The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-02
VIEW HOORl
Brief Reviews of Important and Interest
fnR New Publications.

The reader might think. In beginning Mar
tyrs of Empire" by Herbert O. Mofivaine
tR u. Fenno 4 Col. that this was going to be a
story o. somewhat careless and crude accom-
plishm ents. The youth and the maiden, bro
Their and sister. who sit Ian guidly at tho break
fast table and. after the things" thereon have
been depleted" discuss faoetiously 10 vast
and important a matter as the Australian
bush, are pair calculated TO raise doubts in
the minds Of the readily suspicious. The girl
Is made to appear distinctly curious. IL IL
said OF her that as she sat with her elbows
on the board. idly scratching the palm
u one hand with the nails Of the other.
tho swift. squirrel-like. but totally unob-
jectionable little movements OF the fingers
gave evidence OF a plentiful supply OF that ran
dom energy of youth which In the less dainty
leads occasionally to nail biting" This 10 q
nice touch. 1t In wen known that the random
energy OF youth does occasion ally find it's ex-
preston in the biting and mutilation Of the
finger nails and OF the fingers themselves. Tho
usual treatment for those who have lost their
self control in this respect 10 TO do mp their
fingers in secure bandages OF some rough and
lettering material. or to smear them with
something possessed Of . highly offensive
taste.
II the girl here did nothing but what was
sauirrel-like and totally unobjectionable, there
would be no need TO dwell upon her breakfast
table conduct further. but the story goes on to
say that AS she bent aside and forwnrd and
look ed round her hands there was a welcome
in the eyes and . fervent curiosity in the
parted lips and tho three white teeth laid
lightly on the under lip: aud this, II must be
admitted. was . very remarkable thing to do.
why was there a fervent curiosity In only
three OF her white teoth7 Why did she not set
four OF these useful and pretty things. instead
OF only three. lightly on her under lip2 II she
was generously provided. as undou btedly she
was why not five or six7 Why should she
have been niggardly in the matter OF 80 inter-
esting and so charming a display? We may
not know but there she was. with just the
three white teeth expressing fervent Curl
osity. as said: and her brother. his rather long
hair parted in the middle. sat opposite to her.
smoking cigarette with all the fastidious
graces. and complaining OF Austraiia-of its
heat. it's topsy-turvy seasons. and the multi
tude OF its ants. 'Antsl" he said, Ants Of
every uncomfortable variety. but chiefly black.
fanaticay reckless Of their lives. and simply
OF hellsh industry in making themselves dis
agreeable. They send out skirmishers by the
ten thousand. followed by millions in process
sion. and they're in and over everything. in
Guiding your food and your blankets. and o.
casionally your ears. There's variety OF
ANTS 10 make t1lSteuCO lutOltThDlo eNoEyWneEO
during each one OF the twenty -four hours. Then
dies. mosquitoes. spiders. scorpions. snakes in
season. and innumerable sundries OF a like
order. The bush Is q Whiteley's emporium OF
maddening pests"
This. truly. was fearful description OF Aus
trala. and straiRhtwav the girl. whose name
was Susie. Withdrawing her three pretty teeth
from their place Of exposure. thought OF her
old playmate. Ned. who was In the
bush. and presumably tormented to the
limits OF patience by ell these insect and other
monsters.
Presently the story changes to Australia and
to Ned. Ned is not annoyed by ants. He does
not resemble the carter whom Susie encoun-
tered in Holborn Circus and who drove lum-
boring wagon piled high with carcasses OF
beef-presumably from Chicago Ned has
been plotting herd OF bullocks over q road
1000 miles long. a different business from
carting load Of dressed beef through London
to the Smithfield markets. Ned sat astrde his
horse toward the end OF q black autumn night.
1t war O'Clock ; at the morning would be-
Yin to whiten IN the east. Ned looked for the
morning star. which must glmmer in upon
him. low down. through the leaves presently.
He sat with his hands crossed upon the POM
mel OF his saddle. A vast herd Of cattle. the
property Of Susies uncle. lay sleeping in
knatural clearing OF the forest round about
him. His instinct told him that there was
Ioout to pass that thrill OF strange
unrest which steals round the world In
The waste Of the early hours. AS IL
goes by. everything that sleeps Is trou-
bled. and all that wake are afraid.
and the sick IN ust listen for the beating OF the
wings Of Death; it IL the moment whom cocks
crow in the darkness with unreasonable
clamor. and dogs howl as at tho sight Of some
fearsome thing that passes by" A fine thing
to be astride a good horse tho feet irm in
the stirrup irons. the nand steady. the eye
alert. master OF a mob OF sleeping but sensitive
and disturbed cattle. at this hour.
Ned sat thus. the feeling OF mastery tingling
In all his body. watching the cattle. and watch
ing for the morning star. Not much
like the heavy figure. in smeared and
greasy smock. numbering along Holborn with
its slaughtered load. "A faint. dlstressful
moaning spread about tho camp: tho drover
turned his horse to face 1t. sent his feet hard
home in the stirrup irons. took short grip Of
the reins. and started to ride slowly round.
The mob had remained. after their first lying
down. almost without stirring since their cud-
chewing was finished: from tho dim mass only
big peaceful sounds ofslsep had risen. Now and
then one OF the sentry bullocks would lie down.
blow his vast breath OF contentment and an
other would rise TO stand on guard. For set
tho pnrest fnrm-brcd English cattle whore
alarms may come and in a single day
they will renounce the traditions OF their CEN
turtles OF safety. shelter and refining and resort
to the warrior tactics OF their long horned
shaggy ancestors and keep watch and
watch against surprises" As the moan
ing spread beast after beast arose and
stretched himself uneasily. 1t was tho black
est moment OF the night. Ned called sooth-
!ngIy to his cattle and remarked. low down
ha MI In 70 eli ~
the morning star. The mysteriously disturbed
cattle settled down with deep blown siRha to
the enjoyment Of their morning sleep.
Suddenly n possum chartered in tho trees; .
pair Of possums aquabbled overhead. with q
nNhe like the grounding OF 10000 rife butts.
the herd OF cattle leaped to their feet and stood
with straight backs and archsd tails on the
brink OF panic. Then the contentious possums
broke a tvig which fell athwart the rump OF q
bullock that stood on the edge OF the mob.
facing the darkness, and furthest from the
copn votna ha afam-