The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-14
the LITERATURE or THE WEEK.

"Bella-Dcmonia" Is the title Of post
humous novel by Selma Dolaro, whose
name will recall 20 the minds Of those
who ever saw her as an opera-bouilc
singer, much that was graceful, piquant, at
trnctiyc and delightful, both as an actress
aud singer, and whose recent death was
pitiful ending to the pathetic story Of her
life. She was intellectually n highly gifted
woman, brave and energetic in character and
spirit Her fate was cruel one, and TO her.
as TO many another struggling woman In the
same profession, hope has told a iattering
talc." BELLA. Dcmonia," It is announced.
was written for dramatization, and Il UNI
doubtedly has every element aud quality for
play. The action Is vigorous, the situation
striking, and the dialogue unusually clever
and sparkling Her style is crisp aud bril-
liant She knew human nature we'll her
own sex especially, aud as an author gave
evidence Of literary power that few women
writers can claim. The scenes Of the novel
are laid first In 81. Petersburg where the
reader Is allowed glimpse Of Nihllism; next
In Vienna the rest partly Ia London aud In the
Balkans. The fret chapter introduces rs to
Nyyian Fame, an Engiishmin, who is acting rs
agcut 10 the Russian police, aud by whose
trcachery the Count Galliizin Is arrested and
conveyed 90 the fortress Of the Schlusclbur *
where Il Is made convenient for him TO die by
poison His sister, the Countess Gallitzin
VOWS vengeance on Vyyian Fame but learning
that hc has been assassinntcd turns her at
tention 20 politics and under the name OF
Bella Dcmonia" and as a Russian political
agent plays n brilliant aud mysterious role.
The auihorcss shows q wonderful knowledge
Of the events aud political intrigucs that led
up to the Russo Turkish war Of ISIS, which
she depicts with extraordinary yiyiducss aud
accuracy tits In Vienna that BELLA Demo.
MIA, known a. baroness Altlorf meets her
fate In the person OF Captain Aubyn God
dard an English officer aud bearer Of dis.
patches, whom she boguilcs 10 her villa, foI
the purpose OF getting information, and they
| fall In love with one another. In foot note
Madame Dolaro explains the curious cipher.
dial tho original Of which she says she has
In her posscssionL by means Of which d
secret correspondence Is carried on between
Bella Drmonia Ia Vienna and Prince schou.
lon, the Chief OF Police In g. Petersburg.
/
NihilisL" In London vyylan Fine turns NJ
againm Lord Arllngforl and married TO al
English Isdy. Here We again meet Goddard
also. and new character, an adventures OF
the most cold-bloodcd type, who Tor fl0,OOl
from schoulon agrees 10 aid In preventing
Goddard from leaving London one night
with dispatches Of importance. The plot
succeeds and poor Goddard Il disgmccd and
Obliged to resign his position. Surprises
aud intense situations are clcycrly managed
throughout the story, all Of them treated
with the skill OF an artist The discovery
that Bclla.ncmonia makes, that Lord Airing
ton and vyvian Fame are one and the sam'
person, arouscs all her latent feelings 81 ne
yongu, and 10 the realization Of this dosir'
aud that Of cxoncmtlng Goddard sh'
delicatcs every Cher OF her being VIII
the aid Of Count schoulofi, Bclla'Demo
MIA succeeds In her prayer aud ih'
discovery ON the part Of these two charae
tcrs around whom all the plot Of the story
seems 10 hang. that one Is the Countess
Galliisin aud tho other Il Alexis Dorki th'
nlhillsL "a friend Of the Countess brother,
forms sinking aud dramatic tablcau ans
situation. Through schoulom Fame Is mr.
rested Tor murder. aud IL about TO DO con
Quoted back 20 81. Petersburg, when hi
mistress. Mrs. Dashton. cuts the "ordial
knot by shooting him, and he falls dead not
however before he can summon strength ''
declare that he shot himself. In this wa,
oxonomtlng the muricrcss OF the crime
aud leaving ON the mind OF his vile 'h'
Countess. Of Arlington. who enters The room
too late 90 zee who really committed th'
deed, different, and Il Is 10 be hoped con