New-York tribune., 1902-08-24

&
THE E. THRALh ViL2.l OF LEIF THE LUCKY. a sssry
ia n'T n, Havlng pictures and designs by Trey
~Aicago: a. c. McCiurg % & CO. --"0' pp ''
MAzEI. By. Richard Ffsguill. Emo, pp 81 Chi
cago; Herbert S. Stone & Co.
Miss Potter tells in THE House of de Mailly"
| a lively story Of love and courtly life in the
time of Louis XIV. Her hero is the youne, Count
oe Manly kinsman and a devoted lover OF
tiiat Duchesse de Chateauroux who Immediately
preceded the Marquise de Pompadour in the
good graces of the king The latter was not the
man to brook rival. and he metes out to Miss
Potters hero a punishment which is none the
less bitter because it stops short of the BastiIe
| indeed, incarceration in that gloomy stronghold
would have been less dampening, perhaps, to
| the spirit Of the audacious lover than exile
promised to be when the order committing him
to it was drawn up with clause stating that
| by marrying wife he might win forgiveness
| and a cordial reception back into the charmed
| circle at Versailles. However Monsieur de Mail
ly finds in Maryland. where he goes to out his
heart with jealousy and rage, charming young
| lady who presently succeeds in pouring eff
hcacious balm upon his wounds With his
Debby he returns to France, arriving at court
just when the star of his cherished
Duchesse seems to be waning. In due
his wife attracts the King, ard unhappiness
incidents which fill the ensuing pages Will
not disclose. contenting ourselves with the
mark that the author has shown much clever
ness in her treatment of the death of the
Duchesse and the mysterious transactions at
tending it. But the story is clever throughout
The familiar figures of French history pOr-
trayed with sufficient aptitude, and the affairs
of the hero and heroine presented with
judicious of proportion. The balance be
tIppa md jnN-o &c we'll adj Ste1
The author of The Thran of Left the Lucky
has acquitted herself with credit of very diff
fcult task. namely, that of giving reality to
people and events drawn from the tenth
tury when the mighty fair haired warriors of
Norway and Sweden and Denmark, whom the
people of Southern Europe called the Northmen
were becoming known and dreaded throughout
the world The hero is young Saxon taken
captive in England and brought to Norway to
be sold thrall. OF course, the proud blood
in Alwin's veins is outraged by the indignites
to which he is subjected. and his temper carries
him to acts of resentment which more than once
come near costing him his life. But there
not wanting among the Vikings at whose mercy
he lies with power of appreciating cour-
age and other manly traits. Even the naughty
maiden whom he is obliged to serve learns to
respect and, after while, to love him. and he
conquers likewise the heart of Left Ericsson in
| whose adventure of American exploration he
| shares. Miss Liliencrantz keeps the purely ro-
| mantle fortunes of her hero constantly in mind
and is too ambitious where the reconstruc-
tion of an old form of civilization is concerned,
! but the very modesty of her aim stands her in
good stead the book has atmosphere, convey
! ing a very plausible impression of life among
! the hard hitting semi rbarOus men of the
/ ancient North. The volume is effectively illus
! trated and decorated in color and in black and
/ white.
/ ''MaZel" ; q fairly successful attempt at fan
! tasy The scene is laid in i American univer-
sity town IN the South. \ quaint French pro
fessor is first introduced. his colleagues in the
faculty play subsidiary parts In the comedy, and
they all look while pretty French governess
| is woo.d by 4 rich young American, whose ig-
norance OF her language is only equalled by her
/ Ignorance of his. Professor Auban takes hand
/ in II" game sorely troubled by conflicting
tious. since he wants to marry MaZel himself
The tale proceeds with a good deal of vivacity
and is on the whole. very amusing though the
authors touch is not quite light enough for him
to do complete justice to his theme
QTEER STORY or AN ANCIENT LETTER.
From The Antiquary.