New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-22

old kan making Circles on the dust said Mowsli;
. the three Se sRssd e ,SFSns saa
Baloo when he stood under the stu trees aga, No.
more win make AZ a knows OF than
We said Bagheera trembling In ' down ' his
anS ,tafa viii ifS walk P By that III
moon rises again, said Baoo He VIII nave s was
fSs mssnns of hs S sad Mowg did not
know ANYTHING OF pyth9ns p 0Sks "a FOOLISH
SORE sore. Ho! Hor
Mr. Kipling reveals anew in this book his wonder
full certainty stroke. Every sentence tells every
smallest word is set ss perfectly In Its place as
Nature has set the smallest bone that moves De-
Meath the panthcr's velvet hide
Can brilliant and erratic Irishman OF noble
lineage successfully play in Australia the double
parts OF highwayman and respectable seiector anu
stockman? That is a question wnich Mrs. camp
bell Pracd undertakes TO answer She couid not OF
course do this without a certain amount or meio-
drama; but It be conceded that the drama mas
an air OF truth full of exciting situations. and Is
set forth with almost masculine vgor ana numor'
The story is thoroughly entertaining and the nero
ines character is admirably drawn. TO picture
girl whose breeding Is deficient. whose hirtations
are in extremely bad taste. and whose heart Is
rather hard, and yet to make the reader ike ana
pity her is surely triumph.
Cleopatra is only a secondary figure in Ebcrss
escapes her murderous jealousy. Yet she chal-
lenges attention because the author has endeaV-
ored to give her better fame than she has had IN
the minds OF historians. poets and romancers In
his view OF her character he takes one extreme
while the other is occupied by famous short story
OF Theophie Gautisr. with the figure drawn by
Shakespeare holding n middle place Practicaliy
both Shakespeare and Ebers draw upon the same
authority the only difference being that the FORMER
used Plutarch in translation while the latter or
course, appeals the original II Is, perhaps,
testimonial 10 the German novelIt's candor as
man Of both ina gnation and learning TO say tnat
he has changed the realities with which he
deals His readers will not rise convinced or Cleo
patra's goodness because the facts with which the
author has to deal utterly ntractable. Not
even the most vivid historical fancy such as trans
ports one to the of remote can reconcile
ones prejudices TO certain acts OF the Egyptian
Queen where she was innocent OF wrong
Though Ebers says less than he might. he betrays a
clear knowledge that Cleopatra enjoyed the surer-
ings OF others He passes with a word her expert
ments upon criminals and others with poisons
when she celebrating upon the death that
was least painful. But this is stain upon her
character which cannot be wiped out. The main
fact to be considered s that these personal studies
on her part unnecessary. There was TO poison
known In her day the effect of which could not be
infinitely described by the learned Egyptian ply
sicans OF her court Medicine may have been a
more failed then Of being up TO the times than 1t
has been wanting since She had no occasion 10
watch the writings OF agonized and dying fellow
creatures except for the pleasure which she TOOK
in giving pain. the only apology that can be made
for her is to say that she may have been the VIC
tim OF disease. With that aspect Of her case In
view unquestonaby a profoundly interesting study
could be made. To IT all the main episodes In her
life would contribute, for cruelty was 10 be ex-
pected from a woman who had ruled so many pas
sionatc men and yet turned coward when she
thought her He In danger. However. In allud-
ing to the Queens conduct in running away from
the Battle OF Actum. Ebers presents the affair as
one where she retired thinking the victory already
won. In that her crime was one of ignorance.
The defence Is worse than the old charge that she
Intended play the traitor with Anthony In order
10 gain the favor OF Octavian. For Cleopatra was
no dainty maid Just escaped from the hands OF
tutors and pressing philosophers. She was past the
middle point Of life. and she had sufficiently
varied experience. She must have known her own |
mental and physical powers. II she could not en- |
dure the shock Of battle she must have known her |
weakness.
The real interest OF Eberss story gathers about |
the figure OF a young singer whom for time
Cleopatra suspects OF desgns upon Antony. II Is
thoroughly suitable to the character OF the Queen
as her enemies describe her. that the novelist has
10 have this Young person rescued by q stratagem.
II there had been hope Of pity in the breast Of
the Egyptian lioness" this device would have |
been needless In the llgit of Eberss Introduction
10 his novel Archaeologcally the story turns upon
the discovery In 1892 OF the fragment OF colossal
double statue in Alexandria which almost certainly
was intended FOR Antony and Cleopatra. The
plans for erecting the staele while the Queen
is at Actlum TO bring out all the characters
and to put them very naturally into relation with
each other. The translation is good
Miss Dickens gives us story which bears all
the marks OF erort-and We may add mistaken
effort Its motive is the power OF heredty. the
working in the OF those evil traits which
made the father swndler and suicide. This
theme Is. OF course far from original and the
author has failed 10 exhibit any originality OF
treatment. The construction OF the book is good
the story marches" naturally 10 It's conclusion IL
accept the theory which Miss Dickens attempts
10 Illustrate. The characters. however.
pleasant where they not colorless, and the
London society In which they has a cheap
and nasty air The book is thoroughly melancholy.
1t is so entirely without humor that II would seem
TO show that its author is In herself proof OF the
falsliy OF her argument in favor OF direct inher-
tances There IS nothing OF Charles Dickens in this
work Of his daughter. Another pessimstic
novel turning on heredty is "A Daughter OF
Music" There indications OF talent in
this book. but they overlaid with
tional Alterations to be little less than
perating We suspec, that II It's author would de-
vote herself to the study OF real life and actual
character she might do excellent work. for when
she Is too busy in pumping up the Intense she
shows glimpses Of subtle perception and graphic
force Why is 1t that few noveists touch the
subject Of Music without at failing into abb
surdity AMI striking fa:se notes by the scorer
s Barring Gould renews In his novel The Queen
OF Love " his old-time quarre, with the Rigid
Righteous among English dissenters. The harsh
ness Of n selfish recttude which is almost
.ove.y as hypocrisy is well seen in character
such tina, OF Jabez Grice, who always does what
he ought 20 do" The contrast between a group
that would natura,y gather around Grice and the
people OF travelling circus is vivid enough give
the story brisk start; and the plot develops II
listens nnon a much wider range Of character