The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-21
NEW LOOKS.

HasterpicSc"-f Ctl0n anu DOOkS iOI
Popular Study.
1t is not easy to express ones apprecia-
tion of a book 80 attractive In every par
ticular Of theme. treatment, and beauty
to the eye in press work and cover as
"Arnaud's Masterpiece, romance of
the Pyrenees by Walter Cranston Larned.
published by Charles Scribner's Sons In
the choicest Scribner style If 10 were
not phrase that is in danger of being
misinterpreted as byword. we might
apply TO this exquisite novel, the matinee
girl expression perfectly lovely. " AS
aptly distinguishing it. Ii is story true
TO the highest and most poetic ideal Of
romance IL such standard Is possible
of definition we should promptly class 1t
as AN example OF pure romance. IL Is
"a delightful story to read and "a troasure
TO have on the library shelf.
Except to call attention 10 the refined,
picturesque, poetic and romantic nature OF
Mr.. Larned's = story, we would not rob the
prospective reader of any particle OF the
strong interes. 10 is sure 10 have. Briefly,
the romance tells of u youthful artist in a
mountain monastery of the Templars who
is working under the artistic and spiritual
guidance of venerable monk with the
ambition Of somo day cquiring art and
spirituality enough TO paint the Madonna
in the altar space long reserved for the
brush Of IA master. Going forth one fair
morning he comes upon beautiful young
girl and they become companions for u
little space. The young girl Is to be
welded TO neighboring King whom II
she does nnI loxe, that is only because she
is too young TO have acquired the passion.
The wedding ceremony is interrupted.
however, by decree of the Pope because of
blood kinship between the king and his
bride prospective. Meantime fascinated
by her presence rs revealing To his senses
q new and heretofore unsuspected and un-
defined expression of the beautiful in the
world. an example Of which his life In the
monastery had revealed no evidences and
already associating it with the hoped for
Madonna, the artist wandered disconsolate
while the young girl retired to an estab-
lishment built by herself TO hide herself
from the world because of the shame ex-
perienced at the disruption Of her
womanly prospects under such circum-
stances. And here she was Joined Ivy sis
ters who had suffered in any way that
prompted them to hide from the world s
gaze and wore yet not disposed To become
nuns. For one moment on an occasion
thereafter, the young artist and tho
young girl had glimpse Of each other
and felt then the passion Of love Begin
ming and then the former was sent away
by a sharp eyed prelate 20 do penance and
readjust himself to the spirit of the
work to which he had consecrated him
self, the painting of the Madonna. In the
drcary mountains he came across an
ostracised people one Of whose beautiful
daughters attracted again the artist eye
and artist sense though the beauty was
far from the Madonna type Daily asso-
citation increased love for her beauty In
tho st and inspi lova for thu mi 4
in the primitive girl from whose openly
avowed passion, re finally fled and re-
turned TO the monastery TO dwell again In
memory upon the beauty OF the creature
who first inspired him and TO learn more
surely how impossible 10 was ever to be to
do his Hfework without her. What fot-
lowed and how 10 came about that
ArDaud's masterpiece was finally painted
is quite too absorhingly interesting a part
of the romance to even hint at.
This so crude suggestion OF the theme
may only indicate its charm. And to
tell that II is written in n manner most
unconventional, a prose style, poetic and
romantic In every passage, In beautiful
harmony with beautiful theme. may
but poorly express the possibilities to the
reader Of surprising pleasure from this
exquisite story, this dainty masterpiece of
romantic fiction. We must needs add to
that, In as clear words as may be- possible
To point factors so completely admirable.
that The book is printed in perfect har-
mony with the thoughts and the writing
of it and bound with "a beauty OF design
that is meaningful and conscnant, so
TINT its beauty grows upon one with a
reading OF the story, and the whole vol
ume then becomes singularIy complete as
q work Of art. (For sale by Preston 4,
Rounds, price Sl.25.
IL al tn ms that Nra -Tnhn
Sherwood makes delightful profession of
living, and an art Of telling about 10 and
writing of it. Her name may not ne
found among the famous women"
whose careers are gathered by some future
biographer and historian Of our country,
but she has filled not unimpor tant
niche in life and has much to commend
her as typical American woman, n lady
OF the land OF the free and the home OF
the brave. She Is thoroughbred In the
better meaning of that term. Her pedi-
gree Is OF character that she Is naturally
proud of, and in that pride even demo
cratic people may havo a cordial sympa-
fine Yankee. He never filled a great pub
lie Office, but he was representative
figure In American life, and man who
later became a vice president of the
United States changed his birth name in
tribute to him. The vice president was
Henry Wilson. From childhood Mrs
Sherwood has seen much of public and
social life. and she Is naturally an in
terested observer and has proved first
rate reporter. she has known what is
called society on both continents. She
has been in literary and artistic circles, -
and she has ever enjoyed herself every
where and has kept careful note Of what
she has seen and heard. She has before
now demonstrated To the larger public
TINT she is a sincere cultivated, whole
some, active and altogether charming
woman, the kind you like. to meet and
know, the kind blessed with q capacity TO
enjoy life and living and OF desire ana
purpose to furnish all the enjoyment pos
siblc to others through what she finds
herself, and we take it would sacrifice
not little herself to give 90 others.
Accordingly, while the title, IAN
Epistlc to Posterity," (Harper a. Bros. J.
by Mrs. NJ. +. w. Sherwood, may, at the
glance. strike one ms something of u pro-
sumption, reading of this altogether
attractive book redeems the title as moth
ing more than characteristic bit OF
frankness and ingepuousness. Tho epis-
tie is IN assembling of rambling recol-
lections of my life, " and that Mrs. Sher.
wood thinks these of some interest, and
perhaps account proves 20 be perfectly