Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-17
,rur p1cHuoND NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. FEBRUARY II. 1885,

himself to a study Of the privileges and
blessings all may enjoy. The results Oh
his reading and neditations appear IN
the PLEASURES OF Life.
Every enc OF the chapters Is a complete
ethical essay on some one virtue or bless
ing. showing wide and careful reading.
ana Astounding in apt quotations from the
literatures Of almost all nations. the
chapters are entitled "The Duty OF Hap
pInsss," "rhe Happiness Of Duty"
:.song of Books" "The Blessing OF
Friends" "The pleasures Of Travel
"rhc Pleasures Of Home" "5ciense," ana
"Educatioi." All OF the above and more
are in Part /. In Part III. are essays
on ambition" wealth Health"
Love" art" Poetry" Music" RE-
lgion." etc.
The pleasures OF Life Is a book 10
read one chapter ut 81 time. and to be
marked, learned. and inwardly digested."
The spirit OF the author IL clean, sweet,
purc. and healthy. me book Is valuable
besides for its wealth of precious cul-
I,ngs from the best moral philosophy Of
the ages. Public speakers, students, min
listers, and all persons require TO address
audience on moral themes will find
many nugget OK gold in the thoughts
that comfortod the heart OF the English
knight. scholar, and member OF Parlia-
ment.
For sale by West. Johnston & Co. Price,
s1.25.
THE PLAYS OF MAURICE MATTER
LINCR-"Princess Maleine." "rhe In
truder," "The Blind" THE Seven
Prlncesses." Translated by Richard
Hovey. Chicago: Stone &c Klmball.
Maeterinck Is accepted by one class Of
critics as the master of symbolism. by
another class he is mercilessly ridiculed
as the master Of the phrase book styls.
Certainly we must admit that his writing
IL IN the main symbolic II We conctde that
1t has any meaning at all; certainly also
we cannot successfully defend much OF
his dialogue from the charge OF being
dreary iteration Of the commonplace. IL
relulres a great stretch Of ina gnatOn 10
perceive. as some Of his devotees would
have US do. the symbolic behind every
sentence of this iteration. Yet That Mae
terlnck possesses intense dramatic power
OF a sort cannot be denied. Those who
revel in the gruesGme, the sepulchral,
the horrible, viii discover feast In "Prin-
cess Maleine," but We question wnether
there will be agreement among the read
ers OF the play as TO what 1t symboliZes.
InNY VIII DC Itsfllldl'l, Will rbAN'A'As
and be left In doubt. In THE Intruder
and .-rhe Blind" less difficulty OF interpre-
tation will be experienced especially after
reading Mr.. Hovey's introduction. In
the former death is symboliZed, while
In the latter We have, as the Translator
tells us, the symbol OF the world lost
In the dark forest OF unfaith and IN
knowledge"-a most pathetic picture OF
utter hopelessness. In The ven Prin-
cesses" We find an example Of Maeter-
linck's most romantic strain. Whatever
else may be said Of Maeterirck. his work
| as represented In the four plays in ques-
ton is cleaner and more wholesome than
| great deal OF other writing that is
cass,d In the school of modern symbol
ISM
The volume is one Of the handsome
Green Tree Library" series printed on
| heavy paper. with uncut edges.
THE PoLIINCTOR. By James T. Bow
yer. author Of The Witch Of James
| town" Richmond, Va: J. w. RAN
dolph & Co. 1896. Pages. 175. Price.
81 cents.
AS this is a home production our hopes
| and wishes were enlisted In It's favor.
| But they have hardly been realized. The
title was probably adopted in order 70
attract attention; but 1t Is a misnomer
| for there is in the work nothing about
| embalming the dead. with one slight
exception. 1t is stated that one OF the
| characters, who was then acting as nurse
and SPY, was once employed about en-
balming. She captivates the old rheu
matte whom she is tending. and Is
married to him whilst reclining on hi:
| couch for the purpose.
A conscript goes TO Richmond to try
to get off," and there meets In walk
"a handsome man OF medium size, who
! carried himself erect, and stepped
| eighteen inches each time. He wore a
coioneis uniform. and gracefully bowed.
etc. And this was General Lee. Presi
dent Davis H. also encountered and de
scribed.
The story is OF Confederate war times
| The denouement is tragic enough, though
| H. has nothing to do with battle ana ~
horrors, and yet IS ridiculous. Tbs
mesnerism and hypocrisy OF Preacher
| Goff had played a villainous part, an
he deserved his fate. But 1t was the
| bursting OF a tailors msit which gave
him the mortal shot that led to his
| death and confession. This saved tbs
life OF the innocent doctor whos'
| afEanced he had ruined and driven II
| suicide, and who was under trial foi
her murder.
| THE BOOK OF JOB. in the Revised
Version, with the American Revisers
Preferences incorporated, Edited by
Samuel Macculey Jackson, D. D.. LID
New York. Maynard, Merrill & Co., pub
| fishers.
This is one OF "Maynard's English
| Classic Series" The little volume con-
tains. besides the introduction. the text
of Job printed as prose in the prologue
and as poetry in the great drama down
70 the epilogue when the prose form re-
appears. The brief notes are clear, cri-