The Washington critic., 1885-11-23
AMONG THE NEW BOOKS
Gen, Adam Badcau's Conspiracy
A Cuban Romance
IT'S SENSATIONAL FEATURES
Scandalous Allusons to Members Of the
Late Administration.
SEVERAL OTHER NEW BOOKS
"Thc First Napoleon"--"Italian Popu-
lar Tales"--Bolen Gray Cones
Poems.
IT'S SENSATIONAL FEATURES
SEVERAL OTHER NEW BOOKS

General Adam Badeaus novel, entitled
"Conspiracy--a Cuban Romance" has just
been issued from the press OF II. Worthing
ton, the New York publisher, and IL is safe
to say that the somewhat conspicuous re-
lations which the author for some years
held to the history of the times, will ensure
his literary effort pretty general reading,
irrespective of its merits or demerts.
The story opens with rehearsal of an
episode of the revolution In Cuba in the
autumn of 1871. About fifty young medi-
cal students upon certain occasion are
strolling idly into an old cemetery, when one
Of them inuoccntly plucks n rose, which
simple act was construed into a gross in
suit to the remains OF one Gonzalo Casta-
non, n Spaniard, who had oppressed the
Cuban Insurgents. The tragic occurrences
that followed this harmless escapade-the
brutal executions and ruin Of families are
graphically told, and form the real mOiirc
Of the conspiracy that was created and car
ried on for many years after. A Creole,
Carlos Aguero de la Campo, outlaw and
half bandit, is the most picturesque and
dauntlcss of heroes, for we find him making
the acquaintance Of Catalina, the heroine,
in the house of his powerful enemy, her own
| father OF course, he is there under false
pretenses, and succeeds In cnlisting this
| beautiful woman and her brother in the
| "Cause of Cuba,n as the Conspiracy is
called. Many serious complications arise,
and there are minor figures that appear
| from time to time, and are as theatrical rs
| the characters of Donizetti's operas. In-
| deed the description reads like librctto,
but as we are told by the author that they
are purely fictitious and put in the story
simply as lay-lgures, we must not crticise
| their improbability.
But now comes another OF the drdDldtiS
| persona, followed also by others, who pre-
sent n marked contrast and have a sugges-
| tion Of having been photographed from life,
| for at this iuncture we find n travelling AS
| sistant Secretary of the United States who
thinks he is in Cuba on an important diplo-
matte mission. lie is described as an mex
| perienced young man of small calibre, but
| Of great experience as dircctcjr of the
cotHion, who has been placed in RESPONSE
bic position by favortism and the intrigue
Of woman. The author handles this callow
| youth without gloves, and mercilessly puts
him in the most ridiculous positions, allow
ing him to be over-reached by willy Spaniards
aud made football by fate. As il he were
not large enough target, the author lets
| his arrows fly, aud fastens even the august
parsonage of the U. $. Secretary of State up
10 the wall, and points him out as a senile
old politician, who has long gone to seed,
| and who dozes out his unsuccessful days in
his Office chair, and only knows what Is in
his official portfolio when enlightened by
subordinates, and they only tell what best
pleases them. The author seems to be on II
stil-hunt for the clerks of this much.re-
spected Department, and fires his personali-
ties at them with q total disregard of the
likeness being easily recognizable. If he has
n grievance he airs 1t well here.
Then comes the Nice-President, now but
just stepping into Executive power, who
attains to the honor through the instant
death ofhis predecessor. The President is con-
temned from the moment, and all his pre-
tense, bombast, show and lack OF brain are
mercilessly commented upon. Just grade
above "Bowery boy" he no sooner as
sumes the new dignities thrust upon him,
than he determines to ape royalty-the kind
one reads of in ycllow-covered novels. lie
struts like a daw in peacock feathers; he
breaks the commonest rules of good breed
ing; he turns his back upon the men to
whom he owes countless favors; he for
gets his old art Of controlling primaries; in
flates himself with the idea that he is a man OF
destiny, and has only to say the word, when
the humble rank and file will shout: "All
hail! Cesar thou shalt rule another term "
His egotism is cultivated by an ambitious
calculating woman, who determines tC
share his power. She is ready to sacrifice
anything to this end; and she does. The
author makes her out beautiful and ir
resistible, and although there are dark
clouds about her, he gives Rembrandt
touches of strong light and shows her more
interesting than the other Washington char
acters. 1t is place dur DANES; but after all
she is modern Cleopatra, with the barges
and great Antony left out
Then you are transported to Havana and
with stroke of the pen Moro Castle ap
4. l,Vt mel
Of soldiers, who carefully keep watch anc
ward over unhappy prisoners. In this bas'
tile pretty love story goes on, and de
voted senorita nurses fever-stricket
brother and with almost pardonabl'
coquetry plays fast and loose with two
earnest lovers, all for the sake of dear, op
pressed Cuba. severe Castiliau rule o.
the sixteenth century sort prevails, and Sc
the grande dame that presides ovei tn,
most powerful salon In Havana is, per
force, Spanish marqusa. She stands ou
like picture, and only the gllded frame Il
wanting. Our young Assistant Secretary
Of State is there also, trying Yankee blan
dishments upon very worldly-wise
woman, who has sharpened her wits In
diplomatic encounters with European grey
boards. lie fails, of course In such an un
equal contest.
There are sketches Of gorgeous churcl
professions, with their semibarbaric sug
gestions, and delicate story of two lovers
who meet IN an old church also balcony
love-making that is idyllic. Then a move
visit il made to an abandoned coffee plan
tation, where the characters In the book act
Just like other people, notwithstanding
their melo-dramatic tendencies. Tropical
foliage is. well described, and this is the
most vivid picture in the book, though
without doubt the author is strongest In de
picting men who are unscupulous in thei
use of position and opportunity The un
derlying motives of each petty attache o
the consulate areheld up to public gaze, th'
star spangled banner is waved considerably
and as that is about all an impotent and in
dignant consul-general can do to right Thu
wrongs Of American subjects upon foreigl
soil, there will be many who will side will
the author in his Indignation.
The beautiful Catalina winds up hel
romance by marrying one lover and hasten
ing to the bedside Of another who is dying
to give him her ddiOS, in the first bridal
kiss; while here, In our good, staid, re
spectacle Washington, stormy seen,
occurs in the East Room of the Whit
House, between the Presldent-anxiou,
now, over an approaching convention, whicl
augurs no good for him--and the woman
who has been kind of evil genius, and ha
also been mat ddr0H enough to destroy al
his chances for denomination She vii
have her way, and she rules and ruins Tht
President steps down and out. Draw tn
curtain; put out the lights.
1t is evident from the tone and temper
Of the book that General Budeau is wreai
ing vengeance on some of the high official
Of the last Administration by whom he ha
evidently been snubbed, The book vii
create a sensation in Washington socIet
circles and undoubtedly provoke muc
Litter comment. 1t is for sale at Brentano'f
@aH
A book which is destined to find Its wa
, to the hearts of all young people especial
about these holiday tunes has Just been rC
ceiyed through Brentano from lloughtoi
Milllim ~ 90. TIM RnsLnn nnhlishnrs. ont