The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-26


prisoned some half dozen timcs, and In
close peril of his life, we have neglected
to keep count of how many times. Hs
kept amazingly close TO events to have
saved his head. Much TOO close for bis
peace of mind most of the time, indeed.
Everything Of the French Revolution
has a fascination for the average reader.
We never lose eagerness for renewed
meal OF the horrors and every scrap ana
crumb Ia greedily absor bed. For the
student of that period, unique In history,
do Salamon's Memoirs undoubtedly fill
not few empty inches, supply missing
links in the chain and serve 10 cor
roborate much that has already gone on
the record.
Aside from their testamentary value,
the memoirs have q singular charm OF
their own. They were evidently enough
not written for publication. They are
in the nature OF letter 20 a friend, 10
one who knew the writer and from whom
nothing could be. or need be, concealed.
The tale is accordingly vivid In its plain
and unvarnished style. Written by a
scholar, a man of parts, 1t is of course,
a good piece of writing. But II Is e0ec-
tive because the facts of the case make
it so, and not because IN, writer Of 1t
wrote for effect. Mgr. de Salsmon is a
good story teller to be sure in that he is
o close observer and can tell what he sees.
But he indulges in no aourishes ard
the result is the readers imagination
int al In fnll 20 ot ha nf n
few calm lines that the writer swings of
with the unconscious ease OF drawing
from Q store house OF overpowering ex-
periences. The very simplicity OF the
telling make the story impressive. Its
calmness guarantees its honesty. Its
frankness is amazing. It's air OF fsmilisri-
ty in dealing with portentious events is
tiously sketched stand out with rare
vividness. 1t 10 remarkable narrative
and remarkably interesting.
With the appendix and index the book
comprises over 300 pages of excellent
print. linen paper, tho whole gilt topped
and bound in black cloth. The price is
$500.
Henry Sienkiewicz, the Polish author,
has already demonstrated his capacity for
dealing, In fcriou, with tremendous
events. Little, Brown q Co. nave now
published price S2.00) a new romance of
far away history. entitled, ,"Quo Vadis,"
being a narrative of Rome in the time OF
Nero and tho novel Is of quality to
| impel a new class OF readers to seek his
| works previously published. The Pole is
| surely q giant among writer's who have
| taken the period Of the early Christian
| years for their otories. Indeed. he 10 a
| giant among romancists in general, a
master Of the art as 1t has been practiced
| by only an inspired few of the uovelists
| of the earth. In "Quo vsdis" the
| strange excuses OF the last Of the Caesars,
| the character of Petronius Arbiter, the
feasts in Nero's palace, the burning OF
Rome, the scenes in the arena, and the
| devotion OF the Christians are all por-
traytd with a vividness and power which
are the possession of the few in litera-
ture. 1t is magnificent story, absorb
ingly interesting, brilliant in style, i'm
| posing in materials and mastery IN their
I handling, impressive al a tremendous
painting, captivating as a bit of witchery.
/! 1t is good deal to be thankful for that
| such q book is made into the English
| language, and for doing that 30 iamously
we'll, the Hon. Jeremiah Curtin Is en-
| titled to the blessings of romancs iv-
ing public.
"The End of the Beginning" from the
same house is pretty little volume to
| look at with its red cover, choice uncut
| psges and general air of sweetness and
| refinement, but, on the inside, so to
| speak, ii isn't the most cheerful novel we
have read. The opening words of Chapter
| I are: "Do dead folks like to have flow
ers grow over them," and the little girl
| who asked that of herself was sitting on
| the top of tomb kicking her fee,
| against the front wall OF 1t. Aud the
same yonng person, though older by this
| time, closes the story with reflection
whilst sitting on top of the same tomb.
| She had fondness for reflections and
| toni bs did comfort, although the former
| were more easily in her way than the lat
ter. There is a good deal in the story to
| get out, not a little that Is worth think
ing about, and Amoret is far from being
an uninteresting part to say nothing OF
two or three distinctly attractive people
| In the book. II Is New England ROM
| -