New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-01
FICTION.
ERIGAND WHO SOUGHT To WIN a
THRONE

Man md 1 Mystc'y. By MAX ~
Illustrated by y. West Cinedinst Duodecimo'
DO. 80. u Appleton & CO.
DOMlTIA. By S. Barng- Gould. Illustrated ny
fora G. Chandler. Duoiecmo. PIP. 3b fteo-
crick y Stokes Company.
FANTASTIC FABLES. BY Ambrose Bierce. Duo
cecmo PIP l9i. g. +. Putnams Sons
Mr. pomberton observes rather pompously in
an ir,roductory note to THE Phantom Army
that he has attempted in this book to depict
III, onnnrise of n man who is a victim Of the
Napolconic idea" and he assures us that some
of his military friends have no doubt at all
about the successes OF his hero being wlthih
"the limit of possible achievement. THIS Is
very y.ighty but The Phantom Army" re
mains 4 book Of fragrant invention and wild ex-
travaeancc Lorenzo de la Cruz is an incredible
creature and his fellow bandits are no more
convincing His ambition TO seat himself upon
the Spanish throne is kept in the foreground IN
order to lend dignity to his performances. out
in snite of this precaution we find him just
such n figure as has for many years been con-
spicuolls in what the English call the shiiilhS
shocker' There Is a beautiful woman in the
story of course one Isabella de Gavarnie ana
she il finally won by an English ex-captain
who serves as n sort of ub-hero. occupying the
stage when Lorenzo is not there He is
doubtful hero Isabella commands him not 20
utter her name when he enters Spain. 1t passes
his Inns in 4 conversation with 4 gypsy girl
few hours after he has reached the first stage
in his Journey 10 the camp Of the briSands.
Saving that il is too fantastic tale. however
The Phantom Army has some merits. 1t IS
imagined with delightful spirit The action IS
rapid and the author has narrative gift when
enables him to carry the reader on unweareu
TO the last page It is amusing, and, with all
its faults II Is harmless.
"Domita" is a romance OF the times OF Nero
and Domitian The heroine has her fate fore
told early in the book, and then rebels against
fortune as the prophecies come true This IS
not unnatural The scrcerer set forth anything
but a pleasant prospect for all that the imperial
throne doomed at the end Of it. But our sym
pathy for Domlta as she passes. through years
OF suffering, from paganism to Christianity IS
diminished by the fact that she is not herself
4 very tangible individual. The story moves in
too mechanical n gait and at the climax. when
Domitia reaches the divine light OF the church,
the effect is more spectacular than humanity
thrilling The best parts OF the tale are those
relating to Domitias mother a fretful, silly
creature who Is nevertheless drawn with some
skill The pictures OF the Roman life OF the
time are fairly well executed. but join with the
unreality OF the heroine to make the novel
seem thin and perfunctory.
Mr. Rierce's Fantastic Fables would be the
better for a dlminution OF the cyncism when
pervades the book. Except for this rather acrid
quality the chips Of wisdom sea tered through
the collection are well worth reading. Mr.. Bierce
handles his pen with ease and art But would
he not be better employed il he were TO write
hort otn yyh no
shown he can write well?