The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-05
NEW BOOKS.
Brief Reviews of Important and Interest.
Ing Now Publications.

1t seems strange to regret the disappearance
OF n much maiened kind OF literature which
was once taboo in all we-ordered families.
the stories that appeared In the yellow covers
oil Beadle's Dime Library. They were not
works of very high order. yet thoy were rarely
Objectionable In tone. they were written in
fairly good English. and their authors took
pains to construct ingenious and coherent. II
mot always original. pots Some. indeed. fol-
lowing in the wake OF J. Funimorc Cooper pre-
scented thc lesser known episodes in American
history In an unpretentious and entertaining
manner that did no harm to the patriotism Of
the disobcdent youth who road them. The
work was certainly superior to much that the
younger authors are presenting to us. SET out
to III" best advantage In striking bindings.
gilt or unc 1t edges. aul artistic Typography
II Is MIR. William Ie QueuN's THE Day ~
Temptation" two year-olI romance. now re-
printed hy the G. W. Dillingham; Company.
that. for the moment. brings M this regret
nut there are many more who sin in the same
way. Mr.. lie Queux's tale deals with Italian
Anarchists and opens with an unusually in
gen!ous and perpleXing murder. with suspi-
cioh turned on half dozen apparently Uncon-
ne"tcd persons rs the possible assassin. The
reader, who cannot help following the n uthor
with excitement for about q hundred pages.
will reasonably expect to have the motives OK
pIained why ench ono OF these persons should
wish to hnv" the young woman put out OF the
way. in what manner each Is brought into rela-
tons with her. and what the result OF her re-
maih'ng alive would have meant to each.
He will be disappointed. Tho skilfully pre-
pared machinery is all cast aside for mean
ingless and historical love story. and the mys-
terry Is solved in a rerfunctory way that ex-
plains nothing. The author does not even give
a hint as To what were tho events on II GER
tain night in house overlooking the sea of
Livorno. " the mere mention Of which sufllces
TO silence nearly all his characters. He sug-
gests no reason why persons acting seemingly
Tor common purpose should constantly be
trying 70 annlhLlate one another. or why q
young Englshman Of Responsibility and hold
ing an official position should try to murder
the heroine. or aftcrward live on perfectly good
terms with her. 1t looks rs though Mr.. lie
Qu"ux. having started on II story and created
some interesting characters had tired OF his
plot or had forgotten it rs ho went on. One
OF his conspiratOrs is an Italian. who speaks
perfect English. and who manages to play
tho double part of country doctor
with sporting proclivities In village remote
from London and OF n waiter In q London table
d'h6tc restaurant 1t would be interesting to
learn how he did It, That he is at the same
time spy in the confidence OF tho Italian Min
lister and member OF a Socialist or An
archist band is a simple matter. He is really
attractive. and it is n pity that the author
makes so little use Of him. 1t is benumbing.
too. in what Is essentially a detective story. to
be plunged into guide book descriptions OF
Lcghorn. with the prices for cabs and theatres,
and OF London. whore Mr.. lie QueuX seems to
think that the burial place Of England's great
dead Is st. Paul's. There is an unpleasant
suggestion Of advertisement in the mention OF
hotels and restaurants in both countries
Yes. many people dine at Kettner's. at tho Troca.
dero at Gatti's at the Monico aud the Cafe Royal,
but few of Londons millions have ever set foot
within the small. unique establishment OF Boncani.
What merit the book has is in the unsatls-
factory story. 1t Is written In what we may
call kitchen English For instance:
Quickly he took from his bag clean shirt. and
assuming light covert coat and crash ha:. he
again transformed into a gentlemen.
As she at the piano on this Chilly night shs
looked eminenty beautiful in loose. rich tea gown
OF sage green plush. with front OF pac pink silk.
gown " striking mAgnihcencc with its heavy silver
belt clittcrnG beneath the shaded lamplght
The honest country folk looked askance at her. b,
il said for her natural chic sh- could not suppress.
and her cycling Skin; Just tribe too short whea
jud ;ed from All English standpoint. Her dress
dark blue serge. confined at the waist by narrow
white silk Ribbon. its s:nartncss having been much
admired when she spun along the level roads OF the
Cascine.
Mr.. lie QueuX has much 10 say OF Italy and OF
the Italians. and his views and his italian.
which he uses abundantly in various dialects
hut cautiously refrains from transatinG. are
quaint and sometimes startling. Some OF his
observations will meet with acceptance:
The Italians are indeed engaging peopl,. Itis
because they so Ingenious so contented. so self
denying. polite yet so sarcastic: that one learns to
love them we'll.
Whom Italian woman loves It 10 with fierce
uncomfortable passion. not with that too often
sckly admiration for mans good looks which 10
SO characteristic OF love among the moro northern
nations. In no country lie love ardent passion
ate enduring, as In the sunny garden OF Europe.
The Italian woman IL slow to develop affection, or
even to irt with the sterner but when she loves
It Is with all the strength OF her being; she is the
devoted slave OF her lover and is his for life death
Neither the strength OF Italian affection the bit
,erness Of Italian jealousy can bn understood in
England. unless by those who have lived among the
hot blooded ruscans in that country. where tho
sparkle of dark eyes ecctrhcs and where the knives
are CHEAP and do their work swiftly and we'll
While doubtless much may be said for the
| intensity OF love among other nations. and it
seems queer to pick out the gentle Tuscans OF
all Italians as hotblooded and using knives. It
this statement. Others will be received with
! more skeptcsm:
Any Italian would havo at once detected. from no
manner Romanclli abbreviated his words when
speaking Italian, that he came from the Romagnl
that wild hotbed OF lawlessness and anarchy lying
| between Florence and Fori. while his host spoke
| pure Tuscan the language OF Italy
The geographical description OF Romagna is
rather fanciful than accurate. and why a fairly
| orderly and Industrious district should be ma
| lGned il is hard to see. Moreover the abbre-
walton Of words is equally characteristic OF
southern and northern Italians. while pure
| Tuscan" though persons Of education try hard
| TO speak It. Is hardly the language Of Italy,
but of only small part Of the people. Mr. lie
| Queux. however. seems inclined to think OF al
Italians ns Tuscnns. He Eivesa strong puff tc
Leghorn. known TO Italians as Livorno." al
q watering place. though. We fancy. many Other
Italian seaside resorts might provo more agree.
able. His hero meets the heroine. a lady o.
rank. in the street in Florence and renders hel
a slight service. They meet later casually