Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-05-10
"The Ramrodders."

holman Lay HOW btoIy, tbo hom
rodders," recently published by Harper
& Brothers, will undoubtedly be read by
many people with somewhat mixed
emotions, and Is likely to call out vary
ing comment and criticism. 1t is po-
litical novel. There is love story run
ming through it, and one that is we'll
worked out, but the essence Of the story
is political.
Nor, though the name Of the state
whose politics furnishes the basis of the
story is not mentioned, does any citizen
of Maine need to question where the
material for the story was gathered and
its atmosphere acquired. Holman Day
knows Maine pretty thoroughly, and no
part of it more thoroughly than its
politics. He has himself conducted a
literary bureau in one of the state cam
: paigns, and has been intimately familiar
with state politics in all its phases for
more than q score Of years. The char
acters of the story have their prototypes
in the politics of, the state, though most
of them are highly colored, and some OF
them are composites.
OF course there Is hero, Harlan
Thornton, who, from being the manager
of lumber business, becomes magnate
in politics in the strictly record time OF
few months. But the real center OF the
story is one of the most interesting
characters Maine fiction has yet produc-
ed-Thelismer Thornton, Duke of Fort
Canibas," fifty years representative In
the legislature, wild land and lumber
magnate, philosopher, and general
manager of the Republican party of his
state. Though past fourscore, he still
has the vigor of strong man. A politi.
clan of what may be called the old
school, he plays the game according to
the rules Of the school. He would
have played the game different with
angels" but he Couldn't find the
angels" He fights the campaigns fol
himself and his party with all the vigor
of a youth, but he accepts the smiles
and the frowns of political fortune wiz
the same undisturbed philosophical
bearing. And even when the devotion
of his own grandson and Others to ideals
which with all his astuteness he failed
to realize, has upset the old regime, and
apparently ushered in a new era In poll
tics, he calmly accepts the situation,
| is proud of his grandson who has refused
to follow his teachings, and takes
kind of melancholy delight in hearing
himself described as "Harlan Thornton
grandfather, I forget his first name, II
begins with T." -,
It is of course an authors or drama
lists privilege to use such material ano
In such q way as best serves his story
Still, with subject so close to the PEG
ple as this, the scenes of the book art
likely to be accepted to quite an extern
as true pictures, whereas they have
coloring given them by the author. 1t II
a good thing to show up some of the In
Iinwardness and the rottenness OF poll
tics; but 1t is we'll in reading to keep II
view what the authors license ia, and
not accept an overdrawn picture .!
strictly true to life.
Again, it is true that there are minis
ters OF the Gospel who allow their 6oy'
to be bound out, and throw their wives
back on their own folks for support, bu
they are the rare exception, not the rule
and are not likely to figure as candidates
Of any political party or faction. IL II
also true that many ministers are no
practical politicians, and that some o
them are injudioious In sticking Tor
principle rather than concrete results
| II Ia also true that some ministers ar
devoid of tact, even discourteous ant
boorish in their manner. But these ar
not the characteristic marks OF the cloth
and using the profession to illustrate
those qualities is not the highest kint
Of art.
It is certainly allowable for the su
thor to use his book to exploit his view
on the matter of prohibition, which arr
subs taptially those held by many othe
people, who are opposed to that form o
law. The author has already writer
consid cradle on the subject OF prohibi
ton, and 1t is to be admitted has told
large amount OF truth, welcome or un
welcome; but those who have read hi
writings with more or less care know
that in presenting his facts and the e1
press or implied argument against prohi
bition therein contained, he has not al
WAYS shown entire judicial fairness.
| Whatever may be said OF the story II
details, it Is one that will interest tn
reader, more especially the Maine reader
hut Others as we'll. The frat act, so t.
speak, moves q trif1e slowly, but ate
the change of scene, the action Is rapid
and the situations succeed one snothe
with speed which keeps the attention
absorbed to tho end.