The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-26
The House Of
Happiness
Harpers Brothers Publishers.
by KATE LANGLEY BosHER,

The appearance of a new book from
Mrs. Charles q. Bosher as she is per-
haps more intimately known to her
fellow townsmen of Richmond, is
matter of wide interest with con-
siderable portion of pleased expecta-
ton In that interest. To come short
Of realizing ones expectations is
distinct disappointment. while having
them fully realized and even sur
passed is never failing source OF
Joy This latter experience of pleas
Of friends who will ope= the door of
the house OF happiness with vivid
memory Of Mary Cary Miss Gibbie
Gault and the other creations OF Mrs,
Boshers brain, expecting to find with
in its walls the same human warmth.
good will and cheer that has made
of these books people charming
/ friends and fireside aequaintanees
| Sanitariums fer tubercular suspects
and confirmed sufferers would not APP
peal TO most OF US just on the surface
Of things as are ideal foundation for
the building of house of happiness
/ but under the authors skill and dew
terfty, this unique setting fer the first
half of the story is potent and enjoy
Ian.s N it's novelty and freedom fr a
] haCkrcyed qualities. Taska Laird an
Rives Colburn are "tubers hlt Oh
very different types when they meet
under the benign benedtction or
Cricket. a wonderfully fascinating lit
tie boy who has n deplorable but firm
I iy rooted habit Of saying "cuss words
on all occasions. a heritage from
parents who left him nothing else. not
even any blood kin When RlVes
Colburn enters the sanitarium of Bay
wood for recuperation and enforced
care OF his health. of which he has
been fagrantly careises IN snatcMng
business successes in the face of OBJ
stacies, he is self-centered and re-
bellious The influenced IF Taska,
who is aware of his engagement to a
social butterfly in his home city. Is
effective in his case asst is in Crickets
and Colburn is unconsciously LED to
build his chances for happiness on the
forgetfulness Of self and the serving
of others. Taska leaves haywood &c
be with former friend of her father
a country doctor In the mountains OF
Virginia and II is there that the resi-
Of the story is set. Colburns awaken
ing to the fact that after all love !:
really the greatest thing in the worlc
leads both him and Taska to hap
pincss, that is fragrant with deVouor
and free from self-seeking.
The etubers', afford opportunities
r for character deltneation in which Mrs
r Bosher proves herself again an artist
. hut the revelation of Cricket and hi
knotted string Is a JOY that one places
ION the top shelf of sunny memories
Zeal faith and love that surmount POI
erty and sorrow are the sunshine ray
that clear away the gloom IN Cricket
life. and spread their revealing ant
cleansing power further abroad Mrs
! B0sher has reached n high plane o
. character sketching as is evidenced b
Il the intimate personal aGauaintauc
- one feels with the dear old doctor
- 81 ft----t r
& story. But greater than the sketch
I its conception. and greater than he
y powers Of interesting English an
0 story telling are Mrs. Boshcr's quail
: ties of heart and mind that make pos
e &ible her conception of Cricket an
e Taska and the doctor.
There is q strong though unohtrr
Ic sive defense of the woman Of today
t. the heroine's utterances and action
Il but there is nothing about the stor
N that even sn1acks Of the 'probIeI
'r novels" of the age. Oh, yes. the boo
10 teaches a truth, but one that brint
N giadness and joy IN the learning, II
y stead Of bitterness of spirit. TT
k story is we'll told. and interest does M
re flag for a second II ia destined to
SIS widely read and loved, but, most
a all. shall one he grateful for the II
PRODUCTION to Cricket.