Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-03
FIELDS POST-OFFICE, VA
Editor Of tho Digpatch.
Notices of New Books.

/
THE COURT OF LOUIS XIV. BY Imbert
| de Saint-Amand. Translated by Eliza
| beth Gilbert Martin. with portraits. New
York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 1898.
| Price sl25.
| This latest translation in the series OF
| Saint-Amand histories covers very in
teresting period, but here the women Of
Versailles have degenerated into n
coarser type.
The volume, after brief mention Of the
| Countess De Mailly and the Duchess
De Chateauroux. is devoted chiefly to the
| Queen Marie Leczinska and to Madame
De Pompadour.
Louis 10 Bien- Aime TO become later
the Wen-Hated), az the time of his
marriage. was the most beautiful youth
in the kingdom. very religious, adored
| by his people and filed with high as
pirations. lie was an illustration OF
Mat fatal difference between the wish
and the will He earnestly desired to
| live rightly, but weakly surrendered to
| temptation. The pious. gentle Queen, too
amiable and indulgent was for several
years happy in her married life, but
without beauty. and seven years older
| than Louis, she could not retain his
| affection. and was soon treated with
cold neglect.
Marie Lecznska, the only daughter OF
| Stanislas the deposed King of Poland,
| had been most carefully educated. She
had many accomplishments. and much
solid information. speaking six languages,
Polish. French. German, Swedish, Italian,
and Latin. The secluded life she had led
until the age Of "a was not one to fit her
for contending with the clever and un-
scrupulous men and women of Louis's
Court She had spent the time not oc-
cupied with prayer and study, seated
between her mother and grandmother,
working for the poor. and embroidering
church ornaments. And this was a
yourg girls preparation for the delights
and dangers of the world.
Madame D'Epnay. little later In the
eighteenth century. tells IN her charming
memoirs of her JOY when she was al
lowed after her marriage to read. Il
shut myself in the library. of which
my husband had given me the key, and
4
my way. You know that l had never
| before been permitted to read anything
| but books of devotion and the ancient
| histories OF NJ. Rollln."
The Marquise De Pompadour was the
| dominant figure during the greater part
| OF the reign. Born a bourgeoise but
graced by every accomplishment
skilled vocalist. clever actress, fun
| of tact, able as a man, she was power
| In the politics of the State. The pure
| and proud Maria Theresa of Austria,
| cOndescended to write with her own
hand TO the Kings favorite. Louis
| remained under her evil influence until
her death. While Marshal SAKE was
| conquering all OF Belgium, Louis lin
| gered In Paris, and then the fruits OF
| the war We're lost by the treaty of AiX-la-
| Chapene by which Louis restored all
the conquered cities and territories.
Madame De PomDadour has been
| blamed by her contemporaries for the
caiamities OF the Seven-Years' war.
To read this very interesting volume
is to gain a still clearer idea Of the
causes which were leading up TO the
Reign of Terror soon to be at hand.
For sale by J. w. Randolph & Co.
JOURNAL OF THE EX-LIBRIs So
CIETY. w H. X. Wright, h. r. II. s.,
editor. A. q c. Black, Soho Square.
LONDON; Volume B. Part ii. Novem-
Der. 1898.
This Is handsome quarto, published
monthly by the Ex-Libris Society, Lon
don, and supplied to members at los. Cd.
\ annually, and the public at Is. Cd. per
| number.
Contents OF the present No. Book
| plates OF Samuel Pepys. with two full
page portraits OF the quaint diarist, and
| other Illustrations OF his arms and book
plates by the editor: On the Processes
| for the Production OF Ex-Libris. wooG-
engraving, by John Vinycomb. NJ. II. l.
A.: The World on Ex-Libris: American
Notes; The Scope of Book-Plate Collect
ing; A Cryptomatic Book-Plate; Arms Of
the Virginia Company. by r. A. Brock
reprinted from the Dispatch of Septem-
Der nth lasO; Collectors Methods. or
How TO Preserve and Arrange Ex-Libris.
and other short articles. The No Is pro-
fusely illustrated, containing among its
striking features "Caxtons Mark" and
the most ancient book-plate known that
of Jean Knabensberg chaplain to the
family OF Schonstill. II is of the approx
mate date. 145o.
THE DETACHABLE DUCHY. Stories.
Studies, and Sketches. BY 60" author
of THE Splendid Spur" Dead Mans
Rock" etc New York: Macmillan a.
Co, and London. 1893 Price. 400.
This writer has done for Cornwall work
somewhat OF the character that Mr.. Bar
rie has done for Thrums and the
nelghborhood thereabout, in reproducing
IN brief stories or sketches much
OF the folklore OF the plain peo-
Pile Indeed. In some respects his style
is close kin TO Barrle's. Often he gives
you but scant outlines OF his stories
and leaves you to fill out the rest He
does not think II necessary 10 come before
the footlights and announce when the cur
tain is about TO fall. hence his finale is
nearly always abrupt-artistically abrupt,
however. We have found the book read
able and Instructive. He who hides him.
self behind q Is a writer Of strong parts.
We learn from him that In Cornwall
the word "reckop" Is used as we ytr-
ginlans commonly use II to the exclusion
OF guess" We are also told that in
Cornwall the schools keep on Satur-
day. that Is. keep the FIRST half Of the
day. In q recent discussion on this sub
sect II seemed to be conceded that Satur-
dsy was . school holiday all over Eu-
rope That is not true as 10 Cornwall. or
at least Is but half way true
For sale by J. w. Randolph = Co.