The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-18

Three people reading Sir Gilbert
Parkers latest novel, "The Money
Master" the curious history of Jean
jacques Barbille, his labors, his loves
md his ladies'" (Harpers), will find
three different ways to view and es-
innate It: as the history of an I'M
happy marriage; as an intimate rec
ord of a French Canadian parish OF
to-day, and as the life story OF a
philosopher not OF the schools.
The troubles OF the Money Master
bf ct. Saviour's and his Spanish wife
were not the result OF a conflict Of
theories. Their lovemaking was ar
IDENTITY romantic on his part and colby
calculating on hers. In this each be-
lied character: so hat when Jean
jacques settled down into his normal
WV OF prosaic money maldng LIFE, and
rthe ,spanische." al tho habttnnts
called Carmen. began to feel the stir
ue her warm Southern nature, they
wWs decidedly an Incompatible pair
o6 temperamentals. The time came
when "it never occurred to him that
a m did not always wan to talk
philosophy or discuss prices OF wheat
or me cost OF flour barrels" and forgot
to ask her to play her guitar. The
master carpenter, George Mason.
not capable of being true beyond the
minute In which ne took his oath OF
fidelity" yet with something OF right
in him"-well. Jean Jacques caught
them kissing and murdered Mason
In his mind, and almost In fact There
ase tensely tragic pages in this part
Of the story. Carmen went away
leaving little Zoe, "Carmencita," TO
grow up to q tragedy of her own. and
6ean jacques. now wide awake. TO his
complicated business affairs and his
simple sorrow.
A. q moving picture Of life in the
paf1sh tho tale Is broad and varied.
IAN that befell Jean Jacques, whether
Of good or evil. a through the parish
In . thousand invisible threads" many
Of which, with subtle art, Sir Gilbert
makes visible to us. The mill, with
the sold Cock Of Beaugard. t pride
Of all the vanished Barbilles." rising
boldly above Il and above It's ruins
when fre destroyed It, u of Jean
pacQues's material misfortunes. is an
institution Of St. Saviour's. So are
the wise old Judge Carcasson and the
most est1mable VI. Armand File,
clerk Of his court. Sebastian Dolores.
father Of Carmen, scapegoat and ne'er
DO we'll, with positively v~illainous in
teriudes to his life Of negative vice,
and the warm hearted Widow Pou-
cette, simple minded, outspoken gem
and faithful Virginie, are IN
lively contrast. In quite a different
vehicle Sir Gilbert carries to us such
an Illuminated reproduction of the life
of a community as makes Trollope,
for all his prosiness, precious.
But bigger than these things Is the
creation of such a character as Jean
Jacques: Moi, Je suis philosophe."
Science marched over too Jagged a
ROAD lot nln, TOT MS tenOer intel
lectual feet" the novelist says, in
p~hraseology that marches with the
ragged richness OF a voice and a
bright eyed reply" N. Flle sad:
He does enough foolish things to
ruin n man. yet swims along
ew1ms along" and the Judge described
him as just an inch short Of genius.
He was blind and foolish. He had a
rude awakening. He proved himself
n hero: the story proves that. The
record of his long quest Is very NOV
ing. At the end he came back. Me.
I am "a" not "~philosophe,' but az
ana man who has been a long
journey with a pack on his back. and
hal got home again" 1t need not be
said hat Sir Gilbert sets the remark
in proper pathos. A story as varied
and enhancing as life.
There are. in The Research Mag
nificent," by ii. G. Wells (Macmil-
lans). suggestions of ALTON Locke"
and "Kenelm Chillingley' and Teu-