Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-26

but a brave and dauntless soldier when
the South calls for men. And, OF
course, there is the heroine OF the tale
in Colonel Carvel q daughter. Virginia,
who reminds one sometimes Of Esmond's
Beatrix, at other times of Diana
Vernon, and yet is American of the
Americans; self-willed and headstrong,
but tender and devoted. 10 summarize
the story would be to spoil IL. Suffice
1t to say that, in spite OF herself and
her passionate attachment to the South,
Virginia is drawn by fate TO give her
heart 20 Stephen Brice. But 1.-The
Crisis" is something more than a
clever romance, skilfully compounded
of episodes of love and war Mr..
Churchill works on q broader and more
imposing canvas. He gives US history
as well as fiction, and the English
reader will obtain more vivid and
lasting impression OF the mighty
principles involved in the American
Civil War, of the insvitableness OF the
tragedy and of the imperious necessity
whIch led to the slaughter of thousands,
by reading this book than by studying
a dozen histories. He has dared to
introduce into his story, not only GenH.
Grant and Sherman, but Abraham
Lincoln himself-not as shadowy
figure in the background. and not
merely as the deus eX machina to bring
the lovers together, but as one of the
living actors in the tale. In one
striking passage he sums up in a few
words the marvellous career of that
truly marvellous man. This Lincoln
OF the black loan, who built his neigh
boris cabin and hoed his neighbor g
corn. whv had been storekeeper and
postman and flat boatman; who had
| followed u rough justice round a rough
circuit; who had rolled local bully
| 10 the dirt; rescued women from in
| suit; tended the bedside of many sick
coward who feared the judgments told
coarse stories on barrels by candle.
| light tbut these are pure beside the
vice OF great citiesl who addrts sed
| political mobs In the raw, swooping
down from the stump and fiinging
embroilers east and west. The physi'
| ciar who was one day to tend the sicli
bed of the Nation in her agony; whose
| large hand was to be on her feeble
pulse. and whose knowledge, almost
divine, waa to perform the miracle Of
her healing. SO was 1T that the
Physician Himself performed His
| cures, and, when His work was done,
died martyr Abraham Lincoln dice
in His name. ="
We have on our table now A Mary.
land Manor" by Frederick Emory. l.
| promises TO be popular
Instead OF historical, military o.
political events, TIE author of thil
historical romance has selected as thu
subject OF his story the social life Of |
| period, and section, national event
being given a subordinate place. Tn
result is carefully studied types set II
an interesting story. A dissipated ant
disinherited elder son and an ambition
and INSCRIPTIONS son OF an oversee
supply the tragedies, the heroine beini
Southern girl OF the sixties, ignorant
petted, wilfdl, but sweet at the core
A captivating adventures of no
wholly bad sort adds piquanoy to tn
tslo, which is mainly interesting as
record Of manners and points OF view.
The reader ia introduced to the dali
life Of typical slave owing Souther
had inherited the manor. They had a.
the pride oil their caste, their 'materia
as we'll as their sentimental interest
being bound up In the doomed syatem
family, succeeding generations of whic
The intensity aud the all-peryasiyenes
OF the spirit OF caste and it's embittei
ing effect on the ambitious but social
non elect is carefully traced in th
character Of Reeve, the son of an ovei
seer, and his own fine son, Oswald.
Portia.