The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-28

FI tty," in 1792, the novel was not pub lished until 1911. In the meantime the story had undergone much rewrit- ing, recasting and revision. The novel had been written at first in an epistol- ary form, but this form before 1t was given to the public. Sense and Sensi- Sility" is emnently characteristic of Miss Austen's style of writing and of her peculiar methods of work. She is witty in many places, her characters are well drawn and her story highly proper But there is a minuteness and prolixity about her storytelling which at times Is wearisome and her char acters seem to be built up according to rule and measure rather than to have grown naturally At least, that will be- and has been, the criticism of many. But Jane Austen has admirers who get a pure enjoyment from reading her works and never tire of them. They are wholesome novels. anyway, and If they bore some delight many.
 THE family of DashwOOd had long
 x tate was large and they resided at Norland park, in the middle of their property The estate came at length to John Dashwood, son of the former owner by his first wife, and half brother to the three Miss Dashwoods, Elinor Marianne and Margaret, daughters of the late owners second wife Elinor was full of sense, Marianne of sensibility, and the youngest girl had a mixture of these qualities of mind. When Henry Dashwood lay dy ing he called to him his son John and said: T hoped to save something for your stepmother and your sisters. have not been able to do so. The es- tate goes to you. But I leave it as a charge upon you that you see that my widow and her daughters are provided for"
 John promised to do everything in his power-and at the time meant it. His father, his last moments rendered easy by this assurance, died, and there came to Norland Park John and his wife John had married a woman even more selfish and narrowminded than himself 'I will give each of my sisters f3000," said John. q can spare that much with out any inconvenience. With what they have already inherited from their grandmother that will make them very comfortable"
 What" exclaimed Mrs. John when she heard of her husbands generous inten- tions, "a3OOo apiece? How can you think of robbing our child-our little boy-of such an amount as 9900O? What possi- ble claims have the Misses Dashwood upon you? Are you going to ruin your self and poor little Harry by giving away all your money to your half-sisters?" Tt Po+t act piled John.
 He did not know what he was talking about, dare say. If he had been in his right senses he never would have thought of such "a thing" But something must be done for them before they leave Nor land Park "Why, to be sure-but not SSOO0 apiecel' And the upshot of the .f1latter was that Johns help to his step mother and half-sisters consisted in help ing them pack up their furniture and move to Barton cottage, in Devonshire which was offered them at an extremely low rental by a distant cousin of the Widow Dashwood, Sir John Middleton, who lived near by the cottage at Bar ton Park
 The Widow Eastwood was much like her second daughter, Marianne, in that she had more sensibility than sense and seemed more interested in the relations between young Edward Ferras and Elinor than about her change of fortunes. Ferras was brother to Mrs. John Dash wood, and between him and Elinor there had sprung up very decided liking for each other. But if her mother and sis ka, tad possessed sense to an almost painful de- gree. Marianne and her mother took 1t for granted that Elinor and Edward were to be married soon. but Elinor said:
 "Of his sense and goodness no one can, think, be in doubt. The excellence of his principles and his understanding can only be concealed by that shyness which too often keeps him silent. He Is we'll in- formed, his enjoyment of books exceed 1ngly great. his imagination lively, his observations just and correct and his taste Is delicate and pure. I do not deny that I like him-think very highly of him. But further than this you must not believe. I am by no means assured of his regard for me. There are moments when the extent of it seems doubtful. At any rate, there are other points to be considered. He is very far from being Independent What his mother is we do not know. But from what we have heard it is possible that she would not con- sent to a union with portionless young woman such as myself All these things have a bearing on the subject and must be considered"
 And are you not really engaged to him?" cried Marianne. Most assuredly not" replied Elinor, with a kind, but su- perior smile And so matters stood be- tween the two sensible lovers, Edward and Elinor, when the Dashwoods moved to Barton cottage and became the inti- mates of the family of their cousin, Sir John Middleton.
 Sir John was forever asking the widow and her daughters to dinner or tea at the park. When there was company there they must come because he wanted them to help make up the party-when the f Middletons were alone because he hated to have an empty house and scanty din- ner table. And generally Sir John had his . red-faced, jolly, hunting, country bar onet with a simpleton of wife who spoiled the children and obeyed her hus- band. She had, before marriage, been a Miss Jennings and her mother was much in evidence. T have married off my