Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-28
THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER.

"a story for young people of all ages. By Mark
Twain. Boston James K. Osgood g. Co. l VOL,
quarto. Sacramento: George L. Lytle, agent.I
Decidedly we are pleased with this effort of
MIR. Clemens. 1t is so very different from
anything that be has before attempted that it
comes as most agreeable surprise. We had
given Mr.. Clemens no credit for the posses
sion of the peculiar and rare talent that
qualities one to write for children. That he
has been successful in this, his first work of
that kind, there can be no sort of ques; ion
More than this, he has so constructed his.
story that, as the title suggests, it is of inter-
est to others than mere Juveniles. There is
| no attempt at wit in the tale but there are
some excellent examples of keen satire. As
to the matter of the tale, it is sufficient to say
that it is pure kind of fiction, and delight.
fully charming in its perfect improbabjlity-
indeed it may be better termed satire and
an allegory than tale. 1t purports to deal
with the adventures of the youLg King of
England, Edward vi. The theme is all his.
torical, and all the scenes sre located in Eng
land. Edward, while yet the Prince of
Wales, and but ten years cid, is supposed to
become possessed of strong desire to see low
life, and to accomplish that end he calls in
lad, pauper born, who bore to him a remark
able resemblance, and who was possessed of
Just as strong desire to live the life of
prince, and whose reading had very fairly in
formed him of the splendors OF court life,
The prince and the paurer exchanged gar.
ments, and the real prince goes out to see the
world among the lowly of his people. The
pauper is no sooner in his fine raiment than
the difficulty of maintaining the character he
has assumed dawns upon him, and he heartily
desires to return to his rags, while Edward
quite as soon falls among those who most
cruelty use him, and he too regrets his mad
freak. Then begin the troubles of the one in
regaining his place, and of the other in filling
it. For three weeks these trials continue and
then have most happy ending. In this time
the young reader stimulated into the splendorr,
ceremonies and sbsurdities of the Court Of
Henry VIII, and is likewise brought face to
face with thecruel laws of the time, the super
stitions and the intolerance of the period. The
prince finds out the woe, misery and needs of
at least the lowly classes. while the usurper
realizes that one cannot ell the position of
prince without the necessary training, and
that the rplendors of tie Kings court coz.
ceal many o SORROW. The real purpose of the
author is to present in the strongest possible
light o contrast between the cruel intolerance
and rigor of the time of Henry, and the much
abused Blue Laws of New England In this
be succeeds, and makes out very good case
for the latter, so far as mere comparison goes,
but he is wise enough to attempt no special
defense of the Blue Laws. 1t is . novel book,
and one that any child may be permitted to
read. The interest is maintained with ad-
mirable skill, and while the language Is Of the
most stilted and courtly order-even to de-
gree of extravagance-the text will be found
to be as inviting ss any Juvenile reader can
possibly desire. Probably Mr.. Clemens has
not given his new venture to press with any
idea of educating the young reader. It is evi
dent that be has sought only to interest by
grave and most serious story, that still is 30
full of the extravagantly romantic that it has
all the charm of a well-told fairy tale. The
book is admirably illustrated. and what is
more striking in that regard is the nicety
with which the artist has welded the illustra-
tion to the text of the author.-II Book Review,
Record. Union, March Alb.