The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-04
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N
her husband in name. but refuses to tell
him her history, or TO grant him the slight
est favor due TO lover. Having fallen
in love with The lady az first sight, Master
Ralph Percy-a hero in truth-waits till it
shall be her pleasure 10 reveal herself. lie
subsequently discovers that she is ward
OF the King Lady Jocelyn Leigh who
IN a moment OF desperation, has donned the
clothing Of her maid and fed over seas TO
avoid marriage with a fsvorite OF His
Majesty. The latter comes seeking her BE-
fore many months have passed. and numer-
Gus complications ensue, in which the
ladys husband is naturally involved. There
is plenty Of fighting in course of the mar
rative and several hair-breadth escapes.
One of the most picturesque and ably han
died episodes is that of the taking of the
pirate galleon. Captain Percy, cast with
Mistress Jocclyn and two other eompan-
ions upon a desolate island, meets there
some members Of a pirate crew who have
stopped to bury their captain. He passes
himself of for Kirby, 4 notorious free
booter Of the day and silences all doubts
al the point OF the rspieT- He then takes
command OF the vessel and by sheer force
OF personality and quick wit. holds his own
against the daredevil crew until he comes
TO grief through his refusal to fire rpOn
an English ship. The conception is an
original and daring one, and carried out
most cleverly.
Perhaps the strongest points OF the book
are its plot and the graphic descriptions
which seem to carry one back into The
very midst of colonial days. The local
color is wonderfully vivid, ard the his
ioTical details are correct. But the char
aCter-drawing is also worthy of notice,
and Jocelyn Leigh, subsequently Mistress
Percy, is as captivating a heroine as can
be found among the maidens OF this sea-
sons romances. Captain Percy is a heroic
figure, but not too heroic to be real, and
has some saving touches of human imper-
lection which will endear him to the aver
age reader. Miss Johnston is 10 be con-
graduated on having written one of the
best historical novels of the day. Dos
ton: Houshtcn, Mifflin & Co. S1.5o)
In Old New England.
The Love Of Parson Lord; and other
Stories by Mary J. wilkins, is little
book containing five stories in Miss Viii
kins' wcll-known styIe-or styles. for she
has two distinct ways OF telling a story;
and while both are characteristic they
differ emphatically from each other. The
better known OF these is the careful real
istic character portrayal of "A Humble
Romance" The Revolt of Mother" and
other tales Of modern rural New Eng
land full OF quaint, dry humor and cynic-
ism which is still kindly and devoid Of
bitterness The other manner is less IA
miliar to the public. she saves this for
stories Of old New England. delicate pic
lures Of gentlemen and gentiewomen of
bygoue days full Of the glamour Of the
century, and dainty as ancient
yellow, cobvebbed lace. or the elusive
scent Of lavender in an time gown.
These ronsnces belong 10 the days when
American ladies in rural ncighborho Gods
painted on glass and velvet. distilled per-
fumes and wrought wonderful embroid-
cries, for amusement: the days of the
and spinet, OF brocades and /,
puce-colored satin of careful letter
writing and strictly preserved piety All T,
but one Of the stories in the present vol |
TIME belong to this class. The Love of I
Parson Lord is uuquestionably the best
Of them all. as it is the longest The I
heroine is Love the daughter of Parson I
Lord. an old-time New England parson be- /
longing TO a missionary family i IS hard /
for people Of another day and place to 1
realize the fervor and intensity which
The ideals OF the foreign mission move /
mont inspired in the souls Of such men.
The New England parsOn of the first half 4
lf this century often lived almost the life I
Z recluse: he was the gentleman among 4
MS congregation Of farmers; his quiet dig
nifty was unapproachable; he had some
hing Of the priest in him; he believed .
with all his heart what he preached. and I
theological subtleties were his delight. He 4
r--- e., he. Low ,,~frl
% certain lines, and the enlightenment I
which he possessed above his neighbors 1
1nly served 10 intensity the longing Of his
heart that all men should be brought to
What be believed TO be the truth. He was
narrow; but he was a descendant. by /
.postolic succession, Of the early Christian
martyrs. and a certain fineness Of fibre
md tenacity Of resolution was developed |
n him, which has served his descendants
sell in these more liberal days
ParsOn Lord was a man Of this type, and /
he brought up his little daughter with en-
hardness which tortured him
more than it did her. Miss wilkins has 4
lever done a finer bit of work than the /
larson S diary at the end OF the story In /
his is revealed the fact that the old man /
lad. against what he believed TO be his |
,est convictions. allowed himself to be-
tow upon his daughter little gifts. and
sometimes great oues-which she beiev-
d 10 come from "the squires lady No /
ne can read the pathetic entries without
that this man. mistaken
hough his course was. followed his own
Conscience. The traditions Of his forefath-
rs, too stern and severe were 10 blame
or his cold hard life. not he
Next 10 this the best story OF the five
S perhaps zone Good Time" which deals
With some familiar modern types 1t des-
RIDES an escspade Of two women. who have
zen pinched and starved all their lives
nd are finally left q legacy Of fifteen hun
red dollars. The daughter passionately
declares that she is going 20 New York to
lave "oue good time no matter how
much it costs. The story is almost pure
omedy. with no touch Of the burlesque
md with great deal Of human nature in
Is quiet form. The other stories are The
Tree Of knowledge" The Three Old Sis
ers and the Old Beau" and "Catharine
arr" story Of the Revolution. (New
FORK: Harper & Bros. SL25.)
More Railroad stories.
Fer at least forty years after railway
omance began in real life there were nc
.Rvoas e4o-;ee exrepf fhoea 4o15 e., tb~ |