The Saint Paul globe., 1898-04-17

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Hnwaii-"street Cleaning," by
Col. George Il. Waring--SeIec-
tons p the Poets
Mr.. Anthony Hope is man with
many strings to his bow, and 1t some
times pleases him to make use of two
or more of them to give force to
single shot. '"The Dolly Dialogues"
ana The Prisoner Of Zenda" stand for
two of Mr.. sFIawkins' successes. and
Simon Dalessss his latest published vol
ume, Is In way a. combination Of
both. A, rhetorical romance that no
more halts or hesitates than ''The Prls-
oner of Zenda," Simon Dale" sparkles
from beginning to- end with that clever
ness which Interests one in '"The Dolly
Dialogues" Quite as full of adventure
as "Phroso. the composition of Simon
Dale" Is 'Inuch more shipshape,
and the unexpected in this tale. though
II happens quite as frequently, is vast,
ly more convincing.
The time Of Charles H., of England,
and Louis XIV of France, is a period
fraught with possibilities for the writer
OF historic romance, and so many Of
this class have appreciated its qualities
that the reader of historic fiction is
ready to resent "a further development
CT the field, unless 1t be made to yield.
by the craft of master hand, a fruit
OF exceptional quality. We are ready
to read Simon Dale" and are waiting
for anything more Anthony Hope has
to give us of the same period and in
the same spirit.
Simon Dale's is born under the con-
trolling force of prophecy, the weird
word of an old woman, who foretells
the day and place of his BIRTH and that
he should live to love where the. king
loved, know what the king hid. end
drink of the kings cup.
Simon Dale comes of respectable
country gentlefolk, and. being himself
an honest and honorable young gentle
man. it seems very unlikely that the
startling prophecy shall in any part
come true. Being steadfastly deter
mined that his boyhood shall be less
tedious in the telling than it was in
living, Simon makes sure of it by skip
ping it altogether and begins his story
when he had reached the age of eigh-
teen. This steadfastness of determina-
ton is very characteristic Of the young
gentleman, and indicates what may be
expected of him quite as clearly as
would "reminiscences Of his tender
years. Still we get to like the youth in
after years so much that we regret the
years he has spared us.
The prophecy stays with him, and
he waits on fate She comes to him
in the person OFFS a young damsel,
plague -drivenS SSfrom London, who, in
her country sGjourn, crosses the paral-
lei ways of Simon and Barbara Quin-
ton, girl Who seems naughty and
willful against her sylvan background,
and afterwards, against the court pa
geantry. very pure and helpless. The
other, and Ggdaria, as the London
damsel chooses to- call herself. comes
off victor Afterwards "a call comes
from London, an appointment in the
kings regiment. and ina London broll
Simon Dale finds himself denying that
his honors come from Nell Gwyn. so,
bitterly resentful, fha''yet loves where
the king LOVES and part of the
prophecy is fulfilled. In time, he
knows what the king would hide, and
even 2 drinks from sfhee, king S -,eup-a
cup that is+very near to death. ST.
mon Dale, honest, gallant, fearless,
would be! !eonvincingfy 1ife-like if only
for the simple sincerity with which
he loves two women, in such utterly
different spirit, and both loves are un-
blinkingly recognized by him. In all
the books that Nell Gwyn has graced
or disgraced with her presence since
before the Chimes Of ST. Martins
began to ring for her souls salvation,
in. none has she seemed more her own
excuse than in Simon Dale. Sparkling,
tender for moment self-sacrifiei
almost helpless "a mid her cruelty wick
ed environments, she is as pathetic in
her unfelt degfa dation as Barbara
Ouinton is in her pure, naughty strug-
gle against the same odds.
@simon Dale by Anthony Hope. Freder
lex Stokes company, New York. $l.5O. For
sale by the St. Paul Book and Stationery
company.