New-York tribune., 1902-02-16

France, is to aid our Viking in getting himself
accepted a new emperor. The names of well
| known Frenchmen are introduced into the mar
ratVe, as are episodes in recent history. like the
attack upon the President at Lougchamys..
DaVignon pursues his ridiculous course and is
| landed in prison for his pains, but at least he
has the comfort of knowing that at the end of
his short period of Imprisonment Lady Kathleen
VIII become his Wife \ preposterous tale it is
told in a mildly interesting manner.
The chapter headings in "RiaIIaro' are enoush
to make the reader rub his eyes after glancfng
down the table Of contents. Here are some of
them, "Tirralaria," "Sneekape" "Wotnexst,"
/ "Jabberoo' and "Noola' There are more like
these. Bat the story is not as bad as these
monstrosities would suggest. 1t is all about the
people of certain islands in the Pacific who
unquestionably have quaint ways. A peculiar
curl Of the upper lip would change an inquiry
into the state of . mans health into a doubt
as To the morality Of his ancestors" The nose
is used in conversation. If a phrase or word
was snulcd up through the nasal channel il
might express either gathering devotion or ris-
ing passion We are told that the raising OF
the eyebrow had among the Alcofanians. a
whole grammar and dictionary to itself 1t is
stated that "Rialluro' has a satirical drift; but
il must be confessed that f2O pages of satire
Nuth as TINS NplulNc contains makes rather ntfd
rcading-if We pay much attention to the satire.
Such interest as the book possesses resides
merely in its surface Enthusiastically. The volume
is written. according to a note the cover.
Somewhat on the same plan 'GuIliver's
Travels" " The plan is all very We'll but there
is none of the charm of CULVER within these
pages
More Enthusiastically confrouts us when We take
10 The Fifth hV Mr. John IliIiu SouSI
There is a yrlinist in the book, "a renowned
Tuscan. yclcpt Angelo Diotti. He comes to
America to play and falls in love with a beau
tiful but icy maiden, whose heart, she lets him
know, can never be his until. by tn, magic of
his art, he strikes a responsive chord within H.
He finds the task of extreme difficulty
until his Satanic majesty appears upon the scene
and provides him with violin from which il
is easy to draw more soul searching strains than
ever were heard before. Unfortunately. the
devil adds a string TO the instrument which has
fatal properties. Angelo succeeds in persuadnE
the icy maiden aforesaid smile upon his suit,
but her curiosity is aroused about the deadly
string. and the violinist plays upon it only to
fall lifeless at her feet. 1t is feeble perform
ance. Mr.. Sousa would better stick To his band.
widow Wiley" is a collection of sketches
obviously made from life The rustics celebrated
in the book are amusing in their simplicity and
humOr The author though concerned with
portraiture chiefly. is not unskilful in giving
something Of the character of a story to each
of the short chapters. The book is readable
all through. But wish the Photographic il
Illustrations had been omitted. Though good
enough in themselves, they lack the atmosphere
we find in the text, and therefore strike
inharmonious note.