“All told with much literary skill, and the storyteller’s knack of weaving incidents together to give them the flavor of reality.”
+ N. Y. Times. 11: 822. D. 1, ’06. 100w.
“A pretty, well-managed story of a dear child.”
+ Outlook. 84: 678. N. 17, ’06. 130w.
Deland, Mrs. Margaret Wade (Campbell). [Awakening of Helena Richie.] †$1.50. Harper.
Helena Richie’s soul awakening seems so natural and possible amid the Old Chester people and Old Chester surroundings, with Dr. Lavendar at his best, as philanthropist, philosopher and mentor. This woman has violated the structural facts of the moral law. She is led by little David, a homeless child whom she takes, to discover the great religion of duty. As the light comes, her old standards seem the poor tottering things they really are and she struggles for permanent defences. When her life becomes known and Dr. Lavendar regards her unfit to keep David, her submission to the law of retributive justice which operates for a time then gives way, and her determination to make the remainder of her life “clear and sound” but give evidence to the genuineness of her awakened sincerity.
“The book has many of the merits and faults that are frequently met in novels written by women.”
+ – Ath. 1906, 2: 153. Ag. 11. 280w.
“In this last story we feel that Mrs. Deland has, as never before, proved herself the creator, and not merely the finely-equipped and enjoyable story-teller.” Edith Baker Brown.