The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-06
The BOOK CORNER.


zc,oxsr ntssfd her, and Aaron Latta, taking
80 e...skt~4n WITH sssEn. bore fser body back
"a Ty,raa1s and lad < away 20 rest. 80
Tommy and Eispeth came 10 dwell n
What 20 them lad been the fairy land OF
Thruns-
me Story Is al new. strange, fascinzt-
snx bslt not a. al satisfying. for when
one has 6nfshed the book ne wants more.
Ard more i 20 come. for this IS only ssle
fsssrhosss OF Sentimental Tommy. The his
ss-v seems 20 end abruptly. oaft sweetly,
sadly. win the farewell OF gentle Elspssa
and nsr br0shers waaiie Grlsel, WIN an
aching heart. watches them from her hid
ing place among the furZe. Tommy - Sc
fnx 70 the herding; IL was r1e ulsimaturn
OF Aaron I4atsz that IL Tommy failed IN MS
VARSITY examination a beT1er he should
be. Axya be not only failed in calats but,
having Estle liking for Greek. Latin or
mathematics, ne failed most dssmally "a
hss seconsl chance for the Huga Black
adder prize.
guf We may rest assured that Tommy
did not long remain a herder. For there
came a time as the book forefclis, when
his lnscrutable face made the ciubmen un-
easy, and even puzzled the ladies' while ne
was making love 80 them" And his por-
fra.S Was exhibited in the Royal Academy
when ne vas "A years old. This ali por-
tends that We shall have a second INSTALL
Thomas Sandys. With this hope IN view,
va bid adieu TO this most charming ccntri-
button to the fiction of the day. with It's
quantity humorous force, it's graphic de-
scriptsons and It's pathetic cockney piet-
ures scarcely less powerful than those OK
dickens, the great master OF cockney he
ton No one can read Sentimental Tom
my" without feeling that It's humanity. It's
philosophy and romance must make
Place for its author among the writers OF
fict.on who stand first in the worlds esti-
nation.
THE GRAY MAN. Novel. BY S. r.
Crockett New York: Harper & Bros.
Seattle: Lowman q Hanford
The variety Of MIR. Crockett's talent is
more astonishing than any result ne has
as yet attained in the numerous fields of
fiction that he has entered Ii is less than
five years since this versatile author first
began 10 be prominent in the world of
letters. Since then he has written char
acter sketches OF homely life I'm the Scot
land OF today love stories full OF the joy
and freshness of youth. stirring tales OF
heroism on the hills of Galloway and Ayr.
and romances which in their thrilling and
hair-breadfh escapes smack strongly of
melodrama. II is impossible in taking up
the Gray Man" 10 avoid contrasting it
with THE Raiders which it somewhat
resembles. Like the latter. IL is a story
full OF life and action, enriched by many
fine descriptive passages OF mountain and
shore. and abounds In midnight assaults.
auTbuscades and hand-to-hand conflicts.
The period is during the reign of Queen
Elizabeth. at the time when James vi.
was contending with the Presbyterian
faction i'm Edinburgh and shortly before
he was TO fall heir To the crown of the
virgin queen" who was nearing her end
Ia England. And 1t is a historical ac-
count of the bloody feud of the kennedys
in Carrick.
There Is much TO admire in the Gray
Man" and ii doubtless IS as true
picture OF its lawless and daring epoch
as any ia existence. As may be expected.
the bare facts have bean somewhat elabo-
rated. but in the main K Is historically
correct. Marjorie Kennedy. the heroine.
IS drawn with a powerful pen. while some
OF her adventures seem beyond the endnr
ance OF human flesh. yet the essence OF
her character IS firm and beautiful. and
the description of her vengeance. sacrifice
and death show US Crockett almost at his
best. The hero. who tells the story. is
I.auncelot Kennedy. which, as ne him
self says, in a country where all are
Kenncays. friends and foes alike. is no
great headmark" His name Is preserved
IN the annals OF the time aud place. but
murder OF Cuzeau by the Mures and
their followers. Crockett has made him
brave, but vain. brawny. simple minded
fellow, devoted to Mariorie's sister. Heller
kennedy. who Is the counterpart OF May
Mischief In '@rhe Raiders" The story Of
their love gives the book many of its ten
dercst and most interesting passages.
which shine brightly out against the
background nj the brutality. oloodthirstl-
ness and vengeance witch so often dom
mate the tale. There are In this novel
several historical portraits OF much merit
that OF james Mure. OF Auchendrayue
- the most elaborate. for he il one OF the
pfotaGonists and the evil genius OF the
romance and richly deserves the fate
which hefafls him. The figure of King
James is vigorously drawn, his coarse
ness. slow Wit and quick temper are hap
pUy given. ard the Presbyterian minister.
Robert Bruce. who dared So defy this
monarch. IS another notable character