New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-09


PIP. $50. d. Appleton Co.
CECILIA. A Story of Modern Rome BY T,
Marion Crawford. limo, pp. al. The Macmillan
Company.
& Co.
The history of the great Duke OF Marlborough
contains much to discomfort the impartial
reader. Admiration for the soldier is tinGed
again and again with doubt of the man. Bu-
Mr. Arthur Paterson is unwilling, at least for the
purposes of his new romance, THE Kings
Agent" to introduce many shadows into poG-
trait of the famous man. He prefers TO take
him on his better side, and while he thus Dc
tracts from the historical verisimilitude which
he is anxious, the whole, to preserve he tells,
at eny rate, diverttng story. The parsonage
from whom the latter takes its title is one Karl
Brownker, agent of King Williams, whose
Devotion we may suppose. would have
manned forever mistaken if he had not hal
pened to fall in love with a ward of Marboy
ough's. This, when a rival appears upon the
scene makes him capable of anything, and the
romance relates to the development of plot
through which he endeavors not only to wreck
the fortunes of another lover but to harm the
duke and others. Obviously, Mr.. Paterson asks
a good deal of his reader. We are TO believe
that Marlborough and the King himself are e
serve but pawns in the hands of a spy, who
is willing. and able, to trife with the affairs -
a great realm simply in order that he may VIII
a bride. Even though the troubled state 80
politics at that time the intrigues of France.
and MarlbOroughs we'll known capacity for
treachery, lend color to the tale, it must be con-
fessed that one humorously raises his eyebrows
as he reads. The author need not care.
He frames his narrative with so much in
genuity. and handles it with such spirit, that
are compelled to throw questions Of probability
to the Winds and are content to enjoy what IS
set before US. Marlborough. as he is portrayed
in this novel, may not be credible. but he is a
delightful companion; Master BroWnker, rascal
though lie is. possesses uncOmmOnly engaging
traits: the hero is a lovabe type of hot-ten.-
pered loyalty; his best friend, Lord TOttenhar.
is more unconventional specimen OF sever
teenth century manners than We are accustomed
to meet in stories of this rather stereotyped sort
and the heroine is even more refreshingly orig
inaL Mistress Isabel Fretchville is not the or
chanting mink fully expect to find in the
book but a true woman. natural in her way
as she is fair 10 look upon. We are vouchsafed.
of course, the usual glimpses Of famous figures,
King William in one of his grunting moods and
the Duchess of Marlborough in a rage, but the
less said of Mr.. Paterson's history the bette
II The Kings Agent is worth reading, IL IS
for the sake of the charming love story it con-
tains and the mild excitement its fantasti Pot
affords.
The subtitle of Mr.. Crawford's novel rcue,s
agreeable expectations. a story of modern
Rome is just what We want from his pen lr
the writing of such stories he has done rs
best work. and the first pages of "Cerh:-
deepen confidence. They present two men t..tt-
ing in the old garden of the Arcadians. and tie
description OF that lovely and little known sI.;
the slope Of the Janiculum is accurate ana
sympathetic that feel almost safe with NJ.
Crawford. obviously he is on his own ground.
and will work therefore, with the skill and the
success of a man wholly at ease. But We far
he is not at ease at all, that having written
twenty-five or thirty romarces and ScVe'a, 9th. :
books, H. has become fatigued, and has h-, D
driven to cXpedicnts suggesting mechaHical i've
dustry rather than Imagination The men VNu
talk in the first chapter, Guido dF.s,, ana
Lamberto LAMBERT are devoted FRIENDS IT,,
first. though untitled, has royal blood j.. D. 5
veins and is "a man Of culture indo'-f-. "a. .
great personal charm. LAMBERT j. . raN-l
officer. red haired, ana 4 born ishtsc Tn rro
fan i'm love with the same heiress, Ce,Ila p
ladio and better situation NJ Cravto. J
could not ask. 1t is precisely the sort 80 rn =
to the treatment of which his gifts ar- t'..c.
and when the plot thckens through ILL., "a' be-
making efforts of Cecilia's mother AMI tr:.. e
a,mt. the latter a picturesque old PriH -. s.,f
a villain for her best friend our hop ..,.-.