The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-21
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.


The Miracles of A~ntichrist, Selma
Lngerlof's New Novel.
This is a misleading and rather u~nfortu-
nate title. since it does not suggest fiction,
but rather a profound theological treatise.
1t is, however, a novel translated from the
Swedish of Selma Lagerlof, who first be-
came known TO the American public through
her weird tale of Norwegian life. Costa
Berling." The scene Of this story is laid
In Sicily. and so different is 1t in character
and atmosphere, and so vividly does IL de-
pict a people far removed in all their char
acteristics from those of the writer's native
land that it is difficult to think Of her as
the author of both. To treat SO successfully
two themes so unlike is a proof Of her
genius. 1t is not a very well-connected tale,
but is rather a succession Of sketches of life
in a Sicilian village, one thread, however.
holding all together. 1t Is a curious study
of superstition and the slow working OF the
modern idea of socialism among a simple
minded and ignorant people. So supersti-
tious and ignorant of the world are they
that they seem to belong to a remote period,
and Ii is only when certain nineteenth
century labor problems are discussed that
they are brought close TO the present day In
the readers mind. The 'antichrist' is a
false image of a miracle-working Christ
child in a certain sanctuary. the genuine
image having been stolen by a covetous
Englishwoman and the imitation substitute
ed. The false image, however, continued
to work wonders, the same as had the rear saI
long years. Then, when the imposition was
discovered, 1t was shrewdly explained that
all the seeming wonders worked by the
false Christ-child were evil in that only
the selfish desires of the petitioners had
been granted. And one priest named the
Pope re b him for not Carrying the doll
1t had proceeded. That is what you wan
dering monks could do" the holy father
lar movement in your arms, while 1t Is still
lying like a child in its swaddling clothes,
and you could bear it to Jesus feet. and the
Antichrist would see that he is nothing but
an imitation of Christ, and would acknowl-
edge Him his lord and master. But you do
pyre, and soon He will. in His turn, cast you
there" Which, on the whole, seems to be
rather a wise observation. The story, which
distinctive addition to the fiction Of the
year. Little. Brown & Co., Boston.
Esther Waters.
While David Harum' is being read in
America Esther Waters" by George
Moore, is having it's vogue in England; both
books possess the same important trait,
truth to life. Whosoever knows New York
country life must at once perceive the truth
of David Harum,' not only in it's delinea-
ton of farm folks but in its portrayal of
summer village residents. The summer peo-
pie in David Harum'' are perfect; they are
of the sort who say, Tell me about your
SELF" who ask questions against the laws
of politeness; who employ colloQuialisms not
in use among fully educated people, such as
That's Juliet all overt" About right"
'She talked a lot" How about him." The
ladies of the book call their serving man
1.-The houseman,' and talk about "lxilling
bores;'' sometimes they suggest that they
co." leaving out the should" One lady
calls herself "a pig" Never were half-fine
Americans so exactly depicted. o it's lovely.
The village musicale begins with fashion
able. professional music and ends with a
general singing of Annie Laurie" in chorus.
The fine gentleman in David Harum'' is a
Princeton man, a Hiedeiburg man and a
Travelled man, and yet he mixes up his
willis and 'shalls' and his "woulds" and
fond Of phrases like settled with" for
paid" and he frequently says "HullO' as
a salutation to the ladies. Our public schoO.
system may be the best In the world, but
conversationalists. like those in the novel
David Harum." The strange hatred of
Americans is also sketched truthfully in this
book. The inevitable trip to Europe figures
in the story. and wondrously true it is; the
they were at home. The inveterate truth
fulness of David Harum" makes 1T resem-
BILE a real landscape spread out In bright
sunshine. 1t has American humor, 1t shows
the cheerfulness and hopefulness of Amer
lean poverty, 1t shows how the poor Of
America become rich. and comfortable. 1t
shows the kindness of the American char
acter.
David Harum" is compared with Esther
with ten thousand thunder ciaps. The story
of Esther Waters" thunders along its way
with heart-quaking effects Of .pathos and
truthfully and without humor. a tale Of de-
Of future prospects. 1t is said that the
British government decreed the suppression
like to read are apt to call a book bad"
as an excuse for not liking 1t, but reading
are very slow to call a book bad they
know the difference between a work of great
style and genius and a mediocre work, soon
TO be forgotten, and they know the diner
ence between opinions about morals and
opinions about literary. merit. Nothing is
more interesting than the intense anxieties
anxieties are graphically set forth. The book
shows that English poverty is very different
from ours. We see how 1t is that In Eng
land a man earning IS a week is considered
able to get married, to keep house in a
pretty cottage, to bring up a family and
bear his part as a responsible person, and
We also see how q drunken workman's fam
lily manages to live on what they can snatch
from the mans wages: We see, moreover,
the hard work Of English servants. Esther
Waters herself is a servant generally suffer
ing with anxiety about losing her place. The
many families that she works for, with their
various members, are drawn in a light, free
handed, yet exact manner; each one Of the
swarm Of characters is interesting. The
book is written in telling sentences and i'm
wrought by the English system of educa-
ton. The story has no plot; like nature, 1t
has no object, no purpose; 1t is merely a
rough page torn out of life. Still, IT reveals
the nefarioySness of betting, the ruin, mis-
cry and death that go with gambling. as
1t paints. too, the superstitions of ignorant
and betting people, their false notions about
luck. and contrasts their misery with the
benefits Of hard, continuous work. The tale
flows naturally in an easy drama, is told
mostly in dialogues that run swiftly in the
idioms Of the English common people. These
rapid. lively talks form the main interest of
the novel. The characters are kept even
throughout, are ever the same persons to
the end. Esther is a girl of a fierce. heavy
temper. but handsome and attractive, and
of an adorable faithfulness to her duty, and
her faithfulness casts a charm over the
story. Larry DEAN
Dreyfus's Letters.
This volume contains the letters written
by Capt. Albert Dreyfus to his wife from
his prison or Devils island, from Decem-
Der, 1894, to March. 1895. The letters are, Of