The morning call., 1893-12-17
OPEN EVENINGS.

chivalrous Coun: Fersen. The person al
history of the Count and the part which
he played at the court of France have pre-
viously been only vaguely known and they
have only recently been given to the world
in a book written by his granddaughter,
Baron de klinckOwstrom, compiled from
extracts and papers of the Count. From
this work Paul GaulOt has gathered ma
terial for n DIST interesting volume, which
has been well translated into English by
Mrs. Cashel Hoey. There has been much
said of the romance of history, but there
are few more romantic incidents tn be
found than is furnished by the story OF
the career Of the unfortunate Queen of the
French and this young Swedish nobleman.
Count Fersen first saw Marie A ntoinette at
court ball in January, 1874. He was intro
duced to her by The Swedish ambassador.
The Count and the royal lady were both
young and of nearly the same age; she
was radiant with beauty, grace and CO
quetry; he handsome and distinguished
looking, and possessed of a nature r0-
mantle. loyal and constant. Ii appears to
have been case of love at first sight on
the part of the Queen, while in the breast
OF the cavalier was aroused a spirit of de.
votion approaching alteration which time
nor fortune could efface. The relations
between them gave rise to scandal, but
IL Is doubtful If. even in that frivolous
and corrupt court, there was anything
which passed the bonds of platonic love
on one side and kuightly devotion on the
other. The woman had welded man she
could not but despise. and in this young
avalier she saw one who united all the
graces Of person and mind, which a ro-
mantle fancy might conceive to go to make
up an ideal man. The story which Nj.
Gaulot has given us Is one of enthralllng
interest, and no one who opens the book
will be content until the last page has been
N ~ N
For sale by the Bancroft Company
THE BRoNTEs IN IRELAND.-In this
book DR.. William Wright. an enthusiastic
friend and admirer of the gifted Bronte
family. has preserved an important frag-
ment of history, which. but for his zeal
and devotion TO the cause nearest his
heart might have been consigned to OBJ
livioD. AS he expresses ii, tracing the
original source of the BIonte genius. which
reached Its contamination in Jane Eyre"
was like seeking the hidden sources of the
Nile. Only an enthusiast need hope for
success In such an undertaking, and lt
may be said 10 the credit of DIR. Wright
that his explorations In difficult field
have been of real value to literature. To
him nothing connected with the Brontes is
unworthy of careful consideration. Not
satisfied with the histories of the English
branch of the family, by Mrs. Gaskell and
Wemyss Reid, he has naced its cODnec-
tons backward to the original roots In
Irish soil. Unlike most patient delivers in
the field of genealogy, DR.. Wright is not
lacking in the skill requisite to render a
faithful recital of facts as Accordingly
entertaining as romance. Were the con-
SANITY recurring name of BrOnte eliml-
mated from the narrative, one might easily
mistake this skillfully arranged statement
OF facts Tor clever bit of hclion. The
subtitle of the volume, Truth Is Stranger
Than Fiction" is superfluous addendum.
The story speaks for itself. and needs no
platitude by way of commentator. Per-
maps the most amusing chapter In the
DOCK Is that devoted to recital OF the ad-
ventures of Hugh Bronte, who started out
with stout heart and a strong sElilelagh
to punish the unknown author of the
famous and scorching review OF u ne
Eyre" which appeared in the Quarterly
Review. Needless to say he diu not find
the reviewer, and it is not hard to under
stand how neither he nor the other Irish
Brontes failed to see the farcical char
acer of such fruitless quest. Pub
lished by d. Appleton Il Co. For sale by
William D0xey. Price 81 80.
A SPINsTER's LEAFLETs.-1he papers
in this pretty volume. reprinted from the
New York Evening Post. are worthy of
They remind one of TX Marvel. aud, in
deed. furnish fitting companion to his
delightful "Reveries of Bachelor" The
author OF these sketches has not wide
acquaintance with the reading public. to