The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28
STORY OF SEPOY MUTlNf.

Palace Kotel CITY
LHS, DOUBLE interest is given to this
A&l book. by the fact that it is both
GGt9 a good novel and accurate
count of some OF the principal in
cidents Of the great Sepoy mutlny by one who
has studied bOtn Il and Indian character
while living in that country and having Op-
por:unitfes 10 converse with actors on both
sides OF the struggle. This is the first histori-
cal novel that has been written based on the
terrible events of that lanStical uprising. and
it exceedingly well done In reading il one
can scarcely tell whether he IS most absorbed
in the literary art with which the historic
events are related or in the study OF the fcti-
tious characters which the author has so
closely interviewer with exciting incidents OF
real life.
The author assures US that while the book is
commingling OF fact and fiction, shs has not
allowed the dction to interfere in the least
with the strict accuracy OF her facts. She has
been scrupuiously exact even to the date, tue
:. hour, the scene, and the very weather as TO
the historical part The real actors in the
tragic event whom she introduces into the
story are hot allowed 10 say any thirg which is
not shown correct by the reports OF eye-wit-
nesses, or by their own writings Some of the
leading INCIDENTS OF the fictitious part are so
similar TO what really happened that they can
not be regarded as incredible.
: The somewhat puZzling title OF the story is
are asked the cause OF he muttny their usual
answer is: God knows. He sent a breath
into the world" This sugges ted the words in
Genesis that were chosen as q title for the
book.
The historical part of the story is restricted
almost entirely 10 the events that took place
IN and close around Delhi. The rush OF the
. mutineers to that city, its abandonment BY
the English, and subsequent siege and cap
ture, are al elaborately described, while our
in terest in the events is greatly intensified by
the author having reused our sympathies for
the personalities of those who are taking an
active part in the events. The palace OF the
great Moghul in Delhi who for a few short
weeks was imagined by his courtiers TO be the
Emperor OF India, is quite feature OF the
book and is the result of careful study OF
q Ehat,wss the actual condition OF affairs in
II 4: brief dream OF ancestral power restored
The story OF the heroic defense OF the powder
magazine by the nine Englishmen who had il
q IL charge, aud Of how they resolved TO blow
Il up and did blow it up rather than let the
nuuneers get possession of II, is told in way
10 send thrills OF admiration through the
veins. The writer eloquently re ates how
through all the many military blunders OF
that terrible lesson OF mistakes that brought
or the mutiny, and then failed to suppress It
promptly, the great treasure of personal couU-
age was never lost. At the end of the story
she does indeed severely structure the soldiers
VINO refused 10 ODey Wlen com AnQeQ 10 tO.-
low their officers TO the storming OF the Burn
Bas.ion, after they had bravely fought their
way into Delhi but she lays the blame OF this
10 The rum-drInking that demorauzed many
OF the troopers when they began TO loot the
town.
SO distinctly are We made to see and feel
both sides OF the question Of the awful mutiny
that we can scarcely blame either the Sepoys
Tor rising IN rebellion or the Englishmen for
their stern revenge. Feeling as the natives
must have felt when they were marched out
TO watch the shackles being Tiveted on the
eighty-hve OF their comrades VINO had been
condemned by court-martiaI to ten years
penal servitude merely because they refused
TO obey an order that was TO them the same as
becoming defled and apostate, it would ther
seem to Us low that they would have been
base not to have risen in revolt against such
stupid tyranny. But after the deed was done,
and their savage natures had led them into
Outrages against women and children, the ter
rible retaliation OF the Engl!shmen in
evitable and natural as the outbreak OF the
Indians. The obstinate stupidity OF the Brit
tsh officers in forcing the needless issue upon
race who could not be expected to understand
the matter from European point OF view is
brought.oUt in way so strong as 10 serve for
lesson for all time against petty tyranny.
Mrs. Steel makes US feel with the Sepoys that
sense of outrage and meaningless oppression
that the silent and sullen ranks of hitherto
16lLQIuL hOlQleE5 lAQ l6lA4E plcsst1 lulO L4GlI
souls as they stood there watching and listen
o ing as the riVets were cinehed in the shackes
of one after another of their race and brothers
IN arms whose sole offense the refusal to
submit TO degradation. The conflict that was
going on in the minds of many OF those dark
men between their love for their officers and
the'ineradica BILE instincts OF their race is por-
trayed In g way TO rouse our sympathie for
the painful dilemma forced upon the Sepoys
That the representatives of great, enlight-
ened and Christian nation should have left
them no escape from what 10 them was such
terrible choice between two evils is one Of the
most Astonishing bIindnesses modern history
records
After describing how this outrage has made
the Sepoys ripe for rebellion Mrs. SteeFs story
attributes the actual outbreak OF that mur-
derous war TO some tauntiLg words that fell
from harlot's lips. troopof native cavalry
were lettering through the haunts OF dissipa-
ton in the town of Meerut. A young and dis
solute soldier had his advances met by the
ieering reply ofa girl: fWe Of the bazaar kiss
no towards" Baked in his passion he left
her with oath, and dashing into the street
raised the cry to rescue their Sepoy comrades
from the Jail. The cry was quickly responded
TO and the prisoners freed. The next cry
raised wss ION 10 Delhf!' and the great revolt
followed swiftly from the girls words as If
some great prophet or chieftatn nad given the
command TO march and fight 1.-The word had
been spoken. Nothing so very souL-Stirring
after all No consideration of caste or re-
ligion, patriotism or ambition. Only a taunt
from pair of painted lips"
In the fiction part of the story there is
Major Erlton-brutal, dishonorable, unworthy
of a pure woman's love. His wife, Kate
Erlton, is refined. religious, noble-minded.
She does not love her husband, but lives with
him and tries to save him from public dis
honor for the sake Of their Erlton falls
in love with Mrs. Giss!ng. who has husband,
coarse Indifferent TO his wife's dofngs, and
absorbed in unscrupulous commercial pursuits.
She has troops of admirers ana goes in for a
pay time Erlton's attentions 70 her become
an open scandal. He plans to run away with
Alice Gtssing While he is pondering the
question of deserting his wife this thought
brings decision: 81 win stick 10 little Allie.
who never makes a man feel like fool or a
brute" The elopement is prevented by the
sudden death OF Alice Gissing while perform
ing en- act of daring heroism. Some OF the
fine work of the author is done in gradually
bringing out many contrasting points In the
character OF these two women, who had oppor-
tunfties TO save and spoil the same man. We
are compelled 10 recognize that Kate Erlton.
with all her virtues, has serious faults, and that
Alice Gissing, with all her faults, has the ad-
mirsble virtues of generosity, unsslhshness,
courage and much coIn on