The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-18

Current literature is drenched with gor,
to the point OF saturation. 1t has seemed
more than once in the last seven years
that this point had been reached, but the
Impression was evidently mistaken. for
never until this winter have affairs
reached such a pass that the reader OF
fiction, In search OF little quiet. has nc
alternative among the books u the hour
but Is OF necessity compelled to buy a
romance OF adventure for the excellent
reason that nothing else is being pub
lished, To be sure, there is Red Pot
tage," but with duel 10 the death with
cigar lighters In the first chapter, various
drownings. two suicides and the harrow
Ing sacrifice by fire of a manuscript so
important that It's burning Is nothing less
than hoiocaust-with ali this, We repeat,
"Rod Pottage" is hardly more restful
than an avowed adventure story.
1t would not be bad way to advertise
the new books by printing a list of the
casualties contained In each. so that the
intending reader might choose according
To his temperament and mood. between
DBtfifs HiuFWfF OF SuuItH ufhtn. FROM
Tits point Of view. Edward Van Zne's
story of the company of la Sale. with
Sword and Cruclfix." should be quite high
In favor With those who prefer excitement
without much loss OF lie The disasters
nfe limited to half dozen, not counting
Tho Villain. and two OF these are among
the Indian friends OF La saile's band
The story IL NJ Louis DC sancerre an ex-
He'd courier from France. VINO had killed
ia duel the betrothed Of spanish girl
~ whom he himself was euamorod Those
favofing winds which blow when ordered
y famancera, wreck the ship carrying
this lady and her father 10 take possess
sion Of certain lands and mines IN Mex
leo. The wreck occurs west OF the mouth
Of the Mississippi and Julia de Auui.ar Is
rescued by the Children Of the Sun" a
trib. of Mexican natives who migrated 10
the north ard found rest from Spanish
tyranny near the lower banks of the Mis-
ssaippl By them. she IL taken for "a white
goddess whose coming their legends have
prophesied This part OF tho plot suggests
perhaps. "A Fair God" but, then. there
evidently Is no other way 10 save the
maiden and lead her to o meeting with
her former admirer IN the forests Of the
West The events which lead To Jnlia's
freedom are naturally thrilling and IN the
end the happy pair sail away to ind the
ladys inheritance IN Mexico
C'With Sword and Crucinx" BY II. 5
Van zne Harper 4 Bros $3.50 For sale
by Iowman & Hanford)
81 s.
on the other hand, the FIRST part Of
knights Of the Cross" the new Sienkic-
wleE romance Ia specially sanguinary
But comparison OF Il with such book
as Mr. Van zile's Il profitable. for It leads
10 the conclusion that some are born 10
write tales of gore, while others have
snch subjects thrust upon them. What
eyer ore may think of the Sionkiewicz
hooks and II mus, be admitted that they
do not commend themselves TO fastidi-
Gus tastes--this much is certainly true Of
them They are written with Eest. and
with an immense grasp OF detail. The
writer obviously enjoys his task and what
the writer enjoys Ia not likely 90 bore the
reader There ts NO other explanation
that can he offered 81 the fact that tho
endless detailed descriptions OF lie and
thought and manners ia medieval Poland
which this book contains are not on gho
whole. unduly uresomc. The texture ot
the book rs arm aud thick The chasnr.
tiers. hrutes ana sAyaEeE. as most ot them
Bfe. stand oIt clearly aginst o CLOSELY
woven background 10 the making nf which
has gnac "a vast amcuut Of painstakiug
enthusiasm Tho hero Zbyshko. ia
chlld 81 nature Who eats
drinks. laughs and sins. aud has the mos
F..Ea la
these actions. which are naivrN rclato5
With = drm confidence that the reader BE-
Just as mach Interested Wbcn Ehyahko
a. warm OF cold uu oy hansrv. ss ia that
youth himself And, somehnN. tilis is
Kind u appeal TO which a reader Though
uRWU'ingil responds Evgn siaughtsr
when performed Nith the proper deserve of
tntaUsaRui. s more acceptable than en-,
cold -blooded and langaid homitides whien
ad0rn ihe pagcB M s9 many 81 the Nouid.
H. l0mance~ THERE is nothing lanruiI
Nbo8t the methods deplctrd in "kuiehta
~ thc Gross Here are fsw specimen.
, hasra az random
'Taat u,amept kuiGc eleanieA nea.
lilasa's threat put before InuNcji ,ouIl
stab thc Choh Whc had uotcI ts fnus,,-
meats. sciEri With tiB two jraa han4s
ihe rigat sf1l. Match hy twisted ualI
lain,s ana bones cracked iu &c. ant ouiY
when BE- teaf3 ter,Hed roar sc pat
Ga he Yat spurs $50 bats horse ard shoot OH
Ike Rn ar-oW Before thc others we're allie
&C. stop htm
'16at Instant NU8na rosrei like q WIa
buH, he seiacd panVrid wEh botn hau8s
sra raised him above hts head tN the
hail Nas heard ono piercing efy. -Srars.r
Then she body pt Cite cauftlrr struck tes