The sun., 1918-10-27
By EDWARD N. TEALL.

i definitive short study Of Archibald
Marshall as "a contemporary realistic nov
elist": at was in the year 1906, and in
the novel Richard BaldOck, that Archibald
Marshall revealed his power" After
twelve years, and following some Marshall
novels of earlier date, Richard Baldock
has reached America. Its arrival ought
to be an "event," but there has not been
and we cannot imagine that there will be
any very great excitement over its ap-
pearanee; though many readers OF good
taste and discriminating judgment will
greet it with quiet joy. We shall hear
something about the modern Trollope."
That is just plain bull. There are com
parsons that spring spontaneously to the
mind and that rest there fruitfully, but
this is not one of that kind.
In the first place, there are not enough
modern Americans that know anything
about Trollope Except the name and
the reputation) to make it mean anything
to compare a writer of to-day with that
writer of day before yesterday; and in
the second place, even if the comparison
could be made without the need of a
eritique Of Trollope to help it to "get
over" it would not be worth the neces~
sary expenditure Of time and words, be-
cause Mr.. Archibald Marshall is so very
well able to stand upon bis own two feet.
We like him. Not only can we read his
books without effort, but the reading Of
them leaves stories and persons in our
minds with the same easy firmness of es-
tablishment there that the novels of Dick
ems bless us with.
A Tale of Father and Son.
In this story Mr.. Marshall seems to re-
mind us, not quite so much Of the Marshall
we remember from the reading, some time
ago, of one or two of his novels of Eng
lsh country life, like The Old Order
Chdngeth, as of Mr.. Walpole in The
Duchess of Wrere. English country life
is in this tale, but the study is not Of it,
but Of the life building of a young man.
Mr.. Phelps, if we take his meaning Alright,
thC WIZ VI otOiy III IhC bdbtiC VI
withstand won'ts-between father and
bis son. To us the purposive pith Of it
seems to be in the young fellows own
character history-in the struggle that
goes on in his own mind between two
pulls: one toward a mercantile life with
the happiness of work, and the other TO-
ward an aristocratic alliance to be bought
and paid for with the sacrifice of his own
honest preferences.
The story itself is simple, as to incident;
not exciting, in the manner of its presen-
tation-but strong with dramatic conflict.
Richard is left motherless. His father,
harsh clergyman, "brings him up" as we
say Of those who do their stupid best to
drive a young soul out Of the course
meant for it in the world. In fact, in
one very easily justified view Of it, the
story is trenchant forthsetting of the
evils that grow out of the endeavoIs of
earnestly dutiful but wofuly misguided
parents to live their ehildrens lives for
them.
Yes, a Rich Aunt.
Richard has a wealthy aunt; his dead
mothers sister. She has him visit her
splendiferous home for while, so that she
can look him over at her leisure, with a
view to determining his possibilities as
material for society-high society. The
youngster fails to make good; had he been
moro of n prie. he had done better there
A sly young sprig Of near nobility does
him out Of his prospects, and when the
supplanter's father marries the rich
widow, Richards future becomes uneer-
tain.
Now comes the. open battle with his
father John Baldock can see no place
in life for his son but in the ministry.
Richard vii, none of it, and Baldock Pater
washes his hands of the ungrateful Young