Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-04

into play the imaginative faculties OF the
novelist and poet. Given such condl-
lions. and the possibility OF combination
between eight or ten Of CromwelPs ola
Ironsides, the victims Of the conditions
and we have the materials from whlcn
the author has constructed Strongh MS
toricaI romance, giving us one or the
best Virginia novels yet written.
Godfrey Landless, the hero OF the story
IS q well-drawn character or one whose
qualities make him the leader in plot
in which men staked their lives on du-
biOus chances Of success. The prlncl-
pal accomplices are men who like him.
self. had fought at Naseby and Worces-
ter, or had followed Cromwell through
the breach at DrOgheda. The story OF
the conspiracy is naturally told and skill
fully developed as are also the reasons
OF it's almost inevitable failure. such as
was the fate OF at least one such case of
plotting known in our early history.
Among the subordinate characters the
figure Of Win-Grace Parringer stands
out as boldly drawn and lfe-llke type
of the Muggletonan fanatic, the most
rabid OF the sectarians OF that day and
generation OF sects. A tale Of that period
almost necessarily introduces old Gov
ernor Berkeley. The sketch Of the gal
liant old reprobate in the few scenes OF
his appearance, vigorous in thought ana
action, is a mastery portrayal, and one
of the few representations In modern
books in which he is not made grotesque
and ridiculous. The duel in which ne
engages seems, however, out or place
and mars somewhat the consistency OF
the story. There are many delightful
touches In the development Of the love
story woven into the romance, that binds
the hearts OF the hero and heroine, the
latter being the charming, If waywarc.
daughter OF Landless' master, Colonel
| Verney. The final catastrophe VIII be ais
| Amounting to most readers, and Is, per-
| haps. an artistic blunder, unless Justiheu
| by legal and logical conditions that neces-
state the abandonment Of hero TO MS
| doubtful fate.
The story IS full Of life and action,
sometimes highly dramatic and with
scenes Of tragic interest, such as the
| combined Indian and negro attack on the
Verney mansion. The terrors OF SUCH
scene may seem exaggerated, but II was
| y fatal danger incident to those early
davs OF the Colony. The incidents OF
Priscillas capture and abduction py IN
dams. and the daring pursuit ana rescue
| effected by the hero, make narrative
worthy of Cooper; and there are rev
enisodes in the fiction Of to-day equal 10
| the account Of the long ana lonely Jour
new of the two lovers anu their friendly
| Indian through the prmeyal forests py
which the maiden is restored TO nome
and friends. ,,.,a
The prisoners Of Hope has the uoupie
/ merit of great interest as mover ana
as a valuable illustration of the history
and character OF the time with when II
! deals. In assuming as the basis OF the
story that the Cromwellian, or puritan
| element in the Colony was much larger
| than is generally supposed, the author mas
| taken common ground with some otner
| students Of Colonial history. MISS Johh-
| ston "a a native Nirginian, now rrsloe'e
| IN Alabama. II this be her trst DOOR
| and we know Of no other-it Is more re-
markable success, carrying bright pro-
misses for literary future.
| ORCHARD FOLK, TWO California sto-
ries. BY Elizabeth winthrop Johnson,
author OF Yesterday Two IDga'
| Lovers" etc MDCOCXCVlll. Cohu-
mental Publishing Company % Fd'N
Place, New York
1.-THE present moves attended
With all Of brave and excellent ana iair
That made the old time splendid
"Orohard Folk" is interesting more Tor
the glimpses It gives Of future power III
the author than for any present merit
| I'm the book Itself Miss Johnsons inten-
| ttous are OF the best, but her powers as
| deveIoped unfortunately are not equal
| 70 her ambition. "Orchard Folk Is IN the
| main study Of one or two rather COM
: mouplace characters, and the author re-
| lies on a very sleepy scrap or story
indeed. 10 make them interesting; ana
as might be expected. she falls. Ne'tner
of the stories, judged simply from the
stondpoint OF the novel reader, is mucn
! above mediocrity, and the nrst Is i'oiii
| anv standpoint intolerably dull. Yet no
one who reads the secOnd-"Silvela Oh
Di,lzura"-critically will doubt that the
| author has talents undeveloped. her
| faults arise rather from inexperience than
from lack Of ability, and she deserves
every encouragement TO continue neI
| work With a happier theme, ana more
experience in writing. there Is no reason
why she should not produce a reahy
great book.
For sale by the publishers. Price, ".
THE SHADOWS OF THE TREES AND
OTHER POEMS. BY Robert Burns WI
son. New York. X. II. Russell. 1888.
Since the death of Lanier perhaps no
book Of southern verse has appeared hair
so rich i'm promise as the poems so taste
fully given 10 the public in this little vol
ume. Mr.. Wilson is Pennsylvania, but
his long life in Kentucky has made him
southern. at least so far as concerns love
| Of our southern country, and ne writes
as southerner. He is a true poet and
lover Of nature, and IL is from the South.
where nature Is at her best, that he gets
his inspiration. The dreamy, far-on call
OF the crow in summer. the shadows Of
the trees. the songs OF birds. and whis-
perng streams. the deep. melodious
| murmuring Of the river all appeal 20
| him, and inspire him. And he writes OF
our southern fields ana woods as only one
could write that knew and loved them
| as we love them.
| For sale by the publishers.
| MISTAKES WE MAKE A Practical
Manual for Everyday Readers and
Writers Edited by Nathan Haskell
Dole. One Volume, i6mo. 30 pages
| Cloth, 81 cents.
This volume Is based on somewhat
similar compilation prepared for the
| English market by c. Il. Clark; but II has
been completely revised and largely re.
written and enriched with an abundance