Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-08

THE SPLENDID IDLE FORTIES; Stories Of Old
California. BY Gertrude Atherton, author OF
son Fisher New York: The Macmillan Com
pany. Washington: Brentano's.
Mrs Atherton's residence on the Pacific
coast gave her the materials for her first
work in fiction. which attracted immediate
attention as that of a writer of unusual
force and brilliancy. She has not devoted
herself to this field much of late, however
having travelled not only in person but in
imagination far eastward. The thirteen
short stories which compose the present
volume all relate to the days of old Cantor
mia, before, during and after the American
occupation of that territory coincidental
with the war with Mexico. This period Is
happily chosen for the authors purposes
for it involves a mngling of the Americans
with the Spanish residents of the coast
Some of the stories relate directly to ro-
mances which resulted from this association
of peoples. They are all tales OF love ana
hatred most of them are tragedies am an
have sub-current of infinite sadness, me
resultant of strong passions. The duenna
Is a conspicuous figure in the tale, the
Jealous mother occurring several times as
an arbiter of the fate of young lovers. i ne
third story in the book, The wasn't up
Mail" is perhaps the most striking or them
all for 1t not only involves touching 70
nance but II discloses a characteristic
method of communication among the peo-
pie of the period, the assemblage OF wash
erwOmen on the banks of the river DuLIns
the American conquest of California Inc
Wash-Tub Mall was a frequent means Oh
communication between the fugitive span
ish patriots and the stay-at-homes VINO
were under the dominion of the newcomers
THE TALK OF THE TOWN; a Neighborhood Nov:
ell BY Elisa Armstrong Bengough author OF
The Teacup Club New York: ID. Appleton
& Co.
This is the latest number of the Apple
tons NOVELTIES de Luxe" 1t is such
story as one would hardly select for so m
posingly titled a collection, for 1t relates
to homely things and humble people. Yet
1t IS nevertheless a strongly written novel,
of the kind to be appreciated by the aver
age reader 1t is the story of a working
man convicted of murder and sentenced to
life Imprisonment, and of the trials OF ms
wife during his incarceration. PracticaHy
the whole story Is told through the mealum
Of the neighborhood gossips, who are as
a rule kindly people yet devoured by curl
osity and not blessed with the gift of 81
lence An extraordinary complication oc-
ours which seems unsolvable, but Is hna!ly
reduced to logical conclusion by a few
dextrous strokes of structure. There Is an
unmistakable current of human nature
throughout the story
THE LORD PROTECTOR; a Story. By s Levett-
Yeats, author of The Chevalier !, Auriac &c
New York: Longmans, Green Co.
The title of this novel indicates clearly
the times and personages with which it
deals Oliver Cromwell is master of Eng
land. and the adherents of the executed
king are fugitives from his officers. Estates
are confscated. great families ruined and
terror is in the air. One of the kings men,
a man of former wealth and high position,
is hiding in the woods on the estate of the
Young woman whom ne hopes to marry
and through whose wealth he expects to re-
habilitata his fortunes. His capture IS i'm
minent at any moment. From the time OF
the first appearance until the death of the
cavalier at the hands of Cromwell's men
only a few hours elapse. The action is
therefore quick and interest Is unfaggingly
held to the climax. A striking portrait OF
Cromwell is afforded in the course of the
story, he appearing conspicuously as the
master of the fateS of men and women 1t
is not an unsympathetic portrayal nor yet a
partisan, and reveals the sternly suppressed
humanity of the iron reformer. THE Lord
Protector makes excellent reading in these
days of less conscientiOusly prepared and
written novels.
EDGES. By Alice Woods With Illustrations by
the author. indianapolis: The Bowen Merrill
Company.
This is a novel of art, studios and "at-
mospheres." Although it's reading is doubt
less the more enjoyable to artists than to
other folks there IS enough everyday
humanity and sentiment in it to make it I'M
derstOod by those who do not know the pc
culiar charm of the life of the wielders OF
the brush. 1t is in itself an artistic produc-
ton, the type being big and black the mar
gins generous and the authors illustra tions
exceptionally clever. The central figure, ar
unconventional emotional yet philosophical
young woman who has studied art in Paris
and has abandoned that pursuit because she
takes no pleasure In the prospect of an
artists life, is drawn with a distinctnesS
that makes her the absorbing feature of the
romance. The scene shifts from a New
England coast town to Paris and It's en-
virons- 1t is more delightful in its opening
chapters than in the later ones. which are
Teopled with additional characters who
rather confuse the prospective. Still, it is
an unusually entertaining story.
TIE, CULT OF THE PURPLE ROSE: a Phase Of
Harvard Life. BY Shirley Eyerton Johnson
Boston Richard G. Badger.
1t was unnecessary for the author of this
skit to explain in the preface that It should
not be taken seriously by Harvard men, that
1t was simply a narration of the doings of
few extremists a that university. No one
with the slightest understanding of uni
versity life would regard it as a faithful
portraiture or a reliable chronicle of stu
dent ways. The cult of the purple rose
was d ldu bl the most extraordinary Kind
which developed the estheticism of a grour
of students whose conversation as nara ed
In the story is interesting chiefly for It's
Vapid straining after effects.
WITH NAPOLEON AT ST. HELENA: Being the
Memoirs of DR.. John Stokoe. Naval Surgeon
Translated from the French OF Paul Fremeaux
by Edith s. Stokoe. New York: Doubleday
Page Co. Washington: VIM. Ballantyne s
Sons.
Napoleon's career gave rise to a great
many controversies. none more bitter
however, than that relating to the treat
ment accorded him by the English at st
Helena. His adherents in France have al
ways maintained that his English jaiIer.
were brutal and inattentive to his rea
needs during his last illness. Four French
works appeared on the subject between 49,
and 1S47. giving this charge the widest pub
licity and stating II in the most emphati
partisan terms. AS against these the friend
of Sir Hudson Lowe the governor of ST
Helena during Napoleon's Imprisonment
published in 1853 a defense of his conduct
basing it upon his own papers. This un
doubtedly turned the tide at least in Eng