The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-19

OF FAMOUS WOMEN. by Ebert
Hubbard. G.. p. Putnam's Sons. New
York.
For sale by George NJ. West.
In one volume Messrs. Putnam have
found the twelve pleasant sketches
which at intervals OF a month have
appeared during this year. The book
with its beautiful illustrations, is an
admirable one for purposes Of presenta-
ton. doubtless which the publishers had
in mlnd in its preparation. As We have
said before. in notices OF the succeeding
numbers. the visits are too short 70 be
entirely satisfactory. but they at least
give pleasant glimpses az what IS al
ways particularly interesting In connec-
ton with genlue. From the first page.
Elizabeth Barrctts striking face "set in
The darks Of pair is presented 70 the
reader. I'm connection with the chief
episode. in justine. Of her life up ~
the day OF her marriage. I'm M~arlybone
Parish church. to Robert Browning.
Next the author devotes his attention
b Madame GuyOn, and thereafter -
Harriet Martineau. Charlotte Bronte'
Christina Rossoit. Rosa Bonheur, Ma
dame De Stael. Elizabeth Fry. Mary
Lamb. Jane Austen. Empress josephine
and Mary Shelley. respectively.
H.
A FOUNTAIN SEALED: BY Sir Walter
Besant. Frederick a. Stokes Company.
New York and London.
For sale by George NJ. West.
This romance deals with the days Of
George First. Of England, or. rather, the
days Immediately preceding H. accession
TO the throne. when ne was young. ana
IS tho story Of his supposed love Tor q
young woman far beneath him in rank
Miss Nancy Walden. daughter Of samuel
Walden. paper manufacturer Of hartford
i'm Kent. and a Quaker Of the strlctest
sect" The prologue. entitled I'm Her
Majesty's own Words" purports 20 be
he account By her of a visit. twenty
years after the episode which make'
the story. made 10 her secluded home by
an English nObleman-RObcrt, Niscount
de Lvs-a friend Of her youth-which
visit. recalling as 81 does old memories,
suggests to her-lOng regarded as q
former mistress Of the kng-to give 70
the public the real nature or the relatioh
existing between herself and the king
then the Prince. She pictures her isola-
ton and %unhapplness as % child In the
Quaker household. from which an bright
ness and an the gaicty that youth loves,
was rigidly excluded; its gradual and Sc
riOus effect upon her health; the inter-
vention OF q widowed aunt. who carries
her off 10 her Own wholesome nome ana
there initiates her into the pleasures or
living under the new and sender regimen
health returns. and beauty in an unus-
nal degree natures into a perfection
that appeals to all who meet the girl.
Prince George and his brother Edward
-. Hs-aTAL-H na ..mnHLM 40 Tho TMMnfHH
OF this fair creature, as she and her
faithful maid. Molly. returning from
church. are accosted and frightened at
two drunken men. Prince George IS
Immediately and powerfully attracted 90
sweet Nancy, and here bcbgins The devel-
opment OF what. In the narrative, is
represented in~ferentially as the grand
passion OF that ROYAL Heart. Through
out theintimacv. while an their neigh
bors are perfectly familiar with the
fact that the constant visitor at Nancys
home is none other than the Prince Of
Wales. she. who IS chiefly concerned. is
totally ignorant OF that fact. Surprising
him 10 be. indeed. q gentleman OF rank,
but not a Prince. Ills growing love is
pictured. and the end which is fatal 90
the woman's happiness. Is his accession
10 the throne. and the necessity for him
10 espouse % wife NJ his own rank.
However. it is the aim of the story 10
make clear the absolute purity OF the
relation between the two and 90 leave
the inference that Nancy was his first
n only love. in the highest occupation
Of the word. The first person. singular
used throughout gives a sense Of reality
that makes the book interesting, although
wa think Sir Walter Besant decidedly
hatters Princes George and Edward in
his delineation of them. However. that
is the privilege of the rOmancer. and
we cannot quarrel with our pleasant
author for o.