Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-28
LITERARY NOTES.
CONSPIRACY Cuban Romance ny ADAM
RApkAu New York T. Worthington. washing
ton: Brentano Brothers,


ton: Breutano Brothers
It will hardly be possible for any reasonably
intelligent reader q this book 70 resist the feel.
ing that it was written not SO much because
General Badeau had o novel TO write rs because
he had q grudge to settle with tue late admins.
tration, or, more strictly speaking, with ex-
President Arthur, the late Secretary and AISLE
tant Secretary OF State, 1.-THE chief clerk Of the
bureaux'' and subordinate in the consular
troduced, in no questionable shape aud made
to appear in the most unfavorable light pos
made aSsaSe In the sasy as %
the author has found 1t necessary to vary some.
what from the strict order of historical events
other relations OF the principal figures No
one, however, who is in the least degree IA
ne n the r ,s sna sosa annals Of
fail to recognise the original for whom either
OF the portraits is meant. The heroine
beautiful, and accomplished Cuban lady, the
daughter OF an American woman, ana warm
sympathiser with the Cuban insurgents in their
efforts to throw off the yoke Of Spain. She be-
comes betrothed from = sense Of gratitude TO
Lieutenant Arriete. . young Spanish officer.
island, first having fallen hopeiessiy in love
with Carlos Aguero, the chief OF a band Of bri.
gands or native partisans engaged In raiding
Tine nae lheq sas h sSSr e. s,S
and In full sympathy with the government, her
brother Carlos, an American citizen b. adoption
Captain General and his wife also play more or
less prominent parts. The picturesque charac-
s ier 81 me story. and It's apparent hero Is the
the head OF his band in the mountains fastness-
es of the interior and the next In the pariots OF
the government palace at Havana: but the real
hero is the author himself, who appears In the
role OF United States Consul General to Cuba.
He is at once statesman, patriot. and champion
OF the oppressed. 1t Is against him and his
knightly efforts that the wicked Vaccinations
OF the conspirators are directed, and 1t is
his genius and virtues invoke that the plotting
incompctents at Washington are brought to de-
served downfall and shame. Mr.. Arthur is
the others, who are but the creatures OF his ac-
cidentat elevation, pass out of view with him.
Or the Cuban contingent the seit-sacr:ficing Ar.
the fort while aiding young Casa-Nueva to es-
cape from MORO Castle, where the latter had
been imprisoned, after his capture, with other
insurgents: but before he passes away he gives
his blessing to Catalina and his rival AguerO,
who, we are bound 10 presume, were married
ward. The fate Of ali the others is LEFT 10 con-
lecture. These are the main characters and
incidents Of the book. Even it they were we'll
suincient TO make clever work Of fic-
ton; The story is preceded by trans
tells in q vivid manner the almost
incredible farocity of the island government in
the murder and Imprisonment of a number of
edy is the keynote of all that follows. There
is, OF course the usual amount of loye-m akiny
with the requisite display OF conflicting emo
tions CALLED for by the embarrassing dilemma
in which The heroine finds herself with two
hot-blooded lovers on her hands, and there are
social life and some clever descriptive writing.
AS . wiIofc, however, the story is crude and
weak, aud it is marred throughout by melodra-
matte passages and exhibitions OF pedantry
that would not have been expected from a
writer OF General Eadeau'S experience; and II
is not likely To be regarded In any quarter as
fDUrttl-rAfe ms la
assumed, indeed, that 1t never would have
been written but for the authors quarrel with
The Washington authorities, and possible de-
sire to advertise the merits OF his favorite brand
OF champagne wine. which he has the bad taste
TO do in one OF the chapters.
DRESS: As IT Has BEEN, Is AND WILL BE- De
Scribing with Particularly recent Innovations and
M ESS5ecissing the Tendency of Male Drapery nom
cal To-day. BY ISAAC WALKER
Mr.. Walker undertakes, In formal and seri.
Gus manner, to formulate a philosophy of dress
for gentlemen, and, At the same time. to ele-
vate his profession to the dignity of one of the
fine arts. The sculptor, he tells us, masses the
requisite quantity of clay, and with his hands
with calfpers, dividers and other instrum ents,
he works to the exactness of outline required
by the sketch from which he copies. 1t is the
more, no less. with the tailor Not only this:
but ga further fact is, that cutter exceptional
gifts and standing can earn more money, at
wage, IMAM the average sculptor, all over the
world 1t is hardly necessary to add after
this amusing logic that the author belongs to
"artist tailOrs,' and that being an artist tailor
of the period, he naturally holds to the opinion
that the gentlemens styles OF to-day are based
! on nicely adjusted combination OF esthetic
principles and everyday requirements and
therefore bound to endure. It is his dicfum
furthermore, that gentleman should have, for
daily use, q sack coat. q four-buttnn cutaway,
frock, and a dress cnslt,-the special service OF
each OF which will naturally suggest itself,-and
ncrryvH <NfG ha,,
zeal estimate for the dress OF a man Of fashion
who is not wastefut or extravagant From all
OF which it will be perceived that Mr.. Walker
writes for the few rather than the many. 1t
may be that to those whom he addresses his
views will have some interest. and possibly q
certain value but neither his conclusions nor
his methods Of arriving at them will have AM
weight with that larger class in whose eyes
"worth makes the man. and who have higher
the extent to which mans trowsers may bag
at the knees.
ON BOTH SIDES A Novel BY FRANCES COURT
NEY BAYLOR. Pha delphia: ]. b LippiucOit
Co Washington: Brentano Brothers.
The very entertaining story which originally
appeared in Lippincotts Magazine in two parts,
entitled, respectively, "The Perfect Treasure
and "On This Side," now appears in a han d.
some volume of nearly five hundred pages re-.
christened as above. 1t made a decided hit
when printed a serial, and it is likely to at
tract wider attention and prove even more
popular in its present more convenient
form. The first part tells In q very graphic
manner the experiences Of q wealthy Amer.
lean family, who, after an extended tour
on the continent, conclude to spend a winter at
delightful English watering place; the second
is no less amusing account Of the return visit
paid by some Of their English acquaintance
to the American home in Michigan. The on.
portunity afforded is used by the clever author
TO take off in an unusually bright and witty way
the peculiarities Of the people of both countries
The author shows herself TO be close student
of character and manners, and she manages TO
hold the scales very evenly in illustrating the
differences of social ideas and usages, though
some OF the American examples she intro
duces are rather exaggerated types. A slender
thread OF plot holds the chapters pleasantly
together, and the proper proportions OF
love-makfng, maneuvering and marrying are
naturally Introduced but the chief charm Of
the story lies in the free Misunderstanding
and good-humored satire with which 1t abounds.
FARTHEST NORTH or the Life and Explorations
OF Lieutenant James Booth Lockwood, of the
Greedy Arctic Expedition. BY CHARLES LANMAN
New York: u. Appleton & Co Washington: Rob
ert Beail.
Mr.. Lanmans narrative is a sad story, well
told. Where q subject has been SO extensively
| written up as has the Greedy expedition il
could hardly be expected that anything new
remained to be said about it; but Mr. Lauman
has managed to invest the pathetic theme with
q fresh interest, and to bring out some points in
regard to it not hitherto well understood Hay.
ing had free access TO Lieutenant Lock wood n
journal, he has been able to furnish f,,il and
reliable account Of that officers wonderfu feaf
in reaching the farthest point north ev er trod
by human foot, SO far as Is known, aud ALSO To
give some additional facts in regard to the gem