New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-26
BOSTON.
LITERARY NOTES.

BOSTON READER-A HOLIDAY EpiAA"1' vi
VERNE.
tvpox A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNh'l
BosroN. Sept. 2S.-Plenty of books are Writ
Ten 10 entertain boys: but only and then one w
combines With entertainment something more ana oot
ter-a certain invigorating breath OF Hie VIM.
strengthens the reader in all true manhness' VI s's
kind was "Tom Brown at Rugby," OF tha' ANU
"Antony Brade" which Roberts Brothers are aoOa, "
publish The author is the Rev. Robert Lowell
Of James Russell Lowell, the poet he "roVo' sowo
ago nov 81 which never popular out winch oeI.ol
a.anrvaa IN no than most Of its Contemporaries Ihe
Nav pr,est in Conception Bay" "AutOny Brade lie a
less groynup story Its plot s not its strong point anu
vet n IA one which gives opportunity for good ueai VI
rarefu and admirable character-drawing In ST. Bar
tbolomev's school scholar 20 whom enough mys-
,erv attached attract unusual degree OF attention.
We was handsome enough for Prince of the bood-let
ms say for Russian Grand Duke since the Grand DUKE
Alexis was the handsomest Prince we have ever Dad
among u.s. The impression got abroad somehow tnat
Antony Brade Russian, and the ATTEMPTS Oh
certain vulgar curious fussy woman and certain med
ding self-conceited purseproud man to discover MS
real origin form large part OF the book.
Antony was IN the Third Form. the great middle form
OF the schools his scholarship, his fine sense OF honor
and his kindly nature made him favorite alike Win
teachers and scholars. Perhaps the mystery hepeu'
TOO; at least with the boys There was something III
spring being the associate OF one VINO might DC
a
ever The larger a boys imagination the higher was
Aptony's rank in his eyes, But they almost all chung
20 the Russian theory. They tested the national sen
ment of the boy by various ingenious devices sucn lo
instance as putting in his way half dozen CAKES "a '
famous Russian Imperial Kezan Soap put ne ulu no'
betray himself even under such temptations Ine
rector OF tie school, doubt knew the
great secret; but he, too, kept It securely.
Soon after Antony Joined st. Barts, as
the bovs called the for short widow lady moved
into the negnborhood, who dressed always In biacK
Mrs Ryan with one pretty daughter Katy Soon the
boys scented some mysterious connection between TINS
Mrs Ryan and Antony. She had been sent there TO
watch him they concluded. Not that Antony in the
least needed watching; but, doubt, that was the
custom in high-born fames-Russian families, especi-
ally That Mrs. Ryan had suspicion OF Ireland about
her. than her name had nothing to do with 1t
no doubt the Russians might choose their duennas, at
pleasure from whatever nation. So they nick-named
the unofending widow "The Black Watch"
This drol pretense Of mystery through the book
and is solved simply enough at the end II proves that
Brade senior, Antonys father, was an lrshman, VINO
ooked high for his ancestors among the Macs or tie
Os, but made his money by job-wagons or some such
business" After he am his wife both died, Antony was
left TO the care Of his fathers sister, Mrs Ryan, who
put him in st. Barts school, and moved there to live
near him. concealng the relationship This absurd and
unnatural conceament Of the boys Irish descent and
OF his connection with his aunt is the weak point
IN the book. Antony too manly fellow to have
tolerated pettness and false pride You feel that
the secret the clumsy invention Of the author in order
80 make room for end of comca and ingenious sua
tons; and for the sake of its results you forgive the
poor device.
The book full Of genuine school lie OF boys who are
boys. There were strong, manly scholarly, handsome
courageous fellows in plenty and Brade was as much
any of them, but, oddly enough, one leaves off
In the end, liking best of all poor Peters dreamy
HQhf
knights and madens aud dragons and heroes, and OF
whom all the boys made more or less fun. Nothing
could be better than the account OF fight between
Peters and great bully Of a boy named TaTeton.
Peters was associated in trapping" with Brade whom
he almost adored, and Remsen and difficulty arose,
with these three side and Tareton and two other
boys on the other. The necessity TO fight strong
upon Tarleton He came upon Peters first, Peters walk
Ing along dream usual, with his head IN the air
"Here's Peters !" said Of the bystanders. He's
one Of EN- oGt yGn qfT ssid Taretop copemptu
ousy. He wouldn't dare TO say his hat was his own,
name attracted the attention OF the distracted boy aud
he stopped "Why amt anything TarletonI' he
asked in very far from warlike-ndeed III dep
You're no fellow to stand up for YOURSELF if a toad
admirer OF the institutions Of chivary
"we don't like toads," said Peters, taking this FOR
oh well, mean you're a coward"
ono, amt coward" and Peters held himself up
Il don't believe you'd strike baby back" said Tarle
mo. that's lust what I would MT do" answered
Peters. And so the boysh banter went on. Tarleton
was bound that someDSdy sh4 2 s nun and t hetes
not what good fighting would do. OF course the
bows all thought showing the white feather.
But be went calmly by nrleton's side, very pale,
and after awhile, silent. "Idint fair said one OF the
boys "Tareton's twice as big as he Is, any day "a
statement literally true, for Peters the taller,
though the other would have far outweghed him. At
said he il the fellows cot the heart OF big as
your thumb, let hun show i'll Im ready for him."
81 don't suppose have got one" Peters answered
TO his adversarys challenge; "but guess I've
got the heart OF boy as 1 ought 10 have"
S A1p thei him ne of afu with his iaeEet-"I dont
want to ght bit, and don't any good in 1t: but
amt a coward-he'l nnd that out: won't run away
and let others take it, ana he half sobbed as he spoke
one side OF his head, ana one on tue 0ther then sud
denly be rushed forward and threw his long arms ronnd
his adversarys BODY locking them behind his back with
the hug OF a cutte-sh. Tareton trpped and fell 10 the
ground with Peters on top OF HIM
"Why aiD'titi It's my way OF lighting" said Peters,
whose hands and arms, between the other aud the
fought your way, and fought my way. | showed you
was M afraid" And so he held the bully In durance,
until TaretOn pronounced himself satisfied aud agreed
10 let the other side alone.
And this was Peters, all through. He had more than
boys Imagination; but he had always boys heart
as he said; and he coward. He had loyalty,
and generosity such as either boyhOod or mankind
seldom knows aud yet from first TO last he awk.
ward shamblng, unready, and often the laughin gsock
OF other boys. But he died like hero, of the
knights be ovedo dream about might have been proud
70 die He gave his life for Brade, who had gone the
wrong side of the caution line the Lake and sunk
through thin iee deep enough to float ship
OF the line like leaf First his went Peters,
and in saving Brade's life lost his own. believe no
boy could read the story OF 1t with dry eyes, without
thrill OF the heart which would quicken him hence
forth to nober manness I'm help, Peters had cried
rs be struggled to his doom; and when Antony re-
covered aud knew by whom he had been saved, those
words became the watehword OF his life. I'll do