The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-04-10
MRS. WARD HAD
PREMIER PLACE
English Literature Suffers Loss
In Her Death-Story
of Her Life.
NEW BOOKS REVIEWED
tsy CAROLYN. GORDON,


tBY CAROLYN. 0oRDoN.)
In the death OF Mrs. Humphrey
Ward. the world Of English letters
has suffered loss. Mrs. Humphrey
Ward had for years occupied q
unique position among writer's Of
fiction. She was the fashionable
novelist of England: she spoke with
authority OF the church. society, par
Lament, Oxford-all the charmed
eircles OF British upper classdom.
Mary Augusta Arnold was born In
Hobart. Tasmania, June II. 1851. She
was the daughter Of Thomas Arnold.
the second son of DR.. Arnold, Of
Rugby. Her father was in govern
fnent employ in Tasmania, but lost
his position when he joined the Ro-
man Catholic church in 1856. He
returned TO England. and later ac-
cepted the professorship Of literature
in the Catholic University Of Dublin.
After ten years he left the Roman
Catholic church.
As the niece Of Matthew Arnold.
Mary Arnold had entry into circles
distinguished by q certain intellec-
tual exclusiveness. The experiences
OF her g1rlhood. together with her
natural inclination of mind. fitted her
70 formulate tendencies which were
beginning to stir in British social
and religious life at that time
In 1872 she married Hunphry
Ward. During her early married life
she wrote for MacAIillan's, the Sat-
urday Review aud the Fortnightly.
Robert Elsmere" was published in
novel. @The History Of David Grieve,"
nnnAQFad and Iofap
"Marcella-" George Tressady" was
published In 1896. and since that
time she has written Lady Roses
Daughter" THE Marriage of Will
liam Ashe," THE Case of Richard
Meynell." and other novels and plays.
Robert Elsmere," on which she
won her literary reputation, was the
sensation Of its day because It voiced
religious questionings which were in
everybody's mind at that time. There
Is no doubt that Mrs. Wards MEM
cries of her own fathers vacillations
between Rome and Canterbury en-
abled her to visualize Robert Els
Meres religious agonies. We read
%Robert Elsmere" today with much
2 tho Same feeling we accord to Har-
Itet Beecher Stoves Uncle Toms
Cabin" Both books gave expression
to the controversies surrounding
great question, and II they leave the
present day reader cold 1t is because
we take tor granted the things for
which they fought.
Miss Rebecca West said that Mrs.
Humphrey Ward always wrote as II she
were holding an umbrella In the other
hand. This. somewhat cruel epigram
defines a quality in Mrs. Wards work
which cannot escape the careful reader.
Her characters move as BELTS gentle
folk; they seem to retain always the
consciousness Of the responsibilities ac-
curing. to their station in life. A good
action Is Q case OF noblesse oblige. II
they fall short 1t Is a gentleman's fall
ang.
The flavor Of Oxford, Of the church.
Of diplomatic circles pervades her
novels. Mrs. Ward wrote convincingly
not know people outside her own
caste. Perhaps she would not have
cared to know them. At any rate 1t Is
hard to imagine her possessed of the
broad sympathy. OF a George Eliot or
the passionate understanding Of the
Religious Radical.
And herein lies her paradoxical posi-
zion. This well bred writer. the high
priestess OF the fashionable. will 60
down to posterity as q religious radical
"a Prometheus who brought the peo--
pie the fires Of forbidden doctrines.
Robert Elsmere" will remain her
the religious strivings Of its age and as
such has definite place in history.
New Novel by Francis Lynde.
''The Wreckers," by Francis Lynde,
published by Charles scribner's Sons
Mr.. Lynde's new novel Is q romance OF
rsilroading in the west 1t Is an en-
PERTAINING account OF the hight between
Graham Norcross. the general manager
of the Pioneer Short Line. which HAD
it's headquarters in Portal City. and
ethose who sought to defeat him in his
endeavor to regain for the Pioneer
In the arguments which Uncle John
Chadwick" Chicago magnate, ad.
vances to induce Norcross to accept the
nansgership of the railroad. the author
presents a possible solution of the
three-cornered problem of the relation
lie. "A railroad needn't be regarded
as an outlaw among the industries;
needn't have the enmity OF everybody
II serves; needn't be the prey OF a lot
OF disloyal and dissatisfied employees
who are interested only in the figure
OF the payday check: needn't be shot
At as a wolf with q bounty on lite
scalp" II is this practical application
of democracy which is Norcross' guild
ing principle In Strengthening out the
involved Affairs OF the Pioneer snort
Line.
The Pioneer Short Line had for
years been used as q means to an end;
the end being to enable one group of
Wall Street gamesters to make "a
killing" and unloads on another group
The pay roll was full OF the names Of
inefficient and disloyal employees, and
the railroad had achieved no small
measure OF unpopularity.
From the FIRST day OF NorcrosS
managership he was opposed by 1.-THE
Red Tower gang" a group Of unscrupu-
lous politicians, Of whom Rufus Hatch
was the head. The story OF Norcross'
fight Is told by Jimmy Dodds," his
stenographer and private secretary. in
breezy picturesque boy language. A
pleasing love story runs through the |
record Of the fortunes OF the Pioneer |
short Line and It's general manager.
The characters who figure in the story
are real. flesh and blood people; ana |
sheila Macrae Is a very lovable
heroine.
"The wreckers'' Is that somewhat |
rare thing-a book which combines |
dramatic action with finished workman |
ship. and as such ought to find a wide |
and varied audience.