Atlanta Georgian and news. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1907-1912, November 02, 1907, Image 8

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THE ATLANTA GEORGIAN AND NEWS. SATURDAY NOVEMBER 2, 1M7. LITERARY UGHTS AND SHADOWS Discussed By ARTHUR PENDENNIS, JUNIOR. "THE FRUIT OF THE TREE," by Edith Wharton. (Charles Scribner's Sons.) "The Fruit of the Tree" Is the first real novel from the Rifted pen of Mrs. Kdlth Wharton since the publi cation of her great success, “The House of Mirth." Lily Bart, her per sonality and peculiarities portrayed In "The House of Mirth," were discussed from one end of this country to an other. Justine Brent, the heroine of “The Fruit of tho Tree," bids fair, through her personality so strongly drawn by Mrs. Wharton, to now be come the bone of contention among the discriminating readers of today. Mrs. Wharton Is a wonder In the clear-cut delineation of her characters. She never. In any of her books, allows her heroine or women to be lovable; these women are never those with whom we would like to live. They are cold blooded, calculating and. to a great ex tent. self-consalous 'creatures, about whom wo all delight to read, but are willing to leavo them Just where Mrs. Wharton puts them—In the pages of her delightful books. Practically all classes of the well-read do care for or profess to care for Mrs. Wharton's work—It Is deservedly the proper thing to do, especially in “society." Hut In discussing “The Fruit of the Tree" It IS well to say that the reader «ho will most, enjoy It will be "not like Justine herself, a flamo-llko de- vourer of the page, but a slow ab sorber of Its essence." as Mrs. Wharton speaks, on page SIS, of tho kind of reader her hero,, Amherst, was. It Is always a study, clinically shown of men and women, which Mrs. Wharton presents, and no one can do this work bettor or as well ns her gifted self. The hero of “The Fruit of the Tree,' John Amherst, a young man of vigor ous Intellect and of certain noble the ories, Is employed as on assistant man ager In a cotton mill, where, owing to the narrow and greedy policy of his superiors In office, the condition of the mill operatives Is wretched In the ex treme, While he is chafing under the unhappiness of seeing dally misery, which, for wpnt of money and Influ ence, be la powerless to lessen, chance throws him In tho way of tho mill's owner, a beautiful young widow. He attempts to Interest her In the problem of bettering the llvet of the mill oper atives and succeeds not In moving her sensible, sympathetic action—for she tertd, ei "He stood by her In silence, hie eyes on the injured man.” Frontls Ho stood by hor in silence, his eyes on th piece illustration from "T(io Fruit of tno Tree." Is self-centered, emotional, a rather dull woman—hut unconsciously to hlm-l self In winning her heart, while he also, almost without knowing It, falls In love with her; They ore married, and, naturally enough, the marriage turns out 111. Here Mra. Wharton, with extraordinary skill, presents the heartbreaking trivialities that finally bring out ths utter estrangement. Bessy (the wife) Is surrounded by that drclo of shallow, self-seeking people whom Mra Wharton li so fond of picturing and which sho does so well. Among these people, but not of them] is a young woman, Justine Brent, a school friend of Bessy's, whom clrcum-j stances have driven to making her llv lug aa a trained nurso. She Is env ployed at first professionally In the Amherst household, but abo eventually becomes a companion, to whom Bessy delegates the entire management of her household and personal affairs. Right here It might be stated that Mrs. Whar. ton le possibly not very convincing as regards Justlno Brent's real position In this housohold, for the author defines Justlno as a vividly Intelligent, Imagi native, sonslUve woman. She tries to bring husband and wife together with no success, but unconsciously Interest ing herself more and more In Amherst and he In hor. In her husband's ab sence Bessy Is thrown from a riding horse and receives an almost certain fatal Injury to the spine—the physi cians keep her alive, although under going Bufferings dreadful to witness, one of them (Dr. Wyant) oven holds out hopes of her recovery, though Jus tine's professional experience and the opinions of all the rest of the doctors lie In tho other balance. The reader who Is accustomed to Mrs. Wharton's clinical studies will fancy that Dr. Wy ant, who had been rejected a short tlmo before this by Justlno, had his sus picions as to the cause of h!s rejection snd had determined If possible to keep Bessy alive, to keep Justine and Am herst apart. Then Mrs. Wharton goes on to say Just here that In Justine's hospital experience, “she had encoun tered cases where the useless agonies of death were mercifully shortened by the physician.” Mrs. Wharton, mistress of her art and facts, must have In formed herself upon this subject, al though the average reader will bo prone to doubt the truthfulness of Jus tine's hospital experience, certainly that such physicians were to be avoided. It does not seem possible that any physi cian who had thus removtd a patient from suffering would admit or speak of it, for a doctor who was known as a potential murderer would very soon be a doctor without patients or practice. However. Justine, fortified by her above-mentioned experiences, after a short mental struggle, deliberately gives Bessy an overdoxo of morphlno to end her sufferings. After a year or so Jus tine and Amherst nro married and live for ten months In blissful happiness, working among and uplifting the mill hands, which had been made paHalble by Bessy leaving half of her fortune to Amhfret. All this time Justine has never told anyohe about tho timely and merciful hypodermic of morphine, and presently ahe finds herself being black mailed by Dr. Wyant, who discovered It at the time. At last she Is obliged to tell her husband, who receives tho In formation as most men would receive It, In the first moment with a shock of unbelief and horror. Tho deplorable Inconsistencies and weaknesseMho con fused cross-currents of passion and sentiment and all kinds of logical and Illogical action that might be displayed by such people In such a position, are faithfully described by Mrs. Wharton. In the end the reader leaves John Am herst and Justine making believe at happiness In a terrible atmosphere of compromise. Bessy's father, Mr. Lang- hope, In the beginning of the novel. Is like a spiteful old nfald, becoming In the end an appealing old gentleman. Mrs. Ansell, beginning as a calculating, ctevar, selfish woman of the world, turns heart to becohio the Instrurmmt _ This Is quit? nge for Mrs. Ansell—something on the order of Lily Bart's changes In "The House of Mirth," especially when the ler social enemy's love letters. It is very difficult to he Ileve that Justine Brent with her Intel, lect and temperament could have done the numerous and entirely different things that she was said to havo done. Some of us have within our experience stood awhile by the bedside of some loved one, racked In the ogonlsa of death, such as we ourselves would not Inflict upon a dog, but who of us would take upon himself to end them? Jus tine Is a study of human responsible ties and human Ideals of duty. The English of Mrs. Wharton Is per feet, and after the tawdry decorations of the ordinary novel—what a relief! “Ths Fruit of tho Tree" will be read and discussed by all discriminating readers, "THREE WEEK8,” by Elinor Olyn. (Du(field, & Co.) Elinor dlyn had time of It with the critics when she published her book, "The Visits of Elis abeth;" but that experience was not a circumstance to what she has been undergoing with critics and the read ing public (or aome of thorn) alnce the publication of her new story, called “Three Weeks.” The author has re cently brought out this book In this country, after a run, or moro properly speaking, a chase, in England. The author seems to have felt so keenly tho lampoons of the press and public In.Englund that she has written a preface to the Amerlcnn edition of "Three Weeks," In which she under takes ' to explain matters. Her "ex planation” must stand by the book It self, for In the preface she undertakes to Justify what ahe has written In the story. It Is more than difficult for The Oeorgtnn (which keeps out of Its col umns all whisky and unclean adver tisements) to thoroughly explain .to Its readers Just what "Threo Weeks" ELINOR GLYN, Author of “Three Weeks.” Is about* Sulficsth to say that It Is a story of the Mason between a magnifi cent specimen of an Englishman and the unhappy wife of a prince In the Imperial houeo of Rueala. The woman la a beautiful tlgrees; the man Is n heavy creature, who, through hie con nection with this woman, la, eo Elinor Olyn says, uplifted to better thlnge. Some parte of the book are very In teresting—other parts are dull. It Is undeniably an Improper book. There Is no earthly reason why It should havs been written to exploit the passion of two people who meet accidentally In Switzerland, and who fall desperately In “love,” breaking all human und divine laws In so doing. The author explains that she has drawn a tiger, and In so doing the could not give It the attributes of a spaniel. Certainly not) But who wants to see the picture the heroine. Possibly so; no one will take the trouble to dispute It, princi pally because while "Three Weeks" will surety be a "best seller" on account of Its steps beyond tho decent, the read ers who poro over It will not be the kind who ask questions or who would be capable of giving an answer easily understood by the cultivated. "Three Weeks” Is simply a book, appealing to the degenerate tastes, whatever the au thor may say to the contrary. Of rse. It pictures a'ccrtaln kind of life, did “Camille," but “Three Weeks" and the former book, even In an ex purgated form, are one thousand miles t In literary merit, so would "Sap- be If compared. The question, Every Family Medicine Shelf Womanly Weakness | *1 Am Poor” writes Mrs. Louisa Johns, of Otwell, Ind., "but I value health, and cannot find words In which' to thank you, for the good that'Wine of Cardul did for me. j "I was troubled with female weakness, for ' about 4 years. AH thought I had consumption. I • _ lost flesh, and my back hurt me so bad I could ‘‘ hardly be up. At last, 1 began* to take Wine of | Cardul, and after taking two or three bottles, 1 be- tf \ V r ' gan to feel better. 1 have now taken about seven bottles; rny back Is so much better, I have gained In flesh, and am In better health than I have been for a long time. "I recommend Wine of Cardul to all suffering ladies.” The purely vegetable, medicinal Ingredients, from which Wine of Cardul Is prepared, have, for over 50 years, proved their specific, curative value. In the treatment of female weakness and other forms of womanly troubles. Cardul acts, directly on the feminine organism, feeds tho nerves and regulates the functions. Thousands of ladles have found It beneficial. Why not you? Try it At druggists, In $1.00 bottles, with fuU directions for use. FREE BOOK FOR LADIES ffi&SraSiSrC Th * me Cardui o ns then, Is, has an author the right to discuss for the general reading public’s pleasure or othorwlse a certain phase of the half-world, of which Elinor Olyn would say hor hero and heroine were not a part? The Georgian thinks they were—It not by station In life— certainly by Instinct. The bad effects of such books, while they teach that the way of the transgressor from God’s and man's laws Is terribly hard, they present pictures of n mighty lot of pleasure connected with the breakage of those laws. Therein lies tho harm, A young matron of Atlanta told this reviewer that when she began "Three Weeks” so Interested did she becqmo that sho could not put the book away until ahe had finished It. This young woman Is a walking example of n hap pily married woman, and yet she thrilled over “Threo Weeks,” that pic ture of the forbidden and correctly forbidden topics. Tho book will be sold as n "best seller" no doubt, because first It treats of subjects that had best be left alone and because parts of the book ore Interesting; so la Bocacclo's "Decameron," but one would not place It in the hands of very young men and women .without expecting a thrash ing. “THE DAUGHTER OF ANDER SON CROW." By George Barr Mc- Cutcheon. (Dodd, Mead & Co.) There surely should be some method of legal Injunction or procedure In equity that would prevent—hold up for a time— or prevent permanently certain publi cations of so-called literature under the name of the “best sellers." There must be somo such legal procedure— the only question now being how to lo cate It In the code and apply It. It. Is not the harm that such books do— they have not the strength to harm a kitten—but It Is the fact that they take up room In libraries where real books 111# strength of character, unites these i two factions after many trying expe riences. And In this Polly Pat takes a prominent hand—often speaking "when • not spoken to,’*\ and always the re-1 marks having some good effect in the work that he father has undertaken. Polly. Pat calls the parish her parish; she really thinks that It Is sho who Is doing tho good work, and while her efforts to accomplish something to help her father are alwnys wrong—still she unconsciously Is doing the very good she was trying In another way to ef fect. It Is a charming story. It Is written, no doubt, from the author's heart. The characters are well drawn, the people, even the puree proud Farwells and the labor leader, Noble, are made appeal ing to the reader's heart. It Is a de light to recommend so simple and clean a story that Is Interesting. “THE CRUISE OF THE MAKE- BELIEVES.” By Tom Gallon. (Lit tle, Brown & Co.) “The Cruise of the Moke Believes" Is a charming story. The humor Is delightful. Every now and then the reader of reviews will be struck with the statement that such I and such a book reminds one strongly! of Dickens' style—especially tho humor of It. Many times. In the language ofj the stroet. the critics "are talking through their hnts." But really Mr. Gallon has, In this book discussed, written something that Is remarkably like Mr. Dickens' style. That Is say ing a great deal and one should be careful In making a statement of that kind. The Georgian Is careful In this, and believes thut any reader who will be fortunate enough to read "The Cruise of the Make Believes” will agree In this criticism. The story deals with a young chap In London with a great deal of money and time on his hands. iletjr. ANTISEPTIC DENTAL OFFICE use the best material,• do all kinds of dental work and guarantee all that we do. We moke a specialty In regulating the teeth and treating the mouth for any disease caused from the teeth. Wo do not advertlso our K ces In the papers or on cards, but Invite you to visit our offlee, t us examine your teeth and then we can give you the right price. Compare our work with others, and our prices aro as low as any In the city. Phone 1472, Main, and call for MANAGER. 60S AUSTELL BLDG. DR. HARPER, INDEPENDENT ICE CO., 349 WHITEHALL STREET Manufacturers of Pure Distilled Water Ice. Prompt deliveries made In the city. Carloads shipped to country points. Bell phono 638, West, Atlanta phone 4343, E. B. HARVEY, Manager. Ho le disgusted with "soch and should. They aro sold as "best sell- goes down Into the slums where he ought to contain “The Household Surgeon” which is a bottle of Dr. Porter’s Antiseptic Healing Oil A Household Surgical Dressing for cuts, burns, bruises, sores, skin dis eases, catarrh, or all wounds and exter nal affections, whether slight or serious. tf .',n unlike sny other, originated by an Old Railroad Surgeon. It is easily applied by any one, and at th* _ combines all of the medicinal qualities necessary to s care (id snd scientific treatment ol injured snd diseased goiu ul the skin of drab. It is sought alter and continually used by ail who give it a first trial. All druggists sell it. 2S* i era" to that great number of people who art foolishly guided by book sailers' reports and generally somo of these books, not all, are unnecessary nuisances. "The Daughter of Anderson Crow" Is herewith offered as exhibit A to Z, Inclusive. There Is nothing on earth In It but Impossibilities and washy twaddle used to startle and stimulate the false Interest and de> scrlptlons like this (describing tho In comparable heroine), "a raro flower, as dainty /as the rose, ns piquant as the daisy."' “The unmistakable mark of the high born glowed (23rcandle?) In her face, the fine traces of blue blood graced her every movement, her every tone and look.” When she was 20 years old "we find her the queen of the village, Its one rich possession. Its only truly sophisticated Inhabitant.” Now, Isn’t that lovely? Couldn't the reader love a girl llko that? A gltl who re- semblee both a daisy and a rose? How two-faced! The plot of "The Daughter of An derson Crow” Is Just what the reader can expect If he has labored with “Jane Cable," "Nedra" and the "Biology of Graustark,” llkcwlso the "Castle of Craneycrow." Mr. Anthony Hope sure ly hus a great ileal to answer for In Inventing-tho "Zenda" type of story; •till a great Inventor certainly can not be hold responsible for the faults of his would-be Imitators; still something ought to bo done and that shortly. The Georgian Is willing to receive sugges tions as to what steps should be taken to stop the flood of effusions from Mr. Hope's Imltatore nnd also to lend hand In building the dam. In all of Mr. McCutcheon's stories, we have the same wonderful young man, tho some beautiful woman, tho tame Interferences of fate with a cap ital F—then the circumvention of said fate and the consequent "happy end lag” with the girl In the hero’s arms. The only pity about the great salo of tho effusions of Mr. McCutcheon and his kind Is simply that such produc tions take the place of worthy books, which are much more Interesting, of course better written and tar greater In their good effect. Of course It li useless to argue against success ex hlbltod by the "best sellers;” It Is Just a waste of time nnd patience. Thomas Dixon, Jr.'s "The Traitor," with all of the press notices published about that book, hardly one #|ioke well of It; on tho contrary, the book was deservedly "roasted" from one end of this country to another. What Is the answer? Sim ply that "The Traitor" has been one of the “best sellers" all over the United States. "The Daughter of Anderson Crow” Is a characteristic sample of the "Fluffy Ruflles” type of .novel. “POLLY PAT’SpXrISH." By Win. Ifred Kirkland. (Fleming H. Revel) Co.) When the reviewer for The Geor gian finished his reading of vThrss Weeks,” he was fortunate In taking up next a delightfully clean little book Called "Polly Pat's Parish.” It was something like the use of Ilsterlne, wiping out the exotic effect of the Ti gerish pictures. "Polly Pat’s Parish” tells tho story very charmingly of a minister who comes with five children restdale. The mother of these children Is dead, Polly Pat, age 16, attempts very rldlcuously to regulate the four young er children, designated as "Tht-4-ln- hand." Polly Pat Is a very lovable child, outspoken but trying hard all of the time to help her father not only In housekeeping, but In the manage ment of the parish. Forrestdale Is a two-sided town. On the one side the rich owners of -ne mlU properties, on the other the labor unions and Its lead ers. The story runs then about the management of these tWo Interests; how Mr. Everett, the minister, through lives on Arcadia street. Next door Is a dear girl who, through her exertions —the keeping of a lodging house—she supports a disreputable father and brother. The hero sees all of this and wants to do something or anything to relieve this pretty Innocent sweet girl. How he did It, by enlisting In his cause the dlsreputablo father, letting It be known that the father has come Into a legacy; how he gets entangled with this "make-believe” only practiced to help the dear girl who he, of course, falls In dove with—the book delightfully pictures. There are all kinds of hap penings, absurdly ridiculous, keeping the hero on the go to avoid the young girl's discovery of the deceit. The hero of course becomes helplessly entangled with the father and brother—he can not shake them off. He attempt# the latter, la pursued to his yacht, when the whole crowd take a cruise, are shlpwrcckcd-and so on nnd so on. This Is enough of the plot to let the pros pective reader know that "The Cruise of the Make Bcllevee" will give more pleasure In a quiet hour or two than many books recently Issued, by not •training tho mental effort or worry ing the reader. The book would work admirably on the stage. A casual reader could divide It up Into four acts. It Is a very Interesting story, “BEAU BROCADE.” By Baroness Orcsy. (J. P. Llpplncott Company.) According to "Beau Broqade," pleasing story of adventure, when the Pretender Charles Edward Stuart had failed In his "'campaign, and had fled the country, a young urtny officer. Jack Bathurst, had been dismissed from his regiment for striking his superior of ficer, The trouble came over a game of cards. In which the superior officer had been caught cheating by Jack Bathurst. Jack had to leave the army In disgrace. He took up for his occu pation chivalrous hlghwaymanry. Jack was, of course, a handsome devil, charming to the ladles, robbing only the rich to give to the poor box, and so on. At this time Philip James Gas coyne, 11th earl of Strctton. through false testimony to parliament by a sup posed friend, had been condemned to death and was now In hiding as a supposed adherent to the pretender’s claim to tho throne, now gone glim mering. Philip has a beautiful sister, who undertakes to carry to King George certain letters which prove Philip's Innocence. She starts out, meets the handsome highwayman and then the trouble begins. The letters are stolen from the sister; at the risk of death, Jock Bathurst gets them back In. Fortunately for all concerned, highness, the duke of Cumberland, passing with his army through the vil lage Is shown these letters and all Is well. Jack Bathurst, for hts devotion to the Innocent, but persecuted earl. Incidentally to the lovely sister. Is pardoned nnd restored to the army by the duke of Cumberland and placed on his highness' staff. Of course Jack and the sister love each other. There Is one thing about the book, there are many that are charming about It, but especially In Its light form are the con. venations between Jack and his sweetheart. These conversations are gems In love-making. The story Is way ahead of the general run of such stories and should be sold to and read in great quantities by the discriminating, who very often care for light, but clean, thrilling stories of Ittiprobable adven tures. ray lew of that book In Uncle Remus's Magastne for November, by Mr, Don Marquis, can understand what kind of a novel Mr. Vlereck would produce. “The House of the Vampire" Is Just that kind of a story you couldn't de scribe If you would, or wouldn’t if you could—suit yourself. The Story has a catchy name. Instantly .the reader's mind Is filled with suggestions of a "a rag and a bone and a hank of hair” and all that sort of thing. But nothing doing on that line. No rag, no bone, nary a-hank of hair. The “vampire” Is a gentleman who attracts to him certain wonderfully bright' young men, from whom he mysteriously draws their thoughts for his own use and profit even before tho young men have spoke! these thoughts. That's the story. Only In this book the story 1* specialized Into one act or ?e» ult thereof. There Is n bright young chop In this story who has wonderful thoughts, but before he can put them on paper the vampire, during the nlghtlme extracts them In a mysterious way from him and uses them In the vampire's own productions. Of course this thing could not keep up, cither the young chap would get real angry and quit the game or the poor fellow would lose all of his mind. Tho latter, he did, having been sucked vnmplrlthly of all his brains, ho goes forth from the apartment house to a sanitarium and the book ends, only, however, after a terrific scene between the vampire and his victim. The book Is uncanny. High flown with weak wings, the result, of course, being not a great success. If this reviewer could have written "Nineveh” he would not be very proud of "The House of, the Vampire." Possibly this comparison Is a bad one, still Mr. Vlereck Is a re markable young man, or paraphrasing Mr. Dickens In "Martin Chuzzlewltt," “he Is one of the greatest men this country has ever produced." THE GEORGIAN’S CANDID OPINION OF THE MAGAZINES^, Tho American magazine for Novem ber Is very Interesting. Sines that great collection of used-to-be "muck- rakers,” who could not got along with the old McClure’s Magazine, took charge of and rejuvenated the Ameri can magazine, wonders havo taken place. Tho magazine Is running soma advertisements In the press about the November number, that In splto of our vlewe of publishers' advertisements gen erally, the ads. of the American for November aro correct. Tho magazine for November would be hard to outdo In Its class. Mr. Lincoln Steffens boglns In this number an Interesting series of articles called "Tho Mote and the Beam." The November number of Current Literature Is one of those charaoterlstla Issues that always come from that press. "Way Our Fleet Goes to the Pa cific,” "The Contest In Clevqland,” "Is Woman to Blame for Marital Unrest?*’ are some good articles In ths November Issue. Current Literature Is filled with good things, taken from all tho author ities of the newspaper and magazine world. This magazine Is almost a ne cessity for a reader who cares to keep up well with current events. In Harper’s Monthly for November begins Mrs. Humphrey Ward’s now novel, called "The Testing »of Diana Mallory,” which will be watched and read with Interest. There ore'the usual number of short stories, one by Mrs, Mary E. Wllklns-Freeman, also that delightful department, "The Editor's Easy Chair," by W. D. Howells, Justus Miles Forman has a good short story In the magazine. Mr. Forman can wrlto good short stories, even If he does dis mally fall down on novels. Harper's for November Is a characteristic num ber, which statement should explain Itself. (Southern Express Company MONEY ORDERS THE HOUSE OF THE VAMPIRE.” By George Sylvester Vlereck. (Moffat, Yard & Co.) Anyone who has read “Nineveh and Other Poems,” by Mr. George Sylvester Vlereck, or even the bright, Interesting THE BEST WAY TO REMIT MONEY. Require No Written Application* A receipt is given with each order bearing number of order, and if order is lost, refund is promptly made to either remitter or payee. Are payable anywhere. An order drawn to a payeo in New York can be cashed in San Francisco, St. Louis, or at any Express oflico in the United States and Canada. Are negotiable through any number of different hands, nnd can be used in remitting exchange. RATES. Not Over. $2.60 . . . . 3c Over $30.00, not over $40.00 15d Over S 2.C0, not over $ 5.00 5c Over 40.00, not over 50.00 18o Over 5.00, not over 10.00 8c Over* 50.00, not over 60.00 20a Over 10.00, not over 20.00 lOo ' Over 60.00, not over 76.00 25c Over 20.00, not over 30.00 12o Over 75.00, not over 100.00 30« Over $100.00, at above rates, according to amount.