The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-26

that Introduction. Approaching his subject
In . light and aiJ spirit Of pure fantasy, he
treats the story - q fairy tale. A younG
newspaper proprietor from the West 10 "the
puissant prince OF fairy legend" Miss EvanTe-
lima Cisneros IL q fairy princess In the power OF
q wicked Ogre, and MT. Karl Decker, q news
paper correspondent Of this city, 10 the bearer Of
"a courteous but oogent message TO the Ogre.
calling his attention to the wrong done his eau
tive and demanding Justice in her behalf" OF
the three principal characters involved in Mr..
Julian Hawthorne's legend. Mr.. Karl Decker
whose own story of his adventures IL told
with modesty and commendablo directness-
is the only one who is not invested with
any fairy-liko qualities. But he is none the less
described as possessing some attributes in every
way remarkable. HE is. in fact, says Mr.. Ju-
fan Hawthorne, "a young American OF the best
and oldest strain, with the Constitution in his
backbone and the Declaration OF Independence
in his eyes. In spite of his quietness ana mod
esty his face shows holiness TO the verge Of
rashness, and perhaps . little beyond that
verge upon occasion; but tempered with
an abiding sense Of humor and sterling oommon-
sense and sanity. Beyond his frank and simple
bearing was conveyed the impression that here
was one who could keen his own counsel could
hide q purpose in the depths Of his soul. as .
torpedo is hidden in the sea. and explode It at
| Jno proper moment IN the V1tAib Oh n1 nuNoI-
ssry."
1t may be that Mr.. Decker has the Constitu-
tion in his backbone and the Declaration of In.
dependence in his eyes. though no trace Of either
10 to be found In his portrait, which shows him
as . rather pleasant-lookinR gentleman; but
1t is difficult to believe Of him that he
would ever. under any circumstances. attempt
to explode a purpose in the vitals Of his adver-
sary; an eccentric and uncAnny method OF wag-
ing war that seems opposed to all the principles
Of fair play. No one. ON the other hand. should
hnd any difficulty In believing that Miss Cis-
neros is as beautiful As any fairy princess need
be; that her eyes are Liquid darkness" and
that expressions vibrate over her vivid face
like the play of oolors on the humming bird. "
since her portraits make 1t evident that she is a
remarkably attractive young woman. 1t may
further be a fact that, In order to find Q parallel
TO Mr.. Decker. We must, as Mr.. Julian Haw-
thorne thinks, GO back to Gushing. Paul Jones,
and Nelson; but IL 1t be admitted that, even in
an ornamental Introductory chapter. il is desir.
able eventually to get somewhere, a reader may
find it difficult to recognize the entire reason.
ableness of such passages as this
In the radiant tropic moonlight he must
cross that awful little ladder again and make
his way to the jaws OF death. How can he do
i'll Does he himself knowi He knows that he
did do it: and probably he did it without the
faintest idea Of not doing it,"
1t is not TO be denied that there are certain
soothing and soporihc qualities in such medita-
tions as How can he do it'll Does he himself
knowI He knows that he did do it; and proba'
bly, he did 1t without the ~faintest idea Of not
doing it." But the conclusion Is irresistible
that had Mr.. Julian Hawthorne been sent by
the puissaut prince to rescue the princess from
the fairy Ogre, he would probably be on that
ladder yet.
1T was Just a newspaper assignment. that's
all, which Mr.. Decker had accepted. and which.
as q matter OF course, he would fulhl-or die!
1t might be more reasonable 20 put il the other
way about: he would dic-or fulfil it. Well. the
miracle takes place; The Ogre is defrauded; the
maiden Is rescued; we hear the cab rafting
over the pavements in the night-silence! She
and the hero have vanished into the unknown,
and all is well. Another newspaper reporter
has done his duty, and the managing editor per-
mits himself a smile Of satisfaction"
And, having dashed of his magnificent intro
ductory fairy tale. we can picture Mr.. Julian
Hawthorne laying down his fluent fountain pen.
heaving a gentle sigh. and permitting himself.
also, "a smile OF satisfaction" The volume. of
which every copy sold is sold for the benefit Of
Miss Cisneros. and OF which the full title is
The Story Of Evangelina Cisneros Told by Her
self: Her Rescue by Karl Decker: Introduction
by Julian Hawthorne" is illustrated. Among
other pictures is o photograph Of Miss Cisneros
in the suit OF boys clothes in which she left Ha-
vana- We may safely say that there was no
Sherlock Holmes among the Spanish police Off
Gals who were deceived by that disguise.
Two small companion volumes published by
Messrs. Lee & Shepard of Boston. Mass. are
Water Color Painting; a Book OF Elementary
Instruction for Beginners and Amateurs" by
Grace Barton Allen. and THE Painter in Oil: q