The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-29


gether inconprehensible. One can
not imagine him recalling her image
In her old Virginia haunts, lying in
the chamber that she once occupied
and wearing the uniform OF an in
vading army.
But Ii "Ailsa Paige" were faultless
It might not be nearly so engaging
as 1t is. and not nearly SO popular as
1t is likely to be. for Its weaknesses are
largely overborne by the qualities that
have characterized former books by
| a typical American author of fiction
who has grown famous through his
| pen.
| "FOrbiddcn Ground"
BY Gilbert Watson. John Lane Gem
| pany, Of New York. s1.35 net.
The author of this novel has rem
dered his book unique by having for his
heroine an Albanian woman. Albania Is
a district or province Of Western Tur-
key, and Its people are noted for thei-
good looks and the tendency to strcns
loves and hates in their natures.
Inc religious superstition OF the
| race enioins vengeance as an tmpcr-
alive duty, and 1t is out OF this belief
/ that the romance of the book Is de-
veloped An Albanian Strl, finding
Il
| her lover to the monastery OF Baylam.
In the hills, where lie has Joined
| hermit brotherhood and renowned the
| world. 1t is. of course. forbidden that
/ a woman cross the threshold OF the
| retreat. which the monks have butt
/ for themselves on the sides Of crags
| so steep and inaccessible that perilous
| ladder-climbing furnishes the only
| mode of ingress.
forbidden Ground" indeed the
precincts of the monastery! Women
are. however. :roverbially ingenious
/ In this Instance boys dress furnishes
disguise, and the Albanian woman
with her yataghan concealed in the
folds of her sash, and representing
herself as a penltent seeking admts-
sion to the brotherhood, follows tbs
guidance of the youngest of the monk:
into the monastery.
This monk, Petros by name. is thu
strongest and most attractive char
acter of the book. Sincerely imoue'
win the spirit Of monasticism. gentle
kindly and brave. his faith is radian
and his life sincere. Standing as n
: does for youth. where all around hin
is age and decrepitude. he is typ
of one extreme, as the gentle oil
father abbot is of the other.
The disguised woman, the first t.
: gain admission within the monastery
! kept her secret and was only known
7 to the brethren about her as Angeles
Vengeance on the man she sought wa.
} taken out OF her hands by fate Wh1cf
: spared her. Petros discovered tina;
, she was a woman and knew that BEING
! a woman, he loved her. She told hin
her story and he managed her escape
by letting her down in a basket to an
!, other man awaiting her coming or
the road below the monastery, that lee
, to a safe place of refuge. Here shs
cast her disguise and after a time
. found tranquility. II net happiness, II
!, a home of her own.
But Petros remained behind In the
monastery and when the old abbot
died. he reigned at Barlaam, in his
:, stead. His was life of reconciliation
: To him the joys of home and loved
: ones We're unknown. But, because he
, had for himself sacrificed the hope OF
: earthly love, he knew better how tc
) judge and to sympathize with the sor'
rows of others. And as the years
passed, peace dwelt In his heart.
"The Doctors Lass"
: Nv Edward C. Booth. The Centurs
S Company, of New York. $3.50.
n The doctor lives In Yorkshire. Eng.
q land, near little station called Peter
y wick. A lonely man, bereft by deati
: Of mother who adored him and EN-
: bittered in spirit by the falsehood O
the woman he intended to marry, III
8 is at the beginning of the story fas
n letting go hts hold of right living ans
IS thinking and fast sinking to lower
Is levels and coarser living.
e Just here, the woman who was tn
. cause of all his trouble wrote him OF
n her dcathbed. begging him to tax
S charge of her daughter. who had n
d help or dependence. otherwise. In tn
It world The doctor struggles with him
d self and finally sends for the dauEh
l. ter, who is known afterwards through
IS out his Yorkshire round as The Doc
a tors Lass"
n The lass is named Jane. She Is
@ bewitching sprite OF girl and. o
IS course, she has moro than one lover
J. Her father. disolute yagabond. VIII
o unexpectedly appears on the scene:
it narrow and stralt-laced suitor, an Epis
i copal Clergyman, the taciturn. lovabl
o doctor. form n trio Of characters who's
tangled relations and misunderstood
d ings form the fabric of story un
y usually dramatic and picturesque.
> While the girl and the doctor domi
III nate every rage and the readers In
terest, the book Is peopled with hos
of quaint characters. who. as In 'Th
Post Girl" supply the comedy elemen
for love story OF unsual sweetness
and power.
Edward c. Booth author of 9Th
Post Girl" is native of Yorkshire
still in the early thirties, and comes Q
u musical and artistic family. MI
Booth first turned his aspirations to
ward music. He studied both the vsoli
and pianoforte as child. but late
developed passion for the violoncellt
Flo was persuaded by David Poppe
the greatest living composer for tina
|, instrument. to conclude his studio
with him in Buda Pesth. An iniur
to Mr. Booths right hand throug
overwork put an end to this idea, an
after two or three years OF inter
mittent struggling, Mr. Booth wa
obliged to discard all hope OF out
wearing the hand trouble,
| Mr. Booth has composed much fe
the violoncello, as well as for TIL
violin; also songs One song, "Englant
Mother England" especially write
! for Madam Clara Butt, has been muc