The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-06-02

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| JOHN 4. BUTLER, York. ..
|
| Recent Publications.
| The story Of the Blockade of Phalsbury as
related by NJ. NJ. Erchmann-C Chartrian is a
new Illustration of the transcendant interest
winch genius ran give to the simplest events
and humblest characters. The blockade oc.
Cured in 1914 when the Empire was on lis
last legs. The events were but the ordinary
occurrences in town shut out from the
world by hostile armies. The principal char
acters are Jew, his family, Sergeant and a
lawyer But these humble materials are
made TO serve noble purpose and are worked
into narrative OF great dramatic power. The
authors make father Moses tell the story, and
he narrates his own preparations for the
seige and the subsequent, privations and suf-
ferings, OF the inhabitants so graphically from
| the start, that the interest never lessons un.
I'll the end is reached. And all the while he
is telling the story, he is painting picture of
himseif-the picture OF a Jew-so natural, so
lifelike, so perfect as to deserve the praise of
being called masterpiece. Sir Walter Scott
ana other nOvelists have tried their hands at
the Jew as character; but admirable as
many have been, we think father Moses is
superior TO them all. Like all his race he is
well provided with caution and forethought-
so when it looks as though the enrolling Of
hcer would number Moses sons among his
jewels, that worthy parent calls them to him
and suggests their emigration to America.
When it looks as though the town would be
invested by the allied enemies Of the Empire,
and everybody else was anxious 10 sell and
get money, he invests one half his fortune in
spirits OF wine aud sells his money for articles
That will surely be wanted before communica-
tion with the outer world is restored. After
he had ordered his wine, his heart misgave
him and he lay awake night thinking, "Moses
you have lost everything! You are ruined
from top TO toew He continues as follows:
"The cold sweat would cover my body.
Still, If any one had come to me and said,
"Re easy, Moses, will relieve you OF this
business" l should have refused, because nv
hope OF gain, was as great as my fear OF loss.
And by this you may know who are the true
merchants, the true generals, and all who ac-
! cOmplish anything. Others are but machines
for selling tobacco, or filling glasses, or firing
guns.
1t all comes to the same thing. One mans
| glory is as great as another's. This is why.
of Austerlitz, Zena, or Wagram, is it not a
| question of Jean Claude or Jean Nicholas. but
of Napoleon alone; he alone risked every
thing, the Others risked only being killed.
do not say this 10 compare myself with Ma
p0IeOn, but the buying OF these Twelve pipes
ofspir:ls OF win was my battle Austerlitz."
But Moses is philosopher withal, and
gives utterance to many wise and rational
ideas. The following extracts will serve as
specimens:
"In war times civil life in nothing, and
they will take rom you your last shirt, giving
you the governors receipt for it. The first
men OF the land are zeros when the governor
has spoken.
This is why have often thought that every
body who wishes Tor war, or at least wants
to be soldier, is either dcmented or halt
ruined, and hopes to better himself by the
ruin OF every body else. IL must be so.'
Men always find money for brandy and to.
bacco, even when they have none left for
breaa. This is why governments impose
their heaviest taxes upon these two articles;
they might be heavier still without diminish
ing their use-only, children would starve to
DEATH" -
| The description of the trial of young con-
script, caught in the very act of deserton, and
saved from death by the eloque nee of his adj
vocate is very beautiful.
After giving an account of the examination
OF witnesses and the argument of the Judge.
advocate, Moses continues as follows:
"There was silence at once, for every one
/ curiOllS IN kunW vvl la y
in reply. would not have given two. farth.
ings for tile lite of the deserier.
| "Counsel for the prisoner, you have the
floor" said the major, and Bulquet rose.
Now, Fritz, il had an idea that could
repeat to You what Burquet said, for whole
hour. to save the life of poor conscript; il 1
should try to depict his face, the sweetness Of
his voice, and then his heart-rendiDg cries and
then his sien mt pauses and his appeals-if
had such an idea, should consider my yself a
being full of pride and vanity!
No, nothing finer was ever heard. It was
not man speaking; it was mother, trying
to snatch her babe from death! All! what
great thing it is to have this power of NOV
ing to tears those who hear us! But we
ought not to call it talent, it is heart.
"WhO is there without faults? Who does
moi need pity?" This is what he said as he
asked the council If they could find IA perfect.
| ~ blameless man; ii evil thoughts never
came TO the blavest; if they had never, for
even day or moment, had the thought of
running away to their native village, when
they were young, when they were eighteen,
when father and mother and the friends OF
their childhood were living, and they had not
another IN the world A poor child without
instruction, without knowledge OF the world.
brought up at bap-hazard, thrown into the
army--what could you expect Of himP What
fault OF his could not be paldoned, what does
ne know Of country, the honor of his flag,
the glory OF his Majesty? Is it not later in
life that these great ideas come to him?
And then he asked those old meu il they
had not son, il they were sure that. even at
| that moment. that some were not committing
an offence which was liable 10 the punish
ment of death. He said to them: plead Tor
him! What would you say? You would saw,
1 am an old soldier. For thirty years have
shed my blood lor France. have grown
gray upon the battle fields / am rdded
with wounds. l have gained every rank at
the point OF the sword. Ah, we'll? Take nv
epaulets, take my decorations, take every
thing; but save my child! Let my blood be
the ransom for his offence! He does not know
the greatness of his crime; he is too you 10
| he is conscript: he loved us; he longed to
embrace us, and then go back.asain-he loved
a maiden. All! you, too, have been young |!
| Pardon him. do not disgrace an old soldier
| in his son.
Perhaps you could say, too. l had other
sons. They died Tor their country. LIE, their
blood answer for his, and give me back his
one-the last that have leil! '''''
This is what you would say, and far better
than !, because you would I've the father the
0d soldier speaking Of his own services l.
Well, the father OF this youth would sneak
,ke you! He is an old soldier OF the Repub.
nc: ne went with you, perhaps, when the
wounded at F'emusl He is an old comrade
IN arms! His Oldest son was lett behind in
Russia
anu Burgent turned pale as he spoke. etc.
eic. we would be glad il we had space TO
speak OF Sergeant Trubert. He is every ipch
soldier, and one cannot help getting fond OF
him, even though at times bis siim and grisly
visage is ANYTHING but amiable and lamb-like.
| Charles Scribper & Co New Y0Ik, are the