The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-12


historical atmosphere good, these are sub
ordinated throughput to the dramatic ef-
FEET. The author is evidently familiar with
hes ground, and she portrays the various
characters and incidents of that stormy
time with fidelity which is nov and then
almost laborious. The most powerful chap
ter is that which deals with Quantreils
raid on the city Of Lawrence, and In this
is given one OF the finest descriptions OF
that terrible occurrence which can be
found in fiction. QuaBtrell himself is one
Of the chief characters, and the author
may have strained a point in making him
figure in it in Just the way that he does,
although his agency makes the plot con-
siderably stronger than it would other
wise be. Aunt Monin, the heroine's cd
nanny is n particularly good picture OF
negro character, and Mrs 0rpen's delinea-
tons of the Missouri negro Of those days
are in the main faithful and artistic.
Though the book is MOI intrinscaliy great,
it is valuable as a contribution to the lit
erature of border warfare in Kansas. New
York: d. Appleton & Co. $1,000
1.-The Secret of the Crater" is a fantas-
tic adventure story by Dufiield Osborne,
and is characterized chiefly by great i'm
aginative daring and strong execution.
As in most tales of its kind the character
drawing is suboTdinated TO the plot, but
that is not a bad quality, and the char
acters are all portrayed with sufficient
vividness TO make the following Of their
fortunes an interesting occupation. The
scene is laid in supposed unknown island
in the Pacific Ocean, peopled partly by
native islanders of tribes resembling the
Hawaiian, and partly by descendants of
the ancient Phoenicians, who, though the
rulers of the island, have adopted the
aboriginal religion and become fire
vorshipers. AS viii be seen, this piquant
combination offers unique opportunities to
the novelist, and he has improved them
all. The story is extremely well told and
holds the interest of the reader from be-
ginning to end. 1t is good summer litera-
ture of its kind. New York: G. p. Put
mans Sons. Paper, so cents; cloth, $1,000
''Pastels of Men," by Paul Bourget, Is q
little book of stories translated by Kath-
arine Prescott Wormley. The latter is one
of the two or three people in this world
who can put French story into English
without losing all the point and delicacy
OF the style thereby Most translations
from the French are like the possible re-
suit Of an English cooks attempts at a
French menu-would-b French dishes
with strong flavor of beef and cabbage.
The stories Of NJ. Bourget are generally
delightful, and these do not prove excep-
ton to the rule. The first, Maurice
Olivier" is in some respects the best.
1t is the story of a charming French
w1nan with four lovers, the youngest and
least distinguished winning the prize. The
delicate touch of mockery in the author
portrayal of Sir john Strabane, the Eng
II nman, is admirable; SO are the subtlety
and gtace of the character of Prince Vitale
acs he polished Implicitly Of the Marquis
du 3onnivet; while Lucie de Nancay her
self Is the daintiest and most womanly of
heroines. The little story may be con-
sidered absolutely ierfect in its way-not
very great way. il Is true; but a minia-
ture may call for as much skill as any
other kind of painting. The scene in
which the marquis adroitly spoils the sport
OF his rival by exciting him to uncon-
trollable Jealousy is a masterpiece Of It's
kind
Another little work of art, with a deeper
strength, is "Corsegues, the history of
jealous husband with Moorish blood in his
veins. II is daring in conception and strong
in execution. There is not a bad bit of
work in the book; hut another striking
story is Monsieur Viple's Brother The
little volume Will be a delight to all who
care for French fiction OF the order which
is mingled romance. comedy, and tragedy,
and with epicurean taste, care for il only
when IL is at its best Daudet never did
anything daintier. truer, or more artistic
in finish than this rather unfortunately
christened collection of stories. Boston:
Little, Brown & Coz