The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-28

REV1Ew OF VIEW BOoKS.

by Emma IL. Motfett. Puhl1shed by Carleton.
When we state that this is an historical ro-
nance, with Macmillan, the bogus Emperor
of Mexico, for its hero, and that its author is
not only q woman but q Southern woman,
Columbus, Georgia, being her dwelling-place,
we have given q tolerable hint with regard to
what may be expected by those who propose
to peruse it. The chief characteristic of the
feminine novelists of the sunny South is
push but the exuberant sentimentalism of
Miss Evans, the authoress of "Valerie Ayl-
mer," and other ladies who head the by no
means extensive list of Southern novel
writer's is tameness beside the ''fine frenzy"
of the writer of ''Crown Jewels" The opening
lines of this remarkable performance will
give our readers an idea of its quality
1.-THE sun is westerng slowly towards its setting
The low, murky clouds that have hung as pail
over the earth are giideo and frightened by the
the horizon, to be in it at the close of the day. The
flashing and foaming waves have left the sea, and
of the ocean are murmurlng their night song soft
serenade to the 'Genil of the deep dreaming in the
coral caves. The golden beams glance trembngly
athwart each tree and tower, and anon on the
breeze comes the soft cooling OF the cushat echoing
Til at last the gentle notes oat into nothngness IN
the deep of the forest. The grey-winged eagle is
eyry where the young birds wait, eager for the
mothers coming; and low in the valleys, the wild
ing for the return kiss of the dew-drop that had
4 ed with the morning brightness.
''Sunset in Brussels!
The reader may well exclaim at the very
beginning of the story, ''More matter and
less art" especially as four pages further on
there is another ''Sunset in Brussels" and
on the next page to that an equally elaborate
"Sunset at the field of Waterloo" On page
16 we are told how
''The protean face of day has shown its last
change; the slow-waking twilight has in her dusky
robes passed through the city; and the misty
shadow of her ven is lifted from the blue ether,
the stars creep out in the high dome above until the
vaulted roof of heaven is thick naid with patines
Of bright gold,' and in their midst the fuli-orbed
moon 'proclaims the silent reign Of night
all of which is so far satisfactory as it assured
MS of the fact that the sun actually has set in
Brussels.
Chapter second describes the natal morn
of the unfortunate Macmillan in this style:-
ssThe morning sun of July 6, 1892 that sent its
beams over the towers and steepes Of Vienna,
bathing In golden light the green sward about the ne
brightness the gigantic elms, through whose
branches the summer breezes played lightly to and
fro, heralding the natal day OF Ferdinand MaXimi-
liam Joseph, Archduke OF Austria, second son OF
Francis Charles (brother to the then reigning En-
peror Ferdinand), and likewise grandson, but two
degrees removed from the famous Maria Theresa,
once Empress of AUSTRIA whose renown fills 80
large part OF the history OF the past century,"
Having fairly introduced her hero and
heroine on the scene, the writer traces their
history, with descriptive digressions like
those quoted above occurring at every few
pages of the narrative, from their marriage
to the sad tragedy of Queretaro. She evil
IDENTIFY sympathized strongly with the attempt
to establish an empire in Mexico, and her
imagination fairly runs riot when she under
takes to describe the scenes of royal state
amid which Maximilian and his wife are sup
posed to have moved. In this respect she
fairly out-Disraelis Disraeli, for the efflo-
rescence of ''Lothair" cannot be put in COM
parison with the gushingness of "Crown
Jewels" which, with the above hints with
regard to its quality, we commend to the
notice of those who admire the style of
writing affected by its authoress.
Porter & Coates also send us the last pub
lished volume of the uniform edition of Hans
Christian Andersen's g works now being issued
by Hurd & Houghton. This is the compile
ment of the "Wonder Stories told to Chill
dren," which has already been published, and
it contains the balance of Mr.. Andersen s
short stories and sketches, such as "The Pic
ture Book without Pictures" one of the most
delightful series of short sketches ever written,
''The Ice Maiden" "The Little Match Girl, "
ga Story from the Sand Hills, ;" 'Little Tax, +"
and great number of others. Many of these
stories and sketches are very slight, but they
are all characterized by the graceful fancy,
the genial humor, and the poetical spirit
which give the least of Andersen's perform,
ences positive value, and the volume before
us is a perfect treasury of wholesome sweets
for both old and young, for those who can
enjoy Hans Christian Andersen's writings at
all never lose their taste for them at any age.
From Claxton, Remsen d HaffeldngeI
we have received "Notes, Explanatory and
Practical, on the Acts of the Apostles" by
Rev. Albert Barnes. Published by Harper
Brothers. This work is so we'll known that
it needs no special recommendation. 1t fills
a place occupied by no other commentary
and for Sunday schools and Bible classes, as
well as for the edifcation of individual stu
dents of the Gospel, it fully deserves iti
great popularity.
From Claxton, Remsen & Haffelfngel
we have also received ''The Conversion of ST.
Paul." by Rev. George Jarvis Geer, d. D.
Published by Samuel r Wells. This volume
consists of three discourses, the object OF
which is to prove that the conversion of st
Paul was a conclusive evidence in itself of tn,
truth of the Christian religion. The argu
ment of DIR. Geer is logical, and the work i
one which may be read with profit by be