The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-30
ing Prophets" does rot dl.ract from his
reputation as novelist
.-The Rat.. cosaeax.n

reputation as novelist.
'sThe Ratls Comedy,
The Bath Comedy by Agnes and
Edgerton Castle Frederick A. Stokes
company, New York.
THE Bath Comedy is refreshing read
ing after surfett of problem and histori-
cal novels. 1t IS light. airy and mirth-
provoking-a book to drive away the
blues on the grayest sort of day.
The latter half of the Seventeenth
century is perferee admitted as the time
described, since several fash ons os that
picturesque period would prove that
+ ceilent reasons affecting the good bishop
Of Bath and Wells, is not given. The
authors acknowledge that in setting down
comedy in narrative form pen and ink
pictures of scenery and the rendering
of atmosphere are out of place. SO the
quaint cid town of Bath. with its As
sesnbly Rooms" the Great Pump Room
and other places made famous not alone
by the beaux and '+feasts" of that day
but permanently by the men and women.
notable in literature and art, who fire.
quented them, is used but as a setting
for the scenes of the story
The plot hinges on Lady Standish's at
tempt to provoke her husbands jeal-
ousy. Although married only three
months, Sir Jasper Standish is little
wearied of his over-fond wife, and to
her great unhapD ness IS absenting him
self more aad more from her side. Her
innocent effort to make him jealous is
the result Of advice given by Mistress
Kitty BeIairs, the Telgning toast of
Bath. and the prettiest woman in all
England according to her admirers.
How successful Lady Standish is, and
the exciting incidents following close up
on her venture, ought not to be told here,
lest the telling spoil the comedy for those
who enjoy following Sir Jasper in his
wild attempts to discover his wife's i'm
aginery lover, and Mistress Kitty's at
tempt to help her friend. and Incidentally
free her own charming self from youth
full adorer
The Edgertons have given us a de-
lightfui picture of life at Bath during the
latter half of the last century-a Dictura
of a time when life RAN like dance.
In following the comedy they bid us re-
member that we are in the midst of what
has been extolled as the Bath manner,
and that throughout as was said of an
other but worldwide known Bath Com
edy- love gilds the scene, and woman
guides the plot
IAN Opera nad Lady Grasmere.,'
''An Opera and Lady Grasmere,' by al
a
company, New York.
Notwithstanding the facts that this
book has been severely criticised by the
Eastern press and that it may not be a
classic, the average reader viii find much
TO commend in it
1t IS well and smoothly written. and
furnishes much light entertainment:
above all, it is clean and wholesome
The interest centers entirely with the
two leading characters. Merceron, the
musician, and Cady Grasmere.
Merceron. though young has been a
recluse for several years, engaged in
writing an opera. At its completion fthse
beginning of the story an old friend
has prevailed upon him to dine out and
attend the opera and later a fancy bail
At the latter he meets for the first time
Lady GtrasnaeFe Their admiration is
mutual and of the intense variety
From now on, for time Merceron he
| comes a fashionable idler. devoting him
self only to her ladysfip. He has learn
ed ere this that his opera was but
boylsh effort and unworthy of produc-
stolen.
Later, ON attending a first night of
new composer, he listens to his own
opera, but slightly changed, and in its
! failure realizes his own strength With
knowledge of human hearts and emo
tons, and he, in the end, aecompiisees
his life dream, the authorship of sue
ceSs.ul English opera.