Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1900-12-18
aRAFNALAND,''
clever aud Fascinating Tale by VIM.
u. Wftson--RecalLs AHctent The
Org That There Is a YARN and
Fertile Country at the Pole.
Il0n n oiieag9 IN. -HeEald. :

orr That There Is a YARN aud
Fertile Country at the Pole.
EtOnl he Chicago Times Herald.
Since the great success scored by An
thony Hope with his prisoner of Zenda, .
stories nfsmall kingdoms visited by Eng
lishmen or Frenchmen have multiplied
ike locusts, and have been. as nearly alike
one another as those pestiferous insects
The most optimistic critic living did not
hope for any originality in this line of
literature. 1t was known and understood
that they were limitations, and were writ
ten, like Hodges razorp. TO sell.
In what terms of praise. then, shall we
speak of W. Fl. Wilson. who has actually
written story of an Americans adven-
lures in a mythical Kingdom. which il
both original and fascinating2 Rama
land" is that country which is situated in
the mysterious polar region which no ex-
piorer has ever been able to reach, either
by balloon or by dash" 1t is warm
aud fertile, because it is surrounded by
currents kept warm by immense hot
springs. 1t is peopled by Horsemen who
fed long ago from their own country in
quest of religious liberty. They were
unwilling to relinquish the worship of
the old gods and accept Christ.
This country is called RnfDaland, or
Ravepland, because the people were led
there by raven. It is an island and
the only neirhboring country is Uifand
or WolHand, another island. about eight
miles distant That the people are of
Morse origin is evident from their names
The king is Olaf, the queen is Ragnhild,
some of the younger people are called
Erling, Astrid and Thora.
The hero, an American named John
Heath Howard, is taken to this strange
country against his will in balloon op
Grated by Hyder Ali. an Indian. How
AID Is at the Derby in England with his
f,ther, aud he steps into Tie balloon as a
joke, not Intending to go up But the
Indian, supposing him to be the son of
another man whom he owes grudge,
springs the catch by which the ground
ropes are held, ard the earth fell away
and went hurtIing down into space. -
We pass over the exciting incidents of
the aerial voyage, advising the reader to
turn to the book and enjoy them for him.
self. This portion of the story wasNdoubt
less suggested by Andres romantic
knigblly but ilI.starred voyage into the
unknown, from which he has never re
turned
Howard gnes TO sleep in the balloon
aud awakens in Rafualand, where lie IL
adopted by the king. and is regarded a.
creature of good omen by the people.
he learns the language and has many ex
citing adventures, not the least of which
is a spirited AK fight with the prince of
tue neighboring islnnd lie also falls in
love with the beautiful Aslrid, the kings
daughter, and his affection is returned
II is this latter phase of his strange exile
which reconciles him to lis lot:
"Then out of the glpum rose n fair
! young face, with hair like sunshine fall
ing around it. and with great, dark, ten
der eyes ard tonE my hands from my
/ head and stond upon my feet aud thank
| ed God for tie cy he had shown me,
and Tor the great miracle he had wrought
through which had been saved from
dying upon the ice aud brought to this
land where AstTid lived And
| prayed that He would ease the Pain in
my fathers heart, and fiud way TO cheer
and comfort him in the lonely years that
stood before him"
Howard hns rival In the person oil
Thorkel, of Uaaud, who becomes inso
lent after volcanic eruption has destroy
ed half of King OIaf's subjects and kill.
ed part of his fighting men. The murder
of Erling, olsf's son, brings matters to
crisis and war is declared between the
two countries. The Rafnalanders are
worsted and Howard decides to escape in
the hsiloon with Astrid. The last few
pages make the reader hold his breath,
for the balloon is being inflated while the
Ulhanders are pressing on, with only one
brave old man to hold them at bay.
Mr.. Wilson has derived his idea of the
people who I'VE at the north pole from
reading the works at Paul du Chailln
and similar writers, and he has injected
sufficient detail into hi narrative to rem
der it most plausible. There is plenty
of fighting in the book of the sort thur
stirs mems 5lood. The single combat.
are managed with gren spirit aud are
welcome relief from the,sword duels {.
the standard brand Of historical navel
"Rafnaland" is 81 uo;ahle work Of lictio,
fresh, ingenious, different" Graf
naland,' by William IL Wilson. liar
per & Brothersj
To AccoMMC DATE those who are partial to
the - Of atomiZers in APPLYING liqnids INTO
tue nasal passage for catarrhal troubles the
groprletcrs prepare Ely.s Liquid Crcambuln
Price including the spraying tube is ~ cents
Druggist or bl mail The liquid embodies the
medicinal properties of the solid preparation,