The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-01-28
IAlJfHoR6
DE7E77 E Ift9sSso

| highly sensational, without touch
| ing even with the passing
dip OF flying wing the
shores OF the immoral. 1t 10 daring,
ironical, and very we'll done, delight
| fully witty sketch, interesting from
start to finish. perpstusl feast OF cpl
! gram and paradox. The best critics
have been cordial in their praise.
Charles II. Sergel company OF Chicago
are the publishers.
x~x
One OF Lee & Shepard's books that is
being we'll received By the reaoing pub
lie is Seola. by Mrs. J. Gregory Smith.
In the work, 'Seola," supposed to be
the wife OF the patriarch Japhet, in a
journal tells of the state of affairs on this
mundane sphere previous to and after
the deluge, including g graphic account
of the experiences of the party in the
ark. She represents the world at that
time as greatly under the control Of the
Devas, or star-spirits. and their offspring
from marriage with women. In her
early girlnood two of these fallen angels,
Lucifer and Hesperus, WOO her mother
and herself. The former yields and
becomes queen, but the daughter re-
psls the suit of the other. The struggle
for dominion between mortals and the
beautiful and devilish race is wildly
depicted; In fact, the poetic imagery
of the author is always strong, and
often touching. There ie prilgrimags
to the Garden of Eden and a description
of its deserted condition that is re-
markable piece of writing. When the
author makes use Of Bible incidents it
is always with reverent hand, and the
whole ia difficult thing we'll done. It's
literary value chiefly lies in the skill
and faithfulness with which it enters
into the supposed spirit OF the time, and
renders the idea in careful, finished
style, so that it might be an antediiuvian
romance.
Another peculiar book from the we'll
known house of Lee & Sheppard is
peculiar poem from the pen of Boston
clergyman, entitled At the Back OF the
Moon. a Lunar Wrsy. This queer
title is that OF an exceedingly
amusing satirical poem of moder-
ate length. The writer tells us
in it how he paid a months visit to
the further side of the moon. He found
received notion, presents the same face
to the earth all the time, and that the
other face is inhabited by a strange set
OF people. Everything in that far
country he found to be in most startling
contrast to things on earth. There
everything goes wrong; here, of course,
everything goes right. The tale OF what
the writer saw and heard among these
ufr MO MI an q h no
this disguise we find a very lifelike de-
scription of life and manners in Boston
and New York. The author freely sat.
irizes many of the peculiar develop
menta OF our American manners and
customs. The poem is very neat and
readable, and full of bright and sharp
sayings.
One OF Rand, Mentally & Co.'s latest
books is The Hermit of the Nonguon,
by Charles Nelson johnson. Writers OF
narrative who see fit to depart, either
wholly or in part, from the realms of
the probable, must have established an
extraordinary hold upon the minds OF
their readers before committing such an.
offense against common sense. Nobody
cares to object when the elder Dumas
produces D'Artagnan in Paris after hav-
ing left him in London on the previous
day. Nor is exception taken to the
weird impossibilities of Haggard.
In the former case the intens-
ity of interest, tbs fine, strong
sweep and impetus of the story, are
sufficient to obliterate the impressions
made by minor incongruities. In the
latter one finds just what he ex-
pected, a fancifnl yarn, avowedly
spun out Of the marvellous. But
in The Hermit of the Nonouon
the test upon the readers credulity is
too severe. 1t is too much to ask one
to believe that man, half crazed by
misfortune, who goes to dwell alone in
the forest, should there have survived
two score Canadian winters, without
fire, without weapon TO procure food,
and with no shelter but an open cave.
The tale OF his rescue by his grand
daughter and his restoration to his
kindred and to reason is also improb-
able and lamely told. The granddaugh-
ter, who is made the most important
character of the book. is interesting as
q study, but carries no conviction with
her. Some Of the descriptive portions
are praiseworthy, and as a whole the
work may be a fairly true pic
ture of humble life in a secluded
Canadian village. There is roughly
sketched in an honest but pugnscious
scotchman, who is made to figure in two
bits of horse play having so little point
and SO much fine, healthy action that
glory surely awaite the first manager
enterprising enough to sdopt them.
%@%
We find in tha I itararu Naw5a NJ 10 fort
issue few remarks on the three new
stories by Thomas Bailey Aldrich. just
issued by the we'll known publishing
house of Houghton, Mifflin 4 Go.
Grace is, perhaps, the fittest designation
OF Mr.. Aldrich'a peculiar quality.
Everything he touches seems to possese
an atmosphere OF refinement without
weakness and of elegance without
pedantry. Just how he manages to
attain these happy combinations is
his secret; or, rather, it is probably
a process which he would find it diff
cult to explain even if he choose to do
30. Whether in prose or verse this grace