Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-06-18
vENAHLE's BOOK,
"A Dream Of Empire, or The House Of
BIenneThaSSett."

Empire"
Among the winding reaches of the
upper Ohio, the region about Marietta
is unsurpassed in beauty of scenery
and historic interest. The long ranges
of wooded hills enfold the serene val
ley like a rampant, while the curving
stream holds in its soft embrace SER
les of lovely islands that present a
magical appearance as they rise like
mirage on the shining water or fade
away in mist and mystery into the dis
tant shore. At Marietta is the mouth |
of the Muskingum, noted and nav
igable little river, and about twelve |
miles below, at Parkersburg, the Little |
Kanawha, another useful tributary, |
pours out into the Ohio. Within easy
sight beyond lies the famous Blenner-
hassett island the scene Of one of the
most romantic and tragical episodes in
| the history of the western waters, in
volving the ruin of happy family and
of a gifted politicians honor.
The stirring story of Aaron Burr's
great conspiracy to found an empire in
the Southwest, with New Orleans as
it's capital, has at last been woven into
an engaging romance. 1t is written
by Prof. w. H. Venable, of Cincinnati.
and is entitled "A Dream of Empire,
or the House of Blennerhassett," pub
llshed by Dodd, Mead and Company.
Tho cnbo1o t1u o11fbpr, r1oada thor
ough study of his great subject, and
has personally visited and examined all
the scenes Of his story. AS a result he
has produced strong and brilliant
American romance, written with truth,
vigor and beauty, and compelling at
tention and admiration.
The story opens in the beautiful ISL
: and home of the Blennerhassetts in the
2 spring of 1906. The scene then shifts
to Pittsburg, and the reader follows
!, Aaron Burr on his trip down the Ohio
n river in large flat-boat, in the course
E of which he seeks out Blennerhassett
C and by appealing to his self-love ana
ambition, and exciting the vanity OF
his beautiful wife, he enlists them il
his great political scheme Burr ther
proceeds down the river, stopping from
time to time to add to his recruits
whom he gathered from all classes ant
!e conditions of men. The absorbin!
,e events of the story now move rapidly
y involving the various characters il
IL r,opy dopoarorc advant,rec thrO,1cI
j. which the crafty arch-plotter passes il
is triumph until the fatal crash comes
y The closing scenes after the breakin!
% o. the storm show the pitiful pligh
v of the Blennerhassett's when the bull
Iy of their fortunes had been expended
IS in the ill-starred enterprise, iron
a which only disaster has come to then
ls and their idyllic island home.
& 1t is a pleasure to testify to the com
plete success of Prof. Venable's pla,
L and work He has fully caught tn
spirit of the story and of the frontie
times in which the scenes are laid
His descriptions of the wonderful isl
and home on Bacchus Island, apalac
al of luxury reared in the wilderness, ar
delightful, and the luckless Blenner
hassett family is invested with our fuI
II, sympathy. But the authors creates
"a triumph is displayed in his treatmen
- of the dominating evil genius. Co
u Burr, whose gifted and insidious natur
av is revealed in sure and telling strokes
rs His ability, his courage, his soarin
~ ambition, all tarnished by his lack {
an heart and honor, are pictured in mas
te terly fashion.
ha The many moving scenes of the ste
mo- ry cover the great rivers from Pitts
burg to New Orleans, and are file
with varied and exciting incident
which make capital writing and reat
- ng There are two sets of lovers VIII
w are finally made happy, and severf
he original and eccentric characters VIII
"a are useful and entertaining. A roun
~ of melo-drama among the river-piratt
N. on the Mississippi gives a touch OF ser
is sation and tragedy, although the ban
IA history of the leading personages
T- tragical enough. The life of the earl
w w. era described has been well studie
and is broadly and vividly portraye
in many scenes and people. If there
anything lacking it is the omission
fuller account of the celebrated trii
~ of Aaron Burr and his associates ft
ne treason at Richmond, a dramatic an
er- imposing event that would readily bef
OIL brilliant treatment as thrilling cl
max to this painful history But II
OF romance in all is a work of powe
ro- charm and art, that should bring ne
na' distinction to its author and attract II
be attention of all good readers.
~ 1t follows the flag. Manila, P.
'H' The soldiers coming here ask us to o
der Rocky Mountain Tea, speakir
highly of this remedy. By steame