The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-23
"rhe Eye. OF the World"

supply company, AulCaSp.
According to Harold Bell Wright's
publishers. Tho Eyes OF tho World
is tho greatest novel yet written by
tho greatest author OF this generation"
II that restrained and conservative
statement were literally true. there
would be nothing lcf: to say about the
book, except to repeat this shrinking
announcement over and over again.
But. with am apology for tho con-
tradiction, il must he said that this
'blurb" Is inaccurate in every respect:
AIr. Wright is very. very far from be-
ing the greatest author OF this gen
Grafton. and The Eyes OF the World"
is no; even his best book
True he ltas many readers. and the
hectic sermoni2im: II his latest newell
will doubtless increase his popularity
greatly. but 10 careful readers The
Eyes OF the world will not add Il mite
20 his value rs writer. II the author.
or his publishers, had been content to
submit his book to tho public merely
as story OF action. thrill and advcn-
ture, II would nave been received with
some warmth but its Y"St AS "a pow
erful blow AZ present day evils in the
world OF literature and art that is
most opportunc. ana will have a trc-
mcndous influence fer more wholesome
books" arouses some resentment.
Aaron King, a young artist bent on
fulfilling promise made TO his dying
mother. goes out 90 California &c work.
There ne meets Conrad Lagrange, the
most popular novelist OF tho day, who
despises himself for having prostitut-
ed his talents to the mere writing of
salable books. Lagrange takes delight
IN attacking himself and his work
savagely TO the young artist. employ
ing the crude and obvious satire of tho
grammar school MIR. Wright makes
clear the fact that Lagrange was once
q beautiful soul by quoting from one
tho message of the mountains; To- love
them for what they arc; and. in terms
OF everyday life. to give expression to
that understanding and love-is q
mark OF true greatness OF soul"
Lagrange bitterly assails also the
rich and vulgar people who supply tho
pull and influence. without which. he
declares. no writer or artist can possib-
~ attain success, but he introduces
the artist into tho very holy Of holes Of
that unholy circle. at the same tim"
warning him arains; its contamina
ton. The central itSurcs Of this pow
crful combination t,ao directs the ar
tistic destinics of tho wl>pic country
are a Mrs. Tainc. a calculating and
wicket vampire of :, woman, and ono
James Rutlidrc. y multimilliouairc and
a rake, who is Vet the most influential
and feared art critic IN America.
Attracted by Kings cyc-hllinS APP
pearancc, Mrs. Tainc takes up tho
young man and assisted by Rutlidge.
pushes him To the front Naturally.
therefore. tho artist. whom he comes /"
do the womnn's portrait. leaves out OF
his picture her ugly soul. This is ap
parent to everybody, since souls arc
readily disccrnihlc from cXtcriors. But
tho young man finds Syhil Andres. and
saves his own jcopardcd soul.
James Rutldgc, though an art critic
CT sorts is also possessed OF bull
neck, and nc covcts Sybil So he kid
maps her In the mountains and con
signs her To the tender care of ono
Henry Marston. An csCapcd convict.
But Marston sijll has some remnant az
q beautiful soul. so hc doesn't harm
Sybil. ON tho contrary. II" shoots Eut-
lidge when no is about TO throw King
over the cliff. That lucky shot dis
poses OF ono stumbling block In the
way Of kinES true and soulful prog
ross. and the other Is rendered help
less TO harm him in srfte of her rage.
by the disclosure OF her parentage and
the true explanation OF the scares on
her shoulder.
So both tho bodies and tho FOULS Of
King and Syhr triumph together
happily ever after,
"The Lights Arc Bright"
Ry Louise Kennedy Mabie. Harper
& Brothers
Romance and business. big and little.
combine TO form a stirring tale in The
lights Are Bright now novel by
Louise Kennedy Mabic. author OF The
Wings OF Pride Laid. as tho story is.
in tho Middle West, commerce plays An
important part In the development OF
the plot and In the construction OF In
cident, as II should. in order to he true
In % NJ IL,
acter not peculiar to the Middle West.
nor to any other section OF this couu-
try.
when the story begins il is made
clear that the great Lake city steel
Company, controlled by old Henry r.
Amory. is doing its wicked best to de-
preciate and absorb the smallcripfsrt
OF the Trevor works. which, vc.irg
Theodore Trevor regards as a sacred
trust left 10 her by her father For
tunately for the Eirl--ard for tho
rcader--Theodora also inherits a most
competent manager. one Anes. and she
and tho works need all tho competence
that can be commanded. for the Lake
city Steel Company stops at nothing
In the first chapter, 2 spy is caught
IN the Trevor plant. copying figures
and making notes for the benefit
OF tho rival COMPANY Ames would
have deal, roughly with him. hut
girl. hut practical "upliCtcr." so she
let's the man GO, to the great and just
Indignation Of Ancs The stcno-
Srapher In the works is Miss Teach.
and for her tho villain Of the story
sets trap lie is a smooth "society''
man, and he has little diniculty in per
suadiDg tho stcnographcr TO believe
that he loves her. In teaching her to
love him. and. finally. IN discovering
all that she has learned in her con-
fdential capacity.
There also enter the EffinEhams who.
because the husband is an officer in the
Lake city steel Company. aid the willy
old Amory in his plotting, in spite OF
The fact that the wife is an intimate
friend OF Theodore. Ana. making II so
much the harder for the girl her man
aGer, though he naturally falls desper-
dte!y in love with Thcodora feels con
strained by tho difference in their
pecuniary positions ID conceal his love.
" course, In tic end. his resolution
breaks dowr and-'the lighIa are
bright"
While the story itself is interest
ing, merely as q story. IL is OF more