National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-11-08
NEW QUALIFICATIONS.


INA" BY NATHAN G. KouSs, author of
"Arlus, the Lihyan." Pords Howard <
Hubert, New York. Robert Beall, Wash.
ington.
The first sensation Of tho reader when
his eye rests upon the caption of this
little book is one of extreme pleasure in
the thought that new flower is about to
be added to the special field of literature
80 richly cultivated by the author Of
ben Hur," "In His Name" &c. This
feeling, however, fades somewhat into
disappointment, before the completion of
the story, that tho author has not made
the best use of the rich store of materials
at his disposal. The two strong senti-
ments of religion and love upon which
the plot hinges are not handled to the
best advantage, although tho tone of the
work is chaste and moral and the style
pleasing.
The scene is laid in Rome in the year
A. d. $40. The principal actors are Varus,
Roman vice project; his son, Marcellus,
Roman centurion; Epaphras, q jewish
Christian and Presbyter in tho early
church.; Dorcas, daughter of Faustina,
Christian Of Cimbrian blood; Eusebius. the
bishop, and Constantine, the famous en-
peror. Dorcas becomes the secretary of
Varus, and, as q result, the object of his
sons affections. a description of Roman
life and dissipation during the decadence
of the empire, and some characteristics of
the Seven-hilled City, its temples, groves,
idol worship, &C., follows, in which the
reader finds himself both entertained and
instructed. One can scarcely realize the
odium in which Jewish Christians were
held by the Romans. They were repuled
as practicing the most barbaric and
licentious rites, and as being pro-
moters of sedition, crime, and re-
bellion. Even tho historian Tacitus
says "the Christians are full of hatred for
| the human race" The Roman satirists
made them the victims of the fercest in
vective and ridicule, and they were looked
upon as at subjects for those prosecutions
which Canon Farrar so graphically de-
scribes in his Early Days of Christianity."
The steadfastness with which they en-
dured persecution and death has been the
marvel of the ages. Bearing this in view,
we can understand tho feeling Of repug-
nance and alarm with which Marcellus
learns that the fair Dorcas belongs to the
accursed sect. While he Is planning to
force upon her the acceptance Of his own
belief, she escapes, and we are next intro
duced to that peculiar home Of the perse-
cuted Christians, the Catacombs, that vast
underground system of labyrinths, the
home Of the living and receptacle Of their
dead. Pining at her absence, our hero
searches until he has discovered and pene.
trated the retreat of his fond refugee, aud
has in secrecy witnessed those religious OBJ
servances among which is included
the "Anastasis," or restoration to
life of q beheaded Christian. A
revelation of himself, series of disserta-
tons upon the Christian religion and its
superiority to Paganism, and his CONVEX
sion after number OF subsequent inter
views follow. As matter of cou rise, he
publicly renounces the heather worship
Is beheaded, and his body taken charge Of
by co-believers and conveyed to their re-
treat. A convenient Anastasis ensues the
head resumes its accustomed place upon
his shoulders, Dorcas steps forward as o
bride and all goes merry as O wedding
bell" Tho story concludes with All
account of Constantine's victory over
Maxentius, and the announcement that
in consequence of the encouragement
given by the early church to him (Con-
stantine) "thaumaturgy, which had fol
three hundred years been the glory and
defense of Christianity, had indeed de-
parted from the church and from the
world" Such books as this, despite thei
flaws and weak points, inevitably secure
quite n large clientage, and "Dorcas" will
be no exception. 1t is in the main credit
able; presents faithfully tho salient point
of Christianity and will stimulate his
torical research in field too often scantil,
titled.
THE SHADOW OF JOHN WALLACE. b.
j.. CLARKsOS New York White, Stokes
Allen. Washington w. II. Morrison.
A strange and mythical tale plots with
in plots, an odd mixture of mystery ant
simple matter-of-fact, suggestion o
Hawthorne. q riddle that is not solved,
puzzle to which there 10 no key, shadov
all this is "The Shadow of John Wallace
The keynote and motif of each chapter !
an extract from Browning's The Rim
and the Book" which indeed appears t
have served to tho author as stimuli
to write tho tale. 1T reads like frs
experiment in psychological novel-mak
ing. aud, in spite of irregularities II
force. Is an unusual and striking novel.
HALF A CENTURY OF ENGLISH HISTORY
Plctorlally Presented in Series of Cartoon
from the Collection OF Mr.. Punch. q. l
Putnam's Sons. New York. Brentano Bros
Washington.
Americans have fully awakened to tn
power of the cartoon maker in shapin
public opinion. Indeed, IL has been sal
that this mode Of warfare broke poo
Horace Greeley's heart, aud that il ha
proved the demolition of many publ
mans character always supposing tina
he has 0ne). In the book Just issued w