The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-03

bitter reply The consequence OF this double
contretemps is that both walpole and Atlee
become claimants for the hand of the fascinat-
| ing Greek girl Walpole succeeds In obtaining
the promise OF her hand. There is young lieu
tenant In the Austrian service, German O'Shea,
who aspires to the hand OF Miss Kate Kearney. He
is at home on flrough and manages to involve him.
self In considerable trouble, which ends In his re-
Cancellation. The Head Centre Dan Donogan,
although introduced only occasionally, is a bold,
well-drawn character, full of earnest enthusiasm
and stripped OF the usual extravagances OF novel
istic rebels by being allowed to speak good Eng
fish, something not SO In reality. In the end
ne succeeds In carrying or and marrying the Greek
girl and as he proceeds with her to America, we
may suppose, as indicated in the story, the couple
md comfort and free field under free
nag. This is the love story OF the novel,
snorn OF its Incidents On the charac-
ter OF the Greek girl, Nina Kostalergi, Mr. Lever
has bestowed considerable attention. She Is high
spirited, wilfu guarded, intriguing and spirtteNe
to degree, with an undercurrcnt of lmpulsiveness,
daring and selfsacrilce to the verge OF herosm, all
OF the fine wOmanly order, which become the more
Orcible In the end that their development and cause
are scarcely more than suggested before. In con-
trast with the brilliant Nina is the quiet home body OF
simple, womanly feeling, KateKearney the daughter
Of"the Lord" The character sketchings throughout
are very delicate and far beyond Levers earlier
powers. He seems in this to have abandoned the
bold light and shade once so markedly his own, for
a compromise with the microscopic treatment OF
Bulwer. His humorous inner Views ofdpomatic life
are the results Of his long service under the Eng
lish Foreign once on the Continent 1t need
scarcely be said that his sketches OF Irish manners
and scenery are perfect
Interesting and often exciting as the story proper
is with its pieces of social anatomy It's value a
transcript OF times and the country he describes will
impart to 1t It's special value. The world aware
that Charles Lever could write an exciting love
story but we mistake not, the writer's intent was
to give political picture Of Ireland similar to that
which Disraeli has given or England In "Lothair."
To make the divisions and subdivisions OF political
parties clear to stranger might be difficult In q
country like Ireland, which can never speak its own
heart except through q foreign medium. Mr.. Lever,
through his characters, however makes the English
whg hap-hazard policy very plain, with Its "healing
measures" compacts made In blindness with
the Catholic clergy and concessions and COM
promises with the anti-Engllsh element, for
which no gain, immediate or prospective,
Is visible to England, except o hollow reputation
for liberalism. 1t is the history Of q government
acting In ignorance and make-shift with a people
whom it dsllkes and distrusts, and whom 1t wishes
deliberately to deceive Against this the whig and
tory factions in Ireland, with their shortsighted
antipathy to each other form curious side picture.
The political faith in Ireland which obtains the
greatest force from its sheer postiveness and I'M
swerving insstance, the Fenian, as 1t Is called, is
not so thoroughly treated in the novel, although
the place OF honor is given to the Head Centre
in winning the heroine. His election by the people
tn Dor nf l,ie
allel; but the novelist unearths a curious
inchoate disoyalty among the "highy respectable"
classes which has been carefully overlooked by
other writers on the subject yet which, doubt,
exists. 1t is the offspring rather Of English repul-
sion than OF national attraction, but may some day
be dangerous point du depart for more serious
hostility. In the political connection the aim of
the novel may be kindred to that Of Disraeli's in
dlscreditng whggism; but if this is so, like 80
thair," 1t makes sorry show for the tories.
Quite pathetic interest is attached to this book.
Like the most noted of those who cater for public
amusement the work is often done under the
shadow of domestic bereavement. The dedication,
dated from Trieste, January 90 1872 reads thus
To the memory OF one whose companonshp
made the happiness OF a long life, and whose loss
has left me helpless, | dedicate this book, written
In breaking health ana broken spirits. The task,
that once was my Joy and my pride, have lived to
find associated with my sorrow; 1t Is not, the n,
without cause say hope this effort may be my
last.
Poor Tom Hood said once lying on his sick bed
that he had "rnade more puns and spat more blood
than any man living" The reader OF the novel will
perhaps not discover a trace OF this struggle to
amuse, but there is passage which seems as If
the figure were applied to himself
Sand the reward for it all is to be ridden like q
steepe-chase ~ sighed old Kearney. Isn't that
the world over2 Break down early, and you are
a good-fornothing. Carry on your spirit and your
pluck and your endurance to green old age, and
may be they won't take 1t out OF you always
contrasting you, however, with yourself long ago,
and telling the bystanders what rare beast you
were in your good days"
Charles Lever was born In Dublin in 1906 and is
therefore, in his slxtysxth year. The Illustrations
copied from the English edition, and fair in
drawing, lacking in vitality weak in individualiza
ton and poor in the selection OF incident.