The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-01
IN THE FIELD OF LITERATURE.


ar New York.
This romance Of colonial Virginia has been
BREEZY mentioned in the literary columns
OF The Post. but is worthy Of more extended
notice. 1t is one OF the best novels OF the
year Although written by lady who was
comparatively unknown. the publishers In
ftantly recognized the marked strength and
originality OF the work and did not hesitate
20 place Il before the reading public. Il, has
met with fattering reception and has we'll
demonstrated that a Southern authoress OF
true talent can secure recognition and proper
appreciation. Miss Johnston is a native OF
Alabama. and her work has shown that she
Is a young lady OF marked literary attain
merits
Her story deals with period OF American
history that has seldom been utilized by the
novel writer's. or. rather, has not often been
made the basis Of a powerful narrative. The
scenes are located in Virginia at period
when that old dominion was one of the Colo
MES ruled by Charles the Second-when that
future great State was "merely little bit
nf England set down In the wilderness" To
be exact, the story opens in the year 1863. and
the events that transpire are located mainly
on the plantation OF the wealthy Colonel
yerney. the head of an aristocratic English
family who dwelt In the midst OF oyster beds
ana tobacco fields. savage Indians and negro
slaves.
1t is these Indians and negro slaves, to-
sether with the "redemp,ioners'' and in
dcnted servants who give the story its plot
The redemptioners were the convlcts and Jail
birds sent over from England and sold to
/ M ntufs enr hat
were generally thieves and murderers. but
occasionally an innocent and sristocratic per-
son was found among them-one who had
been thrust into an English Jail for political
reasons and sent to the American colonies
in order that his disgrace and Punishment
from public life might be made complete.
Such a person was Godfrey Landless the
son of one of Cromwelrs defeated support
ers ard a staun,A Roundhead Making con-
wet and slave Of born conspirator like
this was naturally poor policy on the part
OF the government, especially at a time when
the Virginia colony held some 400 common
wealth's men. each Of whom, at home ard in
his own station, was man OF mark In addi-
ton to these there were many victims of the
at of uniformity, "goily men. eaten up
With zeal" These two classes Of slaves. to-
gcther with the servants and the negro slaves,
/ furnished the material for a plot Of iusur-
rettion that Landless soon had fully deyel-
oped
! How girl. the heroine of the story. and
| the girl Laldless loved-the daughter Of
Colonel verney-diseovered this plot and
made its execution impossible is thrilling
part of the narrative. and from this point be-
gin a series Of remarkable and graphically
described adventures.
In one or two instances the hair-hreadth
etcapes Of the hero and heroine are so re-
narkable and SO suddenly and unexpectedly
effected that the story touches upon the Nick
Carter Dare Devil Dick" order With the
exception OF this slight tendency to too much
action and adventure. the story is a strong
one and worthy of the highest praise.
II gives the reader an excellent view of
this country at the beginning of it's settle.
nent. and lie by far one of the best of Ameri-
cal historical novels.
Lees Guide to Gay Paree.r bv Nav Man.
~, a Is. Laird Lee, publishers, Chicago
rms Is an attractive little volume and ia
deflgned for the use of those who intend Wis
hiIg Paris In 1900 II tells how 10 get 10
Paris how to find your way in Pari, after
you get there, how 10 avoid conflict with
the dreaded custom house officers. how to
order a dinner or a cab a haircut or a hath
etc 1t gives the French pronunciation Of
each word. which is besides explained in a
special. most entertaining chapter. The hints
about French customs are put forth in such
rsppy vein. There is full list of all me-
slehts OF Paris and the suburbs, with pro-
nnueiation marked, % maps of the muuicipa,
districts OF the city. naming the places of in
tuest situated in each.
Porto Rico and the West Indies" by Mar.
gnerlta Arlina Hamm. F. Tennyson Neely.
publisher. New York s'''
his work was inspired by two visits to the
West Indies, one just prior to the breaking
out of the Cuban rebellion and the other
during the war between Spain and the United
states The volume tells about the people and
The social customs of Porto Rico. III. indus
t'ies ana pursuits, business opportunities.
governmental problems. and gives a great
amount OF other information about the islands
OF the West Indies. 1t is well illustrated
throughout.