Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-12-21

gle of the Beers against British domina-
ton OF their country. The author says
in his preface that he had only one OBJ
ject in writing the book-'.to give the
world a story. which, although it does
not contain the whole truth as regards
this wondrous war, yet contains nothing
but the truth" There is simply direct
bluntness throughout the narrative that
is convincing evidence of General De
Vets conscientious endeavor to tell no.
thing but the truth. The author says.
also. he is mo book writer" In the
sense that he has not polished and or
nate style. he is not. But none the less
he is graphic in his descriptions-urcor con-
scious1y So it would seer,-and has pro-
duced d most valuable volume from an
historic point of view His estimates Of
his opponents as whole are fair and
generous. but on occasions his criticisms
of British officers are caustic, and it must
be said, are borne out by the facts in their
careers. He has high opinion of French
and of the much-abuSed Butler he re-
marks: y had no personal experience
with his methods. But this I will say:
Whatever his own people have to say to
his discredit Sir Redvers Butler had to
operate against stronger positions than
any other English general in South At
RIGA" General De Wet entered tho SER
vice at the beginning Of the war as a
private Burgher, and his promotion was
most rapid. None gave the British more
trouble than he did. and the action in the
Book is az rapid and full Of dramatic in
cldents as his movements.
For sale by the Bell Book and Sta
tionery Company.
IN KINGS BYWAYs BY Stanley j.
Weyman, author of IA Gentleman of
France" THE Castle Inn" Count
Hannibal" etc. Longmans, Green &
Co.. 81 and % Fifth avenue. New York.
Stanley J. Weyman is a master crafts
man in the art Of storywritins. and most
critics put him at the very head of the
list OF the producers Of fiction. His in
genuity and versatility as a maker of
plots are astonishing, and whether his sto-
ries be short or long. he can always hold
the readers attention. In a certain sense
he is the Boccaccio of this age. though
the comparison should not be construed
as meaning that Weyman ever initiates
the great Italian grossness. vulGarity,
or pruriency. On TIE contrary, he is al
ways clean and pure. and his characters
are sketched along the lines of the high
est ideals Weyman's men are always
men in the truly vrile sense of the word.
They are fully of physical courage. and,
taken as whole are seldom genuinely
bad
I'm Kings Byways'' we find many he
roic types, for the book is a collection OF
short stories dealing mostly with wars
and soldiers and daring gamesters. who
threw their dice in the bygone days of
France when Louis XIII. and Louis XIV
fiourished over and over again, too. we
minele with c0nspirators and diplomats,
and become enmeshed In plots and coun-
ter-plots.
II those times men carried their honor
In the scabbards with their sabres. and
SO we must take it in good faith If we
witness many duels and bloody encoun-
ters. And Neyuan's heroes, be it said.
are never afraid to fight. sr to risk their
fortunes on the gambling table.
The magnetic figure OF Henry of Ma
varre appearS often. In one story ne
makes mis- way into hostile Paris and en-
dangers his life by magnanimously trust
ing a political enemy. He is not mistaken
in his judgment. Again in The Kings
Stratagem' Henry turns defeat into vic
tory A too venturesome gambler, Gov
ernor of LusSny, has promised to be-
trav his city to his opponent. the Cover
nor of Creance. While the latter is taxi
ing Lusigny Henry shows the gambler
how to take the greater city OF Creance
at tn. same time and not forfeit his
pledged word. either
Along with the abundance Of action and
humor. which pervades the thread of such
OF the stories in this charming collection.
there are dainty touches of descriptive
work which carry us back hundreds OF
wears and make us live again in the past.
Especiaily do we delight in the pen
pictures of old Paris and its dangerous
byways, which bristle with danger and
offer adventure at every turn. Surely
ones imagination can never be idle when
following the leadership Of Mr.. Wey-
man.