Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-06
NOVELS FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON
BACHELLER PUTS
LINCOLN IN A STORY
"a Man for the Ages Is a Tale
of Pioneering Life in the
Last Century

The author who attempts to write n
novel around a famous historical char
acter engages in a hazardous undertak
ing. Irving Bacheller tried it with
Silas Wright in "The Light in the
Clearing" and he succeeded as well as
could be expected, partly because Wright
is one of the minor figures in Amerii
can history and partly because he made
Wright one of the minor characters in
his novel.
In "a Man for the Ages" Mr.. Bach
cller has tried his hand on Lincoln.
He has been wise enough to concen-
trate his attention on the Lincoln of
the years between 1880 and 1S45, re-
ferring only briefly to his later career.
Although the story opens in Vergennes.
VT, with the departure for the West
of Samson Traylor and his family, the
greater part of the action takes place
in the country around New Salem and
Springfield, ILL.,, with occasional excur
sions to Chicago. The names of many
men associated with Lincoln are men
toned, and the bearers Of some of them
assist in the development of the plot.
Mr.. Bacheller's purpose was evident
ly to exhibit Lincoln in his developing
years and to show of what sort OF stun
he was made and the processes by
which he grew. In doing it he has
written a novel of American democracy.
The tale is told with what seems an
artless simplicity, but it is so skillfully
done that everything that happens seems
real. 1t is as though one were taken
back to Illinois in the first half of the
last century and permitted to see the
men and women living their daily lives
and thinking their daily thoughts. And
Lincoln is presented as he came and
went among the people without pre-
tense or affectation, but as one of them
anxious to play his part to the best of
his ability. His weaknesses as well as
his strength are exhibited in order that
The picture might be that of a human
being.
The book is held together by an in
teresting love story which has its ups
and downs, but finally ends to the sat
isfaction Of the most romantic. The
girl, BIN Kelso, is one of the most
charming creations of modern fiction,
when she first appears making an en- :
trance into her fathers house wrapped
up in the pack of a travelling, Jew
peddler well known in the neighbor-
hood, till she plots a marriage with her
unsuspecting lover, whom she takes for
n long ride in the country and strands
at night on the bank of an unfordable
stream with preacher on the other
bank. The lover says he will have to
marry her at once, for they can't get
home before morning and the preacher
shouts the necessary words across the
stream. Then the couple got to cot
taee not far away, where they find
Wedding supper spread for them on
the table, prepared by the occupants,
who have gone away that the bride
and groom might have the place to
themselves.
Mr.. Bacheller has reproduced the peo,-
nle and the atmosphere of the period,
even if he has not added anything, to
our knowledge of Lincoln, and he has
written an interesting story.
A MAN FOR THE AGES. BY Irving Eachel-
"a ler Illustrated by John Wolcott Adams.
-indianapolis. Bobbs Merrill Co. $l.I5.