The Washington herald., 1912-06-09

historical fiction and viii be welcomed
by readers Of that class OF literature.
Mr.. Davis as q university student al
ready proved his ability and admiration
for the past by his "A Friend Of Caesar
a well and logically treated picture Of the
latest Roman Republic. He has now
turned his abilities in the direction Of
one Of the most striking figures in the
history Of the middle ages.
Mr.. Davis has made a real character
Of Luther, telling with so much real
ity and fervor all the details which led
TO the religious Upheayal known as the
Reformation, that the reader can Wis
ualize plainly before his minds eye all
that happened in those stirring times,
making the ''friar OF Wittenburg'' the
powerful leader he proved himself TO be
under fire Of the persecution Of Rome.
The means Of gaining directness adopt
ed by the author were the telling of hts
story in the first person by Walter Won
Lichtenstein, a young German nobleman,
who may be said TO be the second hero
Of the novel. It appears that two forces
strive for the possession OF his soul,
the immoral beauty of sixteenth century
Italy CMarianna di ForlD, and the more
restrained and less sophisticated lisa
Won Blankenburg, daughter Of a count
Of the HarZ region, pious spirit Of an
awakening north.
GEORGE WENDERN GAVE PARTY: By John
IngiS Charles sIiboer's Sons New YORK City.
The hero is an Australian who went to
London a wealthy man and was feeced
by an old friend from the days in the
bush" who persuaded him not only TO
invest largely in a wildcat speculation.
but to act as manager Of the London
branch, thus innOcently '.,roping in" 9TH
ers. He is somewhat Of a QUiOxOtic figure,
this supposedly practical man from the
backwoOds of the antipodes. He loves an
American heiress, also rather QuiXotic,
who returns his love. but who refuses
him because she believes him to be rich.
and engages herself to Lord Derbyshire,
the type Of a devil-may-care English no
bic, because he is poor, and she considers
it her duty to give him her money in or
der to restore, the splendor Of his ancient
castles and estates.
Hard pushed by his creditors and hav-
ing been promised $1,000 by the friend
who put him in this dilemma, wendern
plans a big party when he proposes TO
pay on all shareholders for whose loss in
the wildcat deal he believes himself per-
sonally responsible. The interest really
centers in this party. For in the mean
time the American girl hears that Derby
shire, by the accidental killing Of his un-
Gle and cousin. inherits the titles and
great wealth OF Lord Kenton, and thus
does not need her American dollars any
more. She hastens to the house OF Wen
dern, where, with the aid of the house.
keeper, she places a note explaining all
under his plate at the banquet table,
in order to see him through his difhcut-
ties, for the friend who promised him the
$1,000. has decamped without keeping his
word. Then there is the denouement.
Another friend shows cables from Aus
tralia telling Of the finding Of a NAM
moth gold mine upon his old piece Of
property. discarded long ago as worthless
the girl is happy, Wendern at last reads
Of his love rejecting the lord, and their
marriage follows. They quit England