The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-07-08


ParadOxfcalIy enough, while his
peopIe thus lived outside of himself.
settings and episodes throughout his
novels are traceabIe TO his own eXpe-
riencc. His school, CharterhOuse, ap-
pears as SIaughterhouse and Grey
Friars; Pendennis at his university re-
lived Thackerays own life; Grub
street and it's inhabitants existed in
reality as in "Pendennis.
~ NE fine morning in the full Lon
q 8 don season, Major Arthur Pen
~ dennis (retirCd on half pay)
came to breakfast at his accustomed
corner in his Pail Mall Club. His
we're the best BACKED boots in Lon
don. His buff waistcOat, checked era
vat, spotless linen, white gloves, his
vhiskers. his very cane were perfect OF
their kind.
He seemed thirty years old, until
YOU saw the Fictitious nature of his
rich brown hair and the crows feet
around the eyes of his handsome face
with it's Wellington nose. His long
white cuffs showed the good sleeve
buttons given him by his royal high
ness, the duke of York.
Through his gold double eye glasses,
he reads his letters, one an invitation
from the marquis of Steyne, one from
the bishop of Ealing and Mrs. Trail,
another from an earl and so on, and
last of all, two others, one from his
widowed SiSter-in-laW, and the other
from her only child, Arthur Penden-
mis-. Jr. The first begS him to come
Immediately" to Fair Oaks, Clavering,
st. Mary's, "tO entreat, nay command
the 'wretched boy" to give up his en-
gagement to marry Miss Costigan, an
actress twelve years the senior OF this
lad of eighteen. The second from this
same lad beseeching his uncle to re
move his mothers objections to his
proposed union with his dear Emily"
q descendant of the old Irish royalty,
the most beautiful woman in the
world. "a love like mine. sir" writes
young Pen, 81 feel is contracted once
and forever shall die without ever
knowing another passion"
The major, inwardly in rage, TaeSSl
fully sends refusals to the marquis,
the earl, the bishop and other enter
tainers and takes a sleepless and tir-
ing trip in the tight, smelly night mail
coach for Clavering.
On arrival Major Pendennis is most
affable to Pen and his mother. He
does not "entreat" or command" his
nephew but wins the boys confidence
and talks Familiarity of his own noble
friends and the brilliant career he has
had in mind for Pen. The major then
faces the enemy" Captain Costfgan.
the half tipsy imaginative old Irish
soldier, the father and protector of
emily" To him and his beautiful,
honest but dull daughter, the major is
equally suave. Beautiful she is, with
broad brow, large melting eyes, black
wavy hair, white complexion, rosy
cheeks and the arms of Venus"
Fen had come to see and know her
through FOker, q school friend, a lad
homely and kindly, dull at his books
but bright in everyday matters, whose
father, the great brewer, furnished
him money and Lady Agnes, his moth
er, social position. Verses Pen had
been writing to the Greek goddess he
now dedicates to his new divinity.
Major PendenniS, as his next move,
lets slip. in the presence of the Cos
tigans. the fact that Pen has no means
beyond what his mother allows him
out of her slender income. COstigan
is then indignant that Pen should
have had the face to offer himself to
his dear beguiled daughter" Pen can
not believe his adOred Emily has
calmly thrown him over, until the Cos
tigans openly cut him in the street.
He almost dies, or believes he is dying
of despised love, with all the symp-
toms of sleepless nights and feverish
days, and is scarcely cOnsOled by his
mother and little cousin Laura.
Laura is five years younger than
Pen, his second cousin on the side of
his mother, who adopted her on the
death Of her parents, perhaps because
of romance of early unmarried days
with Laura's father.
Miss COStigan secures an engage
ment at a London theater through
Major PendenniS' influence. The mag
nettc attraction being thus removed
Pen goes to "OXbridge." Then through
Foker and with the majors encourage
ment Pen makes rich and ariStocratiG
friends and begins a brilliant career
at the Debating Union, at dinners and
late suppers with his wit, elOQuence,
poems and commanding self-cOnfi-
dence. Wild without being vulgar, ex-
travagant beyond his means and neg
lccting his studies, he becomes deeply
in debt and is 'plucked" in his degree
examination though many fellow he
has despised for dullnesS or crushed
in debate passes with honors.
Unseltfsh, he would leave the gayest |
party to go and sit with sick friend |
and yet, selfish, he forces his mother |
to pinch herself to keep him in college |
and he accepts Laura's savings to pay |
his debts. He fees "OXbridge" in dis |
grace, though later he tries again and |
passes his "exams" with fair credit.
Coming home from college, Pen, now |
young man of good figure, medium |
height, blue eyes and auburn WhiSkers' |
finds Laura grown from the simple |
little girl, into a tall, slim, handsome |
young lady with large gray eyes, long |
black Iashes, pale face with rose tinge |
in her checks which flusheS easily into |
deep blush.
Now comes on the scene Sir Francis
Clavering, Bart, who opens Clavertng
Park, which has long been closed. The