The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-11-30
DILLON OBRIEN' S NEW BOOK


One rises from the perusal of s'Frank
BlalSen with the exclamation, -" that is a
beautiful story
Beautiful in every sense it is. The
style is finished; the scene painting ad-
mirable while the morality inculcated
is of the highest order. The whole
story is dramatic and could be readily
divided into acts, aad adapted to the
stage each act closing with u fine tab
leag For instance, the parting of Frank
ard Willie IpsSEHs tho ship-side, could
be made to tTose the first act the. scene
where Frank stands with the bloody dag
ger in his uplifted hand over the dead
body OF Robert Eyre would appropriately
close the second act; while the court
scene, where Willie Joyce rushes into
court with the dying declaration OF the
murderer, Harrison would terminate
the play amid the shouts Q. the
crowded court room and the APP
plause Of the multitude in the theatre.
One OF the most remarkable incidents
in the story is death OF the priest, St.
Leger; ministering amid the agonies ol
death to the diving beni.ent land willingly
yielding up hi,own chance of lite that
the dying man may find salvation. The
divine enthusiasm of such character i:
beautifully portrayed. In fact, there is
all through the work an undercurrent OF
religious sentiment which must benefit
every one who reads the story.
1t seems 10 us that MIR. O'Brieu has
the qualities necessary to make q sue
cessiul novelist; and we trust he will
~, ~. a ~ 1.ls &c "a
pity that he has TO crawl up the hill oi
popular favor from this side of the Allie
ghanies. instead Of decending upon il
from one of the great Publishing house:
| OF New York or Boston.
II there is any defect in his work it j;
/ that most of the characters are of tht
usual, common place, novelist type. ano
leave no distinctive impression on the
memory. The oaly one shat stands out
from the canvass is the plump. handsome
little widow. Bessie sullivan. who wa:
+ too wise TO marry a man rs poor a:
( herself, and vet not wise enough to for
I bear loving him; while she loves him
well enough to plan his prosperity as the
husband OF another pretty woman
This character Is cnarming.y drawn.
MI AAtaAsG. s.@titt 1EtSttA an
+. Lord Eyrecourt are tue usual sswalking
/ gentlemen of the stage; while Roberi
Eyre Is = shadowy ruftian whose image
leaves no vivid impression on the mind
SIR. 0'Brien should also devote NOR,
thought TO ais plot. TIE plot Of tbs
modern noyel should be full OF surprises
| and unexpected revelations. The ploi
OF Frank Blake Is too simple: every
/ body knows in advance that Willie vii
appear right in the nick OF time TO save
/ his benefactor. Ii be mad come ten min
utes later. it would have spoiled TIA,
whole thing. i is 70 be regretted tha
such especial proyidenees. do no occu
| in daily lite We would be dancing an
cheering the whole time: and the crise
of lite would become charningly theat
rical: while the doubts Of scepsics woul
be dissipated in one grand gusn oil well
founded enthusiasm.
| But these defects are the hIemishes on
the diamond. Frank Blaker IS an ad
mirable story, beautifully told: and tn
| book shouId be in every household i.
Minnesota Wherever 1t goes it wi;
produce pleasure and do good