The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-23
Books and oAuthors;
Comment and Gossip.

Mr.. Cables Cavalier" a critique OF
which we print to-day, has been received
IN England with that peculiar enthusi-
asm with which our kinsmen over there
occasionally hail an American book. 1t
may be that the title and the southern
favor of the story has something TO 40
with it: for we have good reason to know
that the reading classes OF Lng!and
have long had a pronounced leaning TO-
ward the old aristocratic South, and are
susceptible TO the appeals of its romantic
history. Here is the latest from the
London Literary World:
1.-THE Cavalier is a story Of remarkable
dclicacy and charm, as was TO be eN-
pected from the author of The Grandls-
shines The scene of the American War
of North and South is different ground
from the old Creole life that Mr.. Gable
has painted so deliciously. but the touch
OF the true artist is equally manifest in
The careful selection of material, and in
the due subordnation of the events OF
that terrible struggle 10 the progress OF
4 love story that is altogether delightful.
The struggle between love and duty
and the tragedy Of the womans life are
finely conceived and finely wrought. In
the style of the writer there is the case
and rest that are SO grateful to readers
of the best worl-so different from the
Atlas like struggling with n load of ma
tcrial that we have grown accustomed
to in siX-hundrcd-pagc novels, and that
We are asked to believe is essential to
serious felton,
Mr. Cable writes that he was about
nine years writing ''The Cavalier That
docs not mean nine years of steady work,
of course. Tho idea occurred to him
about ten years ago, while he was plan
ming the series of character studies be-
ginning with The Taxidermist Then
..trhc solitary" came, and then The En-
tomolocist." and then, in the spring of
1897. after the other stories had been
sent 10 market he began 10 write The
Cavalier" With many Interruptions he
finished the first full draft of the story
In 1899 laid it by for many months, re
yiscd it in 1890, and ended his work on
it at the end of that year.
A correspondent writes TO inquire "who
in The world is the Boxer mentioned IN
Austin Dobson's quatrain about Poe,
which YOU published last sunday! Inc
quatrain was as follows:
/ wonder when America will know
That. much her greatest bard Is Edgar
Poe:
/ say this reminiscent and defiant
OF Boxer, Tabb, and Longfellow and
Bryant.
Boxer, it is true, is not very well
known 10 this generation. but IN his day
lie enjoyed an excellent reputation at
home and abroad. George Henry Boxer
was born at Philadelphia in 1922 the son
of a wealthy banker. He was educated
at Princeton and travelled about Europe.
In 1877, after his return from abroad, he
published 1.-THE Lesson Of Life and Other
Poens,' followed, in 1913, by a tragedy
called "Calaynos," which was success
fully brought out on the stage In Lon
don. He next produced in succession
The tragedies OF Anne Boleyn.' "Leonor
dc Guzman,' and Francesca da Rimini."
Among his other plays are The Be-
trothal' and The Widows Marriage.
IN 1856 he published two volumes of
plays and POEMS" and afterwards
many noteworthy individual poems such
as THE Podesta's Daughter "a Ballad
of Sir John Franklin" "Dirgc for
soldier and THE Song of the Earth"
During the civil war he wrote quite a
number Of lyrics III a strain of northern
patriotism, In 1871 President Grant ap-
pointed him Minister to Turkey. and in
1875 transferred him TO the Russian CAPT
tai in the same capacity Mr.. Boxers
dramas are classical in form, and his
sounets and lyrics are full of poetic
genius His latest work before his death
was a volume OF sonnets which appeared
in 1856.
Mr. Richard Harding Davis is In New
York attending tho rehearsal OF the new