The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-20
Among the Books
",Ihc D,clIcr on dino r,hreshnld..

"Thc DwclIcr on the IhreShold.''
BY Robert lIichens. The CeUtnry
Company. OF New York. s1.1o net.
Tho psychological side OF humanity
has always invaded ana pcrvadcd to a
certain extent everything that Robert
| Hichcns, a master workman in the
realm OF fiction, has written. But
never has n previous novel of his been
30 entirely devoted to occultiSr as
The Dwclicr on the Thrcshold.
The story and it's developments are
based upon the results OF q series or
sittings between the rector Of a fash
ionable london church and Ills Gu
rate. in which the rector. man OF
dominant personality. has his will
aubordinatcd and his self-conndcncc
| Slapped by the curate who gains in
every respect where the rector loses.
Ihis is he more remarkable III that
the rector begins the sittings through
n purpose to discover. If possible. using
the ctirate rs q medium. coInmunica-
ton with the spirit world. Ills rea,
purpose. however he fancics is dis
guiscd from the curate, as he covers
il by a pretensc OF giving of hts own
strength to supplement- the weakness
of another.
Wien the rector discovers his dan
ser it is too late. lie attempts to free
himself and discontinue the sittinEs IN
which he has at length perceived his
downfall. But the curate then has the
rector in his power. and confronting
him with his hypocrisy. commands
him to go on with the seances.
he rector is stripped OF all hope. all
ambition. of the confidence OF his people,
and last OF all. OF his wifc's love.
he struggles IN the tolls. but his
struggles avail him nothing. y com
plete breakdown of his nervous sys-
tenn. on the eve OF his departure from
England for Australia. is followed by
his death before the voyage begins
Death breaks the strange bond or
union between torincntor and torment
ed After death releases the rector
the curatc Is once more az he was
before his obsession seized upon him,
a meek. deeply religious man with a
rather weak and inhrin will
The fault of the story lies in the
! fact that Two psychologists, men noted
in their lines, look on at the struggle
marking the occult relations of rector
and curatc. They see the rector's
agony Of spirit, and yet do not raise
| their fingers TO interfere ,.hero it ap-
pears they might have helped a fellow
creature rather than have looked on
and coolly analysed the torturcs to
which one human being subjected an
other.
The book Is written with great force
and interest. but the subject. though
! presented With all the art which Ar.
iichens knows so well How to use, is
rather ghastly, and leaves the mind
of the reader dissatisfied and per-
turbed.
"Four in FnmiIy.v
rs Florida Pope sumcrwell The
| Bopbs-M Merrill Company, Indianapolis.
81 net.
The iale IS told in this lively little
novel by Bosco, bull-terrler pup OF
nigh degree. who Is adopted at FIRST
sight into the affections of the lady
mis- ress of Randolph family of Nlr-
sinia, known throughout Bosco's mar
ration by the appellation OF The
White Woman"
Mrs. Randolph Is thus distinguished
from Annie, The Black Woman Mrs
Randolph's cook, who stands second
lest in Boscos affections. He has a
! lhlid degree of regard for the husband
OF his mistress and for her daughter.
who is only seven years old at the
time Of Bosco's adoption. ana an en-
gagged maiden OF ninetcen when he
cnds his story.
Bosco's experiences from puppyhood
| Up are fun of humor and realism. His
| srcedincss and its punishment, his
| escapades with his mistress false hair
| with cats, with a ncighpor's jelly shell
/ ana new white chiffon dress. fur
nish any amount of fun 10 the reader.
! The home Of the Randolphs Is repre-
(; scented as being near Richmond, ana
| the family as being Southern In their
manner OF thinking and acting The
characters that figure in the story are
sketched in from living models, Mrs.
| Sumcrwcll having used her daughter
her husband. her dog, her cook ana
herself as lay figures to be clothed
| by her imagination.
"Robcrt I<imbcrIy.-
| ~ i I'ink II, Spcarman Charles