The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-14
THE CRITICS COLUMN
DEVOTED TO COMMENT UPON CUE
RENT PURLICATIONs.
"Bsyond the Paiaeocrystic sea"-"Jsanne
D'Arc"-Living Topics Cyci0pae-
diA-Notes.

"BEYOND THE PAlAEOCRlSTlC
SEA-" BY A. s. Morton. Privately
printed. For sale by West, Johnston e
Co.
Tire writer Of this book is a well-knowu
Richmond man. now Auditor OF the great
Northern Pacific Il. r.. with residence
at 81. Paul, Minnesota. For that reason
the volume will have a particular Interest,"
for many aside from intrinsic literary
merit.
1t is entitled Beyond The Palaeocrysuc
Sea. or The Legend Of Halfjori."
1t purports TO be based upon the con-
tents OF a manuscripts found by the writer
wen upon an exploration tour 10 Green
land, for the purpose Of studying and re-
porting on its geological structure, fora,
fauna. and all other matters OF keen IN
terest 10 the scientist, TO scientific So
ciety.
Ii was found in a bag Of walrus hide,
tightly sewed with thongs OF the same
skin. 1t was written upon the dried and
bleached skin OF some animal, and signed
pierre Vacheron'
The manuscript verbatim copy, makes
Part OF the volume It's contents max
ing necessary the, Legend OF Halfjord,'
part I'D In explanation OF its contents.
Pierre Nacheron sails with Kane I'm 1853,
In search OF Franklin. Through a series
OF catastrophes. which are all recounted,
he becomes separated from his party. and
finally finds himself I'm city OF which
the world knows notbng-the substance
OF that mirage seen or the coasts OF
Alaska lie is treated with honor; In
deed with reverence, as the King Halfjord
returned, despite his efforts at explana-
tion. lie explains at length. In the
manuscript, the appearance OF the city.
people. his horror at his situation, etc.
concluding with a prayer invoking bless
ing upon his wife and committing himself
to the goodness OF God.
Part III makes known 10 the reader ue
story OF Hartford. which suggests TO this
people but two ideas-the ultimate re-
turn OF their beloved king and the treach-
cry OF Alric the bloody -haired-"treachery
SO foul that after a lapse Of ten centuries
the talIt Of its curse still hangs around.
working frightful death 10 the unfor-
innate baby who enters the world with
locks that suggest tho Bloody Hair"
ALDEN'S LIVING TOPICS CYCLOPE-
Ola. Abbas-Coudert- John Is
Alden. publisher, New York. For sale
by Hunter * Co.
To say that these publications OF MIR.
Alden's contain information OF nearly
universal interest. and that Is. practically.
obtainabs by most readers nowhere else,
Is not in any degree an exaggeration Oh
the fact.
The information Is generally from one
year 10 five later than 1t can be found In
any Of the leading cyclopaedias, and COM
monty a year later than the 1896 almanacs
and ANIMALS. The cyclopaedias. small.
handy, are most valuable to all. but es-
pecially to newspaper workers. giving as
they do their information In the most
concise form. and enabling, by their ar
rangement. the busy worker to place bis
finger upon tho precise Information he
desires, at the smallest possible cost or
time.
Useful, compact. convenient, cheap, II
ia unique In its line. and destined, we
think. to become a favorte.
JEANNE D'ARC:" by Mrs. Olipbant.
G.. L. Putnams Sons. New York. Lon
don. For sale by George NJ. West
This latest contribution to the excellent
Heroes OF the Nations series. presents
the story or the life and death OF the
peasant maid OF Domremy. through tho
medium OF a literary style OF which the
public is very fond. 1t IS intensely SYM
pathetic, and coored throughout by the
pen Of a story-teller and story lover.
But its facts arc not fallacious, but
sound. so that the book Is historically
reliable. as we'll as highly entertaining
from other standpoints. Certainly the
career OF the girl. who was martyr Mt
nineteen. and whose young figure stands
out entirely unique In the history OF the
world. unspotted and strong. would ex-
cuss and Justify moro touching up than
Mrs. Oliphant has given IT, and woman
would be especially excusable for that
loving fault. The maid is but one OF
many brave and effective souls. who ask
cd bread and received stone OF their con-
temporarles, but who. like her perceived
IN death that 1.-THE voices they heard were
OF God" and died so royalty that
posterity takes its stimulus from them.
There is a long perspective OF these
figures. but none Of them moro thoroughly
free from the stain OF sordid aims than
Jeanne. Mrs. Ollphant has done justice
TO every noble attribute sue possessed-her
religious fervor and vital faith In God:
her selflessness; her mercy TO the wound
ed among the enemy on tho battlefield.
etc. There is an exceedingly pitiful touch
OF nature IN the closing scene. when the
n,ws is carried to her that she Is 10
be burned. II is her human dread or
that fate-the dread. the reader knows.
By very young girl. or fate so horri-
bio that many hard men have fainted
before IT, But one rejoices I'm the dignity
OF the final scene. and the clear. victori-
Gus young voice that was heard TO cry
from out the flames: my voices were OF
God; they have not deceived me-"