The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-23
Glreqntlhge,rfen
rOt the IstsLlGsncsr. ,.,,,,
A TRAGEDY.
ny WILLIAM LEIGHTON, JR.

ny WILLIAM LEIGHTON, JR.
rho above i, the title OF new work
,., FAMED from the press OIL B. Lippin.
colt { Co., Philadelphia, and lorna
G,n,,ome l2 mo, Of nearly 200 p; and Is,
-, n general finish in paper, Typography,
and binding, a credit to the enter.
n,i.e Of the house IRON which
!, em.us,es. Az it Is the production
-, citizen Of Wheeling, most likely
,onr readers and the public generally,
xill be somewhat interested in an OK
,miu.,iO n Of its professions, and dis.
n,UiOnste confederation Of ltS claim-ii
.nrh p.i.,s-to niche in the standard
literature Of the day. With the permits.
zion Of yourself and numerous readers,
III, the purpose Of the writer OF this
article to carefully weigh the book in
the balance Of truth and impartial criti.
ri.m. "Nolhing e1tenuate, nor get down
4psh, in malice" Toiully enter into the
merits the book the reader must trans
port hi. Imagination back to u period
lutte remote, rather later than the mid
de Of the llth century, but prior to the
Norman conquest, the initiation Of which
il chrUniclrd al The close Of the work in
the battle Of "Senlac, or more popularity
known by the name OF "Hastings." The
history Of England by Hume gives the
general reader fair outline Of the plot,
efficient at least to enable him 10 COM
prehend the cardinal features Of the
tragedy yet the author DIVORCES some.
wha, from EIume's account Of the story,
having only adhered 20 this historian in
part; and has evolved the other details
d his plot from the old Saxon Chroni-
,Ie,,""WiIIiam Of Malmesbury,""Wace,"
'lloveden," and the Continental Chroni-
tIe., from Vince, Hume himself gets the
BASIS Of hia account, but for reasons
doubtless satisfactory to himself, varies
somewhat iu detail from those remote
authorities. The author has evidently
preferred taking the originals from
whence the story Sprang as best suited to
his purpose. The reader can refer 10
them at his leisure should lie desire 10
study the story in all Its freshness ms to
details, etc. The following isthe dramatis
PERSONA Of the tragedy:
Edward Tie Third. Of tho Saxon IIOs, King
IlrSId IinuIrads, HlOg Of NOrFuy. trbe "Hpl-
aEst' Of lluNEl H.. ~
EIil Harold, afterwards King,
III tSas rTost," peeoNling to uuNEl
E1i MGElr. C'MOrcar,"-HuxEl
Allrtd, Archbishop Of York.
Sunnd, Archbishop Of Canterbury, .....
GIlhl.E, Il ThauG.
MllO, Minstrel Ala Id .Hte
Uslah, Messenger,
Hugh AsTot, ASoTman Priest.
ssGEul Saxon sLV0. M
Tht Countess UythI, widow Of Earl GJiwtn.
lie Lady Edith. s.......
Al AlbtsG 10y. r|.Hht Pr ".
ThIu,t pTls,t, EoVlsh and norwegian soldiers,
.iI'adAnn, guards, servants, etc."
The principal characters in the. above
tist, with few exceptions, arc historical.
These exceptions arc MoIlo, Guthlac and
StIwulI, aud arc wholly the conceptions
II The authors own invention. The
,ane may be said Of the Lady "Edith."
Iluus mentions a Lady Editha, who
married Edward the COniess0r; but she,
Of cOlne, will not be COMPOUNDED with
The authors Lady Edith This charac-
Ter Ia, likely been suggested TO tile
4aIhor by IN allusion to IN Edith 10
tie History Of tho Anglo Saxons," and
i,oG reference to an edith in Bull
ser. magnificent novel named Harold
shiCh Il mostly historical. Having en-.
ttaVored 10 give the reader an introduc.
ion 10 the work, will now consider the
i'Ssrent characters Of the cast and their
ssaFing on tho story. The central or
PIVOTAL figure, on whom the most porten.
Gus events Of the authors drama de.
Feni', ia the King, Edward the Con.
's''ot, VINO has no direct issue 10 succeed
70 The crown. The right Of succession
.a' claimed, however, by Edward the
M,IasIIng' a son Of a kinsman Of the
hing but who was deemed by the nation
a. entirely unit for the throne OF Eng
sud lie was but an imbecile youth,
'nd iIIymttel TO the stormy period Of
'AateEa. Such being the case, when con-
iehIed With death, the King, seeing the
MnUdoH rent with faction and disorder,
as''tei the elevation Of Harold to the
,a'SnH' although, previous 10 this, he
'4.N't as an alternative favored the
secession Of William the Norman to the
LaSlnh throne, Harold Hardrada, King
" NofWayi-.Ihe "Iialiager"of Hume
.!afe IN the play as on one Of those
TTvutpng lncurSlOns 40 common In those
~ and threatens England, demands
%s surrender Of York, but after dis.
nl!lnS all the gigantic hcroism he was so
~ I4'1 1 loF, meets y complete defeat,
4, obstruction Of hiS horsemen, and
tIa On % the battlefield With great bravery.
,i'V va ra' King at this junCtutc and
s /" Me EngliAl army ia person TO the
A,IIsas'l, Earl Harold, as no il called
iITefaf!'er part Of the tragedy, IL one
Earl Godwtn's sons-is noble char.
l 1,S', and he did not aspire to the
,T'V2e iom selfish motives. The crown
d, comparatively thrust on him
,- we great body Of the realm, who
Il, landed nan.a; bis acceptance, believing him
| SvSao'ne all tue elements OF a great
i' PUN, and lhH, he would establish the
% .sJSS,g o. the kingdom on a firm and
, MsIll b Necessary here to diyerrs
Ii, vo.S IRON tue continuous line d
i%I1deS William 70 t.Is:,e % Ii. [I Sro,SS'
@SnS,A Who i. held By William hi TaO a,
p ,ssI using him for The purpose e. Of
EoI I"S Us way way to the throne q England
b,Ti,SsG d G0dyin's youngest son WA
i SsSi,oy Edward in an earlier par
nssj Su .. H0dWin before The author
Ss Sy opens, Harold, in going ;'t L
!. Fm0S!y was shipwrerEsd on thC eoss
s,s5s5 9T j.. and I;!, Imprisoned, but was de-
j.iy,sa.SS y William Of his captOr rs' VIII M
'so t,.a, nun up to the Norman kinv
coU,,. ssNed him With great appsrsS
SRI WHEY but while Harold was pI ,Ssq,
SsU;J |. refused TO release Wolnoth, no'
apt on - permit Harold to return S ~
i, t " IMnElHg a forced oath 10 Suppo,