SOME RECENT FICTION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 134, 23 February 1918, Page 11

SOME RECENT FICTION

"The Selons.". Not tor some years have I read a story of Scottish life with more pleasure than, that which has been afforded me by "The Setous," by 0. Douglas (Hodder and Stoughton). Of the author's first book, "Olivia in India," I lmvu agreeable hut Miss Douglas .attains a far higher standard in the series of pictures of Scottish, and in particular Glasgow, middle-class, lifo &ud chiiractor which she gives us in her new story. lhe Setous are a delightful family. the father io a minister of the best type, well ,read, broadminded, the personification of true charity, a Christian indeed in every word, and action. Not even Barrio nor lan jtfaclareu ever drew a more lovable figure than that of the Itov. James fceton. As for his daughter, Elizabeth, who mothers the Sfaton children and is the good ange! of the household, the is a creation of whom any novelist might well be proud. Her never-failing good nature, the indomitable will with which' she keeps up a smiling f.-tce and a cheerful heart in time of trouble, the truo sweetness of her character, all inako her a most lovable figure, not the least attractive of her characteristics being her senso of humour. The author's character sketcl'cs of ccrtain inombors of Mr. Seton's congregation, her inimitably humorous sketches of the children, are drawn with a sui'o and linn hand, and when the superannuated minister Ibaves smoky Glasgow and retires to a country village Miss Douglas s treatment of lural lifo and character is quite as entertaining as are her picrtiros of citj lifo.. The war is introduced, and is responsible for some pathetic touches whioli ring clear and

true. • How the war brings tragedy and sorrow inexpressible to so uiany Scottish homes is made only too clear in tho later chapters, but there is no trace of theatrical or mawkish ment; the author's treatment of the subject is ever restrained and conceived in a spirit of true dignity. The minor characters, notably Mrs. Thomson and her husband, a retired shopkeeper, tho Veitchos, Christies, and other friends of. tho Scions, 'constitute a rich portrait gallery of interest-, ing personalities. "Headers of the book who know Glasgow will be specially charmed with Miss Douglas's story, and those who know Glasgow only by namo will learn in these pages how many fine qualities are possessed by the peoplo of Scotland's, great industrial .capital. Elizabeth Seton is very proud of her "toon." I take the following extract from her comparison (for the benefit of her English friend and lover, a young diplomatist from London) of Glasgow and Edinburgh: You think of Edinburgh' as some' lovely lady of old years draped as with a garment by memories of unhappy faroff things. But you haven't seen her suburbs. No romance there. Bows and rows of smug,' well-built houses, each with a front garden, each within front gate, and each gate remains shut against tiie casual caller until you liavo rung a bell, and the occupants havo had time to make up their minds about you from behind tho window curtains, when some mechanism in the vestibule is set motion, the gate opens and you walk in. Tliatj almost seems to nic tho most typical thing in Edinburgh. Glasgow ■doesn't keep visitors at tho gate. Glasgow is on the doorstep to welcome them in. It is just - itself—cheerful, hardworking, shrewd, kindly, a place that, like Weir of Hermiston, has no call' to behonay: it gets through its day's work. Edinburgh calls Glasgow vulgar, and on the surface wo are vulgar.- Wo Say "Uclia," and when we meet each other in July wo think it funny to say, "A good New Year," and always our accent grates on.the ears of the genteel. I havo heard it said that nothing could make Glasgow people gentlefolks, heeauso' we are "that weel pleased!"; and tho less apparent reason, there seems for complacency the more "weel pleased"_ we are. As an Edinburgh man once said to 1110 in that connection: "If a Glasgow man has black teeth and bandy legs he has cheek enough to stand before tho King." But wo have none of the subtle vulgarity which pretends; we are plain folk and we know it.

"Tho Setons" should certainly be noted as a book which should not ho overlooked.