The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-06-02

"Julfa France and Her Times"
by Gertrude Atherton. Macmillan
land Company, OF New York and Ion
don. Si,35 net.
Gertrude Atherton has gained ar
International reputation as an Amer
ican writer along limos of broad "
Iioning and Intelligent observation
Miss Atherton is not only n rcpreSen-
tative American in her literary work
out she appears as now force the
Californian Infusion. endowed by Ma
;ure with strength OF character and
accoutrcd and longing FOR opportun-
tiles"
Above everything else Julia France
and Her Times" is & story of this
year and day. Tho influences which
have been brought TO bear upon Mrs.
Ather;on's leading character, Julia
Trance. the forces which have shaped
her life. and more than that, the ac-
;ual lie which she must needs live.
are p!le same Influences, tho same
forces That are playing upon the WON
Aen of to-day The English militant
movement among women, the relation
In general of women TO politics. the
divorce problem. socialism Of the more
advanced and non-Utopian kind
these are some of the issues (which are
distinctly % this age into which the
TimeI',rass, however. docs not make
,o novel. but rather interest and APP
,aeal 10 the bread sy-mpathios Of hu-
tmanity. In these particulars Mrs.
.Atharton's Sook is remarkable. Julia
Trance is a taking character drawn
with mastery strokes. significant TO
"a degree and arousng the readers
Interest, admiration or sympathy as
sAe advances through the varying
Ion ~, 1,tn-
Among the other people which fill
tie pages OF Mrs, ALhertons book
may be mentioned Mrs. Eds, Julia's
mother that embodiment o. relentless
ambition whose love for her dauSh-
ie: is only surpassed 10y her desire
Tor social attainment; Harold Franc,
u complex. mastery creation of tho
not over well balanced mind; Nigel
iIer5ert JUDAS firm friend and we'll
w.shcr, Tho crafty old duke. whose
death Will make Harold duke and
julia q Hurhess. and Bridget Herbert
yund 1shoel Jones. frivolous and plea
sure loving young women of English
society. Not IN. lSas; important is. of
course, the hero, Daniel Tay, who is
San Franciscan OF the most modern
type. with nothing of the cowboy or
usual Westerner about him.
The first chapters of the Book are
written with West Indian setting.
julia France having bean born as
julia Eds. Al the Great House" on
,ae island Of Nevis and making her
bow as book character at Gov
eminent House ball in st. kits. the
little capital OF Bassc Tcrre. Incl
d@nta ly. Julia Eds at this ball enter
ed society. her grim old mother being
& daobier IN astrology. % eliever in
dsse!ny as influenced Icy the stars.
and fully convinced that a debut and a
first step To'~ard distinguished ca
0eer for Julia were simultanoous.
At this ball 1tl!a met Lieutenant
France OF the English navy, a man SO
absolutely worthless ana d!ssipated
that nc was hated even NY men and
eighteen. She had never couvcrscd
with a man before. Mrs. Eds, the
grandmother was warned against
Harold France ~ the captain of the
flagship, but she paid no attention
because he was tho heir presumptive
"f a dnkedom and she determined
1nat J"lia should be an English
duchess.
50 the pi;ifu tragedy was enacted
Tna girl was married and sent under
cnaperonaEe and ny Royal Mail to
England, whore hsr education began
The development OF ii makes much in
leresiing reading regarding the fcmi-
nine attitude toward many questions
y matrimonial separation and a res
idcnce I'm India brought Julia France
back TO England at its close ready
Tor work This sort of converse
ZION th'n occurred between her and
man who mas one o lho ncst OF her
friends:
lie said THE old order changed
You women are not far off from ge,-
/ ting all sou want. no douht about