The sun., 1898-01-22
VIEW BOOKS.
Brier Reviews er unportant ard Hnterestihn
New Puhr,o-ttoDnL

10 tne uouneation OF the most mngnihoent-and
wonderful are some OF Its Developments. On
the other side Of tho Atlantic we may trace its
growth from some Of those foarfully beautiful
word paintings OF Bulwer Lytton down to the
soul-harrowing rouiancos Of Miss Marie Corelli
and on In y direct line to such volume as
" Tho Vengeance OF the viscount." This latter
was shown, In tho course of London Police
Court case, to bo tho work Of q soulful scullery
maid whose literary labors seriously intcrfered
with the performance OF her daily duties. Look
ing nearer homo we find. as oxponents Of this
branch of art, not only tho gifted Mr.. Chat
field Taylor Of Chicago who manufactures cpl
grams without an effort, but growing lit
erary school that seems to owe its develop
mont largely to the fostering influence of
Mr.. +. Tonnyson Neely. One of the most
entertaining examples Of the work OF this
school is Tho Embassy Ball." by Virginia
Rosalie Coke F. Tennyson Neelyl. work Of lo-
tion that, as 1t throws herco light upon the
manners and customs OF the aristocracies of
several continents, and as It has attained TO tho
dignity of second edition. may DO presumed to
have found an appreciative public. Though It 10
not necessary to suppose that Just such persons
as tho fair author brings before us could
be found in any known part Of the world.
they arc not, on that account. tho less interest
ing. Realism may bo well enough in its way, but
Il cannot be denied that romance also has its
rights. Moreover, We incline to the belief that
BY little Miss Tiddlywink, the typewriter. and
Mr.. Rbbings OF the lace department. these maE-
niHcent creations of Virginia Rosalio Coxe's
will be accepted as representative of all that 10
haughtiest and most aristocratic.
Delaney Courtney. the hero. Is devil of
follow. A New York millionaire. handsome as
Apollo. and world weary at tho early age of 35.
his life has been one long succession OF brilliant
billiard md card nmOEerN.
stately dinners, with wit and wisdom
on tap, and champagne suppors." with
now and then an entertainment offered
to some blushing debutante. "chaperoned by
mamma and q bishop or two to lend grace and
dignity to the affair" to say nothing OF those
moro modest festivities in honor of " the hand
soonest dansouses from tho ballet corps" as
which. 1t is needless to say. neither mamma nor
the bishops were present Women In almost
every part of the world have looked into this
mans great brown eyes and loved him passion
ately, and he is known In Europe as Delaney 10
distingue.
No less br rilliant in her way is Mrs. Granville
Churchill, {" q queen among women. sovereign
among wits." or her the autobographicai hero
says, "There was snap and 60 about her
that was deliciously refreshing to the most
iadcd mind No other woman possessed 1t; no
other woman seemed able to acquire It. Her
chief charms seem to have been phenomenal
Gift of epiRram and her broad views on such
subjects as the cocktail habit and the advisable
ity of " opening vino" at regular and not too
protracted intervals. Thus docs this gifted
creature welcome the hero to her stately coun-
try house in the immediate neighborhood Of
New York city:
"welcome to my home. Mr. Courtney. Barton, did
Mr.. Dunbar 20 to town today"
"Yes, madam"
..who is Mr.. Dunbar ?" queried.
.Don't you remember? Granvilles brother. He 10
spending few weeks with u.s."
"oh, yes wonder II he is the man who stared at
me so hard when was in the bank this morningf
"Did he smell OF mint 1uleps2"
mo"
.well, it was somebody else. can always detect
Dunbar's coming fully three minutes before he ar.
rivcs. Como into the library; luncheon IL not quito
ready and besides. must tune up our appetites.
What will you have ?" sho asked as she pulled the
vhiskey tow ard and got down bottle Of French
yernouth. Cough syrup or nerve tonioa You look
pale and need something"
"whyer cough syrups and nerve tonics are not
exactly IN my line. Can you mix q manhattanr"
"oh. yes; call that iron bitters. Learn tho
terms and you may drink as much as you Ike with
out shocking the community"
During tho progress of o magnificent meal.
and undor the generous influence Of Chateau
Mareaux so. che still sparkles.
"Did you SEQ Grace wentworth whom you were In
Paris? She married some miserable little wretch
with bargain-counter title"
~ think saw her one night at the opera"
"Did she have on q low gown-a scandalously low
gown, meanp"
NO; tho woman to whom refer did not have IT
cut half low enough"
"Weu that was not Grace wentworth. Her
frocks have never been high tide yet. Shall
serve you with chicken or lamb chops? know yon
want tho chops because they have on little white
bloomers."
"No; prefer chicken"
"opera box or balleta Imean breast or leg?"
But 1t is not till the fair author takes to 81.
Pascal, by the bright blue waters Of the Mediter-
ranean, that she develops her full powers as an
aristographer. Hero Is assembled q motley
throng Of brilliant persons from all parts of the
world-of whom Nadine Comtesse do Villon.
Helene Princesse Peticola. and Dagmar Prin-
cesse rajanski are particularly sparkling-es-
pecially Nadine.
"Is Tum-Tum going TO tho chateau this EVENING""
His Royal Highness does not play cards any
more"
"Ah yes Billy Is converting him through the
ample he sets. He 10 model OF propriety you know.
wish Billy would come down this season! We used
to such royal chums and he generally sets things
a-humming when he bursts into place!"
"who is BilIy2" asks De Moyne.
'The world knows him a. wilhelm H. Of Germany.
the most daring daredevil who held the rens Of
an empire in his hands; know him a. q progressive
monarch, dauntlesS soldier. loyal friend"
Nadine considers herself the inferior OF mono.
with her. the heir to gland throne 10 "Tum.Tum"
Germany's mighty ruler is "Bllly." Austrias SOW
ereign Is Franz" and the Autocrat of all the Rus
sias Is mickey"
These naughty personages pepper their con-
yersation with such curious interjections as
1fercf le Bon Dfeul SdcrS te Dfabls! and vn
Mule tonnerresl and they address each other
with reckless indifference as mon anlfe and
mon petite. But they rarely cease to sparkle.
Tho most interesting and the most wicked Of
them all is Marajanski, which should, we think.
have been spelled Mary Janeski. She isa Mill
ist, of exquisite beauty and Indifferent morals.
and 1t probable that little Miss Tiddlywink will
conclude that. even whom under tho influence
of the softer emotions this regal creature was
aarca 9he Inyea the heautiful