Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-02-03


PHILADELPHIA j. w. Bradley, 4S No 4th st.
We have read ths new historical novel, by Judge D.
F. Thompson with much interest II avoids the faults
which we pointed out in his interesting story Of Gaut
Ourey and has continuous and sustained interest
and plot than any Of its predecessors from the
same pen.
The subject is well chosen and attractive. King Phil
ip's war is theme that has ill been used by the
novelist and il Is full Of romantic and startling events
The author has collected and arranged these events with
great degree Of historical correctness and blended them
with love story that has just interest enough to engage
the attention and sympathy q the reader and not enough
to absorb and withdraw his mind from the real narrative
The love story disappears like California river in the
first part Of the book and does not rise TO the surface
again till near the last chapters. We like that II all
novels would put their horoines out Of sight through the
larger part ola story, would add very much to their
value.
King Philip Is a noble Indian character skilfuly and
truly drawn The book is Of great value Illustrating
the principles Of the early aboriginal And from
first colony the last act Of the Indian Commission
er Of the United States the history Of government
ward the Indians Of unmidgated infamy. Il has
been a policy whose principle l. aFadoo, and whose
rapne fraud aud cruelty This story is, there
fore simply for It's historical features and correctness.
very valuable contribution to national literature
We shall not forget the brave, generous pAroue
and indomitablo Metacom, the queenly ana "eheu
Wetamoo. These characters admirably drawn.
Vane Willis is the real hero. The original OF inns
character is Captain Church celebrated Indian light
ef The real warrior Is considerably soHened as seen
through the mist 81 fiction The oh'aro o'o~o o. 'ne
novelist is quite like that Of the painter ana as 'he latef
dcudes the with the subdued touches OF ms pencil
90 the other the mind by the weird nts Of his
non We are not unwilling, however to have the nota-
bic and bloody fighter Of Plymouth walk the stage in the
ste Of the coure 1us brave and generous Willis Ma
dian the heroine and the bride Of the hero just intro
duccd TO the reader leaves upon his mind VIVID I'M
preston Of warmth and beauty and then retres TO be
,or ma ,,re ti the end Of the story when she comes in
-. - -. yvDts Tbis character Is a de.
na'l 'N " ~, -, T. . =, hi.h .oii,,.d
oided success gov ""slo" " s''i' MS
Puritan in this book though, believe in reality ne
r..rtable for his urbanity his high-bred courtli-
ness and his pe,y' 49,. ...A....
We are sorry that Judge thompson mas Nv "'s" ~
probation of the Puritan character lhey were men OF
great heroic virtues and Of great aud heroic defects per
haps Bot their defects we're better than the royah't
virtues Their errors have mastered our author Ana
this is the only serious criticism we have to MAKE. pea
Mlfyridge Is no representative OF the Puritan
than is the Shadoc representative Of Dca. Mudgndge
"a ,h, ,,. b,th oycrescenses Such characters II they
49,. f.r,i %, tho ,-..t mighty
ever 'Al''eN' wv ' ~. -. =.
old oak. And we regret tat our own ho'els'' WIN ms
made himself and bis State famous By his writingssh
- 80, 49,. che ,i3 ,,ist,te ~ rov,list and partiznn
l"'' '''" ' " !, . -.
hate, ana careaia'ea rnilt"h's'n rather A NpP''O'A
ed o. Tragedy mas no actors history NO hioe' Poe,
no FORMS superior the early colonists Of New England
As Rufus Choate once sad-"They a race TO which
a. nav m t,i. and and historical forms and groups
'l' 'i'H '''' 81 ' W -. ~ 80. .,,
Of divine cast on "n''e mora ~. ~.
may light and reproduce grandeur transeenamg tha'
tb oceap In storm or az peace beauty eternal
~. ,, . ,,,,,i,,. that st,v the evening star a race
passing me mountains '''' ''"! ~ -
Hrn mo