Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-02-16

Which SO many readers skip would be
avoided and fin de steele romance
would read somewhat this way: Maud
Muriel's studio was'' = illustration.
Fascinated by the light from her eyes,
he drew his chair near her and
illustration. 1.-THE door suddenly opened
and q tall man with iron-gray hair
stood on the threshold. Muriel gave
scronm nd"--illustrstion This would
seem to solve the problem of contra
dictory pictures in book.
Only tonight ! was rending o volume
and "soaripg with supreme dominion
through that rurefied atmosphere, "
when an unexpected illustration sud
denly dropped. me on the ground with a
dull, sickening thud."
My eyelids are bit heavy tonight
With Watts Duntop's new novel, sat
up until the wee small hours Of dawn.
Haven't you road it? Then You can't
tell me whether you think it is "the
greatest literary success Of the year" or
"a preposterous piece of fiction, both
OF which terms have been used by the
critics. Ioften wonder what influence
the opinion of critic. has upon a,sale
Of 4 book. TX
It, Is certain that no other book Of
the year has met with such universal
attention, but last night when closed
the volume, was inclined to think
| that the book Is too rare in its spirit,
too obtruse In its doctrine, to be appro-
priated naturally by the general reader.
Pre- Rsphaelitism has a staunch follow.
| ing, but small, and it il marvellous that
one of its coterie should meet tho
martyrdom of popular favor. But
whatever the reason is, the book is
talked of everywhere. 1t is "the
thing to read "Aylwin, 4" and what is
tho fashion will be followed by masses
| OF people who otherwise would never
have seen or heard OF the boou. In its
| pages. one meets views OF life and death,
OF the unseen aud the mythical.
Through love, Its suffering and Its fnal
| Joy, Henry Aylwin is brought to believe
| in the unseen and the, eternal. 1t
/ seems to me the belief In these is what
Mr.. Watts Dunton makes the purpose
Of his book. The book stands forth
expressing the philosophy Of the life
Of a man who has drought deeply and
sincerely. 1t is in all n book that all
thoughtful people should read.
/ am sure everyone here will be in
terested in reading the current plumber
OF Lippincott's Magazine, If only for
the opening story which is written by
Mrs. Whitley, formerly Isabel Nixon,
| socially. As / turn the title page back
sec the story which she calls "For
the French Lilies' is dedicated to her
| father, 1.-THE Rev. j. ii. Nixon, ID. d.,
who in his own sphere was without
fear and without reproach. Mrs.
| Whitley has entered the field of litera-
ture with her hands full Of good works
and has become shining light in a
| certain class of story writer's. Her
novel, "The Falcon Of Langeac. had
a largo sale and is, as is this present
work, o story Of French life Of several
centuries ago.
Do you recall Bran Stoker? He is
quite character of Scotch descent, q
, short, squarely-built little man, with q
shock of reddish hair. lie was manager
| for Horny Irving, and is as well known
in theatrical circles as in the literary
world. In London he is very popular,
| and his last book, "Draoula. just
published by Archibald Constable &
Co., Westminster, is making q ire
mendous sensation in,spite of Its grue-
some nature. 1t IL u story Of curious
and canny character, Count Dracula,
WHO lives in an old castle in the midst
| OF the Carpathian mountains, Transyl-
| yania. The story Is told in letters and
| journals, and deals with dark nights,
ghoulish spirits, grayeyards and YAM
pires, the last of which Count Dracula
| is the ruler in this particular region.
The story is bit long drawn out, but
| the unusual subject, and the serious
| way in which it Is written hold ones
attention TO the finish. Reading it on
q stormy night in ones room alone,
the shadows take on the shapes Of
hideous devils, the slightest noise in
| the room makes one jump, and the
moaning of the wind outside only
echoes the hideous voices of the soul
less maideps, the vampires of the wierd
| Carpathian forest. There are but q
few copies yet in America, four or six,
/ think, and though it is hardly o book
that will become popular, on account
Of its wierd subject, 1t will be read by
all lovers of the mystic.
just as ] picked up heavy bound
volume and settled back in my chair to
look into Its serious pages, tho door
was thrown open and n fresh. breezy
voice said, "Come, come. We have
had enough Of those old bookways for
tonight. You need SPARKLING ancc-
dote, pint bottle of Worldly Ways
to keep the cobwebs from your brain,
my dear Bluestockiug. / have just
been to hear Cissy LOTUS, and she Is
great. Next week she will be at a
Philadelphia Theatre, you must go
hear her, she mimios everybody, and
mimics them SO well and gives so much