“Our criticisms of this book are severe, but we believe they are just. Dr Dillon has had a great opportunity and he has failed to use it. He has failed because there is no evidence in the book of any consecutive thought, of any firm ideas, of any help for reconstruction in the future. Dr Dillon’s analysis of what happened at the conference is always biassed and often incorrect; he has chosen to make himself merely the mouthpiece of the complaints of the smaller states without helping his readers in the least to discriminate as to their justice.”
− The Times [London] Lit Sup p659 N 20 ’19 1900w
DILLON, MRS MARY C. (JOHNSON). Farmer of Roaring Run. il *$1.75 (1c) Century
20–1892
John McClure, a wealthy Philadelphian of Scottish birth, has created a large farm in West Virginia, more or less as a rich man’s toy, which is not even self-supporting. After five years his managing farmer dies, and McClure is astounded when the farmer’s pretty, girlish-looking widow asks to be allowed to run the farm. Reluctantly he consents. He soon finds that Mrs Sinclair is not only quite a capable farmer but also a very lovable woman; quite incidentally too he discovers that it is necessary to spend more time on his farm and—its manager. All sorts of improvements are put into immediate action: forest conservation, careful selection of the best cattle only, clubs for the isolated young people, a church, and other things that spring from Mrs Sinclair’s energetic, fertile brain. Being very young and beautiful, and of gentle birth, she attracts several potential lovers, but McClure, after many heated misunderstandings, and several romantic adventures, eventually wins her. Other minor love stories run through the book, also a mystery.
“Good descriptions of the country. Women will like it.”
+ Booklist 16:203 Mr ’20
“A pleasant, thoroughly conventional and rather sugary little story, the conclusion of which is perfectly obvious by the time one has finished the first chapter, is Mary Dillon’s new novel.”
+ N Y Times 25:126 Mr 14 ’20 350w