Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-30
TRIUMPH OF THE
PURITAN CONSCIENCE
William Allen White Has
Hritten a Novel to ShoV
How H Happens

when william Allen white wrote "1n
the Heart of Fool he must have felt
burning within him the self-same fires Of
patriotic devotion which have sent so
many American soldiers rejoicing into
the great adventure" for an altruistic
motive. One is at no loss for figures
in describing this ambitious work. for
now great spreading fabric suggests
itself into which, with unerring warp
and woof, have been woven all the
many -colored threads of our national
life; and then again it is great ma
tional drama with those OF humble and
pretentlous origin alike speaking their
parts, and finally It is an epic Of veal
and woe from the pen of real poet.
In it's large outlines the theme of the
hook has to do with the growth of a
mans character and a mans surrender
to the inevitable Thomas Van Dorm has
said in his heart there is no God" His
only creed Is TO take what he wants
from society with the complacent be-
lief that he can take as much as he
likes without impairing his powers or
nersonality. His passion Is women, and
he Ia entranced by his love of the chase
Then there is Grant Adams, who also
has felt the scar of passion, but having
ouenched the fire within him, gives him
self ,p to a life of service among men,
treads the path to true happiness-and
TO a martyrs grave. And there Is DR..
Ncsbit. whose home life is unimpeach-
able, but possessed of another conscience
in the realm of politics, where he has
bought and sold men as though they
we're so much merchandise. But IN
spired by Grant Adams he, too, mas
his way into bigger life. Ana the
women; Margaret Muller, with the soul
OF a siren +; Laura Nesbit. possessed of
the divine virtues of n noble woman ;
Mrs. Nesbit, the talented wife Of a clever
po,iticiah: Violet Mauling, scared by
nassion's flame, and little Ida Van
Dorm, calling vainly for her daddy.
Then there are all the others, char
acters big and little, all struggling IN
the rnirc of materalism. many losing
strength and surrendering to the suf-
focation of their souls but few-so
very few-fghting their way through 10
nrmer ground and the bigger life be-
yond.
T is remarkable how the author has
brought order out of what must Ger
tainly seem from the above to be chaos
The thread of a gripping story strings
the characters together rs though they
we're so many beads, and unity pre-
walls. His is a canvas with all the col
ors contributing to one predominatihe
effect. And the effect Is the figure oil
our innermost national life SO very IA
miliar when once it Is revealed to US
And now for the lesson. the moral II
you please. SO let us take the author
own closing words: IF the faole OF
Grant Adamss triumphant failure does
not dramatize in some way the victor!
of the American spirit--the Puritan
conscience-in our generation, then, alas
this parable has fallen short OF Its aim
But most of all. II the story has not
shown how sad a thing it is to Sit In
the seat Of the scornful. and to deny the
reality of Gods purpose in this world
even though It is denied in pomp ano
mower and pride. then indeed thisharra'
tive has failed" But 1t has not failed
IN THE HEART OF A FOOL, by william
Allen white. New York: Macmillan Com
many. 81. so.