The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-28
VENING SATURDAY, APRIL 28 1866

words, words, words, we have never seen, if we
except the Rebels reply, which out-Herods
Herod. Nevertheless, the plot of the book is
well worked out, and it pictures, probably. the
real condition Of many Southern estates since
the return OF peace. To those who can repress
Indignation attreason when uttered by lmagi-
nary heroes, we recommend the work. 1t is
neatly printed by Doolady.
JARGAL. BY Victor Hugo. Carleton, New York
Philadelphia agent, I. b, Peterson b Bros
ain 1873" Gays Hugo, "the author Of this book
was sixteen years DID, he waeered that he would
write volume in fortnight. He composed
Bug-JargaL" Although according to this ac-
count, we must consider Jargal as the first of all
the numerous productions of the fertile pen of
the exile of Guernsey yet, as he himself con-
iesses that eight years later he rewrote the
greater portion, we are still inclined to receive
Hans of Iceland" as his maiden effort. We
would have preferred that the work, as orlgi-
nally written in his boyhood, should have been
given to us unrevised, as we would then have
bad an opportunity of Judging for ourselves of
what great author in embryo could do. The
writer, however, has seen fit to revise it, and by
his revision has added finish and style, although
he has cancelled its reputation as phenomenon.
The tale itself, in its conception is simple. A
group of officers of the French army are telling
stories TO while away the time. Captain DAu-
veney, its hero, Is called to do his share, and
is just about refusing for want of theme,
when his gigantic lame dog, Rask, lmps
in. In compliance with the urgent wishes of
his friends, he tells them his adventures in
San Domingo in 1891, at the time of the negro
insurrection. When the slaves rose his property
was destroyed, his betrothed bride murdered,
ard he only saved through the fidelity of the
negro leader Bug-Jargal, who riskeA his lite
to save the Captain. Thaddeus the servant of
D'Auverney, thinking that Jargal had killed,
instead OF saved his master, shoots the faithful
slave in his despair. The rest of his life is one
long scene oil remoTse. Rask is Jargal's dog, and
is tenderly cared for by the Captain. At the
conclusion of the tale the bugle calls to battle
and IN the evening DAuverney. Thaddels, and
Rask are found among the slain. Such is the
skeleton OF the plot. The WORK is strongly
French in its style-short sentences and vigor
Gus conversations. It is translated by the same
hand as Lies Miserables," and is a much better
rendition than that work. 1t betrays none of
the crudty which we would expect in such
hurried production at so juvenile an age; but
| when il is remembered that at twenty-fou il
was rewritten, we must impute TO that revision
its literary eXcellelse. 1t is published in the
handsome style OF Carleton, neatly b Iund and
clearly printed. 1t IS tor sale by 7. B. Peterson
& Bro, No. 3O6 Chesnut street.
The problem OF African discovery IS still an
exciting one, in spite OF the fate which has be-
iallen 80 many African travellers for, as one
disappears, another rises TO take his place. The
latest of these daring adventurers is Herr Ger
hard Rohlfs, who proposes to go to Wada
where his countryman Edward Vogel, was muir
de1ed, in order to obtain his papers, which he
believes are still in existence. Born near Bre-
men thirty-four years ago, Rohlfs studied medi-
cine in the universities of Heidelberg, Wurz-
| burg and GottingeD, after which he Joined the
| Foreign Legion at Algiers; he distinguished
himself at the conquest of Kabylia, where he
was decorated and made sergeant. Gro wing
| weary of military lite, he resolved to travel
not in the beaten paths OF your ordinary tourist
who "does" Europe in few weeks, and so much
of Africa as lies along the Nile in rs many
months, but through regions where danger as
well as glory awaited HMM Africa ITSELF
among its wild and murderous tribes. Know
ing Arabic well, and being fitted by his early
studies for the practice of medicine he assumed
the mask of a devout believer and the role OF
physician and boldly started forth on the track of
| adventure. In the end it was one of misadven-
ture, for, four years since, while traversing the
| Sahara OF Morocco, he was attacked and robbed
| by his guides, who left him for dead, with a
broken arm, alone in the desert. Saved by some
! Marabouts, he was scarcely in Algiers again
! when he planned journey to Timbuctoo which
he could not carry into effect on account OF the
unsettled condition OF the country. Determined
to do something, however, he has now started
on what we cannot but consider perilous Jour
| ney to Wada, taking with him former servant
J of Vogel's, and an eyewitness OF his DEATH which
he came near sharing himself. This servant,
1 Mohammed hen Sliman, maintains that Vogers
papers are in the possession OF the present Sultan
of Wadai, who is represented in q more favor.
able light than his predecessor. So, at least
Rohlis thinks, and Mohammed ben Sliman like.
wise, or he would hardly have volunteered to
accompany him on his journey. AS Rohlfs had
but scanty means with which to accomplish his
object, the Royal Geographical Society of Eng
land have subscribed fl00 towards his expenses
and it is probable that other European societies
will also assist him.
The republication, by Bohn, OF portion Of
"Seymour's Sketches" mentioned by us a few
weeks since, has Occasioned some bad blood:
first, on the part of Seymour's son, who de
nounced Mr.. Bohu for obtaining information OF
him for a pretended series of "LiVes OF British
Artists" when he only wanted it TO accompany
mutilated edition of his fathers dra wings; and
second on the part of Charles Dickens whr