Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-22

AN ANTARCTIC MYSTERY. BY Jules
Verne. Translated by Mrs. Cashel Hoey.
Illustrated. Published by j. b.. Lippin-
colt Company, Philadelphia.
Dear, plausible. mendacious old Jules
Verne Is again before US, though his years
are ripe, and he has almost run his
course. He has, in his long and arduous
career as an author, told us of the hea-
vens above, the waters beneath. and over
and over again OF this inferior planet. Now
his theme is Of icy seas and mystic re-
gions white with snow.
The venerable Frenchman has yet 10
write a story which lacks interest. With
out individuality Of style or holiness OF
thought. he has nevertheless held his own
and won a place in literature, not know
ing exactly why we call him sui generis.
and begin his works with the most pleas
ant a~nticipations.
In the opening chapter Of this attractive
fiction the aged author. apparently
doubtful Of our confidence, begins: mo
doubt the following narrative will be re-
ceived with entire incredulity, but 1 think
It well that the public should be put In
possession of the facts narrated in An
Antarctic Mystery The public is free to
believe them or not, at its good pleasure"
Awaiting himself Of this privilege, the
reader finds much pleasure in the story.
The book may, in a certain sense, be
called a sequel to Edgar Allen Poe's tale
.nr, - A,yL,r Gor1On Dvm ~
In the Americans story the deeds OF GER
tain seamen and rolling stones are re-
lated. and they suffer countless hardships
in the Antartic regions. They undergo the
conventional shipwreck. are cast on de-
sert islands, become cannibalistic' ana
retire amidst a veil of mystery.
The Frenchman, on whom Poe mas EVIL
IDENTIFY made a deep impression. causes MS
heroes to go I'm search Of the Ppm party.
To say that they figure in wonderful ad-
ventures is but 10 hint that Jules Verne
created them. They start on a long south
ern voyage and see sights which are mar
vellous. There are deaths, mutinies, Ice
bergs. whales, %penquins. and other things
en- PEASANT. but the purposes or the Voy-
age are ultimately accomplished. Whlle
Jules Verne doesn't hesitate TO murder
and kill off all superfiuous characters, his
interest I'm his heroes is far more protect
ing and beneficial than accident insurance
companies or trust-company bonds lie
believes in cheerful fnales.
There Is not a woman in the story ana
none seem needed. The men get along
mavellously well without them, and inte-
rest US no little.
EZEKIELS SIN, A CORNISH RO-
NANCE. BY J. II. Pearce, Author OF
ELLIS Daughter -"Inconsequent Lives,
&c. New York: George II. Richmond
q Son. 1898.
'Ezekiers SIM is a study Of Cornish
character, and the effect of sin and SUI
perstitfon combined on the ~uneducated
mind Ezekiel Trevaskis, a Cornish crab
Der. while alone on the sea in his boat.
finds a human body drifting. For the
sake Of money TO crafty a within or his
daughters. he robs the dead man and
sets the body adrift again. denying II
Christian burial. This is EZekiePs sin. IL
haunts the sinner throughout his lie. II
rises before him at every turn TO stare
him in the face. 1t weakens his mind
with superstitious dread. And it drives
him TO premature old age at last and a
miserable death.
This theme IS well, sometimes power
lllIA. NItAltAs &AaA Nht NfNHNfH"E ~"
the mans slow ruin is almost fascinat-
ing. But II is questionable whether such
a boob could ever do one good. The ef-
feet of remorse on the uneducated mine
has always been an attractive study 10
some intellects. But II has never been a
wholesome one; and in this case the study
comes dangerously near the morbid. Fur
thermore. the story is too sombre 70 be
thoroughly artistic, and its n Of ac-
ton Is much too narrow not TO be mo-
notOnous.
Mr.. Pearce tries. it is true. by intro
ducing the crabber's daughters 10 relieve
the gloom Of the book. but he fails utter
" OF his intention. Instead Of pleasure
he succeeds in producing only disgust in
the mind of the reader. In Drusilla n
Morvenna Treyaskis he intends evidently
to picture two attractive wOmen-or, at
least. he represents them as such 10 the
men around them, for between the two
they succeed in getting married three
times. But Judged by moy mems stand
ard of women. they hardly deserve the
name at all. They are little better than
animals, in whom animal passion Is the
first law of life. n Is not a little doubt
full If in real life two such creatures
could inspire love in any one. How their
creator himself can see n beauty in
tntm AdS lie certainty APHN@AS ~ wv -
inconceivable. II they are 10 be taken as
types of Cornish women then Cornish
men are deeply 10 be pitied; for their
wives and daughters live only for lust.
For this very reason it is safe TO say
that not many men will read "Ezekiels
SIM with pleasure. For, howeve many
may hold such poor opinions Of women
as Mr.. Pearce seems TO hold, few care TO
put them into words, and fewer still 20
see them upon paper.
OFF TO KLONDIKE: OR. A cow
BOYS RUSH 10 THE GOLD-FIELDS.
BY Gor0on Stables, NJ. D.. c. NJ. CSur-
gocn Royal navy, author Of "A Fight
for freedom" The Pearl Divers" The
Cruise Of the Rover Caravan" Prom
~"Ploughshare to Pulpit" etc, etc. Illus
tratICns by Charles Whymper. New
York: &C east Fourteenth street Thomas
Y. Crowell & Co. Boston: 100 Pur-
chase street.
our recollections Of some pleasant hours
spent years ago with "O'er Many Lands.
on Many Seas" a charming book for
bows. by the same author. served as an
instant recommendation Of ION 10 Klon-
dixie" Mr.. Stables knew how TO interest
boys fifteen years ago, and he still knows
how. His style is as fresh and attractive
as ever. Ion 10 Klondike" is the story Of
a young Englishman's wanderings in
America. He is in turn errand-boy, con-
clerk. lecturer, cowboy, and miner,
and he comes out Of each profession, OF
course. with flying colors. After making
"his pile" in Alaska and a great many
friends all over America, and leading an
eminently moral and virtuous life, as all
conyicts, cowboys, miners, and clerks do
lin books for boys. Wilson Webb returns
IL a-al