The Case of John Smith His Heaven and His Hell

The war has manifestly had its effect, if not on the thought, at least on the manner of Elizabeth Bisland (Mrs. Wetmore). In ''The Case of John Smith: His Heaven and His Hell'', she lays aside the tendency to epigram which marked her book, ''At the Sign of the Hobby Horse,'' and becomes simple to a degree. Perhaps she realized that perfect simplicity was necessary for any understanding whatever of the ambitious work which she had in mind. Even as it stands, this book presents difficulties to one who would classify it Is it an attempt at another ''Divine Comedy,'' or is its protagonist a Socrates revived? It is. in any case, a philosophical and theological romance which aims to set this old world right. The machinery is not complicated. We have, briefly, an account of the spiritual experience of John Smith, commuter; his wife, and their small circle of friends. Having fallen into the usual rut of discontent, John Smith meets a Shining Lady while on his way home from the railway station. By her he and at length the others are instructed in the secrets of the universe. This is contrived by a series of remarkable journeys during which they go backward and forward in time and space, under the sea and above the earth. The stage is set for their special delectation, and they see the processes of life at work from its beginning. The upshot of the whole performance is the conviction that. with a little imagination, one can discover in this world enough blessings to make one supremely happy. Described thus baldly the work would seem to be little more than a ''Sunday school story,'' but Mrs. Wetmore does, in fact, review all the large questions of the day, including theology and Socialism. To label her philosophy is difficult, because her presentation is so informal. While not agreeing with Leibnitz that this is the ''best possible world,'' she insists that everyone has the best possible reason to be happy. In the personally conducted tours is an objecting Scot, who, however, is easily confuted by the Shining Lady. We are bound to confess that, if he had been drawn truer to life, he might on several occasions have made of her a. shining mark, for she not infrequently rides roughshod over well-established theories. Even so, Mrs. Wetmore's book will doubtless set many to thinking, and will help some to derive contentment from hard conditions.

–The Nation, Vol. 102 [1916]