The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-08-21
[Biddeford Times.l
CONCERNING BOOKS.
BY Il. oAvAzzA.

A. Janvier. In storytelling, nothing is
more sure to please than the realism of the
improbable, or even of the impossible. In a
last analysis this is found to be the charm of
the great fictions that continue to enchant
the world. Aladdin's mother secured the
magic lamp with soap and sand-and 1t is
easy therefore to accept the trifing alleged
fact of the consequent appearance of the
genie. Rosalind's name was cut on the bark
of the trees Of the forest of Arden-and
therefore we may not bethink us that Ar
den's courtly Arcadia is all lovely fantasy.
And SO, by means of these solid little STEP
ping-stones, a poet or romancer can lead into
the most aerial places of the imagination.
Mr.. Janvier's story is remarkably well min
gled Of scientific enthusiasm. practical ac-
quaintance with Mexico past and present,
thrilling adventure, heroic sentiment. and
humor purely American. The narrative is
supposed to be told by Professor Thomas
Palgrave, a scientist, occupied with his great
monograph in the Pre-C Columbian Conditions
on the Continent of North America. In pur-
suit of materials for his work, he goes to
Mexico, and there with little company,
follows mystical signs cut in the rocks of
canons or of antique temples, until he comes
to walled city containing the descendants
Of devoted tribe whe await their hour to
redeem the Aztec race. The professor and
his friends run from adventure to adventure,
In an atmosphere of constant danger and of
awful "reminiscences of the extinct Aztec
people. The personages who compose this
exploring party are individual and well con-
trasted. The professor sees everything as
an ethnologist. acts like brave and reso-
lutte, If not especially practical man, and
writes in clear and elegant style. The
only departure from the true key of the COM
position is in the preface, where there occur
cadences rather too archaic, and certain ped
antries, humorously accented-a tone which,
In the narrative itself Mr.. Janyie- has wisely
chosen not to maintain. The martyr-rriest
Fray Antonio, is a figure nobly pathetic
The TIVE railroad men, civil engineer and
lostfreight agent, are the very embodiments
Of United States irreverent push and bust
ness faculty, stirring up the bats and owls
amid the ruins of the mighty past. When
ever the dangers thicken and obscure hope
the worthy lost-freight agent is sure to test
an ancient idol by sitting on its head and
find it to be of "the tippin' kind" In other
words, 1t revolves upon metal bar sup
ported by sockets, and opens new way for
the safe passage of the party. Pablo, the
gentle, tuneful, Indian boy, with his mouth
organ, goes piping through the story, ac-
companied by his delicious and diminutive
donkey, Ell Sable. This dear little beast
is portrayed In one of the most sympa-
thetic sketches of animal characters
that modern literature offers; and the
burro takes on epic proportions when his
nimble heels scatter the false priests of the
Aztec temple. The scene of Fray Antonio's
martyrdom is profoundly dramatic. 1t
ought, by the way, to become favorite
with public readers, for its NOBLE simplicity
and strong effect. Finally, Mr.. Janyier is to
be congratulated upon his success In writing
a romance at once wildly imaginative, based
upon thorough and personal knowledge of
his subject, and enlivened by picturesque
style, easily ranging from frank comicality
to serious and vivid eloquence. New York !:
Harper & Brothers; Portland: Loring.
Short & Harmony
The Blind Musician. By vladimir Koro-
lenko. There is no doubt that Russian liter
ature impresses strongly the present period
Its singular intimacy Of analysis interests
the more elusive society of other countries.
that fancy its primitive civilization may be
able to interpret their own conditions, or are
attracted by Its rude veracity. Russian nov
elists are apt to have something Of the en-
.fdut terriale in their art They ask boldly
simple questions as to the order of the uni
verse; they note everything unreservedly
and crudely with childlike confidence; they
express that (which others have either not
thought to say, or thought not to say. Vlad-
imir Korolenko's work, however, appears
distinctly different from that of most of his
compatirot story telleTs. The Blind Must
clan is true idyl of the life of one deprived
from birth of the gift Of sight; study so
sensitive, so delicate in devination of the
s9nsibilities and impressions of the blind,
so humane In intention, that 1t merits the
serious thought Of all who have care of the
sightless, or occasion to meet them. The
story is not depressing, but rather shows
now many are the compensaticns and the
opportunities inherent in the deprivation of
q sense, ana studies incidentally the methods
~ n announcement and aid by which the
in.a may be led to develope their powers
into the happiness of use. Mr.. George Ken
nan, tne famous Investigator of the exile
system. t IN ,oiperia, introduces Mr.. Korolenko
r r1ny soty 70 public appreciation, as
progressive and most sincerelv natr,otio
of Russian manhood" The Bind MnS; cypo
is translated In graceful and spiritad T Fan
lsh by Miss Aline Delano. 1Bostnn LIB
Brown q Co.; Portland: LOring. Short &