Connecticut western news., 1920-07-29

HEW writers of American fiction are better qualified to present
 the early history of Kentucky than is James Lane Allen, himself q native of the Blue Grass State.
 He chose Nas his setting for '4The Choir Invisible" that picturesque pe- riod during Washington's administra- ton when the Mississippi was just being opened for navigation, and great tides of pioneers were migrating through the Alleghany highway to set tie the sparsely populated regions of the West and South.
 Lexington, Kentucky, chancing to be directly in the path of one tributary of this current, received not only many of those who were abandoning the cities of the coast for the untried ter ritory of a newer land, but also others who, having tested out the Utopian western country and left there health, wealth, and dreams of success, were returning broken-hearted to the homes from which they had come.
 Hence in Lexington one encountered Ol every CldSS.
 It was a heterogeneous populace, high of courage and strong of forti- tude, that amid clearing in forest and cane-brake laid the foundation of this fine old Southern city; a populace not to be daunted by discomfort, privation, or unceasing toll.
 The heroes and heroines who thus sacrificed their lives on the altar of civilization have. the author tells us, long since joined "the chok invisible of the immortal dead" but they have left behind them a heritage that has come down to us through the centuries
 The chief character of the story Is John Gray. the master In the little log schoolhouse, and we have a charming glimpse of him: ga young fellow of powerful build. lean, muscular, wear ing simply but with gentlemanly care suit of black which was relieved around his wrists and neck by linen, snow-white and of the finest quality" He had a handsome head covered with thick red hair, we are told, and was man of such integrity as .&o render him a worthy descendant 'from one of Cromwell's unconquezable, hymn singing army"
 We therefore are not surprised to . lind = him holding himself aloof from the rollies of the time, and seeking cut the comradeship of those te whom the finer and nobler things of life appeal. Yet he is very human-a> creature of anger. passion, and a multitude of i moods. Moreover 1t is quite consistent with his character that he should fall 1 Tn love with a woman whom he l dealizes, Amy Falconer. who "wss 1 perhaps the first beautiful girl of aris- ! tocratic birth ever seen in Kentucky. and the first of the famous train of 1 those who for a hundred years since nave wrecked or saved the lives of men," She is a coquette, vain, shai- | ow, and incapable of deep feeling, and 1 she losses Johns love aside in a mo ! ment of pique for that of Joseph 1 Holden; afterward, on discovering that 1 there Is a prospect of Johns inheritine
 a, fortune and becoming a person of /; importance, she shamelessly offers to rid herself of Joseph and reinstate 1 John in her graces.
 John Gray, however, is not to be
 so lightly dropped and picked up again
 The episode proves to him that his ! dol has feet of clay. nd with his 'aith in her shattered hc bids her fare
 we'll.
 Amy, in the meantime. has made heI 1 oy1I p
 and Mrs. Falconer. Mrs. Falconci