New-York tribune., 1922-11-19
Some Recent Novels
BY Isabel Paterson


THE TRAAP1NG METHODIST, BY sheiia
Kayesmith. Dutton.
| DUTCH COURAGE. BY Jack London.
I Macmillan.
A MORE HONORABLE MAN. BY Arthur
| Somers Roche. Macmillan.
CLINT OF WINGS. BY Cleveland MofSett
and Virginia Hall. McCann.
| A DAGHTER OF THE SANDS ByFrances
Everard. Dodd, Mead &, Co.
! WN IRST novels have special in
e. terest over and above their
n intrinsic merits. And they are
more interesting after their
author has become noted through later
books than on their appearance; one
may search in them for the seeds Of
that subsequent work. Probably
critic should be able to do that with
out waiting, and occasionally one does,
but, naturally, it is easier to prophesy
after the event. A great artist in an
/ ,ther medium has said that energy,
1 even to the point of eXaggeration, is
he thing to look for in a beginner. A
arst product may be rudely executed,
out it should be forcible; it should
have salient features, however distort-
I'd. However rough. and out of pro-
portion, it must have the emphasis OF
life; to be smooth at first IL to be
feeble.
The first novel of Sheila Kaye Smith,
"The Tramping Methodist" now re-
printed, answers remarkably to these
requirements. 1t makes long cast
backward in every respect, resembling
extraordinarily the works Of the ear
hest English novelists. It might have
been modelled on Defoe, without ref
erence even to Fielding, as IL Miss
Kaye-Smithfelt she must work out The
problems Of her craft for herself from
their very origin. But for the known
facts one could easily believe it was
written imm ediately after the time it
treats Of, hundred years ago.
The form is simply narrative in the
first person; the style concise and un-
adorned, though dramatic. The theme
reminds mo irresistibly Of an anecdote
brought by my grandfather from Eng
, land and dating back TO the same
, period. That was Of laborer's child
who told his mother: 81 met t passon
on horseback and he spoke to me-" The
child was rebuked FOR untruthfulness,
but persisted that the parson had in
deed spoken to him. "What did
passon say to zee, then?' inquired the
doubter. To which the hoy replied,
proudly and convincingly: "He said
Get g, out O. my way, ye little brat, or
I'll ride ye down."
was largely considered by the gentry
as kind of pension establishment for
younger sons, and church livings were
Tiled very often by men with no other
qualifications for the ministry than
their family connections. That was a
qualification because the living was
IN the g,ft OF relative. The hunting
parson ftourished. but the Church was
dying of spiritual dry rot. Yet there
were strong roots and green branches.
Wesley himself began as duly or
dained Anglican clergyman.
Miss Kaye-Smith's hero, Humphrey
Lyte, was the son of one of the other
kind OF clergy-the hard riding, hard
drinking, hard-swearing and extremely
; heavy-handed Sort 70 the rector az
Drede any mention of religion, except
, the reading OF the offices ON SUNDAY.
was ",sniveling can't" and his Other.
son, Clonmel. was made in his image.
put Humphrey was strongly religious
* nature, and finding no help in the
Church TUNED to the field preachers.
His father promptly cursed him and
cast him out. He thereupon went
proselytizing as q Methodist, fell in
love with another rector's sister. was
faissly accused Of murder and cast
into prison and saved from the yallows
at the last moment in traditional style.
Ihe plot is altogether vieux ieu. in
deed, yet redeemed from artifcialitv
py tns authors ability to make YOU
feel Humphrey as q living and spffsr-
ing soul. She has somehow submerras
her own personality in that Of Hum
J, phrey Lyte; the language, the view.
poins, the convictions expressed are
! all his and all consistent with his
:. character. A'0
The whole book was undoubtedly a
remarkable feat for young girl: and
: II ~ was not recognized as such on
IT'S flrst appearance that was prob
apiy because no one knew anything
!, anout the author and the circum stances
lney know now; for, whether or not
the promise was recognized. it has
been redeemed in full.
: Jack London's very first ppblisbed
edort-and also the first bit Of vyr;tins.
ne ever did with publication in view
!, is also reprinted for the first time
since it saw the light in "The San
: francisco Calf in 1893, when IL tooL
prize of s25 for the best descriptive
article by an amateur. Naturally. IL
nas little to commend 1t except its
history. 1t is offered as one os a
smsil volume OF juvenilia, "Dutch
. WuiCn lS uGty Intended for
youthful readers. By the critscsi cer ,oa ~.
, given above there was no reason ~
expect much of the young Jack Lon.
don as & writer. A good reDorter--yas
The managing editor Of "The Calf
was certainly reniss in not Offering
him job on the spot. There is 2
reportorial talent, knack of material
verissmilitude, in even the crudest q. Of
snese brief items. The fact that when
lack London did essay reporting, as 8
var correspondent, he was nothing ex-
sspsloIal 70 net TO the point, ky that
other Muas. anA srna aas &, ! .asarssss ssons