The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-27
THE FIELD OF LITERATURE.
New Books.

New Books.
A ROMAN SINGER. A Novel. By r. Marion Craw-
ford. Houghton, Mifiin & Co., Boston, Bowen,
Stewart & Co., Indianapolis. Price Sl.25'
The march of Mr. Crawford into public notice
and popular esteem has been well nigh phenom-
email His 'NIr Isaacs" was a surprise, and sue
ceeded in winning for its author an acknowl-
edged place in the affections of novel readers on
both sides of the Atlantic. There was polish
and finish to the story that pronounced MI
Crawford a success. Following "Mr. Isaaos'
came ''Dr. Claudius' and ''To Leeward, less art
istic, but still excellent stories, There was in
them some evidence of haste, as if the author
was anxious to send out his argosy at high
tide The two latter we're welcomed, and read
widely because of the former. For the same
reason tho publication of Mr.. Crawfords fourth
book has attracted general attention. Unlike
''Dr. Claudiusr and ITO Leeward" IA Roman
Singer" shows the work of man who knows
how TO write; how to plan story, and how
to preserve its unity and excellence through
out.
Briefly, the Roman singer, and hero Of the
story, Is Signor Giovanni Cardegua, origin
ally penniless orphan, protege of a
quaint old philosophical professor, Corne-
lilo Graudi, of the University of Rome.
Cardegua, intended by his patron to become a
scholar, manifests a decided repugnance for
book lore, and an equally strong inclination to
vocal music, eventuating in his being committed
to an instructor in music and developing into
the finest vocalist of his time While yet I'M
known he meets and is smitten by Contessina
Hedwig Won Lira, only child of wealthy Prus
-. foT h1q
Giovanni Tor, Nino, he is called by Ihis foster
father manages to become Hedwigs in
structor in italian literature though
he manages to keep his personal his
tory q secret, both from her and
her father As time passes he begins to ap-
proach the time when he must make his debut
as a singer and an incident is related whereby
be enlists the love Of Hedwig, though she is not
aware that he is the same person for whom she
entertains the passion Expressing desire to
visit the Pantheon at midnight at the full of the
moon. Hedwig and her friends are conducted
thither by Nino. While there he managed to
detach himself from the party, and, hid
den in the darkness, sings the despair
ing love song His marvellous voice, aided
by tho solemnity of the place and time,
known the name of the singer when he rejoins the
party. He escapes detection by saying it is a
cousin of his bearing the same name with him
self The imposition is detected some weeks
= later when he appears in opera, when Hedwig
recognizes him. His success as a singer was as
sured from the first, and his advance rapid. He
declares to the Prussian his love for the Count
ess, and, as might be expected, is repulsed, the
father taking the girl away and seeking to cure
her Of her infatuation Nino imagines
they have gone to Paris or to London, and &C
,eepts engagements in the two great capitals,
hoping to find her Meanwhile the old professor
receives hint that she is concealed in little
provincial town near the Neapolitsn border, and
sets out equipped much as was SanchO Panza.
Here the second inevitable lover appears in the
person of Baron Benoni a wealthy banker from
st. Petersburg a thorough man of the world,
and, as afterwards discovered, insane.
butt TO make the story short, Nino, after man
fully appealing for the hand Of the girl and being
repulsed. eopes with and marries her. The
story is as told by the old professor who is,
withal so noble, and pure and ingenious a
character as to win the sympathy and love of
the reader Nino is so accomplished and so no
Bile, and Hedwig so lovable and loving that the
reader is soon thoroughly engaged by the adven-
lures and obstacles encountered by them. The
style of the book is elevated, the tone pure and
thoroughly natural and the story as whole a
very engaging one. "The Roman Singer" will
add to the enviable fame of the author of ''Mr
Isaacs." . ta 2Lfi
GovERNaENr REVENUE Especially the american
p System By Ellis II. Roberts. HOughton, Mifiin
d s. Co. Boston; Merrill Megs & Co., Indianapolis.
Price, 1.5O.
8, AN argument for industrial freedom, against