Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-21

ways, lIS people are lntelnSSnC anu
pleasing to the stranger, and it is a
paradise for the angler, canoeist and
sportsman, while it's splendid forests
| combine with the omnipresent lakes and
atmospheric effects to make charming
but rather monotonous landscapes for
the artist. The wood built towns, how
ever, are devoid of interest. But it is
only a summer land so far as travel is
concerned. The Finnish language is
in the towns supplemented by Swedish
and Russian
The book contains a map Of Finland
showing the authors route
Published by the Macmillan Co., New
York.
THE DISASTER.
Writers who possess nearly the liter
of De Maupassant are Paul and Victor
Marguerite. Paul is the better known
of the two, his cameo-like short stories,
especially those contained in lie CUR
assier Blanc" and the delicate impress
sions of lie Jardin du Passe,' being
familiar to many English readers. Paul
Marguerite and his brother are real
iSttc writers in a good sense, and their
new volume, rather long historical
novel, dealing with the Franco-Prus-
sian war, contains its lessons Of hope
and patriotism for France.
1.-THE Disaster" in fact, is welcome, If
only as a more readable and worthy
substitute for Zola's over-praised lie
Debacle" (The Overthrow, which con-
tains not an Illuminating ray of hope,
and very negative French patriotic feel
ing. 1.-THE Disaster" like LIE Deba-
cle," deals with the overwhelming de-
feats of the Sedan and Metz campaigns,
but in spite Of its detail and it's per-
.vading sadness, it contains no brutality,
none of the mock heroism of the repel-
liant Zola prose epic"
The Marguerittes, further, know how
to deal with military topic as Zola does
not. One of them was for a number
of years an officer; and their father, who
served with distinction for years in AL
geria, where the sons were born and
lived during their early years, was
killed while leading gallant cavalry
charge at Sedan. The moral courage
and patriotic feeling which in 1.-THE Dis
aster'' sustains hope in the midst of an
unfortunately-be begun and badly man
aged war, when the great body of the
French army was taken captive at the
very start by the enemy, is preferable
to the pessimism of the decadents. 1t
is the real Gallo feeling shining through
the mists of adversely and literary def
amation.
In no other novel presenting the
French side of the Franco -Prussian
war are the leading episodes dealt with
more luminously or so fully with
brighter side-lights on things in which
peace-loving humanity delights. Many
of the descriptions are full of charm,
and some of the characters in a necessa-
rily crowded canvas are very distinct
ly drawn. Considerable space is de-
voted to the suspicious conduct of
Marshal Bazaine who surrendered
Metz and its great garrison to the
Prussians; and this portion is of special
historical worth. The book is dedicated
by the authors ITO the memory of our
father, General Marguerite, and in re-
membrance of the army and of the town
of Metz
The translation, by Frederic Lees,
while fairly good, leaves something to
be desired, and contains some textual
errofs.
NAPOLEON Ill AND HIS COURT.
Those who have read the absorbing
historical narrative by Imbert de
Saint Armand, dealing with the early
life of Louis Napoleon and NINe. de Mon
tijo, afterward the Empress Eugenie,
will find Napoleon III and His Court
an admirable supplementary volume.
Both books belong to M. de Saint
Amand's series dealing with the history
of the second French empire. ''Napo-
leon and His Court" is not a complete
account of the rule of the last Bonaparte
sovereign, but simply very striking
picture of the second empire at the
zenith Of it's renown and Strength-be-
tween 1858 and 1856. ALL the leading
characters of the time appear in these
brilliant pages and their portraits are
+1.1.
comments, extracts from correspondence
and speeches and other material which
the author has carefully selected from
a great mass and skilfully woven into
his polished and forcefm narrative, help
to stamp this as 81 notable book
The author, as in the previous vol
ume, clearly shows partiality for Napo-
leon III. That ne takes pains to show
at all times the best phases of the en-
peror's character, does not mean that he
eXaggerates or that he withlholds consi
deration of his failings and weak
nesses. 1t means rather that he desires to
give general readers more complete
picture than is often given of a parsonage
who has been discussed from various
standpoints, but generally in very in
complete manner. NJ. de Saint-Amand
thinks that had Napoleon III remained
true to his peace policy, he would have
The disasters Of Sedan and Metz ruined
him irretrieveably in the eyes of pos
terity, and thenceforth fixed attention
mostly on his defects of character.
The book is translated with cleverness
by Elizabeth Gilbert Martin, and is il
lustrated by several portraits.
Published by Charles Scribner's Sons,
New York. For sale by Putnam, Davis
& Co.
TALES OF TRAIL AND TOWN.
In Tales of Trail and Town." Bret
Harte presents another group of his
pleasing stories Placed side by side, the
tales show how much more at home Mr..
Harte is when writing Of the trail than
he is when dealing with the town. In
the longest story. 1.-THE ancestors of
Peter Atherley" the scene shifts from
the plains to England, and then back
to the plains, and were it not for the
episodes in the far west the tale would
be insipid. Passing by 1.-TWO Ameri-
cans, we find the author on llis native
heath in 'The Judgment Of Bolinas
Plain one of those sketches dealing
with pioneer life in which the author is
ever pleasing.
'fThe youngest prospector in Gala
verus'' is the freshest and most charac-
teristic story in the book. 1t tells of a
little boy VINO found gold lead, and,
initiating the secrecy shown by the old
miners about their own claims, stoutly
refuses 10 tell any one, not even his
mother or the minister, where he gets
the Shining nuggets that he displays
every now and then. He shares the Sc
cret finally with his playmate, little
girl. But the secret goes no further, for
the children are carried away by a
scourge of diphtheria, and it is not until
many years later that the lead is dis
+ covered in the back yard Of tine boys