The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-30
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.

PosEIDoN's PARADISE, THE ROMANCE
OF ATLANTIs.-Tbe writer Of this highly
interesting romance is Mrs. Elizabeth G.
Bifkmaier, a California lady we'll known in
educational circles and in Alameda, where
she has charming home. Although the first
production Of a new author this work ex-
hibts none of the crudities OF a first novel.
1t rather has the polish and smoOthness Of
a practical hand. 1t is a dignified and
scholarly work and head and shoulders
above the average. 1t has dramatic action
without being sensational; 1t is emotional
without being nav ksh, and It's tone fire.
quently descends to lightness without flip
pancy. There is plenty of love. but 1t is
pure. and to those rational readers who rel
ish clean, wholesome story this book will
be a tonic. Chastity characteriZes the work
from beginning to end.
The historical base Of the romance, which
runs through il like KEYNOTE. is exception
ally we'll handled. Fidelity to fact is APP
parent. Considerable research much
delving among dusty old bOokcases-must
have been done in order that the nice
points and incidents of history largely
speculative and more or less neurological
should be fitted into the warp ana wool of
the story with accuracy. These incidents
serve to sustain the asi-bstOrical por-
tons and to embelish tho general nara
tive. This was the method employed by
Bulwer, and the author of ''P0sedon's
Paradise" has been equally apt. Not a
point has been omitted which could give
the story excellence. The descriptions of
scenery, costumes. personal groupings. edi-
fees, apartments and the like are full and
glowing. and the plans of the Atlantean
palaces might have been drawn by an archi-
tect.
In this era of slop-shop, helter-skelter
Orl = Ia ofras inn To ind ut 10 ct
one careful, conscientious author. To be
sure, one ought to be as serupulously care
full ip building book as a locomotive, but
it is n melancholy fact that such is not the
case. Two-thirds of the novels and romances
of the day are cheap aud shoddy. The
reason is that there are good MANY persons
writing books who ought TO be working for
day wages. When man who ought to be
blacksmith plunges into literature the re-
suit is unpleasant to all concerned.
The style OF the work is peculiar. The
author has evidently adopted the elevated
style as being more opposite to the cere-
monious races oil the misty past than
modern phraseology. 1t is difficult to do
this without being stilted, but very fair
success has been achieved, and a certain
richness in language is thereby exhibited
Several OF the opening paragraphs fully
illustrate the authors style.
1t was thousands Of years before the Christian
era-how many thousands no chronicler has
stated. And Tie island lay, as through The
ages past fair and Imperial in the Atlantic.
Though now wa. IL becoming wanton. even 10
It's undong. Else would not this be written.
Midsummer was upon this Atlantis, upon the
Islands attendant that served as stepping stones
to the continents beyond Under the soft senSu-
business the morn was taking richer glow, the
streams frightening 10 gold, the gardens and
vineyards gl0rfylng in green, while hill and
mountain grew allurng In shadow and color, the
palaces lnstfous in their trt-tinted stones, and
the temples syente cleaning red that rvaled
tie flashing orich0leum studding domes and
pinnacles. The great island was gorgeous
mosaic and its setting, sapphire, that royal
stone embematic OF calm and truth, for the
loving waters were as serene as blue, In such
being all suggestive OF that repose which comes
OF perception OF the true. The whole was u
glory.
Lunb. In The southeastern part Of the island,
there was an unusual stir. This day was 10 be
observed one Of the most ancient and therefore
simplest OF th customs OF Atlantis. The King
and royal rulers were TO give audience to the
prIncip Il captains OF the nation aud receive The
certificates OF their prowess for the year. And
now from CleIps harbo T, which was few miles
southwark of the city, at the mouth OF
LuiIh were speeding the galleys of Cleirs cap
tains while from points north, east. south aud
west the many other captains were Fastening.
that all Nigh, meet In the grounds of the royal
palace before noon OF this auspiclous day.
There is certain fascination in the sup
posed existence In prehistoric times of a
continent off the southwest coast OF Europe,
ana puliOSOpuoTs dFcU6OiORISB anu TO-
mancers all have had something to say
about il, from the cautious PlatOnic rela-
tioDs down to the delightful "Adalantado
of the Seven Cities" by Washington Irving.
| 1t is fertile field for conjecture, research
| and fiction. In the romance before US the
| author has collected history, scientific sup
| position, legends and traditions into COM
| paginatiOu at once instructive and pleasing.
| Atlantis is given a definite existence and Ia
peopled by warm. breathing, human beings
| instead OF the spectral shadows of conj,c-
| ture.
In these Columbian days the publication
| of work of historical fiction on the island
| of Atlantis Ia a matter OF more than ordin-
airy interest "Posedon's Paradise" is there.
fore an exceptionally appropriate holiday
book and ought to have a good sale. 1t is
| tastefully bound, the paper is superior and
! reflects credit OH it's publisher. lSan Fran.
/ cisco: The Clemens Publishing Company
| For sale at the b00kstands. Price, cloth
| 81; paper, 80 cents.
CHEAP MONEY EXPERIMENTAL diff
ferent times there have been published il
the Century Magazine articles on "Cheal
Money Experiments" in past ana presen
times. These have been all collected, re
vlsed and reprinted in book form. Iu thi