The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-04-17

Vrobh cihlIES. " u nldEtdTlsm on tue n6r-
chant OF Cornvile'--thcre was almost uuivsf-
sal establishment. To many 1t seemed that
Rostand was little less than a relncarnstion
OF Shakespeare. The more sanTuine began to
hope that in these degenerate DAYS a great
master had appeared to slorify the modern
stage with work worthy to rank with that
OF the golden age OF English drama. The pub
fishers Of the Merchant Prince OF Cornyilie.'
however, assert that this work is the true COM
edy. and that the Rostand drama is lacking
In many essential qualities. There is cer-
taingly much sweetness and playful humor in
Mr.. Gross work
Everybody loves . lover" and It Is hitting
that the action Of the play shall be initiated
BY Ideal" who makes good his name In
the lists Of love. Standing alone in the or
chard at sunrise. and holding in his hand
crimson perfumed pink" he takes occasion
in the prologue to tell how no came by It.
Referring to his ladys chamber window
Passing there this morn.
! looked upon the flowers as one might
Who. barred from out the walls OF Paradise.
Would seize some blossom growing swsetly
Then. while my eager heart tumultuous beat.
Sending the tell-tale bushes to my cheek.
pucked fower-this crimson perfumed
pink"
After further soliloouy in equally poetic
strain. "a contamination devoutly wished
for" takes place:
But softl yonder my Iady's self appears.
seek
4 covert by this tree. Seeing the hunter
Doth fright the deer away"
Then follow pretty conceit. Violet comes
down the path saying; (which ways the rob-
Der? I'm sure / saw him here" And she
catches the sound OF rdeal's faint aside"
What? I'm a robber am 7? Well. this tree
hath no tell-tale bark. and I'll STAY here. "
Other words of sollloouy follow. from her;
and other low "asides" from him until she
gets the fine fancy:
But list! What's this? A spirit In the tree
"a talking spirit. too, I'll listen; It's my
privilege In this orchard. Go on, sweet spirit.
I'm listening"
Then is spoken dialogue between the
maiden and a supposed spirit in the tree,
which, for felicitous and truly poetic con-
ception. would be creditable to the genius
of any poet. Its appropriate ending is reached
when Violet proposes to lberate the spirit
from its woody prison In the tree:
"If thou art in the trunk of this fair tree.
I'll petition II with ardent lips to one its
close bound rind and let thee out: but how?
The tree can not hear. being deaf. but the
tree can feel. being alive; so. then III kiss
thee. thou hard. hard tree.
Violet bends to kiss the tree. but meets the
Inns of Ideal. who has sprung out Of his place
OF conceament.
Spain" by Frederick A. ober. D. Ap-
pleton Co.. publishers New York.
This is valuable addition to Appleton 4
series entitled History for Young Readers. g
II gives in brief space an excellent story 81
Spain and the main facts of her fascnatine
history Tho recent events Of 81 anish his
tory. connected with the war with the United
States, are conservatively outlined and maize
the work thorouehlv up-to-datc. The author
devoted ten years Of his life to study OF
Spain and her people. and was we'll equipped
for this work.
"pharos the Egyptian" by Guy BGothbv. u.
Appleton q Co. publishers New York.
Mr.. Boothby has proved himself a mas
| ter OF the art Of story telling frcm the point
OF view Of the reader who asks for q success
sion OF stirring events. a suspicion of mys'
| terry. and an interest not only maintained bu
eliminating. 'Pharos" is his latest and nc
doubt his best work Of fiction II is crowded
to the covers with tho mysterious the star
| Ting and the supernatural.