Pamela either. Her form, though developed by a healthy out-of-door life,
 
 were ruddy with warm blood. She had the most lovely eyes fin the world, over which arched dark eyebrows which al- most met above as shapely nose as could be found in four shires. Her hair, like Josephs, was of a chestnut color, and hung in profuse natural ringlets about her head. The two had desired to be married before Joseph went up to London, but Parson Adams had persuad- ed them to wait until few years ser vice should enable them to collect some thing to begin life on. Lady Booby used . to say that Joey was the handsomest and genteelest footman in the kingdom, and that it was pity he wanted spirit" After they came up to London she made that complaint no longer, and frequently cried out: 'La, there is some life in that fellow after all" As it would have been quite improper for Lady Booby to have footman, her ladyship used, naturally, to take Joseph along with her upon such oc- easions, and when she was fatigued, and uhe was easily so, she would lean little upon Joseph's arm. Hundreds of other ladies employed their footmen in the same manner without giving any occasion for ucandal-but then every other lady did not have such a handsome footman as the Lady Booby.
 The fact was that Lady Booby. after