The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-09-06

Virginia in the days of Washington's
early manhood; Virginia with its vast
tobacco plantations sloping to the
river; its myriads of slaves its great
estates where, loyal to the King, the
master was above all else a gentle
man and sportsman, and the mis-
! tress a lady who directed the affairs
of her household with the imperious-
| ness of a princess of the BLOOD Vir-
GINA of stiff brocades, of hoops and
powdered wigs; land where hospi-
! tality ran free and good wine was
never wanting-such is the setting
chosen by Thackeray for his sequel
to Henry Esmond," the tale entitled
THE Virginians."
| 1t was a picturesque period in his
history, and the author of the novel
was indeed daring to present to US
in the first pages of his book George
! Washington, the young Colonial Colo
mel who comes hither in his coach
from his adjoining estate to visit Ma
dam Esmond, the daughter of our old
| friend Henry Esmond at her American
home, "Castlewood," and there meet
! her ninteen-year-old twin sons George
Esmond Warrington and Harry-War-
rington. Hither, also, comes General
Braddock, the English commander who
expects with the aid of his forces
to bring about an end of the French
and Indian wars; and in his company
is Benjamin Franklin, the Philadel-
phia printer.
All, Thackeray had courage to pre-
sent to us in the flesh these familiar
! celebrities!
But he does it delightfully."-.
Ia, fra-
quent and welcome guest at Castle
wood" greeting the Widow Esmond
with friendship so ardent that her
sons, jealous of every attention paid
their mother; mistake his gallantry
for a tenderer sentiment and are on
the point of challenging the Colonel
to a duel when they discover their
error. Afterwards George, the elder
twin by the narrow margin of half
hour, goes forth with BraddOck and
Washington into the campaign that
costs the English General his life, and
in which the Kings troops are defeat
ed by the French and Indians. From
this disastrous pilgrimage Washing
tons young aid, George Esmond War
rington fails to return, and great is
the grief at "Castlewood." Madam
Esmond reproaches Colonel Washing
LOu lIltI ne SIIOuId NoiIIC bcSh N4loNabll
ed when her son is missing. AS for
Harry, the loss of his elder brother
so overwhelms him that it is deemed
wise to send him on a sea voyage
to England in the hope of diverting
him from constantly mourning the
twin he so devotedly loved
Hence we next behold Harry at the
home of his English cousins at Castle
wood" where, we regret to say, he at
first receives but a scant welcome.
My Lord Castlewood and the ladies'
would not have tolerated either Harry
or his black servant Gumbo had not
Aunt Bernstein, the BeatriX EsmOnd
of Harry's grandfather's day, been a
guest at the house. Although the
Baroness is now old and has lost her
beauty she has not lost her money and
because the impoverished Castlewoods
are eager to inherit the latter they
dare not oppose her. She will have
Harry Warrington welcomed to the
home Of his ancestors.
Therefore the young American is
granted a tardy invitation to the fami-
ly estate to which his grandfather,
Henry Esmond, although the rightful
heir, waived all claims before emf
grating to Virginia.
Harry is an ingratiating young fell
low and his Aunt Bernstein promptly
falls in love with him, urging him to
go with her to Tunbridge Wells, a
fashionable resort whittier she is
bound. The shrewd old woman is in
sistant in her demand for she sees
that the sophisticated lad has al
ready developed a passion for the
Right Honorable Maria Esmond, my
Lord Castlewood's sister, and a wom-
n than
The boy himself realizes his mistake
but he is an Esmond and a Virginian.
and for such there is no drawing
back.
: Madam Bernstein is not so scrupu.
lous, however
Harry is young and, as his black
servant shamelessly asserts, royal
ly rich.
, He can do better for himself and
the family than throw himself away
on a scheming woman who is penni-
less, and who has none too good a rep
: utation. Indeed there is scarcely one
; in Castlewood whose past would bear
inspection. Even the escutcheon of
the Baroness herself is dingy and
furnished. She is neverthele kind.
hearted and sincerely fond of Harry
and therefore with coach and postill-
ionsr and outriders, and trunks, and
servants she bears him and his lady
| Maria away with her to Tunbridge
Wells.
On the journey Harry is thrown
from his horse and his shoulder be-
: ing injured he is carried into the
nearest house which proves to be the
home of Colonel Lambert whose wife
was an old school friend of Harry's
mother. Of course the Lamberts can.
: not do enough for the boy. Theo and
Hetty. the charming daughters of the
family, are never tired waiting on him
! and when he rides away to join his