The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-02
"ffnERr.~


1t is probable that Miss Johnston :
latest book. "HaSar." viii bring some
disappointment 10 two classes of her
earnest followers: those who have rev
cled III and profit.d by her historical
novels and had eagerly looked for
ward 10 another OF similar character,
and those who, warmly in sympathy
with the author i'll hcr ell-known ac-
tivity in behalf o. woman's suffrage,
had hoped for sJernly arGuncntative
EXPOSITION Of that cause.
These, to repeat will doubtless feel
u certain disappointment. but fcw
other readers OF serious fiction Will
experience any sense 90 regret either
that the distinguished writer has do
serted the field OF her scholarly re-
search or has failed 20 launch u di-
dactic homily INFO the constantly
broadening sphere IF useful fiction.
"liaEar'' is distinctly. frankly femi-
nistic; il urges. by force Of example.
and by very real and concrete illus
trntion. the further usefulness OF
woman Ia tho world 1T LARGE. but II
is not the history OF movement. nor
does 1t advocate tho entire subordiua-
,ion 10y her OF homely affairs 80 those
Of a WIDER scope 1T is. on The con-
t,ary The story Of one wcman's life
from rirlhocd to maturity. ana OF :,
ableness" that whatever may lac tho
readers views upon the abstract oues-
lion OF the Woman Movement. he viii
~ compelled TO indorsc the course
followed by her in the ordering of her
life.
Ana il this lies much Of the indubi-
,aLi1 effectiveness Of Miss Johnston s
novel, apart from IT'S unVuestionod
value As q literary product: that She
1t,..l of
her story Hugar, with such Il hamper
ing web OF old-fa.hioned. unreasoninG
prejudice and narrow conservatism
that her gradual self emancipation
comes rs matter Of course. an in
dividuaI evolution that inevitably re-
suits. The author dwells but little
upon that phase OF tho general femi-
nine unrest which manifosts itself in
The demand for equal suffrage, and
with admirable restraint refrains from
putting arguments in behalf OF that
claim INTO the mouths OF her charAc-
tiers. even those most active in tina
China Awake propaganda. though
she clearly indicates her attitude to-
ward that question. But upon the
larger broader aspect OF the right of
women 20 live free lives. untrammelei
oy ancestral conventions concerning
what is or is not 'alto.,ether feminine"
world. 10 help, 20 lift Up--"to know,
10 learn to gain in content and in
flnencss, 10 gather being. knowledge,
wisdom. bliss. "a gather. and then
from her graNary TO give the Increase
upou this i'hase OF the feminist move
rrcnt She writes boldly, powerfully. ana
with burning pen.
votes for Women" then is bat ono
note in the appeal Of "Kagar." II is
I,e
socialism that means universal broth
ethocd, a brotherhood composed Of no,
only all the men In the world. but Of
ali tho women. each striving. straiuinr
TO the uttermost 10 lift and not 20
traupia down, 10 heartcn aud not to
discourage. The real principle upon
which the new Hagar builds her life
and her happiness is tina underlying
II the cheerful. forward ana upward
movements OF this changeful day call
it Christian Socialism if YOU like
though Miss Johnston does not-th6
Deity enters not AT all into the cX-
preston OF tile hook-it is service
service, service. And the unbound
ability 10 render that service is the
chief aim OF iIagar's efforts 10 gain
freedom for herSelf and FOR her sex.
Specific wrongs and evils are touched
upon in the 'urse OF the story: the
ln!Stakcn ines upon WhiCn penal an
situations are conducted: the false
nodes;y that permits ignorant girls to
rush. stu ignorant, into matrrnony
the evil that has existed since time
HeGar. ana even the comparatively new
question that is now SO seriously dis.
cusscd by clergy, lnity. and the medi
cal profession. These. however, are
Incidental 10 he march 81 the story
hough they illunine its progress
aornetimes. il must bc confessed toe
blmdingly like great searchlights
shining In tt.~ cyes-since they show
IN s3a,e iH.ta4cHs only the evils has
tenine ineXora5ls and DO not disclose
the possible cures or means OF correc-
ZION.
All these hopes, these wrongs ,hcs,
dreams these practiculitie, are set aur
in a story as real and as convincinf
in its humanity as anything that tn,
arr % Miss Johnston mas yet produced
The story begins about twenty year'
after the Civil War when Magyar.
dreaming. thinking child Of twelve
lives with her mother her grandpar
,n,s and llcr aunt on Il remote pianta