The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-11

awaiting with irnpafserace TIE appearance
% this Napoleonic romance "fneh has
Just b.en published ~ the Applef@fs.
Aside from is interest a. a stirring
tale. IL rzs an equally strong attraction
a. . genealogical study ~ the character
and cnaracrerisy1cs Of Napoleon Bona
ra~-@ Indeed one wonder .hy the book
sh9sja have been called ~ ne3e E~rFac.
zsE.er IL IS go obvious that tss tue Is
rulsnorner ''tfnese Berrlac," as a matter
Il fact. Is Only a snadowy figure Who
r.gavs a subordinate ard. contempt.oie
part IN the story.
q.ne b1ok OPENS with a.: tbas thriiaug
interest Of romantic adventure or wn1co
s,gnau povge Is - complete ul&Stet-
In TIE construction az the story &c has
made 4ise II one = his faForste ul9iFrds,
when. as az old TBan. be makes louis &c
Laval narrate the adventures OF as
youth. ~,
hos, +sEzpigres'' that 5ied 70 England al
- outbreak IL the revolution. the open
ing Of the book ENDS hlm returning -
.ounx man cs = TO ]oir Napoleon iorcss
a. me moment The emperor is al the
height Of hls power and Is planning the
invasion 81 England
zee immediate cause OF pe Laval re-
ti5-a t. France IS the receipt Of a lett@-
from MS maternal uncle "Bernar," the
cordial tone IL thls letter. with the re-
ou.st for hss nephew immediate pres
care IT. tis ancestral home. coupled as
a. Is w{.h che omlnOuk words Den (
COME. psncllea III &c strange hand upon
faa exterior Of tl}e envelope. pfOFlde tu@
s,s-..~sary al uasgnere of mystery from
It's start ana tbs youth has scarcely
landed upoa French sod before the plot
t.zlas o. thIeSeu ana n IS az once
plunged into 2 series ~ the ra0st ro-
Fe.tHffe 8ui Hf0od-c1rdEug situations.
.ettseA IN thrilling and DRAMATIC interest,
have seldom been surpassed ~ any ot
Df Dayie's former romances
The nero fnauy nnos bis uncle BeTnac.
whom tbe author depicts as . thoroughly
vnsers.pufoas and sinister old villain.
naose own daaghteT nad scrubbed Toe
words don't come" "a the outside II the
letter because u Eernac's determination
"a marry thc girl u Je Laval. or 10 xii
hint made uttlc difference which.
Hath 81 the young people haze loves 81
their own and they refuse "a concur IL
ta plana II the miserable Bsfnac. II Is
fgsf af this jaHcture that DE Laval -
sammouea 70 the camp Of the emperor
~ Bou.ogue. and. whsle the interest ia
tte p.ot aud TIE fortunes % the 70
rnuacs continues undated 10 the close uf
gie book. ever thing IS dominated and
aFersnadoRed ~ tae presence or the
vivid Ggnre Of Napoleon
Fhe author has drawn the portrait from
tie fugil % sIandp0snt-~lt IS the Corsican
adseuturer Hc paints rather than the
great general and eTnperor-and hs seems
- hold him up 30 our vision as NJ must
anpaar 10 Dr. D0yIes Countrymsn whea
I'm The height and TulinesS Of MS power,
hls strong imperi1us @il aad oyerreach-
lng ambition were menaciuE all Europe
Be shows us the paradox % 50 mean a
barbarian becoming the dsspot and ~
rant of Europe \ = MUS military and
intellectual uu the one slde-on the other
Hbertlne and a bsor. The common traits
Of ms character are brought 0ut and he
Is shown 70 he vulgar. domineerinE ego
tistleal. l0 fact, absolutely devoid OF all
rhe qualities OF "a true Esntlsmau. lie
treats his generals a. II they wore school
boys unw orthy 81 consideration or CON
tlasace he delights 10 petty scandals. and
Is given % wouudlng the feelings OF his
associates by Eib6s and insults. Tie nolds
women IN but little esteem aud treats
them as II they belonged 10 a lower
urder Of creation When Ga consents 30
r. present at bss Wife's salon, be goes
about among the guests insulting them
a. every turu untl all breathe sigh oi
relief when hc ieascs. A. Tor the Brilliant
mea who compose his court. the book
Aavs. "Hls ministers are clerks. his gen
erals ara superior aids-de-Camp. They
aee All agents. You have this wonderful
man "a the nasssdls. and All around You
have $50 many mirrors which reject of
fsr.ut sid * HIM. IL one sou sec him
Ha a Hnancter and you call IL I"brun.
In another you have him as a erndarme,
aud sou name Sc Sayary OF toucha In
yet another he figures a9 diplomat and
is called Taucyrand. YOU see different
u&afes hat Sc IS really the same man
Tbefa ls "a Nr CAula!ncourt. Tor example.
MO arrauAc4 tle tour hold. but be cam