The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-12
Of
NEW BOOKS.

during recent years, and both the his
toriar and The novelist have delved into
US rich soil
We have had histories. political, social
anu economic OF virginia from the times
OF Queen l. izaDcth anu king tOwha.an
GOWN through AL ner Vicl9sit-u4s, 90 tng
5000 and glorious day when sne NOluntir-
ny Meigel her independence ln tao Union
OF States.
We nave had novel after novel from
"Hansiord' and The knights of the
Golden Aorsesn0e, down 10 tne stories
OF last year describing the experience
OF the adventurous spirits VINO sailed VITA
Raleigh, with Newport and smith. We
have mad tales OF the coiouists from Dale
20 Dunmore. OF daring, peril, suffering
and heroism OF man bravery and wo-
mans devotion. bold adventures and har-
dy pioneer hish-DOrn cavalier, deFout
Huguen0t and stately dame Opuient lord
OF tho manor and lovely lazy. gal ant
youth and laughing girhoOd, baroniai
manor house. back slave and painted
Indian have been depicted for our pleas
ure ad uJitum. But the neld IL SIN un-
exhausted, the theme is one OF when
Nirsiulans never dire.
One OF The strongest OF tho late con-
trbutons 90 this class Of literature is
Miss Mary Johnstons prisoners OK
Hope" recently published By Houehton
Miilin & CO.. whose name is guaran-
tee OF typ0sr1p Alcal excellence. The
time OF the Story D. the earlier part OF
the reign of Charles H., and during Sir
William Berkeley administration oil the
government of the colony whlcn was
then experiencing a reaction from rs
loyalty 90 the Lords Amounted.
Mi.s Johustons book evinces PAINS
O. b. I'd D. I H HI .ra
iul study OF he social conditions OF thai
turbulent anu picturesque period. To the
unsettled llic of The time, in the influx
of motley and iucOnsrC0us immigration
embracing aA classes and many nation
alues. tO the strange new land. here
under olives. through smiling skies. he
black man t0lei iu the rich .on.alis
winch the white man had wres-e ed Z no
the red. when danger lurked torcte in
tho woods and in the quarters and the
strongest race orerbOro the &C., cl4Jr. hold
ing one lu subsection in Tie fields a.d t-t
other at bay in The forest. one DE mate.
rial for thrilling narrative, the c.encat 20
romance and tragedy lay ready t0 her
hand and with vigorous and sklfll touch
she has blended them In "a story of aee1
interest and pathOs. She does not go on.
of her way t0 .ab0riOusy dag 3. we
known historical Incidents a.l make be-
characters lil INTO them, at.cr tae man
uer of some recent rac0nteurs, but tells
her story in natural and easy way,
though tho language of her gentlemen Is
sometimes a triie sti.tcd and her Indians
are prone 20 make lengthy and stately
monoIogues in the face Of deadly and im-
minent peril Miss Johnston has me true
artistic feeling for nature in her vary
ing moods and reasons otherwise she
o.. 20 40. r
the scenery of tde-water Virginia. the
glistenlug blue of the broad Chesapeake
the Winding sluggish streams creeping
through the veiycty green marshes. me
bot summer afr qulycrIng above Inc in-
tcrminablo tobacco fields the wide. slow
rivers. the sCmbre and endless forests.
There as also a striking and noble de-
ecriDtiQn OF the great Bridge 0t Rock in
ar its prim.yal grandeur The tale is
full-too full-of hairornadth scarcs and
narrowing Incidents but those were times
when pomD and circumstance and death
and horror walked side by side. and there
are many bright pages describing the
fosuitable social il- ~ the s'1Vc-tendeI
gentry m His Maiesty's loyal province
of Viroinia The autl0ress has describe
with fidelity and abundance 0f local cole
0riug the luxurious life of the masters
and in strong contrast the lot nj The tol-
ers ga their broad fields. The negro
slaves. the muiattOcs the lndenturei
white servants. the transported conyic,s.
the Portuguese. tAe captive Indians thc
Turks sweating under Tire hot Virginia
sun. through the long rows Of tobacco,
under The eye and lash of the watchfu.
0yerseer She tells. with curious and
sympathetic insight the feeling of the
white servaufs-the revolt from The un-
accustomed toll. the physical WEAKNESS
from tho eueryating climate, the home
sickness. the suNenness the Wild and
desperate attempts al escape. the Zee
capture. the fearful fogsings. the dumb
despair the murder0us hate-are an made
known In BIER graphic pages. The prime
ciyal characters COL Nerney. the auto
cratic planter. bis lovely spoiled dlugh-
ter Patricia. ml TO her dainty finger
tips with the naughty courage OF her
race. her cousin and sutton Sir Chares
Caren. an elegant daredevil from the
court of King Charles sweet Betty car
rlugton Austrcss Lettice Nerney the
wis. and brave Dr. Anthony Nash. Ma
for Miles Darlington. the surveyor-gen-
eral of the colony and The gallant and
gorgeous governor Sir William Berkeley
are We'll and clearly pictured. The fa-
uaucal Muegletouian ls strongly sketchei
but mad Marecry Us fantastic and over.
drawn and LUZ Sebastian, the Spanish
mulatto is too diabOucally polished aui
clever for one born and bred slave.
Rut the great. the dominating character
of the story is Godfrey Llndless @ young
Enlushman whose father had lost his
lie fighting as colonel tn CromweH
army. After the Restoration the son was
accused by political enemy Of some of
fence. convicted by "a corrupt court ANA
sentenced 20 transportation 90 the colo
MES. as was not unusual boz those days
of lax morality Here be was sold for a
term Of years as q servant 90 Col Yer
nev and put 20 work with the negroes
and other servants. The beauty ana
grace of the young lady OF me man pr
were Ike the light OF star ln tue Dl'cN-
ness of his despair aud ne ioFed ueI
revcrenuy admiringly, hopeiessIy from
afar Prosecuted with petty malice Dy
SIR Charles he suffers degrading puni 'h-
ment. wr0ngod and outraged DE- U.s. drawn
into conspiracy of the servants ana
slaves which Is overheard by Patricia
and through the Information OF his pitt
less Young mistress the irate COVE nor
ewears ho siral hang. Miss Johnston ms
here described % character OF impossible
virtue and strength considering his time
and environment. intelligent and cour-
teous as THAT curled darling Of the court
Sir Charles Caron, heroic and patient un-
der cruel wrongs az Jean Vatican, ch!v-
alrous and compassionate as SIR Philio
sidney. daring and resourceful as Rudolf
Rassendyl pure az Sir Gaiahad-a char
octer could erch exist for mon 20 mar
vel m. for saints 20 admire and women
10 adore.
After following the tangled destinies Of
Patricia and Laniloss through many
fearful pcrps we fni the denouement a
,t-.f... .4f-..-...f. ,t.,. -rf -rot SD much for