The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-23
THE LITERARY PAGE.
The Freshest Works, by Various Authors
Reviewed and Noticed; With
Gossip and Comment.


Tho Cavalier" IS a story of the Civil
War. Its scene lies in mississippi and
Louisiana. After n careful perusal OF
the work we take pleasure In commend
ing tho book to our readers as ono OF
singular interest.
The Cavalier is a love story, and IT
50 more; IL is d narrative OF Stirring au-
venture Things AS they existed during
the unsettled times of the sixties at the
scene OF this story arc presented win
striking yiyidncss. Indeed. in reading the
book VIC feel as Il VIC had been carried
back TO chat uncertain period. NOW
we watch with great cIcarness n very
daring cavalry engagement, or an IN
stance of a thrilling hairbrcadth escape;
TOW we note the courageous Southern
women ninistcrng to the needs OF The
aiIing of beth armies. Time and again
The author. in unfolding his story, inn
presses us with the itreI'idity and hero
ism or the Confederate soldier. And let
us say here that the book Is fair TO both
sides, for the writer portrays also fine
examples of men Of the northern army
invested with indomitable courage. The
true American, without faint of foreign
blood, has always been, and ever will
Zoe, an example OF valor.
Tho misunderstanding is worthy of
the author of 1.-The Grandissimes." The
character Of the valiant Ned Ferry, lead
or of the famous Terry's scouts, is ex-
ceedngly dclicatcly drawn. The chief
tain of this band of warriors is possess
ed with qualities Of q great man. Through
oft the story he is deeply in love, and
is n strong cxample.of man with two
sides TO his nature, one duty and the
OTHER love These opposing sides are in
continual combat, hut the side of duty
with Ferry is ivariably followed. Ever
having contempt for fear, possessed OF
tho most marked integrity, notably unset
fish and withaI brilliant and successful,
he is an ideal captain.
Ills sweetheart is Charlotte Oliver
woman beautiful in person and none the
less so IN character. Not long before her
acquaintance with Ferry she had been
united in wedlocli, by some fatal mistake
resulting from his fcigning successfully
n different character. with q Very dis
reputable man, one Oliver Soon lind
ing out tho true nature OF this man, she
refuses 10 live with him and refuses TO
I've cast into the miro by his evil influences.
Now she is Il war correspondent, known
within the lines of both armies, and as
such she frequently risks her life in rem
dering valuable services to the Confed-
eracy. Deeply in love She is with the
hero, but, not able to sever her legal con-
neetion with her husband, and not wish
ing him killed, she necessarily drifts on
in n very dissatisfied state. One night
when in the hands of the enemy,
on being rescued by Ferry and his band,
Oliver, her husband, sllulling around,
raises his pistol and the bullet hits Char
lotte Oliver, the mark at which he aims
Almost simultaneously the commander of
Terry's scouts lets his sabre fall across
the culprts head. Then from his saddle
II n
he departs. Afterwards Oliver is re-
ported dead, but Charlotte is bedrlddon
with her wound, and Ferry himself.
wounded later on, is confined to his bed
at the same time. In short while they
both recover, but Charlotte, when cd
dressed by her gallant lover, answers no.
lie cannot understand this. Truth to
tell. Oliver If not dead" Once again they
arc deceived as to his death. At length,
however, the fiend suffers the dishon0r-
able death that gladly awaits him, and
The loving couple become man and wife.
Another of the leading characters, Scott
Ghoson, clerk to the acknowledgement Of
The brigade, and also a lover of Charlotte
Oliver, is 4 clear illustration of how
low q condition jealousy will let one fall
into. lie SIS desperately in love with the
heroine and not unnaturally scorns the
Very ground upon which Ferry walks.
mat the laller is a man ABOVE Tepfoacn
is universally admitted. but this Ghoson
persists in Gainsaying. Indeed. he loses
no opportunity of casting disparaGinE in
situations at Inn. He is constantly allud-
3ng 10 his own Jealous religion, and deny
ing TO tho honorable Ferry the possession
OF the least vestige Of any
The minor characters are all also well
drawn.
Now, as to the mechanism of the story,
Il is interesting in plot and remarkably
SO an incident Besides. the authors style
IS rcrspicuous as we'll as concise and has
about it a peculiarly artistic air.
As recapitulation. we shall say that,
( . our mind. THE Cavalier" in both sub
scct-matter and workmanship is a book
That all those who admire daring adven-
tuic the unccasing display of heroism and
unfagGing determination for an ardent
cause, will delight in reading.
J.R. "A. b.