He

artist than mechanical plot-building. has looked for his hero in John Lenox, and for his heroine in Mary Blake; and he overlooks the fact that the author disclaims having heroes and heroines, and tells us that his business is to paint men and women as they are, - plain, every-day mortals, with as little of the glamour of romance about them as possible. Even Lenox bends to this theory of the author. The reader who approaches "David Harum" with the fiction sense strongly developed is sure to be disappointed; for the book is not "fiction" in the generally accepted signification of the term. It is what the author intended it to be,-a transcript of real life.

Again the critic strikes at Mr. Westcott's theory: "For me the interest began to wane after the opening chapter, and reached the vanishing point about the middle of the book."

The reason is evident. He expects Lenox and Mary Blake to take the bit in their teeth and run off with the story and leave such old fogies as David and Aunt Polly far in the background. But this is just what the author had set his face against from the first. It is "about the beginning of the book" that Lenox is practically dropped, and the development of the character of David becomes the chief business of the author. This is, to be sure, against all the canons of those who believe that the business of the storyteller is to fit characters into a plot as perfectly as a piece of dovetailed-work, and to carry them all along on the high tide of a cleverly-constructed climax. This theory of measurement is all right for taking the size of the story of plot and climax; but it is all wrong when applied to such books as "David Harum."

If the reader who is troubled with the fiction sense should ask me why I like David Harum" I should say it is because the characters are painted with a broad hand, a true touch, and originality of treatment. This alone is more than enough to take the book out of the ordinary class. Throughout the work there is an inexhaustible fund of quaint, dry humor that has nothing of horseplay in it. The philosophy of the book is all sunshine, and it does one good to breathe the atmosphere that surrounds it.

Old David may not suit the fiction sense, but he is very much flesh and blood all the same. He may be commonplace; but

he has good horse-sense; he may be unentertaining, but he has set people laughing from the Atlantic to the Pacific; he may be stupid, but he can size up human nature pretty accurately, and it's a clever man that gets the start of him; he may be dry, but he loves a joke, he can see the humor of life, and he has a pretty fair working philosophy of his own that things are not half as bad as they seem.

The character of Mr. Westcott himself finds expression in almost every page of "David Harum." He was full of quiet humor and sayings that compelled attention from the peculiarity of their dress or their daring exaggeration. David says, laying down the law of a horse trade: "Do unto the other feller the way he'd like to

do unto you, an' do it fust.» He paints the "narrer Baptists" as "so narrer in their views that fourteen on 'em c'n sit side on side in a buggy." He describes John Lenox's piano in his own vivid way. "He's got a little un that stands up on its hind legs in his room, an' he c'n play it with both hands, 'thout lookin' on."

David had been taxing Aunt Polly's patience, and she broke out: "David, you ort to be 'shamed of yourself."

"Wa'al," said David, with an air of meekness, "if I've done anythin' I'm sorry for I'm willin' to be forgiven.”

When in a philosophic mood David remarks: "The' ain't no sure thing but death and taxes," and again: "I've of'en had to notice that a man 'ill sometimes do the foolishest thing or the meanest thing in his whole life after he's dead."

The author loves to bring out the character of David Harum by playing him against the other personages in the book. For this purpose he uses John Lenox, Aunt Polly, and Cynthy Cullom on every occasion that presents itself.

How vividly he brings out David's love of a good practical joke, and Aunt Polly's simplicity, in his account of the visit paid to the variety theatre by the two old people. Aunt Polly was so shocked at what she saw there that she went out of the theatre pretending she had the "nosebleed." David describes the retreat thus:

"When we got out into the entry one o' them fellers that stands 'round steps up to me an' says, 'Ain't your ma feelin' well,' he says. 'Her feelin's been a little rumpled up, I says, an' that generally brings on the nosebleed, and then,' said David, looking over Mrs. Bixbee's head, 'that fellow went an' leaned up agin a wall.'

«<<Wa'al, you see, Polly, her brother replied, in a smooth tone of measureless aggravation, the fellow wa'nt acquainted with us, an' he only went by appearances.>>>

From this it will be seen that David was inclined to see the humorous in everything. But Aunt Polly's sense of the ridiculous and the humorous was sadly undeveloped. In speaking to Mrs. Cullom she describes the impression created upon her by the ballet as follows:

<<<But as true's you live, Cynthy Cullom, I was so ashamed at the little 't I did see that when I come to go to bed I took my clo'es off in the dark.› »

The only joke that Aunt Polly ever made is on record; but it is not certain that she intended it for a joke. Nevertheless it tickled David mightily. He had just finished several courses of a good dinner when the following conversation took place:

"I feel as if a child could play with me,' he remarked. "What's comin' now, Polly?' "The's mince pie an' Injun puddin' with maple sugar an' cream an' ice-cream,' she replied.

«Mercy on us!' he exclaimed, Polly Bixbee, if you've got designs on my life I may's well tell you right now 't I've left all my prop'ty to the Institution for Disappointed Hoss Swappers.)

"That's putty near next o' kin, ain't it?' said Aunt Polly."

From this it will be perhaps readily admitted that David was inclined to carry out his own philosophy that a little too much is just right."

Mr. Westcott was refined in his tastes; and he had a hatred of anything coarse or vulgar. He liked, as he said, speaking of books, to have the best, however limited the quantity. It is the man himself who speaks when he describes the Eagle Inn: « After supper-a meal which revolted every sense-there had been as many hours to be got through with as he found wakeful, an empty stomach often adding to the number of them, and the only resource for passing the time had been reading, which had often been well-nigh impossible from sheer physical discomfort. . . . His light was a kerosene lamp of half-candle power, and his appliance for warmth consisted of a small wood stove which [as David would have expressed it] 'took two men an' a boy' to keep in action, and was either red hot or exhausted!»

Contrast this with the loving tribute he pays to Aunt Polly's best room:

"A delightful room it was. The spacious bed with its snowy counterpane and silk patchwork comf'table' folded on the foot. The bright fire in the open stove, the big bureau and glass, the soft carpet, the table for writing and reading standing in the bay, his books on the broad mantel, and his dressing things laid out ready to his hand, not to mention an ample supply of dry towels on the rack.»

One of the distinguishing marks of every great writer is the sympathy he has for his characters. Mr. Westcott's sympathy peeps out from almost every page of "David Harum":

"Mrs. Bixbee was grand in black silk and lace collar fastened with a shell-cameo, not quite so large as a saucer, and John caught the sparkle of a diamond on her plump right hand - David's Christmas gift-with regard to which she had spoken apologetically to Mrs. Cullom:

"I told David that I was ever so much 'bliged to him, but I didn't want a dimun' more'n a cat wanted a flag, an' I thought it was jest throwin' away money.»

"David had not made much change in his usual raiment, but he was shaved to the blood, and his round, red face shone with soap and satisfaction.»

"Of all the amazin' things in this world, the amazinist to me is the kind of people that gits married to each other in gen'ral,' said Aunt Polly."

«Some hosses will balk with some folks an' not with others. You can't most alwus gen'rally tell,' said David.»

I cannot close this article better than by quoting the following paragraph from the "Literary Digest" of October 14, 1899:

«David Harum' is beginning to sell largely in England, four editions, or about fifteen thousand volumes, having been lately called for. A large circulating library reports that a number of requests have been received from its readers for copies of David's Harem,' . . .

The St. James's Gazette' [London] announces with apparent sobriety of countenance that the novel's popularity in America was due to its religious interest.' Evidently The Gazette has a high opinion of the quality of both David's religion and that of America. We are hardly relieved to find, however, that 'The Academy' denies this statement; it states that The book's fascination lay largely in its pictures of horse-dealing,' a subject evidently, in its opinion, more familiar and fondly appreciated by the native American than the one mentioned by The St. James's Gazette.>>

SAN ANTONIO, TEX. J. HUBERT CORNYN.

I

T WOULD not be at all surprising if the

next few years would witness a considerable transformation in the superficial appearance of Washington. It is admitted that, considered from an architectural standpoint, many of the official homes of the nation's servants are susceptible of vast improvement, and there is reason to hope that much will be accomplished in this respect during the era of evolution which is likely soon to open for our capital city. There has been much talk lately of a proposed enlargement or reconstruction of the White House; the matter, indeed, seems about to come up before Congress for action. There is no doubt that the present home of the Chief Executive is hopelessly inadequate even to the demands at present made upon it, and this fact has been recognized by every family which has occupied the house for years. Each succeeding President, however, seems to shrink from the idea of calling for remedial measures. It begins to look very much as if the solution of the problem will wait upon some future feminine occupant of the White House, possessed of the energy of Mrs. Grover Cleveland, but with ambitions in another direction. There will probably always be a sentiment against the total demolition of the present structure, and thus an enlargement of the present White House by the addition of wings or otherwise may be resorted to. Another project which, if fulfilled, will be far-reaching in its effects, is the proposed construction of a magnificent bridge across the Potomac as a memorial to our soldiers and sailors. Such a structure would not only prove an important addition to the show places of the city, but it would open up a vast territory in Virginia which would be most admirable for residence purposes, and this too without a sacrifice of any of the scenic possibilities of its incomparable pastoral beauty. There is a hope also that the next decade will witness the realization of that pet project of George Washington, the establishment of a national university. The bill introduced at the present session of Congress by Senator McMillan, granting the regents of the Smithsonian Institution power to confer degrees, is the first step toward a consummation of the plan. The Smithsonian

Institution has for its presiding officer the President of the United States, and for its chancellor the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. It has become famous the world over for its scientific researches, and certainly few similar institutions have equal facilities for exploration and the securing of valuable data and material for museum and laboratory use. Obviously it is admirably fitted to serve as the foundation-stone for the new seat of learning. ✩

A PERSON need not be keenly observant, nor remain long in diplomatic, naval, and military circles in Washington, to note the complete change which has come over the complexion of things within the past two years with respect to the estimate in which this nation is held by foreign governments. Before Dewey sailed into Manila Bay that May morning in 1898 there were few embassies or legations at the capital at which a military or naval attaché could be found, and those governments which did have such representation usually assigned to the duty some officer of inferior rank and position. There was no disguising the situation. The Powers had small respect for our Army, and still less for our Navy. Now the altered state of affairs is complete. Not only have the principal nations detailed attachés, with instructions to keep a close watch on all the new products of American ingenuity which may put in an appearance, but the unquestioned ability of the foreign officers now stationed at Washington affords the best possible evidence of the estimate in which the United States is now held abroad. When the work of raising the sunken Spanish cruisers was in progress at Santiago the Russian attaché was so impressed with the performances of the pneumatic tools in use that he recommended that every battleship in the Russian navy be fitted with a complete equipment of these appliances, and consequently Russia has since given to American manufacturers contracts for over a million dollars' worth of compressed-air machinery. The wonder and admiration which the tests of the Holland submarine. boat excited among the foreign officers is still a recent story, and there have been other occurrences of like character. On the other hand, our army and navy offi

cials are daily becoming more progressive. Both departments are conducting experiments with wireless telegraphy, with a view to its permanent utilization. The War Department has secured several automobiles for the use of the Signal Service, and that department has also purchased in Germany a military balloon of the latest type. The Navy Department

is conducting extensive experiments with homing pigeons and smokeless powder, and finally there has been built up a transport service which has within a year carried more than a hundred thousand blue-coated soldiers to and from our new possessions, exciting thereby the admiration of other nations and furnishing many valuable hints which have been fully taken advantage of by Great Britain in the transportation of troops to South Africa.

THERE can scarcely be a doubt but that the Fifty-sixth Congress will be accorded a prominent place in history by reason of the momentous problems for which it will seek to find a solution, but there is more uncertainty as to the impress which will be made by the personality of its members. Certainly no compensation may be found for the loss of Hon. Thomas B. Reed, a striking, unique, picturesque figure who seems never to have received his full meed of appreciation until now that he is passed from this particular arena of activity. The departure of Reed will, however, broaden the scope of the activities of Senator William P. Frye. Energy is the dominant characteristic of this legislator, who is from Mr. Reed's own State. He should perhaps be accorded first place in that remarkable triumvirate of New Englanders which includes also Lodge and Hoar, and he has proved for years the staunchest friend which the American navy and the poor struggling merchant marine of the United States has had. Two members of the upper House on whom many eyes remain focused because of popular interest are found in Senators Chauncey M. Depew, of New York, and William A. Clark, a newcomer from Montana. The gentleman from the Empire State has a reputation for apt witticisms to sustain, and his confrère from the West, who is sometimes confused with his neighbor, Senator Clarence D. Clark, of Wyoming, is enveloped in that air of mystic fascination which is seem

ingly inseparable from the possession of great wealth. Senator Albert J. Beveridge, of Indiana, who is serving his first term in the Senate, has won for himself what is unquestionably a prominent place in the public eye, largely by a very admirable application of the latest modern methods of publicity. The trip of Senator Beveridge to the Philippines was not entirely devoid of spectacular characteristics, and his silence in the newspapers after his return imparted just the required dash of dramatic seasoning. Lovers of debate characterized by a certain degree of combativeness have again been placed under obligations to the effervescent Senator Mason. In the lower House the contest over the seating of Brigham H. Roberts, of Utah, occupied public attention to the exclusion of almost everything else during the early part of the session, and incidentally won some distinction for Hon. Robert W. Taylor, the representative of President McKinley's old district in Ohio. The House of Representatives, like other staid bodies, is occasionally in some danger of becoming so completely lost in its own dignity as to become wearisome to the populace, or at least to that part of it which reads the newspapers, and accordingly the assemblage should be devoutly thankful for the advent of Mr. F. W. Cushman as the representative of the State which perpetuates the name of the Father of his Country. The new recruit from the Pacific slope is possessed of a delightful breeziness of style in speaking, and his remarks are characterized by that modicum of sound common sense which makes it worth while to listen. Moreover, he is something of a story-teller, and his audience will find it well worth while to listen to him.

THERE is no more indefatigable advertiser in civilization than Uncle Sam himself. To be sure, it is all done in an eminently dignified manner, but it is wonderfully effective, nevertheless. His favorite medium is found in the expositions of national or international character which are now held on an average of pretty nearly one a year. Ever since the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago the United States government has been called upon to prepare displays illustrative of the resources and progress of the country with such regularity that if this sort of thing is to continue it would seem as if it

would be wise to have a specially constituted bureau, the entire attention of which should be devoted to preparing for such representations. Following the big show at Chicago there came the Midwinter Fair in California, and then the Atlanta and Omaha expositions. Now every energy is being bent to ensure a thoroughly creditable exhibit at Paris this year. The event at the French capital will not have passed into history, however, ere the government officials will be busy in the preparation of displays for the great PanAmerican Exposition to be held at Buffalo, N. Y., next year, and for the Ohio Centennial at Toledo, which will follow it on the programme. Of course many of the exhibits prepared for one exposition may be made to do duty at one or two of the shows which follow it, but there must be constant additions and revisions which entail almost as much work as the preparation of an entirely new display. Then, too, the mere preparation of a display is a small part of the labor. The work of packing, shipment, and unpacking is a vast web of detail, especially when, as in the case of the Paris Exposition, exhibits are sent over by the shipload, and such craft are also under the jurisdiction of the government. Then there are the arrangements regarding insurance and the countless items of smaller concern. An incidental labor which directly or indirectly affects thousands of government employees is the issuance of special sets of postage stamps to commemorate each exhibition held in this country. The bureau of printing and engraving is already at work on the set of stamps for the Pan-American festival, and all of the year which will intervene before they are placed on sale will be needed for the completion of the designs, the printing and distribution, of these little gummed souvenirs. Another form of exhibition in which Uncle Sam's officials are taking an immense interest is displays of the character exemplified by the National Export Exposition held in Philadelphia last year. Every stroke of work put upon a representation of our facilities as a nation at these shows brings direct and tangible benefit to the merchants and manufacturers of the country and is assuredly worth many times what it costs. That we are far in advance of any other nation in this line of work may be judged from the fact that a special exposition, exclusively of American goods, will be held in Moscow,

IT is not alone the song of steam, but the song of electricity and compressed air and countless other new forces as well, which are to constitute the music to which the new century will march onward along the path of progress, and the United States government in its official capacity is going to do its best to keep pace with this new advancement. One of the preliminary moves in that direction will unquestionably be the establishment of a Department of Commerce and Industry, the secretary of which will be a member of the President's cabinet. Such a branch of governmental work has been proposed many times, but there is now for the first time a prospect of the early realization of the project. It is proposed to give to this new department jurisdiction over the foreign and international commerce of the United States, save in that which relates to the collection of revenue and the administration of customs and internal revenue laws. It will also have charge of all matters relating to the manufacturing interests of the country, the extension of foreign markets for the same, and the increase of trade and trade facilities with foreign countries. A number of bureaus, such as those dealing with life-saving, lighthouse, and marine hospital service, which really have only very remote connection with the Treasury Department, with which they are now affiliated, will be placed under the jurisdiction of the new Department, and to it also will be transferred the Bureau of Immigration, the Department of Labor, and the Bureau of Statistics. Best of all, perhaps, is the fact that the consular bureau of the Department of State will also be turned over, and consular officers will be required to report to the Secretary of the Department of Commerce and Industry, except when acting in a diplomatic capacity. It is hoped that hand in hand with this new order of things will go that improvement of our consular service for which chambers of commerce all over the land have been working so strenuously. A consular corps composed of alert, brainy, energetic men would constitute the best vanguard of American prosperity which could be devised.