The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-02-13
Among the Books
fabl'cntions arc only worthy when
tncy arc not mechanical, but L vnaE-',
"'Iastcr aud Mind,

they arc not mechanical, but [ vnaE-,.
"Mastcr aud Mnid,n
ny, N1rs. L, Allen Harker. Erom
CHARLES Scribncrs SONG. Of New York
through the Bell BOOK and Station.
cTy Co., OF Richmond. SIPS nes
me author OF Concerning Paul and
riametta" and Miss Esperance and
DIT. Wycherly" could never write any.
thins out charming book Conse-
uuehtly.. Master and Maid" Is as SEN
.,lnen.ally sweet and frosh as the
critlcal taste could demand The
Master" is a hou1emast at Ham
chester college. England, whore he has
most critical taste could demand THE
Maid Is young Irish girl, Lallis
Llounmeil. left in the care OF the
housen1aster by her father, who has
gone tiger hunting in India.
Inc mouse master. not being able to
produce suitable chaperons on demand
Is much embarrassed when I,al,io
Walks In upon him. brcaka up all the
SUM little conventions Of his home.
SINGS irish songs to an acc oInp eniment
on the harp In the drawing room
"herc she makes tea for the house
noid. and subdues all OF the n!astcr's
assistants aud members of the senIo,
class by her gay insouciancc. hcr
grace and her beauty.
IT Is true that LallicB propensi,ies
as a nirt caused her 10 be criticized
by the gcoSips OF Manchester, but AZ
soon as che Is really known and taken
up by the circle OF kind h earted pro.
fessors' wives. criticism Is forgotten
and admiration remembered.
nc houscino stcr is somewhat oldoy
than the maid. and very humble.
minded man. he has many bad timcs
snd severe heartachcs before he really
comes TO understand that. while many
other younger ana more brilliant men
arc lowering around the maid. her
heart really belongs 10 him.
Their little love story Is told in tho
aua1nteat and most attractive fashion
Inc book Ia one OF the best bits Of its
Find OF fiction that has been publish
e.d this year. It ends SO happily ana
IN such characteristic stylc thu: f,
leaves q reader with a snllle IN tho
heart and on the lips.
1.-THE Root OF EVIL"
By Thomas Dixon Doubleday. Pag.
aiid Co.. Of Garden City. Sew York.
sl.2o.
Following out tho New Testament
idea. Mr.. Dixon has made money The
Root OF Evil" and has taken his proofs
md illustra tione from the same circle
that has so often pointed "a ,norai
and adorned a tale" for the novels,
OF to-day. the moncycd c!aaa OF New.
York City.
The hero. indeed. is :. North caro-
linian. young lawyer who Is ldven-
turing career in the metropolis, and
the heroine a girl from the ,nounta in
aection OF the same state. who nnda
herself In the millionaire New Yorl,
circle and after awhile marr!cs for
money. sacrificing the man 20 whom In
her heart she Is devoted. but who Is
too poor 70 surround her with tho lux
ures tina. have become necessities 10
her.
After some years OF loyeiess union,
death intervenes TO Get The woman vino
has sold herself free Iii the meantime
she has cIcrted every art possible 10
eutangle and hold in her tolls the
man she has always loved, as she un.
dcrsiands and Is capable of loving.
The tragedy OF guilt resting upon the
woman's head. however. in connection
with her husbands sudan passing,
opens the eyes Of her one-tirne lover
10 her real character and sets him free
from her tolls.
The whole motive of the book is 10
lay bare the curse OF money and the
iuat FOR It. eating like a cancer into
american social life and corrupting
who tries to be upright and homes,
and sane in the midst Of universal
madness and extravaganza. are fully
exposed. The fate OF the woman who
talls herself to the highest bidder III
the worlds market place is made
manifest in the loss OF her idealism.
her sweetness and wonla nlincss, III
her determination 10 have what she
wants et all hazards. The end TO which
the lust of gold is bringing the .Ameri-
can nation unless Its license is check
ed is plainly demonstrated. The book
from beginning to ending sounds a
cry Of warning against the decadence
that Is following fast in the wake os
the modern marauder, who selzes.
tears and dcspoils the fruits OF toll.
and has never added q penny TO the
wealth OF humanity"
'fThc BIRD in the BoI.'
BY Mary Mears. Frederick a. Stokes
Co, of New York.
This book IL the story OF q hastily
entered into marriage. brought about
on the part Of the heroine because she
desired to provide comforts for an old
grandfather whom she dearly loved.
The heroine is the object of a very
sincere affection. the man whom she
married being entirely WORTH In every
respect. But the fact that the hero
Inc had bestowed her love on an UNI
worthy object. a married man and an
utterly impractical enthusiast and
dreamer, produces no end of complica-
tionH.
Sanity and a wholesome balance arc
In q measure restored by a very brave
act which saved the life of 4 rival. al
most at the cost of that OF tbs heroine.
The book is problematical in It's ma
ture, poor humanity striving in Its
pages to win to higher things. through
suffering and remuneration. Its aim
and intention are fine. and the book Ia
very interesting because OF this and
Its excellent style and characterize
1ion t
"The Scourge.n
By Warrington Dawson. Small. May
nard g. Co. OF New York.
Dir. Dawson is clearly Of the opinion