The age-herald., 1900-04-15


 tain and oftentimes remote period of his tcry to become absorbingly popular in pub lie discussion. There has been, as we know, for the past several years a wide spread and deep interest manifested in French history. particularly of the Revo- lutionary and Napoleonic times. Books in- numerable have been written magazine articles published and lectures delivered; to say nothing of innumerable essays and debates. Then came an equally absorbing enquiry into and interest in our own revo- lutionary period; and the result has been the same, until today we find that most of our popular fiction is founded upon the historic events of the revolutionary period. Then came another period of history, which by one bound has gained extended a popularity, and just what suggested or caused it is difficult indeed to trace. And that is the Cromwellian age of English his tory. To be sure, there has been an earn est and meritorious clamorous discussion going on not only in England, but in the English parliament itself, of recent years as to Cromwells true place in history; but this can scarcely account for the manifest interest and concern of so large number Of the reading public in this country For We have but to turn to almost any of our leading magazines to realize fully that there seems indeed to be a regular Crom- well revival And Americans may almost universally be depended upon to sympa- thize with that side in English politics which strives to place a statue of the great Puritan leaders in the shadow of the great houses of parliament, fully exempli- lying the important place in history that they would fain assign to him.
 And so it is that history of today and tbnnpbtful of ;t their utmost to decide just what place should be assigned to him, and if he was not as great a man as Caesar or Napoleon and played his part on smaller stage he nevertheless "bestrode the narrow world" Of Puritan England like Colossus" Readers may turn with pleasure and profit 10 the numerous magazine articles now be- Ing written upon this really fascinating supJect; for not only the character ability and life-work of Cromwell himself are in vowed, but also period of English his tory fraught with the utmost importance In relation to subsequent history as ex- emplified in our own country. To those who are interested in this special subject as well as to all who delight in strong, vigorous piece of fiction, recent novel may be mentioned entitled "Cromwelfs Own,' by young English writer Arthur Paterson. It bears the imprint of '99, but does not seem to have received the undue pushing and advertising which character izes most of our latter-day fiction. How ever, the book is quietly and steadily achieving a splendid success of its own, based entirely upon it's own inherent merits.
 Of this particular date Carlyle says: "Oliver Cromwell, from Huntingdon, ad- mitted Fellow Commoner at Cambridge 23d of April, 1616. Curious enough of all days, on this same day Shakespeare, as hi rrtIY ford -onAvon died While Oliver Crom- well was entering himself at Sideny-Sussex college, William Shakespeare was taking his farewell of this world Olivers father saw Oliver write in the album at Cam bridge, at Stratford Shakespeare's Ann Hathaway was weeping his bed, the first world, great thing that remains of English history, the literature of Shakes peare was ending; the second world, great thing that remains of English history, the armed appeal of puritanism to the invisi- ble God of heaven against many very vis- ible devils, on earth and elsewhere was so to speak, beginning"
 MT. Paterson places the opening scene of his story at this same Sidney Sussex college though at a much later date than when Cromwell registered there as a lad for it was in June, 1640. The opening pages of the story win the readers immed- iale interest and good will, for they tell the opening incidents of a strong story full of human interest. One does not read many pages before being convinced that the author has story to tell and possesses the magic power of knowing how to tell it.
 The hero, Ralph Dangerfeld, is presented to the reader in the very midst of his mis- deeds, and consequent troubles. few strong masterly strokes and he becomes the readers intimate acquaintance. Then follow the stirring incidents which charac- fari in6 nf tcfA Car r1xrIz 1na described in a graphic manner the mutila- ton of three gentlemen in the old palace yard in London by Archbishop Laud on &C., count of their religious beliefs. He also adds hearty account of the famous work of Jenny Geddes in Edinburgh, when she hurled her stool at the bishops head when he said, Let us read the collect of the day." giving her famous rejoinder, Dell collie the wame of thee. Wilt say mass at my lug?' Our story-teller makes of one of these gentleman who suffered mutila- tion at the stake the father of our hero and by so doing presents a strong, appeal ing incident which gives color and inten- sity to the whole work. For inasmuch as this inhuman action fully portrays the cruelty and oppression of the Catholic bish- ops, it also serves an illustration of the motive power which lent strength and pow CT and righteousness to the parliament cause While all of the incidents follow events of the narrative closely the pages of history as they are accurately recorded there. still the author has so thoroughly absorbed them that his rela- tion of his story's plot possesses entire spontaneity and freedom of action, which is full of interest to the reader and con vncing to the fullest degree
 We first meet Cromwell in his own home at Ely, and most assuredly he is the finest characterization in the book; e-eminent among number of others who are un- doubtedly excellent each in his or her in- dividual way That the author has spent much time and thought and love upon this central parsonage we may well believe; and yet we must remember that only love and sympathy for the man and his work could ever have produced so powerful and vivid work. Not for long, though, do we see him in the quietness and sweetness of his own home at Ely; for the parlia- ment had decided to vote with pike and sword" and henceforth there is constant work to do. The royal standard was raised at Nottingham, and on the very day that Ralph arrived at CromwelPs home in Ely that worthy man had enlisted