Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-04-20


warmth into warm glow that made
picture of mingled lights and shadows.
The learning of the world rose tier
above tier on the shelves that filled the |
space between the floor and the ceiling. |
My ample table filled with the fresh |
literature of spring stood in the centre |
of the room. My eye caught sight of |
the title of book by an old familiar
author. L took it out from its place |
and lot it fall open on my knee. After |
few pages | was sorry | had found |
my old friend, Frank Norris. l mist |
confess am not in sympathy with his
last book, "McTeague. Mr.. Norris |
Is undoubtedly powerful writer; he
has drawn his characters with rare
skill and told his story in most
graphic fashion, but he has presented
the life in San Francisco with an
unnecessary amount of sorditlness,
wretchedness and crime. McTeague
the dentist, and his little wife Trina,
have most wretched, miserable life.
We follow their decay and final descent
into the final depths of animal bru-
tally. No stronger picture can be
given of the evil that lies in the love
of money than in this powerfully
written book. But Mr.. Norris has
written pages for which he had abso-
lutely no excuse. do not say that an
author may not choose brutal subjects,
but in this novel there are needless
sins against good taste. .McTeague''
will Undoubtedly be widely read. but |
hope 1t will only fall into the hands of
a vigorous mind, and frankly, l must
add, a vigorous stomach.
l put this book down and reach
forward with relief to an old friend.
Among the multitude of books which
find their way to the light of my study
fire comes along one which searches my
consciousness to the depths. An in
definable atmosphere is about it, and
this book is the journal Antine of
Amiel. Amiel stands for class of
men OF genius of kcenly perceptiye and
sensitive temperament. His life is one
OF those deep wells which are fed by
hidden rills and which have power to
assuage the thirst of the soul. This
journal every one should read, and it
should hold place of honor in every
ones library. 1t is something that at
the bottom of this great ocean of life
such pearl ms this should be given
us. 1t served tonight to take the
nasty taste of the sordid narrow life of
"McTeague" out of my mouth.
My old chum Beth opened the door
and came in for quiet toast by the
| fire. As usual she came in enthusiastic
over some new gem in the world of
books she had picked up. This time
she carried with her, 1.-THE Miracles
Of nti-Christ, translated from the
Swedish by Pauline Bancroft Flasch.
From Sicilian legion is taken the
motto of the book: "When Anti Christ
comes he shall seem as Christ. There
shall be great want and Anti Christ
shall go from land to land and give
bread to the poor. He shall find many
followers. In the three vivid chapters
of the introduction we are told of the
genesis of this mysterious Anti-Christ.
How ON an holy night the Emperor
Augustus climbed to the Capitol Hill
and the heavens opened before his eyes
and in the far East he saw the Christ
child in the manger, ard how he
erected then sanctuary for the new
born child and called it Aracoei. II
is strangely beautiful book and has a
strange and beautiful meaning, land
whatever may be your belief,'' said
Beth, "you can't help but read it with
interest. / can't tell you much about
it now, for l want you to read the book
for yourself and you will find in it moi
only simple religion tsuperstition vol
may call it, but superstition whose
sincerity is beyond a doubt, but Low,
and hate and above all human natur,
in all its variety"
You can't go very far now withou
being asked the question, Have 20,
seen "Cyrano De Bergerac?" Betf
follows it up with, "have you reat
} Cyrano De Bergerac's A Voyage t,
NJ, 1nt- :.
! manuscript in 1919, but was not pub
!, lished until 1866. He anticipated TIN
, microbe theory as we discover in dis
I cussion he has with the luna philoso
pliers after reaching the moon. 4
, recent publication has been issue,
, which has been severely criticised, blu
> which possesses a value beyond it
, literary character.
: LETTER writingsis out Of date, say
. Beth, poking the fire. IF you wan
j an example of graceful letters you hav
! to go back far into the centuries an,
find it in other chimes than where tn
Y would be- up to- date woman reigns. T
] the list of women famous in history fo
a the parts they have played in Court
j and letters must now he added that O
s the Princess Des Ursins, a Frenc
s woman, who was power in Spar
o during the wars of the Spanish sue
T cession. just now you know we are a
!? interested in Spanish history and thi
Q little book | see here on your table
IS Story of the Princess Des Ursins i
v Spain is likely to meet with yer
great deal of pleasure, ! fancy. 1t
about the Court of Spain under Phil
the Fifth, and most Of the letters al
/, addressed to Madame De Maintenor
y Yes, the correspondence of these tw
y uncrowned queens is of great interes
i ] advise you to read the book. my de-
|" Portia, the letters will interest you
h This princess was a woman who lie
= what we mockingly term AN tt
n comforts of home,' at the age of 5
4 to begin battle behind the throne
ss Spain that lasted 20 years. With O,
q women stockholders, women farmer
" women this, that and the other, hi
~ our time anything finer to show ths
4, T. the loyalty and wit and greatness
- this Princess. Every woman and ms
~ today who thinks ambition and idea
worth striving for will find themselv
very much interested in the story
this French woman who was the pow
r. behind the throne in Spain"
at what is that book that you a
9, hiding there, Beth? Are you asham
st to show it to me?'' Beth hlushed
ok bit and pulled out from her pocket
be little volume and admitted that s.
of had been frivoling in reading. 1T
as Just book about my own sex" 8
e. said; "about love and gossip, writ
IS in such an up-to-date way that it
nd bound to have great sale. You MI
ng have seen some of it in Town Topics
id she said. 1.-THE Reveries of Widow