The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-09
BOOKS AND MAGAZINES

when things go wrong on,that with
out rather than the force within.
After life of killing adventure. the
hero sums up his creed in the last
chapter. II Is bitter arraignment
Of civilization. Man, "for Gil his
science and his machinery Is still
slave. With his hand on the door OF
freedom, greed and hate bar the
way. The greed Of the rich. the hate
Of tho poor who are brutalixed by
unceasing toll" We are In "a
maelstrom Of commerce and finance
that takes all and gives nothing"
II is, according to Mr.. Howard, the
system that Is guilty, not the man.
Arnold goes to prison because he
will not subscribe to the system"
which our present ideas OF law and
order impose. There Is much that Is
noteworthy and true In this book.
but written in essay form we think
IT would have greater weight AS a
story II Is a little unwieldy. Mr..
Howard Is q newspaper and a theat-
rical man and has spent much time
as correspondent In Asia. Bobbs,
Merrill Co., Indianapolis.
'HempfieId," BY David crayson, 10 q
hook to rest and refresh the
weary.
David GFayson. our friend, who
has helped to open our eyes to all
the beautiful things about us and has
invited Us to help ourselves to the
good things the Lord has provided.
has given US his first novel and
called It "Hempneld" after little
town which, perhaps. was In New
England and perhaps was farther
south, II doesn't matter where. only
that the Captain. editor OF the
Hempneld Star. weekly newspaper
Of the town, was a deep dyed Re-
publican and exploded his editorial
batteries whenever q Democrat
popped his head above the breast
works Of the Democratic camp. He
ran the paper. or thought he did.
while his niece, Anthy, did the man.
aging and Fergus McGregor the &C
tuaI. manual labor. There was
plenty Of time, from week to week.
to gather up the local news and feel
the pulse Of the people but. in spite
Of Anthy's best endeavors and most
courageous adventures into fields Of
modern methods, the Star Ian
guished and almost died for lack Of
financial sustenance. Then was q
hustling young business man. Ed
Smith. fnoculated into the anaemic
blood Of the dying Star. and by up
to-date schemes. he filled It with
new life. boosting corporations Of q
character, booming |
Democratic candidates and charging
for news items from the townspeo-
pie. Then did the old Captain rise
in his wrath and denounce and dis
charge young Smith. But we've got
to live. haven't we?' said Smith. |
No." Numbered the Captain, I'VE
haven't got 20 live; we haven't got
to live. but: by God. we've got to
stand for the nation. the constitution
and the Republican party"
But Anthy; who can describe
Anthy? The brave. lovely woman
who poured out her secret hopes and
aspirations every day In q letter to
mr.. Lincoln" and mailed them be-
hind his portrait In the sitting room.
This was her way Of relieving her
overcharged heart and mind and fac
ing her perplexities. Every charac-
ter in the book is beautiful In its
way. even in its weaknesses: Fergus
with his battered volume Of Robert
Burns and his consoling pipe. Mort.
the dreamer, with his head In the
clouds: the Captain with his lofty
sense Of honor and utter inability to
make both ends meet; David. the
writer OF the story. who tries to
keep out Of sight, and hide his light