New-York tribune., 1922-11-19
'The pamnation OF Th.,,n w,r.,

H-@ In 1855 and died In 1893.
N 81 SINCE he lived to ba forty-two
1t Is probable that the work
he left represents the best he
had in him to do. Yet any one read
ing "The Damnation of Theron Ware"
which bears copyright date Of. 1895, re-
ceives q strong impression OF budding
genius which only wanted time TO flower
in a really great work. Even She title
has, the bold sureness Of stroke OF
genius, and the whole book leaves such
sense of actuality as can never be
forgotten. Ask yourself only what
other American novel of the '9os
is remembered at all; what writer
even? There Is Howells, but he was dim
even while he wrote. He was a living
legend. choose TO o<put Mark Twain
arbitrarily out Of the reckoning as
novelist. Henry James, of course--for
those who liked him. I can't think of
any other individually at the moment.
They all run together into one general
impression--producers Of lively pat
termed trade goods, whose high colorB
have faded with their names. But
Harold Frederic--well, he wrote "The
Damnation of Theron Ware" and, In
the idiom of his day, don't you forget
it, because you cannot. Whether it
will outlive the generation that read
it in their youth is hard to say, but
with them it is secure IN memory.
| 1t is study Of the authors own
| time. The classics often are that. But
| it is not at all in the popular vein of
the time. 1t is neither sentimental, re-
mantle nor didactic, but calmly realis-
| tic. The story it unfolds Is simple
enough. Theron Ware was an ingenu-
Gus and enthusiastic young man, of de-
cent and kindly instincts, il no great
| intellectual parts, who seemed happily
| placed as q Methodist minister. He
had only one apparent weakness, ten
| dency to live beyond his means; but
! when those means are kept in mind,
| $500 per annum and a parse sonage, that
| is excusable as the mere exuberance of
youth. Otherwise he was as near con-
tent as a natural ambition to rise In
his calling allowed. He had a charm
ing young wife who was entirely
adapted to him, even to the point Of
being trifie his superior in character
and not suspecting 1t. He was natu-
rally religious, in the emotional sense !;
therefore when he was disappointed, in
his second ministerial charge, by being
sent to small and difficult parish (dis-
cipline for having got in debt, though
he did not suspect it), he took it with
| Christian resignation, hoping TO gain
grace through adversely. One could
we'll imagine him doing so, and thus
fortified, rising by degrees till he be-
came leading light in his profession;
dying bishop, beloved and honored
by all.
1t Is exactly that lovabis quality
which. brought about his downfall. He
was like an eager and affectionate
puppy, nosing trustfully about g novel
world until he came across something
Of delicious fisyor and highly in.
| digestible quality. And to his milk
Of an idea was indigestible. His sheer
naivete brought him to the notice Oh
three sophisticated persons whom In
the ordinary course Of events he should
never have met at all.
| One was the Catholic priest Of his
town, Father Forbes. One was skep-
tical and case-hardened scientist, DR.
ILedsmar. One was high-headed
young beauty, who called herself g
nominal Catholic and a Fundamental
pagan, Celia Madden. Celia could give
cards and spades to the girls Of to-
day when it came TO doing as she
pleased. Among them poor Theron had
not ChinRman's chance. He was
flabbergasted by the scientist, Sasci-
mated by the priest, and he fell in love
with the lady. His downfall was not
grossly physical; it was mental and
moral. Being incapable OF sophissica-