The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-12
RECENT PUBLICATIONS

VASHTI AND ESTHER.-ThiS is m odern
example Of fact illustrated in the we'll
known Bible story. Vashti was the King
wife. naughty and cold. would not do her
lords behest and by her own faults killed
his love. Then came another who was
better than she" and poor Vesbti was de-
throned and Queen Esther reigned in her
place. Lady Violet Bourne is the Vashti
of the story and Esther Gay, the inn
keepers daughter. the Esther, while Ken
meth johnson is King Ahasuerus. Lady
Violet, however, taught by experience,
shuns the fate of Vashti. and poor Inno-
cent Esther has to bear the worst of the
suffering: Vashti regans her place as
queen, Esther dies OF starvation. The
story deals almost entirely with modern
society life and marks most dramatically
the current OF misery and unhappiness
That flows strong and deep under its pomp
and vanitles. At the same time it presents
a strong and not overdrawn picture of the
inanitles and trifling details that go to
occupy the attention of society women to
their own detriment and the detriment of
the world. The characters of the
two heroines, Lady Violet Bourne and
Esther Gay. are carefully drawn and
are In exquisite contrast. Kenneth john
son, as we'll as the other men characters,
are drawn with strong and effective strokes
and stand lifelike out of the canvas. But
the best Characteristic one most lovingly
drawn, the one most attractive by reason
of her love for others and at the same time
with rich vein of unconscious humOr. is
Lady Marcia Leigh. the aunt of Kenneth
and the savior of Lady Violet bv her
strong cOmmOn-sense. Not to be passed
over in silence is "the Duchess" whose
death at great ball is the most dramatic
incident in the story, and whose character
f, llx,, IL III .;S;o
of good people and society. Says 1.-The
Duchess: ''Ah. my dear, they are saints
and we are sinners. We don't move in
the same set. The world is all the better
for the existence of such women. but it
only asks them to duty dinners. / expect
with an accent Of resignation) we shall
meet a great many social failures in
heaven" The authors style adds charm
to the Interest of the story and makes 1t
exceedingly easy reading. New York:
d. Appleton & Co. For sale by the Ban
croft Company.
Roses AND THIsTLEs.-The world of
literature owes many a debt TO men whose
primary object in life is commerce. The
merchant historian of Liverpool. Roscoe,
is by no means an uncommon type. This
was the thought prominent in our mind
on first reading the poems Of Rufus G.
Hopkins, issued lately under the FORE
mentioned title. The work of Mr.. Hop
kins' life was concerned chiefly with Span
ish manuscripts and records, and the in
tiuence of Spanish literature is very evil
dent. not only in the matter, but in the
form of his work. The truth Of this asser-
ton Is plainly seen in the two dramatic
portions of the work, Malinche and
Loisada. which are much closer in con-
ception and form to Lope de Vega and
Calderon than to any of our English
speaking dramatists. 1t would be impos-
sibe to go into any detail in regard to
the work; suffice it to say that the versifca-
ton of the poems is more than usually
correct, and the poems themselves. while
making no claims to the highest artistic
rank, are full of noble sentiments pleas
ingly expressed. The opening poem is
full of "reminiscences of Horace's ode
"EXegi Monumentum." but of more i'm
pTessive character. Scattered over the
work in the various poems are many lines
that express common thought in fell
citOus way.
That man builds best who builds with airy
things,
For they outliye the castles built by kings.
Jay Gould and LongfelIow are dead.
Longfellow's memory is held in benedic-
ton By millions and will be as long as the
English language endures. Jay Gould
each day is sinking deeper into oblivion.
There is no eXaggeratl0n in saying that
there is a wide class to which these poems
appeal and By whom they will be wei
coined with delight The whole work is
the production of the Pacific Coast, and in
paper. print, design of binding, in every
thing that would delight photographers
heart. is gem. San Francisco: William
DoXey.
Nm I A S1rr1T- a
well-told tale this, full of interest. dealing
with the ever-present woman question
in manner that wins the readers hearty
approval. Phyllis Eve, beautiful and in
nocent girl, at the age of II is engaged to
marry the Marquis de Richeville. an old
roue over 60 years of age. On the MORN
ing of the wedding day Phyllis first
realizes the true character of her future
husband. shrinks in terror from the mar
rage and begs and prays her mother to
send the Marquis away. The so-called
worldly wisdom of the mother prevails
and the wedding takes place. Phyllis,
however, finds an opportunity to escape,
arrives in London, and, when on the point
of giving up her search for work in de-
spair, meets DR.. Janet Doyle, senior
physician of the Minerva Hospital
Medical School. This lady. in some
respects copy of the famous DR..
Abernethy, takes the girl TO her home,
and, falling to influence Phyllis 10 return
to her husband, turns her attention to the
study of medicine. In one of the teachers
she meets her fate, and after much suffer
ing narrow escape from madness and
death finds rest and happiness with her
professor. The plot of the story is excel
lent. The incidents are simple and
natural and their development in perfect
keeping with everyday life. The char
acters are much above the common; the
woman physician. DR.. Janet Doyle, is ex-
ceedlngly we'll drawn, and her influence
constitutes the atmosphere of the story.
The style is lively, vigorous, straightfor-
ward and easy to read. There can be lit
tie doubt OF the success of Arabella
Kenealv's DIR. Janet of Harley street."
New York: ID. Appleton d Co. For sale
Dy the Bancroft Company.]
HER FAIR FAME.-This is q new story
by Edgar Fawcett, with little character
analysis or description. but short, dra-
matte and interesting PHYLLIS Lorremore.
an orphan. brought up in luxury by Ogden
Hamilton, falls in love with her dreamy
master, Foulke Bradhurst. Foulke is the
protege of Hamilton, and discovering the
latter's love for his ward, pleads his case
with Phyllis. The result is like John
Alden's ''Why don't you speak for your
self, John?" Phyllis and Foulke are
married, leave New York for Paris. and
all Bradhurt's attempts TO sell his pictures,
genius though he be. fail because the rich
Ogden Hamilton opposes him. AT last, to
save her husbands life, in the last extrem-