The record-union., 1894-02-14
22uyuI Bdi,tug 1!lumper. /.
ADSlOsgg Dill I Es.Ysa 20 q gE2E s

the thought of this book was in his mind,
his wife being his sole confidant. He
worked upon it with his usual painstak-
ing diligence, devoting two years of the
time to the study O. astrology alone.
We may hope that the ''Prince of In
dia" may not be the last product of his
pen, and rejoice that, at the close of the
story of General Lew Wallace, we need
not write ''Concluded,'' but $40 be con-
! tinued."
A fine vocal solo by Miss Matte Beau
and appreciated.
! Mrs. E. Nj. seymour then read review
of Ben Hur," in which she spoke Of the
/ powerful descriptive power displayed,
| the accuracy of the work and the pains
| taking style in which it was written. She
described Ben Hur, OF a despised and
prosecuted race, imbued with desire CT
reprisal upon the nation of his persecu-
/ tors, bending his energies and faculties
TO preparation ior that work. Then came
the description OF the peaceful revolution
in his feelings and the entire change OF
his future life produced by it.
AS a fitting compliment to the review,
Miss Amy Morrels gave a splendid rem
dering of the description Of the chariot
race in ben Hur," so Vividly that the
scene seemed almost spread before the
eyes of her auditors, and they could al
most see the furious steeds, hear the clang
of the chariots and view the final catas-
trophe. The hearty plaudits OF her hear
ers attested their appreciation of its
| merit.
Miss Ruth Spilman gave a review of
The Prince of India" She said the au-
thor had laid the scene Of history in a
land not familiar to the majority of read
ers, which hightens its interest. In the
account OF the capture of Constantinople
the author had brought out the important
| points of the epoch. The book reviveS
the legend of the Wandering Jew and his
awful fate, destined, as he is, to wait the
coming of Christ. 1t is as we'll written as
the other books of the author, but neither
in "The Fair God" nor ben Hur' do we
find such study of character. She COM
pared it with the work of Eugene Sue.
and pointed out the difference i'll the con-
ceptlon and carrying out OF the two
characters.
The paper was an excellent one and was
listened 10 with much attention.
Miss Minnie Sweeney followed with a
paper on 1.-The Style and Influence of
General Wallace's Writings" as follows:
MISS MINNIE swEENEY's PAPER.
To consider justly writer's style, we
must look for the motive OF his work. If
the motive be to amuse, light will be his
task, for we follow his lead as with
winged feet. Should he, however, aim
to instruct, how reluctant often are we to
begin at all the pursuit of his subject.
Wallace has boldly chosen for his
theme, 1.-THE Religions of the World
Their Effect on Politics and Character"
subject so somber, so cumbrous that
only a master could hope to introduce it
into romance with even slight degree of
success. He has, however. two aids to
i,,iA ,oJ.
terest in religion itself; and second, the
glamor Of enthusiasm. with which the
writer invests this dearest child of his
thoughts.
With what consummate address he ap-
proaches us, always on the most sus-
ceptible side! Is the reader fond of
change, adventure. war? Through what
struggles, contests, battles, is he not car
ried, by land and water, under ever
varying skiesi Is he a poet, scholar?
What treasures of sentiment, song and
folk lore are offered for his delight
Dwells he, however, in the common eX-
periences of the passing hour, how must
the depictions Of the everyday passions
gain, loss, hate, jealousy. filial affec-
ton, friendship and loye-draw and hold
him with magnetic force! But all these
allurements are but the adjuncts, the
adornments, the preludes and the inter-
ludes of the grand main theme, religion,
which illuminates with an inward, abid-
ing, glowing light every page that speaks
to the patriot, the philosopher, or the
spiritual minded.
In dramatic plot and in wealth of vivid
detail our author rivals the great Scotch
man, but the writer's be resembles most
are Charles Kingsley and Bulwer. In
noble, womanly intellectually Irene,
lula and the mother of Ben Hur suggest
their prototype, the beautiful, wisdom
loving Hypatia. With similar sorrowful
amazement do Wallace and Kingsley
contemplate the divisions of the early
church and the brutality of factions call
ing themselves followers Of the gentle
Christ.
AS we linger over the bits of sentiment
presented to US in the pauses of the ac-
ton the subtle fascination of Bulwer's s
romanticism is recalled, and the likeness
is further intensified by the choice and
limpid language in which are set the
gems of feeling so pure and poetic.
The resemblances considered appear as
similarities in the mental fiber of the
writers, rather than in the actual treat
ment of the subjects.
In two points at least Wallace seems to
me to stand without peer in literature.
His first EXCELLENCE had almost said
perfection-appears in the skill with
which he portrays The sentiment of rev.
erence, that divine enhancing distance
kept by the loving heart between itself
and the object of its affections.
When we consider the conduct of the
faithful Amrah, the grateful dependent of
the Hurs; the devotion of the gallant
Mira to his sovereign and friend, Mo-
BANNED or the feeling of Irene for the
long.absent teacher Of her childhood, we
discern that divine inspiration that make
human beings sacred to one another. In
the opening chapter of ben II ur," again
the Irresistible charm holds US as we
read in the hearts of the Wise Men of the
measureless depths of the creatures
worship of the Creator. And once more,
when the fainting lad receives from the
unknown, passionate Christ the cup of
water. at the glance and the touch there
stirs in the breast of the captive that IN
stinctive homage which the soul renders
to virtue. Impalpable and pure as the
perfume of the flower is the balm
breathed from the page 10 the spirit,
Again is our author superior.in rare
catholicity of sympathy. he cannot be
said to break down our prejudices; he
nobly assumes that we have none; aud
we'll he knows how TO permeate our minds
! with the glow of his own. Ben Hur is a
Hebrew, but what Christian fails to love
him?
| What Jew refuses honor to the courtly
Constantine? And would not Jew and
/ Gentle unite to greet in admiration the
brave pagan Aztec, Guatamozin?
The critical complain OF inaccuracies,
/ and of the imperfect development of GER
tain characters in Wallace's work. In a
task so extended and intricate as that the
writer has set for himself one could hard
! ly expect perfection; but to the mass of
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