The San Francisco call., 1909-10-24
10 @
Seymour Charlton

Seymour Charlton
By W. B. Maxwell. author Of '-The Guarded
Flame etc. Published by D. Appleton &
Co., New York Price $3.50.
II the life of Seymour Charlton, as
told by W. W Maxwell. could be COM
pressed into about ESQ pages instead
of the 4sO which the author gives US
1T would be praised by all story read
ers. As it is. half Of them viii tire OF
it and forget to finish it. and yet it is
an interesting story.
The story is old fashioned in its
treatment; fit were not for few
motor cars and a most unprlncipled.
forward, independent and ultra modern
young lady the touch Of today would
be almost absent Seymour Charlton
is a poor. younger son who has been
given beggarly allowance by his
father and rather fofced TO keep up
social position. He Is an idle. colOrlesS
and apparently worthless young man
of clean habits and few poetieal ideas.
A young girl hired TO sing for a mems
banquet at which he is present arouses
his interest. and they become great
friends. He makes dishonorab1e pro-
posals to her and is sent about his
business, but finds he can not live with
out her, so after telling her his stand
ng-hnaneia1ly-he proposes marriage.
She has always been poor and accepts
him joyfuIly.
Then comes series Of events which
in a few days makes him Lord Brent
wood and one Of the richest peers OF
England. He has time to think things
over, but ends by marrying his Gladys
and they have a happy honeymoon. Al
most enough plot so far for the or
dinary novel. but our generous author
has only just begun. The book tells
of several years which follow this
marriage. years which open with every
prospect OF happiness. but which are
full of misery. Much space is given to
discussion of the details Of a tremen-
dous hotel trust which is organized
and in which Lord Brentwood becomes
interested. 1t is a fraudulent concern,
but its details are fearfulIy dull and
boresofne to the average reader. Not
so the intrigue between Irene and Lord
Brentwood. That part OF the book is
handled cleverly. Irene is a vampire
and typical of her kind. The delinea-
tion Of her character is one of the best
things in the book. and the struggles
of Lord Brentwood to free himself his
acute suffering throughout the affair.
are remarkably well done. It is ex-
cellent characterization and it is by far
the most interesting part OF the book.
When Lord Bentwood's eyes are
at last opened and he finds he must
spend long months wooing and winning
his wife all over again. the story reader
is pleased to see the tale ending all
fine in a blaze OF glory. but the critic
finds it hopelessly ordinary. The noble
lord gives up his wealth TO pay for his
carelessness in allowing the hotel trust
to be so grossly mismanaged. and his
wife learns to love him again. and they
retire to a country place which he had
given her for a wedding gift and raise
babies and reclaim moors and vegetate.
Very nice. highly moral, but DUH and
ordinary.
In mentioning characters one should
not forget A. w. COPELAND, the father
of Gladys. Lady Brentwood. He is a
very well drawn character, a man who
really does not see the difference be-
tween right and wrong. He is most
offensive, but well done and consistent
throughout. Gladys is poor. pretty
creature who develops unexpected and
rather unnatural hrmness at the great
crisis Of her life. but we grow sympa-
thetic toward her later on The book
Is too long. must too long-it is not
verbose like Robert Grant nor leisurely
like William de Morgan-but just duh
yet interesting and tiresome. yet one
experiences a relief in turning the last
page.