The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-03
NEW BOOKS.
How Barendale Han Was Set on Fire.

Mead a Coz strangely omitted to ponder as
IL deserved the prophecy on which the
story il founded. When Vivien Of the Glade
was burned at the stake in The time OF the
Wars OF the Roses she pointed with her
right hand to Baxendale Hall and declared
with all the authority Of a martyr that 1t
should be burned three times. once by
tho King. once by the State. and once by a
power a thousand-fold stronger and higher
than either Of these. This story, modern
tale, Is concerned with tho third burning,
and it seems to US that in looking for the
cause OF the fire the question should have
been asked what that last and mighty
power was bound to be.
Obviously some natural power. Not the
lightning, for there was no thunderstorm
on that day. The moon is a mighty power
1t hoists the tides. but it does not set fire
to English baronial homes. We may elimi-
nate the moon and the stars and there re-
mains the sun. Of course it was the sun
1t could not have been a hail Of fire from
heaven following upon the belchings of
volcano; quite safe to say that no spark
from Hecla or Vesuvius touched Of that
stately pile.
Though the power could have been
nothing but the sun. it certainly is a little
accomplished any intimate contact with a
house enveloped in British weather. But
just there 10 where the clear and scientific
mind of Prof Gottfried made itself valuable
in the story He showed that with the aid
Of powerful magnifying glass the rays of
the sun, even in England. could be focused
to point Of heat sufficient to set fire to
matches or other highly infiammable ma
terial. His demOnst rations left no doubt
of the entire accuracy OF the forecast made
by Vivien Of the Glade. As we say, the
wonder is that the persons Interested should
have paid no attention to the words Of that
prophecies. If they had needed her 1t
would not have been thought that Laurence
Baxendale set fire TO Baxendale Hall for
the sake of insurance. The insurance
company would have paid up and asked no
questions.
We notice that It Ia said Of Laurence
Baxendale on page 1877 that by the time
he was thoroughly awake the awful truth
dawned upon his drowsy brain that BaNen
dale Hall was In flames. II he was drowsy
when he was thoroughly awake, It IL no
wonder, perhaps that he failed to guess the
riddle Of the fire. II was stupid OF him TO
think himself called upon to break of his
engagement with Nancy Burton. Nancy
was miserable, and we were glad when this
trouble was adjusted and when ION Nancy's
face JOY played the part Of india rubber
and erased sorrows handwriting
The insurance on Baxendale Hall was
ElO00OO. II was paid Immediately on the
professors discovery. The professor and
Vivien Of the Glade made great team.
In the Pleasant shadow OF the Dene.
Much that IL pleasant will be encountered
in Rosa Nouchette Careys story THE
Highway Of Fate" o. B. Liprincott Com
pany, Philadelphia. 1t IL just that we
should encounter pleasant things In the
inevitable highway in question. We have
always felt In fancy the pleasantnsss of
Dene, and we are satisfied that II was with
entire reason that to Eunice here the Dens
appeared magnificent and altoget her
palatial. II seems to us as though we hardly |
needed to be told that it was a well-buil,, |
comfortable house, suitable for the needs |
Of large family. Who ever could fancy so |
wrong and 40 cruel a thing az Dene meas
ured only to the needs of a small family?
Still, we are pleased to have the details Of a
Dene just as we know they must have
been. The rooms spacious. though not
specially lofty; the hall large and full Of
handsome dark oak furniture; the dining
room, library and morning room well
proportioned and cheerful and furnished
also in that fine dark oak; the drawing room |
with its square tea table, its silver and an |
tique china. its circle Of easy chairs about |
the fre-we love the Dene and we love |
to have it rehearsed. Lillian could hear
Douglass deep voice rising and falling |
aid mingling with the notes of the wood |
pigeons "a he conversed with Eunice, and |
the fresh girlish tones Of Eunice as she con. |
versed with Douglas God bless them!" |
murnured Lillian a. she went slowly down |
the grassy path that bordered the tennis |
lawn. No feeling OF envy or jealousy |
throbbed in her simple loving heart. The |
happine' OF three may be unde rst God |
from the concluding remark Of Lillian. ad-
DIRE ssed to herself. Il shall not be in the |
way" she said; they will never wish to
part with me. Monkbarn will be my home
as we'll a. theirs. Oh, how content and
happy ought TO be, for threefod card il
not quickly broken Fate softens this
highway. as knowing our wishes and our
needs.
Hot Goals on the Head OF Obadiah.
Obadiah Boone treated Henry West
abominably in "A Red Man OF Quality" by
Edward Everett Billings (The Saalfed |
Publishing Company West was the noble
young Indian from whom the story gets it's
title. Hold er post norton on him. Kill |
him fust an examine him afterwards" was
Obadiahs advice when Prof. Garceau's
party Of sapphire hunters first fell in with |
Henry. The young Indian used much finer
language than old Obadiah did. HAS that
anomalous brute gomez" he inquired with
dignity after Obadiah had exhausted his
abuse and turned on his heel. But Obadiah
changed his tune later. The professors
party was attacked by the hostiles. 'Oba-
diah fought like a demon. His hat had
blown away. his shirt was torn open, and |
with blood streaming down his face and
mating in his whskers he looked like one
He was fel!ed to the earth. however. and
would have been killed II Henry West had
not dashed in and saved him at the expense
OF his own life. One Of the enemy buried
his knife In the heart Of the noblest Indian
that ever lived A gasp, a groan." and
Henry West was no more. Obadiah pro-
nounced handsome eulogy upon him. As
IN the idantity of Henry West the story talla |