The herald., 1898-07-03

woman who has the hardest problem to
solve. For an agnostic may be as con-
scientious as professor Of religion In the
| end, she concludes that as much as che
loves Helbeck, she cannot surrender her
| will. When she attempts to do so in ODE
dience to her love, her mind revolts from
| the requirements and the beliefs of the
church. She Is good and the church Is good.
but they cannot be reconciled to each other.
Laura gives up the struggle at last. She
went to the river bank, to gather cherry
blossoms, and the waters claimed her. 1t
would have been thought an accident were
II not for letter she left. Then Helbeck
sorrowing for his dead love, and loyal to
his church, prepared to enter the Jesuit
nOvitiate.
Mrs. Ward has made tho character of
Laura very lifeljks. Those who enter into
the spirit of her writings Will suffer with
Laura and with the man she loved. Hell
beck of Banne sdale," like the others OF
Mrs. Wards novels, is problem story"
and like others, 1t does not solve the prof.
lens it raises. But, we do not do that in
real life.
JOHN OF STRATHBOURNE. BY B. D.
Chetwoode. New York: D. Appleton &
Co. Paper covers. PSI pages. Price, 80
cents.
John of Strathbourne," No. 243 IN the
popular Town and Country library. IL ro-
nance Of the days of Francis l, when all
gentlemen were soldiers and everybody
went to the wars. There is something in
such stirring tales, If only they be we'll told.
that appeals strongly to every person with
rich red blood In his veins. We like to
go back to the days Of ruffiing cavaliers
and men-at-arms, we eagerly follow the
adventures of the fair demoiselle. even
though our sober nineteenth century lives
give the lie to the very thought. 1t Is a
good story, this romance of nearly 400 years
ago, and there Is plenty of excitement and
smell of blood Weyman has some brave
followers in his special line of story telling,
and Mr.. Chetwoode is not merely an imi-
tator.
What would American leaders of other
days think of our present war? is peril
nent question not without answer. In
letter to Admiral Ammen, and included in
the Admiraps Memoirs. Just issuing in
second edition from the Lippincott press,
General Grant says of Spain: 1T Is hard
to foretell the future of Spain. The peo-
pie are good enough, if, as you say, they
could see any future for their labor But,
as it Is, there seems to be no integrity
among the ruling class. Those who do
work receive but the barest subsistence.
If a man raises pig he cannot kill 1t and
eat 1t without paying an equivalent to five
dollars of our money. The revenue officers
are SO abundant that there Is no chance of
escaping any tax except by bribery, which
is resorted to to the extent Of depriving
the government of a very large percentage
of its revenues. There is the greatest dis
content. and the least thing would start
revolution. have no idea that the ex-
listing state of affairs can last long. 1t
will not be long before the experiment of
republic will be tried again. and probably
with more success than the last time' 1t
is we'll to ponder these prophetic words and
many similar passages in the Grant cor
respondence with Admiral Ammen.
1t Is interesting to note In 1.-THE Memoirs
and Letters of James Kent" recently pub
lished by Little, Brown & Co., Chancellor
Kents characterization Of Alexander Ham
lton and Aaron Burr, then at the zenith
Of their powers. Colonel Burr" he wrote,
was acute, quick. terse, polished. SEN
tentious and sometimes sarcastic In his
forensic discussions. He seemed to disdain
illustration and expansion, and confined
himself with stringency to the point in de-
bate. But among all his brethren Alexander
Hamilton was indisputably pre-eminent.
This was universally conceded. He rose at
once to the Hottest heights Of professional
emnence by his profound penetration. his
power Of analysis, the comprehensive grip
and strength Of his understanding and the
firmness. frankness and integrity Of his
character"