The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-23
NJohn verncs.n

BY Horace Anncsley vacheli The
George II. Doran Co.. Of New York.
Sl.eo. net
A novel OF English life ana politics
that is most Interestingly written. prob
sbly because English political situs-
tione are treated and presented diff
ferently from those in America.
John Nerney the hero of the book.
ia introduced. first as the secretary of
Sir Charles Desmond and a sutton for
the hand of his daughter Sheila. Later
he becomes secretary to Lord WreN-
ham. eventually enters Parliament, and
becomes successful In his love affairs.
as in politics.
John Verney har political ideals as
well as ambitions. Both love aai in
clination urge him forward in MS ca
reer. But above both love ana ambi-
ton is an answering determination
10 keep his honor as a man I'M
smlrched. 10 enter the political arena
with clean conscience and unham-
pered. or not nj all.
Opposed TO John Nerney in love and
in politics is Reginald Seattle talented.
shrewd determined to advance and
thoroughly unscrupulous as to the
means by which his advancement is to
be effected. John Verney had thor
oughly disliked ScSife and disapproved
OF his viewpoint al Oxford. When he
man. he tries to lay aside all preju-
dice and believes that Seattle has dis
carded the shortcomings of his boy
(, hood. He even enters into q business
i. - tnership with Seattle But the part
; nerShip proves transitory. Verney Is
too direct too honest for such aniia-
ton. and speedily becomes indepen-
N While the par, uership Is In force,
tWOwaver
for the House OF Commons. On ele;-
zion day his defeat is caused by the
circulation from an unknown source
sof leaffet exposing the disadvantages
OF Verney's protection principles
against free trade. When Verney Of
fers for election second time an un-
fortunate accident in which he is in
nocently involved. brings the leaflet
again into play with the same result
In the meantime Sheila Desmond.
idaZzled by Reginald Scaife's apparent
success and the manner in which he
bore down all opposition against him.
mas, with her fathers entire approval.
itncome his promised wife
But when It is proven TO her past
rdoubting that he was the author of
the leaflets used for Verney's political
undotng, and that much of his appa-
rent advancement has been based on
unworthy and dishonest practices.
Sheila promptly breaks her engage
ment. and Reginald Scaife revenges
himself on her by exposing to her
Charles Desmond's involvement In his
political intrigues and In the securing
sof appointments.
John comes out on top after all. and
demonstrates the truth of the old say
Sng, that honesty is the host policy"
land the only satisfactory rule OF life.
The book is we'll planned. and its
hor Tor oil
is perfectly clean. and its ending emf
'nently satisfactory.
svThe Red lantern"
BY Edith wherry. John Lane Com
pany, OF New York. si3O. net
The Red Lantern is the story OF the
Goddess of the Red Lantern Light. the
goddess being the heroine of the
novel. an Eurasian girl the daughter
of an Englishman. Sir Philip Sackvillc,
and Chinese mother. sold to the Eng
1lshman by the heroine's, grandmother,
Madame Ling.
The Chinese mother died when her
child was born. Sir Philip Sackvine
forbade Madame Ling to bind the feet
pr his daughter left a sum OF money
For her support. and then, considering
mis- duty done, dismissed the child
from his mind. She, poor waif. began
20 be conscious of her disadvantages
even In her cradle. Her grandmoth-
Ier's superstitions caused her to fear
Hest the Chinese gods might punish
ther for having brought up her grand
Haughter with feet that were dis
fsrace and reproach according to
Rhinese ideas. She commanded the
ichild. as an exp!ation, to take the
Sword of her ancestors and cut off the
Seet. which troubled the dying peace
tof the old woman
The child. following Oriental Gus
ftomE. was both dutiful and affection
pate. and tried to make the sacrifice
demanded. When the mission folk
kcame they found the girl wounded and
iib1eeding and the grandmother dead.
2 Thenceforward the girl became the
child OF the mission and was baptized
in the Christian faith She was intel
gligent and DESTROYS of doing right. hut
at every turn of her life she was
ithwarted and thrown back upon her
teelf. by the misfortune of her mixed
Eheredity.
Within her soul two forces were