The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-04
",ir. wycherI,'a Wards

'-sh1' "ScnerfSn ARDS
By L. Allen Harkcr. Charles Serb.
ner's Sons, of New York. Sis net,
The suthee who wrote Miss Esper.
ance and Mr.. WychcrIy" has left such
. favorable IMPRESSION on the minds OF
ne Virginia reading public that. al
though sequels, as a rule, never come
w To me standard OF their predecessors.
Mr.. Wycherly'S Wards" cannot fail 10
awaken the liveliest interest The book
: inscribed 10 Jean Margaret Carnegie
Srown with the followinS pretty I'm
"rso;i sentiment: TO have Il friend
you must he friend ana the author
adds That dear. IS WHY yon have SO
many' M IS Esrerance and MIR
Wycnerly" closes MIN the death of the
dear old lady who was the central fig
are in that delightful book The
sequel takes M the thread Of the nara
sion with the removal OF Mr.. Wycherly
and the little boys who are his warGs
20 oxford, England. where the educa-
tion Of the lads is 10 be thenceforth
conducted. There Is pathetic CHAPTER
which tells about the niittne Of The
family from the village home in Scot
land, and the trials OF their installa-
tion in an Oxford house where they
propose to DO independent housekeep-
ms. Then MIR. Wychcrly and the boys
realize. Tor the first time, the fact OF
al that Miss Esperance did in the way
~ saving them responsibilities. en-
ploytEg capable servants and making
d home fnll OF comfort as well as at
fectiUn.
From chaos Of discomfort III doors
The three are finally rescued by Mrs.
Msthuen, wife OF one OF the youngest
oxford dcns, and daughter Of an
old friend OF Alr Wycherly's She
comes in. nuts UP white Gimity curtains
& N u bs
pherc OF the rooms comfort and clean
!!ness and helps In the employment OF
Il substantial ana efficient house SER
want. by name. Mrs Dew. After tins
the boys go OF TO school and are well
satisfied to come back TO MIR, Wycneriy'S
for the holidays He pursues his serene
and unereatful existence, in his studies.
varied by daily walks ami by oc-
ca#toral visits from Mrs. Methuen.
Probably the story would be too mar
rowed down If il were not that Mrs
Dew has niece. Z little girl of twelve,
called Jane Anne. Tho child is partly
Greek, both by nativity, and because
ncr father belonged to q talented
Greek family. Ste Was born q Atm
cns, and inheritS her fathers poetic
and nervous tempcrament as we'll as
his delicate constitution. Happily for
lcr. she interests Mr.. WyCherIy. That
Kind hearted gentleman takes her un.
der his wing and permits her 10 be halt
companion, halt pUrlor maid III his SER
vice
From being child VINO all her life
mas suffered from lack OF responsive
aitcction in those around hcr. Jane
Anna blossoms out into happiness IL
The WyAherly household She pulls oil
her shoes, dances barefootcd i'll the
moonlight AMI the sunlight on the
grass of the lawn, learn how 10 laugh
urol and loviuG--if very imaginative
kind OF girl. There Is nothing COM.
moup.ucc about her. Mr.. WyChcrly
wards, Edmund and MontaEI, are very
fond Of lame Anne after their rcsncc-
tive ideas. MontHgu. from his elderly
ANA superior point OF view, never gets
over the desire 10 tease Jane Anne.
sec her checks liush and her eyes
flash. Edmund enjoys himself asking
her questions ne being possessed OF
an Unsuitable curiosity that he can sat
isfy moro ensilA with her than with
most people
Mi. Wyuharly often wonders what Is
10 be Jane Anne's future, just how
she will choose tor herself when the
time comes. she chooses TO become an
actress. her talent in that line pointing
her ia!peratively to her profession. By
this time, however, she mas osta b!ishcd
herself not only as third ward OF
The kind old gentleman 10 whom she
owe. so much. but she Is as dear TO
G!m as daughter might be. only the
lnscihshncSs OF his affection induces
aim 10 give his consent TO her en-
plcymtnt in theatrical company.
where sac is 10 receive ncr training
ana he educated for the wors she has
chosen In the world. The story closes
VEIN he. l-.tting oxford for London.
where shris-, join The othor members
6 ne company As 70 her future aad
ihc future OF those that are bI ought
into association with her in this new
book OF Mr. Harker's that mus, be
reserved for third book in thc
Wychcrly series, . series which must
always possess a charm wen rccognized
md well defined MIR iiarker has the
nleri, % writu,; books that show how
'nuci OF reuli;y ana humanity can be
evolved in Il quiet household and what
might appear TO be an uneveutful ca
rGcf. Mir Wycherly takes vi, the re-
sponsibliues whicn his friend. Miss
Esperancc, mas laid down, and infuses
into the atmosphere which SURROUNDS
him mnch OF the quicl humor that
renders everything relating to the
household In tie village, aud the later
one at OAtpid 50 permanently satisfy
ing and rcaduLle.