The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-08-25
CONCERNING BOOKS.

soldier. struggling for his honor, which
is infinitely more to him than life. is
presented to us daily Ia the reports Of
the trial Of Dreyfus, case which every
one In this country who has heart in
his bosom is watching with intense and
absorbing interest. Therefore the present
volume, published by the Hsrpers. port
land: Loring Short s. Harmony contain
ing The Letters Of Captain Alfred Drey-
fus 10 His Wife, are Of exceptional
moment. and all who read them with
free and unbiased mind and In q sympa-
thtlo spirit will be compelled TO believe
that their author is innocent OF ths crime
with which he has been charged. They
cover the period from December 8. 1894.
to February IA. 1893, and are supplement-
ed by short history OF the entire Dreyfus
case, written by Walter Littleneld.
At a casual glance one might feel that
these letters are OF too private and per-
sonal nature to bs given to the public,
but Madame Dreyfus doubtless believes
that they are her husbands best vindica-
ton, and will aid more than anything
else In ensuring his release. They are
most pathetic and touching, now breath
ing passionate despair, at times Hinged
with hope, and again expressing un-
daunted courage.
From the prison Of Cherohe- Midi he
writes to his dear Lucie. on December the
Z fth. eighteen hundred and ninety -four:
II win not tell you all that 1 have
suffered there are not In the world words
strong enough to express 1t. Do you
remember when used TO tell you how
happy we wereP Everything In life
smiled upon us. Then all at once a fear
ful thunderbolt; my brain still is reeiing
with the shock. For me TO be accused
OF the most monstrous crime that soldier
can commit. Even today 1 feel that
must be the victim OF an awful night
mrre.s
"But hope in God and in justice In
the end the truth must come to light
aiy Conscience Is calm and tranquil. 1t
reproaches me with nothing. / have done
my duty, never have l turned from it."
Poor suffering souli Even Divine
providence apparently cannot control
either the French Army or the French
conscience The iron heel Of military
despotism brushes the truth to earth as
often as 1t appears, and Dreyfus must be
sacrificed so that the crimes of others may
be concealed or ignored.
: A thoroughly readable and entertaining
story from the house Of l.. c. Page g.
Co., cortland, Loring, Short g. Har-
mon) is Deficient Saints tale of Maine
by Marshall Saunders. the author of Rose
A.. Charlitte. Although the setting Of
this story is said to be In Maine one
would not realize that fact except for the
occasional mention of Bangor or Merry
meeting Bay; for there are no descrip-
tions of localities or scenery, and the
characters are certainly not typical Maine
people. Nevertheless tine story is an in
teresting one. and the men and women
who figure In the tale are drawn with
skill and spirit
Miss Jane Gastonguay is a sort of rural
Lady Gay Spanker, and is entertaining
and vivid upon all occasions, even when
riding roughshod over people and their
prejudiceF. There is not much plot. al
though a gentleman burglar of arlstocrat-
10 anteced1nts oilers some thrilling situa.
lions, and there is pretty girl who is
half villain and half saint; lovely young
wife whom we think Is to turn out a
small nonentity but who becomes a great
foIce; and first, and last. and certainly
not least Is Mrs. Hippolyta Prymmer,
sanctifled vessel, charter member of the
church of the United Brethren, and chief
leader In religious work; waggishIy nick
named by the ingodly ''the elect lady. "
Her so-ealled death book Is to her
never-failing source of interest and chast-
ened entertainment In 1t ara the names
of dead friends and their photographs,
with cuttings from newspapers. ard items
of information with regard to them. The
covers of this book ore adorned with two
silver coffin-piates engraved with the
names of her deceased husbands, Sylvester
III Greer and Zebedee Pymmer.s In SPITE
of this the good lady is open to convic-
ton upon the question or third mar
rage and her rosy cheeks and bright eyes
make her belle among the elderly
widowers.
The author should not have named the
town in Maine wherein she has placed
all these interesting personages. Ros-
signol. for nigbtinRales are not to be
found in New England, and Belgrade, or
China, or Mercer or Liyermore Fails,
would have been more appropriate
Nevertheless the story is bright and enter
tanning and has goodly flavor of origin
ality about 1t.
The same publishers offer us The
Making of Zimri bunker: A tale
of Nantucket. the Early Days. by WILL
lam j. Long. The Archbishop's IN
guarded Moment and Other Stories. by
Oscar Fay Adams; and A Gentleman
Player, an historical novel by Robert
Nelson Stephens. who wrote those very
creditable and entertaining books, An
Enemy to the King, The Continental
Dragon, and The ROAD to Paris. all of
which have boon reviewed In these COL
umns.
The plot of The Making of Zlmri
Bunker is not new one. A little child
Il. 4 -