The sun., 1896-10-24
VIEW BOOKS,
,,.s Reviews OF Important ana Haterest-
ing New Publications.

,.,, IN uroyide what Is called local color" In
,h.r stories is undoubtedly sincere, and II may
No that the readers of fiction are as strenuous in
%oir Insistcncc upon the provision Of the color
IN ,p,,tion AS the purveyors OF II themselves
.,e TO Mr.. Brander Matthews and those
o,bers among us who have rendered themselves
,nown MS the particular champions of local
oolor we do not hesitate to recommend, as q
oplckening suggestion and u perfect model,
"Tbc Bayonet That Came Home;
Vanity Of Modern Greece" by Nell
wynn Williams. Edward Arnold. publisherD
This is the story OF young conscript, who,
up,.r the influence of love and some other in
aueucCs deserted from tho army, stole mule,
and became an outlaw in the forest surrounding
his native village of katla, which Is not far from
the EEean sea. Antonios is the name OF the con-
script. A corporal passes through the forest on
his way from Kilitska to kutla. This is in tho
beginning OF the story, before Antonios has be-
come a soldier The corporal is accompanied
by two priyatee. From Kiltska to Katia 10
three hours by foot. The corporal Is little
man. and his companions are tall. kiltska is
III. seat Of the municipal Government of the
demarchy OF tho same name. 1t is a September
morning. sunlit and hot. The stubble Of q
wheat lc'd swishcs against the white trousers
Of the soldiers; their bayonets sag at their
rough leather belts till the belts hang loosely
over their left hips. AT Kilitska there is no
forest; 1t has been burned down and the soil
ploushed up for corn. The eyes of the three
sold .ers ache. At the summit Of a hill, within
view OF the sea, BAH" says the corporal.
"Bah!" is u Grecian exclamation OF astonish-
ment. not OF disgust. Katia is rich village; 1t
is owned by an afendi who lives at Athena. This
stendi is no friend of the general Government:
at the last election he failed to return his
deputy for the You'll. which Is tho House of
Parliament Presently the corporal and his
companions stride upon red rock. Their foot
steps ring out clearly. Al this moment fat
SOW, with a broken tether trailing after her,
rushes from an open cottage door, and pro-
ceeds, sQuealing shrilly. into the open country.
The realistic detail the local color, of this story
will by this time have been remarked. Pres
entity the soldiers obtain glimpse of the island
OF Skopolos. 1t Is not q large island. The
.fgean Sea sleeps round about it. The IEgean
Sea will continue to sleep until the winds of
autumn arouse it into ickle wrath. The cor
pornl blows a cloud of thin tobacco smoke
across the scene. A peasant catches a glimpse
OF the blue tunics OF the soldiers as they
climb u slope May the devil take them,
those soldiers" the peasant says to his
mule The corporal pushes his kept to tine back
of his head, slings his rifle his shoulders
and sings . tragoudi. A tragoudi is peasant
song. The privates compliment the corporal
when he has finished. Like others in the world,
they know where to place compliment so that
1t will do variety of good. The afendi at KILT
ska is in with the Government. Tho soldiers
come upon two peasants sitting at food amid
flock OF sleeping sheep. A savage dog greets
the corporal with yelp. "Oxo! says the cor
poral fercely. "Oxo" means away" The dog
oxos- One OF the peasants is Antonios. He
Ia oil ua
son fez crumpled on one side. as
pallikar would wear it. A pallikar is dashing
young fellow. Antonios and the corporal quar-
rel. The young peasant levels his brass bound
gun at the corporal. In the words OF the author:
The broad breast of the youth heaved, his
nostrils dilated. his eyes flashed. He waited
with the trigger OF his gun. The corporal eau
t!ously unbent his back. drew himself slowly
upright AS he gazed at the threatening gun
his black eyes duled of their fury, his shoulders
shrunK inward upon his chest, his arms slowly
crossed and stealthily sought to cover his
belly" The other peasant drew n heavy
knife with snick from his silachi A
sllachi is leather pouch in which
the peasant carries his knife and tobacco.
Again in the words Of the author. "'oxo" said
contemptuously the youth to the corporal. L
co. said the corporal, and he stepped back
ward, his eyes upon the pointing gun. The prl-
Yates followed him." 1t is not necessary and 1t
would hardly be proper to tell here everything
that is in the story. How once :" the snow came
down and covered the hills:" how then the
grandfather OF Antnnos went forth to the
forest with a great axe to cut wood for
hungry fire." how there "a dreadful thing
happened;" how the old man by acci-
dent gave n bitter blow TO his leg;" how "the
blood rushed hurredly forth" and "a
,,L Il IN tko
snow"-tA!s and much more it would be unques-
tionabiy Of Grea, interest to relate. but, as we
say. one may not pay to an author the excessive
compliment, and do to him the gross injury,
that would be involved in the recital OF every
thing that is in his book. We believe. however,
that W. may properly finish in the authors
words, this particular anecdote of the grand
father OF Antonios. Mr.. Williams says:
The mother % Stephanca. she saw her place his
father in wicker coin. Her tears ran fast aud she
woman, shivertd before the cold OF death.
Later, sne dropped. She sang many death songs.
The world sad Her heart is broken" II was true.
AMI wh,na white c,clamen showed Its head above
her husbands grave they carried her TO his side. Her
eyes we're closed she did not weep.
She At rest" said the papas he left the GENE.
trr' with glance at mound OF newly turned soil.
We may venture, further. perhaps, TO give two
brief extracts, one relating the outcome of u
controversy between the father and mother OF
AntonIOs ard the other describing the death OF
the stolen mule The mother of Antonios had
lost number Of her chickens. They had been
stolen by the little corporal. She urged upon
her husband. Stefnnos, the propriety OF doing
something in the matter. She was II sharp
tnl&er. Quickly her words came; they tossed
and :el like tho waves Of q hasty stream run
ming over rocks" Stetanos listened for a while
in silence.
He shrugged his shoulders he showed her the palms
o' MS hands SIN Anneta continued TO nag. Then
st"lHnos laid down upon his rugs he rolled cigar.
elite, he smiled, but his hands shook with passion.
st lie continued to listen and he said many times:
II ma Earomoni (Whut are we to dor
She was angry. very angry, was Anneta. Her
'"nSue worked IKE the whIrling wheel OF mill her
words stuny Ike guatA
ma kan"mcnf n ma kanomen ?" muttered Ste
fanoS more strongly.
or sudden Ntc'anos TO his feet. He broad
ened his chest und drew passionate life his hands
ih'h he spoke and his words Numbered from reason
10 reason Why he could do this why he couI not
90 lhh-Ee who was a man without friends in power
AM as b" spoke his eyes flashed fire, his fingers
lTcAsCl Df M m trnth