New-York tribune., 1898-10-16

LING; THIEF JUGGLER AND FENCiNG
oN BY s Weir Mitchell ten r''sN NJ D, irsD Illustrated
ny; ny A. Castaigne. Duodecmo, PIP S2l. The Cen
ADVENTURES OF THE COMTE DE LA
MUETTE DURING THE REIGN OF TER
nOiS ,by Bernard Capes. Duodecimo. pp. S9i
Taken separately, but stin more when taken
together these two novels illustrate a curious
result OF what might be called the eternal spirit
Of domination in the French revolution. DR..
Mitchell and Mr.. Capes both have heroes OF
their own, for whom they propose that history
ehan supply background but before they
kno" II history has turned upon them and taken
the centre Of the stage. We mention this not
10 discredt the authors but simply TO indicate
striking phenomenon in life and literature.
When Seyes was asked what he did during the
Terror he replied, Il lived The individual
held IN abeyance 10 a certain extent. The cpl
gram of Sieyes brings up the image % great
power that spread itself over France like a
monster, its hands tearing through the popula-
ton with impersonal, resistless fury. To slip
through its fingers to lie either lucky or
clever but no amount OF cleverness could change
the essentially subordinate attitude Of the in
dividual man. He fought something that
maned Infinitely stronger than himself even
after he had won.
Thus figure looms more Nividly IN Dr.
hitche!Is novel than Robespiorre. an incarna-
ton Of the Terror rather than a man whom VIC
consider for his own sake Twice ne Is sketched.
Upon the frs. occasion he is approaching the
booth Of Francois where he extends his palm
to bc read 10y the mountebank. Presently the
crowd made way. slight man in brceches and
SILK stockings came forward: he was otherwise
dressed IN the extreme OF the fashion still "a
vor"G by the court party. iut wore nc cockade
and carried watches His uneasy
eyes covered with spectacles, and around
them his sallow complexion deepencd to a dusky
d1N green" Again. toward the end "f the
Story, he appears with the anxietos of his po-
ation grown heavier on his soul Like Marat'
he began to show physically the effects OF me
fu Of alarms; for this monster dreaded dark
ness trembed at unusual noises and remained
to The last the most carefully dressed man in
Parls." MI Capes also introduces a vjGnette of
Robcspierre dressed in the fine blue coat he
was Studying 10 make historical. and exhibiting
the weak extremes of his nature in the presence
OF a run-over dog" the sinister creature entering
up.n the, scene for moment "a the hero de-
parts ior the provinces. masquc:adnG as
Jacobln in the carriage OF a Jac obin ofiiciai
Bpt neither OF our nOvelists gains his erect ny
specific outlines; il is due in both cases to the
recreation Of atmosphere. Robespierre and
his crew presided over the France Of the Terror
hhe intangible but potent influences. In the
same way they count in these books. II IS a
testimony TO the ar; OF the authors that they
hav. adapted themselves with tht utmost ease
and smoothness TO tae imperative mood of their
material. Their humility has had its reward.
Allowing the significance OF the revolution 10
diminish the significance OF their heroes thty
have secured amazing verisimilitude
In respect 10 lifelke and human quality The
Adventures Of FRANCOIS Is Dr. MtchelIs best
book work superior even 10 his Hugh
Wynne" II is true thai al tines he rather
strains the credulity OF the rea1er. FRANCOIS
who IS A perfectly credible parsonage himself
has for companion q dog who Is little too
clever and the evolutions Of the plot are some
times governed less bv The natural laws OF fat'
thar ny the authors desire 10 ma ke a coherent
drama out Of his heros career. Tho possibilities
of coincidence are pushed 10 the extreme. Paris.
~ Dr. Mitchell is well aware was labyrinthino
ares o. the story rub W against one another in
In. street as aptly though they had received
a cue from a stage manaecr. This. however.
can easily be forgiven. FRANCOIS Is GclightfuI;
roto-in spite OF his exaggerated intclhgenee-is
n charming dog and the adventures cf the TWO
Arc set forth with Just the touch that is ncces-
sary 10 keep them from being u'ieriy 'bH'era'eu
n, the .Iugcernaut march O. the Terror. The
creatures produced 10y tie latter ana Ihcorpo-
raied into It's machinery, the infamous JaI"lS
aIn commissioners. are powerfully c"iI'a'eo.
tn mobiles also are portrayed IN ther slehe'h
and weakness: ana the mot, both IN I"Fis ana
the pro0nccs receives due att'ru"n. WIN