The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-07
SOME NEW FICTION.
How Mr. Ward Finishes Mrs Wards
story-Three Stirring Romances.


older country. At least that Is the feel
ing one has upon getting well into a
| book called Sweet Revenge (Hnrper a.
| Bros by L. A. Mitchell, writer OF
Rebellion romances. The first invit-
ing thing about the book is the cover
| which Is attractiyely adorned with a
| silver bladed, gold handled sword deco
| rated with forget me-nots-porhaps, Tor we
| are not as familiar as we might he with
| flowers, and the design represents either
| very small sword or very largo flowers
| II indeed they are forget-me-nots. Any
| way il Is fetching bit OF adornment.
| The next inviting thing Is the open
| ing line and invitation Is therefrom per-
sistently and irresistibly extended 20 - Tho
| End''-whoreat the reader Is bound TO
lay the book down with sigh because it
| Is all over.
This romance OF our Civil war out
| classes about anything we have in mind
of the modern historical romance for In
tense interest. Its Intensity Indeed re-
minds US of the baneful dime novel OF our
schoolbOy days-and II there are any now
who marveled at tho attraction the old
dime novel had for hungry youth let
him read Sweet Revenge and the secret
will be discovered-or at least he will un-
derstand that IL Is possible o. make u
book so increasingly thrilling from page
20 page that you can't stop reading until
the author shuts down. The first i'm
preston upon beginning the book is that
the author has started in with climax.
Far from it. Climax succeeds climax,
and the hairbreadth escape of the opening
page is "a pastime by contrast Co the situ-
ations tn which hero and heroine are later
involved, with ever progressing sensa-
tional interest. The story Is capital
The goDd men are brave and interesting
The villains are pitched In high key.
The women are delightful. The love aud
thunder are beautifully commingled. It's
fine story, an Incompatible romance
with its attractive people, its picturesque
detail and the great war laundering in
the background. (For sale by Gregory
The readers OF books have distinctly
stolen a march on the reviewers of books
I'm the case of Mr. Richard Harding Davis
soldiers OF Fortune" (Charles Scrib-
ners sons. Published first In Scribner's
Magazine this splendid story was in de-
mand in book form before IL was of the
press. We don't know how many editions
or the number of BOOKS will have been
sold before this notice reaches our readers
eyes But the book is worth reading
cminently so and If you haven't read it
don't wait any longer. 1t Is Mr.. Davis
first novel. As such IL Is To be COM
mendad because it demonstrates the young
authors capacity for carrying out sus-
tanned work OF some length.
Soldiers Of Fortune" Is nothing but
story. IL tackles no great questions,
social, political or economical. IL teaches
no lesson and, in brief, depeIds on nothing
for its interest, but the story telling. IL
has no plot, as the plot Is ordinarily
understood. That doesn't mean that tho
reader isn't lod along In proper spirit to
see how it comes out"-for he, or she
certainly Is. We are indeed absorbed be-
yOnd expression to learn how 10 all comes
out 1t Ii "A vigorous, manly piece OF
story telling capital in conception, intense
in execution. Its love making Is fetch
g-anl its-ncts of conrnge- and the ad-
ventures are impressive. Mr. Davis makes
"A hero from the material afforded 10y the
young American civil engineer,
modern romantic figure, the pioneer of our
day, so invitinRly picturesque that we
wonder no author has seized upon him
before in "a search for heroes Mr.. Davis
discovered him In South America We
once found him there, too, and we thus
personally appreciate Mr. Davis bring.
ing him out. lie is well worth it. SO are
all tho South American senors, senoras
and senoritas of tho bizarre little country
that blr. Davis brings TO the footlights.
And the American contingent IL pNticu-
larly strong and effective against the
"dagon background The Yankee has no
where been so romantic figure as In
Spanish America-and the Yankee girl,
too. She is simply superb when you
transplant her down there. In God s
own country she Is lovely, TO be sure, only
she is common in her loveliness Put her
down among the mantillas and she Is IA
goddess Mr. Davis furnishes a particu-
larry fine goddess by the contrast. Indeed,
all his characters in this book arc brought
out with "a strength that makes us par
ticularly remember them, by contrast
with their surroundings and with one an
other. IL Is "a capital story Is soldiers OF
Fortune. 1t is capitally illustrated by
Mr. Gibson--for she Is the Gibson girl
shining with more than her usual glory
in Spanish America. No wonder the
book has sold fast. Do IL again, Mr..
Davis! You have demonstrated that you
can keep up fast pace for good many
laps (For sale by Preson g. Rounds,
price Sl.50)
One of the most spirited and splendidly
written stories we ever real is j. &.
Snaith's "Fierceheart. the Soldier a
romance Of l7i5. 1t is published in APP
pleton's Town and Country Library, No.
2l7 just issued. The.yigorous old soldier
"Fierceheart, his chum, the dig fighting
parson, his dear loyal wife, his wild and
superb son, sweet Molly Capt. Wiseman
and all the incidental characters To "a won
deIfully picturesque theme arc as accept
able as Ealmost any figures of romantic,
| fiction. The authors style is unique.
! His language is picturesque and romantic
in fine harmony with his theme and the
people of his Imagination. The story Is
| thrilling and its manner Of telling makes
| every page particular delight One
hurrics along with It, led on by the in
terest in the romance, but pausing to
road and hold every line in the telling.
1t Is all captivating and inspiriting, strong,
| vigorous, lively, full of humur, In fact "a
| classic among historical romances, satu-
rated with the surging spirit OF the time
OF Bonnie Prince Charlie contrasted
| with the daintiest loves of sweetheart and
wife altogether To be ranked as one of the
best novels OF the day. paper, 600 For
| sale by Gregory
We guess IL is rare thing for one au-
| thor TO write a sequel To another authors 5
story Away back III 1879 hrs. Elizabeth
| stuart Phelps Ward wrote a book entitled
| "Old Maids Paradise. lt appears
| that man camc into that paradise on
| an occasion and departed thence perhaps,
| because the author was not quite sure in
her own mind what she would do with