The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-20
Saul Among the rophets.

80 Runs the World is a newly trans
lated volume by Henryk Sienkiewicsz. 1t
may be the fault of the translator and
il may not but the style of this work
is most remarkably incoherent. and the
subject matter wild and peculiar The
writer of the preface, S. c. De scissors,
declares that in every one of Sienkie-
wicsz's volumes people will deposit per-
sonal impressions; some people will dry
flowers in them, others "reminiscences.
Considering the fact that Mr.. Sienkie-
wics2's best-advertsed work, QUO Va
dis" is now coming TO the point where
it will be given away with cakes of soap,
this is probably true. Without taking
any statistics, it may safely be said that
a great many of the readers of "Quo
Vadis" will use that book to dry flowers
in, and "reminiscences too. The language
of this preface is also rather mixed and
curious, but possibly it is only esoteric.
The book itself is a group of three or
four different pieces of work. The first
IS an essay on Zola. in which the Polish
author abuses the French realiSt up hill
and down The idea of the author of
"Quo Vadis," probably the most unvar-
nished expose of viciOusness seen on the
counters of American bookstores in some
years, finding fault with lola for his real
ism, is so curious as to be rather start
ling. AS one proceeds to peruse this ar
raignment of lola, however, it becomes
evident that NJ Sienkiewicsz does not in
the least know what the French realist
is driving at, and a critic who does not
know what is the matter with the man ne
goes to criticse is surely in a bad predic-
ament. The Polish realist, in short, can
not see any reason for the methods of the
French realist, and because he cannot, he
comes to the conclusion that NJ. lola is
merely seeking notoriety. AS matter of
fact the immense popularity of QUO Va
dis" in this country was undoubtedly due
very largely to the vivid description of
the Roman banquets, and whatever else
people skipped in the book, they assured
ly did not skip that. 1t looks very much
therefore, as if NJ. SienkewicsZ were
troubled with the same complaint as NJ
lola, whatever that may be.
After this essay, in which he abuses
without stint the type of novelist who
deals in the theme of Illicit love, he goes
on to present dramatic sketch in which
that theme is the only thing to be seen.
To be sure the characters do not com
nit any sin, but they hover around
the edges of it in everything they say
and the only virtue they exhibit is shown
at the last moment, just as the curtain
falls. This again, is followed by q
very clever little fantasy. dealing with
the old days of Olympus and the gods
and having for It's theme the wager of
Apollo and Mercury that the former can
tempt a mortal woman, a bakers wife
| to part with her virtue. Apollo loses
| the wager, and as a finale is told by
| Jupiter that the woman refused him
! not because she was Virtuous, but be-
| cause she was stupid The story Is
| told with consummate skill and grace.
but If there IS anything especially viz
tuous in 1t, it does not appear on the
| surface.
on the whole Mr.. Sienkiewicsz's re
markable conslomeration of work is not
very good proof that he is any better
| than his despised contemporary. NJ. lola.
ington: Woodward 81 Lothrop)