The Washington times., 1901-09-15

of the historian, together with the imag-
NATIVE power and depth of feeling requi-
site for the romance writer.
In her latest book, 'Lazarre," which
has just issued from the press, she has
found a subject after her own heart, and
fascinating in all its aspects. She has
taken up in this the old legend, with
which many people now living are famil-
lar, of the ex;led Dauphin. In the first
half of the last century story was cur
rent that the Dauphin Louis. son of Louis
XVI and Marie Antoinette. did not die
in prison, but was spirited away and
brought to this country, where he lived
1 and died in obscurity. Another form of
the story made him hopeless imbecile,
but the most popular version was tina;
which represented him as recovering from
the effects of his prison treatment, but
| unable to prove his identity. This is the
| version selected by Mrs. Catherwood.
1t is an historical fact that such man
did live. though whether he was what he
| believed himself to be IL not certain. The
| way in which "Lazarre'' came to be writ
ten is interesting in itself. In her child
hood, the author heard the story of the
| exiied Dauphin, and b. became to her
| fancy a sort of Prince Charming. The
legend was current especially in the Mid
die West where her childhood was spent.
| a few years ago, while on a visit to
Green Bay. Wis, she met with two old
! ladies who had actually known the sup
7 posed Dauphin, and still cherished rel
ics of him in the shape of BOOKS and 9TH
| er things which he had owned. This dis
covery reawakened the fascination which
the tale had haa for her, and she deter
Fmined to embody it in a novel To this
| end she has spent much time in tracing
all the details of his life which can be
found in the places connected with him,
| and the result is ''Lazarre.'
| The name of the book is taken from the
Indian form of the hero's name, Eleazar.
| Among the French-speaking aborigines of
| the Northwest he was known as Lag
ARE" and the legend is that the Indian
| into whose care he was given when
| child was a descendant of Eunice Viii
liams, the New England child who. kid
mapped and carried off to Canada, grew
up in captivity and married an Iroquois.
He was therefore known as Eleazar Will
liams. The story begins with fall which
| the hero experiences at the age of eight
Gen. the shock of which arouses his tor
pid brain and gradually restores in part
his memory of his childhood. From this
point his wanderings in America and his
| journeys to France in the effort to prove
his identity are described with vivid
ness and imaginative power which give
the impression Of an actual historical mar
rative. There is no straining after effect.
there are no incidents dragged in for the
sake of sensation, or in order to intro
duce some historical character. Through
out the book the author holds herself in
reserve for the tremendous climax of the
last chapter
1t is probable that the book will be
dramatized. but unlike most novels which
would make good plays. it is fine piece
of fiction. Its fitness for the stage lies
in the essential dramatic quality of the
characters and scenes; there is nothing
theatrical in 1t. Mrs. Catherwood occu-
pies in American fiction very much the
same position which Francis Parkman
occupies a historian. She has much
of Parkman's power of condensation, and
his suggestiveness and forcefulness of die
ton. Neither of these authors ever says
word too much. They pack their mean
ing into as few sentences as can be made
to hold it, but they never leave out an
important point. Moreover. both are in
tensely individual in conception and treat
ment of their subjects.
The character drawing is perhaps the
finest element in the book. The char
acter of the hero is never overshadowed
by any subordinate figure. but every
minor character is distinctly drawn. The
heroine is a French woman and a royal
list. exiled to America, possessing all the
grace, charm and fine distinction. as well
as the spirit and courage, of the finest
type of French aristocracy. The next
most important character is perhaps the
hero's fidus Achates, the Iroquois, Skene-
donk. This Indian is not a type. but
person; he is a real Indian. a quaint and
picturesque hermit figure, well known in
the pioneer days of the West, comes into
the story in the person of Johnny Ap-
pleseed." This curious character went
travelling from place to place in The newly
cleared prairie lands planting apple seeds
and young trees. and clearing ground for
orchards. He brought huge bags of ap-
pie seeds from Eastern orchards and
planted them by the wayside. The In
dians revered him as sort of saint.
The local color is perfect. The story
ranges from Wisconsin to Massachusetts,.
and thence 10 Paris, and in every place
the reader is made to feel the reality of
the picture. Those who know the ground
will recognize innumerabIe skillfuI touch
es, and those who do not will neverthe-
less see that the picture is truthful.
If "Lazarre" is not one af the most sue
cessful books of the year it will be be-
cause 1t is overshadowed by something
more sensational, but of less genuine mer-
it. 1t has sll the elements of success, so
far as the critical eye can see. Thee is
no accounting for fashion, however, in
literature or anything else. and the loud
est applause does not always go to the
finest work. But there is no question
that this and THE Romance of Adam
Dollard' are enough to give to Mrs
Catherwood high place among Ameri-
can historical novelists. whether she ever
writes anything more or not. Qndianap-
oils: The Bowen-Merrill Company. s1.25.)