New-York tribune., 1874-03-07
BOSTON.
LITERARY NOTES.


TWO MrTRrD LOVE STORIES BY MARY coWDEN
f1ARKE-MARGAREr FULLER OsSou AND HER
woRKs-wHsT THEY ARE DOING IN BOSTON
,ysox REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF The TRIBuSfJ
BosroN. March 5-Readers who have made
themselves familiar, during the last 70 years "i'A
,he writings OF SIR Arthur Helps Will not need 10 DC
informed that he is primarily an essayis- anu not
novelist and when he tells story IT is raher lor the
sake az having group OF characters TO utter his Keen
md brilliant thoughts. carry out ms theories
IN the, lives than ont OF the rdoontcpy's pleasure
An his narration. HIS new novel. Ivan de Biron
mr. The Russian Court in the Middle OF the Last Cen
tury" rs more absolutely story than Sir Arthur Is IN
TIE habit OF giving Those who appreciate and ENJOY
the shrewd wisdom Of Friends IN Council" viii dis
cover no lack Of it in this volume and even the novel
reader who reads be amused, will find sufficient en-
tsrtsipmeuf in following the varied fortunes Of these
people who were busy in the world century ago TO
carry him comfortably through the book This is not the
nrst time our author has treated Russian theme'
but MS "Oulita the Seri'-l play founded upon
one Of TourcueuiefS stores-deat with the relations
existing between the peasants and the laDdholders'
while Ivan dc Biron" introduces us to Russian Court
Ito and shows us how ordy vassas Jared at the hands
Of their imperial rulers It Is not pleasant story, ior
the life days net pleasant There was heTce
nghuug, and hot loving, and deep drinking-pieasure
and intrigue day. aud 6 route for siberia the next
Bu, they were alive, those old Russians in that cold
The Of TINS tale was an honest and knd-hearted
Noung man. in a land and an epoch where honesty and
kndnoss Of heart rare. Bot he haC good many
weaknesses. He did not know his own mind H loved
one woman. and then he loved another, and then he
vent back again and loved the first. In real life man
who should thus deport himself would not be accounted
shero.e Azure and you cannot help feeling certain
mid contempt for the wellmeauing Russian YOUTH
Ivan Dc Brou. as he figures IA Sir ArthuTs novel. lou
ran almost respect his patron and relative johann
Ernst de B.ron the wicked Duke Of COurlaud, who
know what wanted. ana consistent in his adora
uon for one object. though that object was himself.
The story opens with a sketch of the conspiracy by
which TIE Regent Biro8 the Duke of Courland. was
hurled from what cquded roy al power into dreary ana
far distant exile this exile his young kiusmau aud
former secretary. Ivan de BisOn was his companion
Ttey lived iu a small town IN Siberia In wooden house
two stories Lign, and surrounded by palisades The
Regen, never showed himself, and none of the ohar
eXes Of his presence IN the town His LIE
would not have been SAFE had they known he was
there for no was an object Of almost uni
veTsal hatred. since there was scarcely a family
az any in Russia which did not owe HIM the death
or cxile of some OF its members. But Ivan ounc
franz and cheerful-was tavOrlte with all his com
parons misfortune At the northern end of the town
Eas large forest: and there Ivan used 10 meet yOnug
girl IN PEASANTS dress, who came for her burden of
fced wood. and who loved to finger there. among the
forest sights aud sounds beautiful even in Siberia she
was CERTAIN Princess Marie. whom Ivan had greatly
admired among the gay scenes OF the Court but whom
y be soon grew deeply to love when he found
her sgain in their mutual exile. As for her, she loved
him better than he deserved knew. and 1t love
which lasted her whole life through thOngn there were
song years which Ivan dreamed OF It's existence
Ivan tie first TO be recalled from exile There were
not wanting those to whom he had been kind VINO
pleaded for his recall and obtained IT. His parting with
abe Princess Marie most tender he was TO spare no
h EFFORT 70 effect The Of herself and her parents
N she was 10 love and be true to hlm forever.
Soon after Ivaus parturc it became known to the
people that their old persecuOr, Regent Bron,
among thcln: and they fell upon him in of his
wsks and almost him IN pieces. Marie hated him,
with the res. bat he Lad been VANS companion so
she vent 10 him by night and bound his wounds ana
nnrsed Lin back 10 life Fsom thenceo:th he felt FOR
her tondes aectiOu-sometling as near to love, per
hsp utterly hopeless passion can be in The heart Of
selfish man. The next event was tie revolution in
Russia by which The Empress Elizabeth placed
u.ou tie .lroDe, AID in consequence Of which the
Tucess Marie and her parents and The Regent Bron,
Uuto o. Cogrlaut were alike recalled But wen Ivan
and N1rc gain was not as they had parted Be
cure that had pr pared herself well FOR this meeting
ana The originality strength Of her character
30 uo;tug more notably manifested than IN her re-
'Hectous concerning the course she would pursue
GOV ard this young man. whom she had never loved
more ondy than just when she felt that sae must
give hnn up forever. willingly enough wnad she have
zone ls, % st beside him again h tneor-
os Her Affection for him wasrlat which only great souls
far ieeudep-ndert alike Of expression and salts
faction as the author says: immense, answering,
ub'crabe and possessing and pervadius The whole
istguce ci tle loving person. Size was convinced that
tnty could never be united With her knowledge OF her
father she kueN that. now he was likely 20 De again
IoNc-fui. De would never listen proposal Of
rage ron Ivan, who FAR below her in rank; aud
,ho 0as too uusensLy fond OF Aer father to hint
81 alliance which she knew wOuld be almost death-
b.ow 10 ms pride. What tben was leit but that she
should uy 20 SPARE Ivan from iOugcndurug pam by
turning bis heart away fr0m lcr.
she determined u o.. cold 20 INNS hut Il should only
g. cold a. lover L. should b. very warm as friend
Sho vouid thank lin for al. his nduess 20 herselifOr
io had ksrcd. Sic volt not fear % bring mp every
Ieuinsccuce Of t1i, kind. Willie size would studiousy
words which had passed between them. II be ven
tuFcd 20 recall such passages. she would treat these
and girls. in which there could be real and
abiding meaning. She studie'et rs she Thought how
real Is was how abiding u least on her part. II
would be- Ana then she smiled. lnnhiug 10 herself
Ih1i just thought of low much wiser ana older young
women are than yOuu tue latter
tHe apparent superiority OF exc, as was the case between
her ana her Ivan.
True to her plan Of action when at last thoy met
great festival she received Lin receives afser
dong absence a dear friend. lie understood her
That past which had been dear and sweet 10 him,
ant then, treat the iuvenie sport OF two
foolish children Have yOu quite forgotten, dearest
HaneT he began 10 ask
Forgotten, no: am llcs. with my fathers power OF
memory Irelnenher everything even 10 Tie foolish
tany II is wise. n lot pleasant Ivan, TO forget scue-
ealing what boy and cir NAV have said TO one another
III their oays OF child sood, shall We call iti'
Her gentle hrnuess vas not to be resisted. VANS
heart burned with herce, passionate anger He
thought sic mad triGed with him when they were two
Yile ud