The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-16
Under the Rose.

The historical novel has enjoyed long
lease of public favor; so long. indeed. that
some readers of fiction declare that they
will have no more of it. 1t is a. rash asser-
ton to make concerning any class of fiction,
for when a thoroughly entertaining tale is
produced, no matter what its type, whether
realistic, psychological. romantic or purely
sentimental it never lacks eager and ap-
'preciative readers. They forget to classify
it, but enjoy it for itself alone. "Under the
Rose" new story by Frederic s. Isham,
author of 1.-THE Strollers,'' perhaps properly
belongs under the head of historical fiction,
since it deals with a time long past, but 1t
has nothing in common with the innumer-
able heavy tales overburdened with dry
historical lore, whose characters move
through the pages like puppets. Under the
Rosa felicitous and appropriate title. by
the way-is a romance pure and simple.
The scene is laid in France, the time early
in the sixteenth century; there is a back
ground of historical personages and events
Francis l of France. Charles v of Ger
many and Spain, their courts and their
quarrels-but the real interest is with none
of these. The loye affair of duke and
jester is the central theme. 1t is pic
turesque setting in which the kings fool
tie, gorgeousIy arrayed ladies, the pomp
and pageantry incident to the life of a
luxury-loving monarch; among such sur
love each other. They meet in the hall
where is gathered daily company of jest
ers. buffoons, poets and philosophers, whose
conversation with each other is often more
keenly barbed than friendship would JUS
tify; they pass to the garden, where prin-
cess sits with her embroidery; they meet
i'm the dance. where maskerS make the
night merry. There is a time when the
him, and when he, daring fool that he is,
ardently woOs the not unwilling princess.
Later, When enlightenment and perils come,
there is flight of man and maid over hill
and forest by night, with many dangers en-
countered on the way. They find refuge
in the Emperors camp; then the jester
figures in new role, that of gallant SOL
der, and at one stroke of his sword ends
his enemy'S career and avengeS the Sights
the princess had put upon him. 1t is an
effective scene, this last, with its forest set
of noble ladies, and the climax, where the
identity of the fool Is revealed. Throughout
the book the fitness of certain incidents
and situations for stage presentation is con-
stantly suggested yet the author skillfuliy
escapes the melodr9matic He tells one OF
the sweetest OF romances in graceful mn
ished style, and with sureness OF touch
that marks him an artist OF high degree.
There is enough of the dramatic element TO
relieve ii of any flavor of insipidity, and a
sufficient familiarity with the PERIOD OF
which he writes to give it the old-time at
mosphere in which kings jester may
properly move.
.IJnder the Rose belongs to that most
desirable class OF fiction which is to be read
purely for entertainment. AS contrast to
the strenuous type of which we have been
having so much. it is indeed refreshing
People who are making up their lists OF
summer newsstand il is none too soon to
begin this pleasant task-should put Mr.
Ishams book among the must HAYES. =
The volume is embelished with several IL
| Illustrations by Christy. The Bobbs- Merrill
| Company, publishers.