Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-08

their places easily and naturally,
and there is dearth Of straiEad or
awkward situations. His people are
Of the kind that round out all the Incl
dents with gradual but steady APP
proach to the proper conclusion. OF
thrilling happenings there is no lack.
There is bold archer, whose skill
trausfxes the enemies Of the Emperor
with his unerring arrows and mows
them down like sheep. And the Black
Count Furnishes the traitor in his camp,
who would betray the castle to the
Archbishops, by tieing him up in .
cstapult and sending him, an agonized
human bail, hurtling through the air
into their lordships' very tent. The
details of battle TEEN with living
reality.
Such is the story that Mr.. Barr has
given in 'sTekla. 1t is good story,
and one that leaves pleasing reflections
after the reading of the narrative is
finished, 1t holds the undivided in
p! terest Of the reader from beginning to
end, and, after all, what more can be
asked Of an author than thisr
Received of E. s. r.. Butler Il Son.
."pEMBERToN. OR ONE HUNDRED
YEARS AGO" by Henry Peterson.
Philndelphia: Henry +. Coates & Co. H.
| Illustrated with numerous handsome en-
| Cravings.
"Pemberton" is fascinating novel
of the American Revolution. Its scope
is mainly confined to that interesting
period marked by the British occupa
tion of Philadelphia, and its characters
wildly portray the exciting and de-
cidedly intricate experiences that then
besel Patriot and Tory, each in the
effort to render effective service to the
Colonies or to the Grown.
Men and women figure largely in the
| pages of this book brave, manly, fight
ing men, and sweet, beautiful and
courageous women. The thrilling drama
of war is enacted over again, and among
other things, the story Of the battle of
Germantown is most effectively told
| So, also, arc some Of the daring
escapades Of Capt. Allen McLano and
| his rangers, and the veXation Of spirit
! they inflicted upon Tarleton and others
oil Sir William Howe's valiant fighters.
But the main spirit of the story
weayee around that incident Of most
absorbing interest in all the Ameri-
can Reyolution-the unfathomable
tteachery of Benedict Arnold, and the
| wierdly sad manner in which it en-
| folded the brilliant, gallant Andre into
its meshes and led him TO the ignoble
death Of the spy. Arnold's character
is portrayed with strong and facile
pen. He is presented in his original
and really grand character of the
feryent patriot and the brainy, i'm
| petuous fighter, who feared no danger
and was a master of strategy on the
field. The story plainly reveals his pas
sionate, domineering manner, and the
troubles and misunderstanding in
which it engulfed him. But, and here
the shame of the narrowing incident is
contained, it gives an unvarnished
recital of the undeserved humiliations
to which he was subjected by an
unjust and unappreciative Congress,
and shows how his painful position
led him to contemplate the schemes of
treason a mere suggestion of which,
under other circumstances, would have
thrown him into paroxysms of patriotic
wrath. But Washington had faith in
him, and finally secured his assign
ment to the command 81 West Point,
which preferment marked the cul.
mination of his treacherous machina-
tious.
The story of Andre is invested with
consummate interest and the loveliness
of his character, his purity of purpose,
and his love for the beautiful Tory
maiden of Philadelphia are portrayed
with master hand. The movements
of the treason plot, of his secret
negotiations with Arnold, his un-
fortunate violation of Sir Henry Gin
TOMS express commands by first going
within the enemy'slN lines, then
| assuming n disotIise and finally taL;no
possession of matchmaking papers--his
capture. trial and execution, all are
skilfully and touchingly delineated.
In all, the narrative is Of most absorb
ing interest, and the detail never flags.
There are other characters, of course,
including the great Washington, but
the interest around Andre and
his devoted friends and the traitor
Arnold.
Received of the publishers.