The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-19

author Is unsparing in his denunication OF
wrongs, and uses his pen, as he always does,
on the side Of the people. lie makes his
readers enter into all the feelings Of his
characters, and one cannot rid himself OF
the strong impression that the tapestries
blaz0ned with knights, magicians, arms.
banqueting halls and retainers, but half
conceal the life Of England OF this present
day. In this sarcasm is at its
best. The book cannot escape the public
tinge Of the age in which II ~ placed.
There is the heroine, Of course. Lady
Alice Sandy, called Sandy for short
by "The Boss" and she proves her
self n true heroine. He is rescuing
damsel in distress. but soon he damsel has
TO rescue him in distress. For the sun
heats the armor-or the stove-Ae wears, a
fly cIawls through the bars OF his visor,
his handkerchiefis not accessible, so finally
he dismounts at brook and cOmpcls the
damscl 20 pour helmetful after helmetful
OF water down the collar of his arrnor, until
he feels comparative GOODNESS. lie and
Sandy, Of course, are ailerward married.
Who would not marry the girl who did bet
ter service than Rebecca at the wcllY Any
body who wants TO have laugh handy
should own this book. For a short laugh n
does not have TO De read, as Dan Beard has
caught in his illustrations the entire spirit
Of the author.
POEMS or OWEN MEREDITH, selected,
with an introduction by NJ. Betham-Ed-
wards. London: Walter scott. For sale
by II. NJ. Starke & Co., Richmond. For
those who know owen Meredith best by his
Lucille. this little volume, which is OF Will
liam Sharps edition of the Canterbury
Poets, is revelation of sweetness. Any
body wandering through large garden or
conservatory Of luxuriant blooms is I'M
pressed by the mass Of beauty and the
mingling of doors. But he cannot feel the
keen enjoyment given by the study Of sim
Gle flower or experience the subtle influence
of one delicate perfume. 80 with collections
Of poems. column containing all Of
owen Meredith's works would be pleasing,
but not as pleasing as is this present c0llcc-
ton Of selections. iand the collector is one
who is an excellent guide. This little vol
ume includes bits from "Clytcmnestra,'
The Wanderer," Lucille" 'Songs Of
Seryia,v "ChrOnicles and Characters
"Orval." miscellaneous Poems" and
"After Paradise, or Legends Of Exile
COME FORTH. BY Elizabeth stuart
Phelps and Herbert ID. Ward. West
Johnston.
The success Of Elizabeth Stuart Phelps
and Herbert ID. Ward in the production Of
gicians," left small room TO doubt that
other work dealing with the same time
would be Of equally as brilliant a charac-
ter.
The attention Of the reading public is at
once arrested, and held, by the scripture
words which the authors have chosen for
the title of the book. The scenes are laid
in Bethany, Jerusalem, and Capernaum.
The events Of the story cluster around the
life Of Lazarus and the miracle Of his re-
surrectiOn. OF course the narrative Is icti-
ti0us, but the cardinal facts are treated
with strict regard 10 biblical history.
The Sisters Of Bethany are portrayed a.
we are wont 10 regard them. Martha, the
busting, selfassertiye housewife, and
Mary. the gentle, devoted sister, the law of
whose existence is written i'm the words
Love, Alteration. 81 had as soon talk 10
the evening star" said Martha, thus de-
scribing Mary's rapture and fixed devotion.
Lazarus. the builder, the hero Of the book,
is described as youth of great beauty
with experience. position. authority IN his
air; wealth and taste in his costume; giving
one the impression OF a dcy0tce called by
fate 10 some practical mechanical occu-
patton: a man born for "A vocation, but born
into an ayOcatiOn." lie is Il friend of Ma
zarene, tempted from his Allegiance 10
Christ though never wholly false to il. by
his love for "a woman, the daughter OF
the ligh-Prest Annas; allowed 10
taste Of the bitterness Of death
for his half-hearted service, ana
Of the mystery of his own resurrection
in token of his love for his Lord and Master,
and that the pagan /ahara might believe.
The pOrlrayals Of the female character are
at once striking and delicate. "/ahara
seemed 10 scintillate like a great GEM.
many faceted and nObly set The touch
ing and unObtrusiye love Of Bardch and
Ariella-the man TO whom Christ had given
sight, and the bed-ridden daughter OF the
Pharisee, Malachi, whom he rcstored-ale
much more In unison with the setting OF the
story than tho fierce, imprisoned love
making Of Lazarus. The personality of
our Saviour peryades the book, but the au-
thors depict him with reyerent spirit
and hand. In their very attempt
they have laid themselves open 70
prejudice and criticism. In RrOi. II.
Oort's article, Jesus ais Roman held
"A paragraph Is found worthy Of attention.
"Shall we say 10 the artists with the pen
who feel themselves drawn to this subject.
DO not venture" No more than we should
say TO the painter or sculptor. 80 not try
% represent Christ \ man VINO feels his
strength will strive after the highest. Let
him striyel But let him be fully aware
ludl IL i, Il Atll ullutult ld0h w Nf0A ifN
Jesus of Nazareth. II be come within
measurable distance Of the level of his sub
ject, he will have achieved a noble work.
NO doubt he will be extremely dissatisfied
with the result Of his attempt, and many
will be disappointed through him: but
through the form in which he clothes the
truths which Jesus lett to the world, lie
will bring them nearer TO us-by the vivid
ness of his presentation he Will make us
feel that they are living truths for every
age and for every man; by the truth
of his picture he VIII help us TO
distinguish the eternal substance from the
temporary form, and give the substance
form in ourselves such man Is an artist
by the grace Of GOd.n We know OF only one
other author whose Imagination has been
fired by the story of Lazarus and that Is Mr..
Browning in "An Epistle Containing the
strange Medical Experience of karshish,tAe
Arab Ply sician." This poem may serve as
an epilogue ICr those whose wonder or
curiosity lead them 10 pursue the later He
of the man who was four days In sepul-
chre.
GAL0ANO's WOOING AND OTHER POEMS,
by Sarah Bridges Stebbips. &. W. Delling-
ham, successor to G.. W. Carlton ~ Co.,
New York. West a Johnston.
We have read worse books Of verse, but
certainly much better books OF poetry
than this VOLUME of Ms. Stebbins. The
opening poem, HGalgano's Wooing," is the
most pretentiOus EFFORT AMI the least artistic.
The old Italian noyelists, from whom
LongfellOw found the subject Of poem,
have been the authors inspiration. rms
collection should have been christianed
after the name Of the second, rather than the
first. contributions 10 its contents-"lhe
Old Love-" Its literary ni6ri, Is superior
and the title more attractive and seductive.
The greatest strength and beauty of the
book is found IN the sOnnets, forty Of which
are collected and sutitled "Woman and
MAN. A hint of the treatment is given In
the linking of the names Of eminent per-
sonalitles-POrtia. Bruius, Cleopatra,
Caesar, Josephine, Napoleon. The Ron
deaus have French grace and airness-
might we not say "lightness| The best
among these poems are blowers of a Iropic
Island" n0tioe9bly " Laurisiina' and
.Amarylis" The golume is tasieiully
bound and carefully arranged, though seve-
raj typographical errors have crSpt IN