Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-28
NEW PUBLICATIONS

TRUTH By e zola Translated by E. vizeteln
New York: John Lane.
When lola died, last autumn, he was
three-quarters through one of his charac-
teristic tasks, the writing of series of
novels bearing upon the same general social
condition, yet distinct in treatment. His
me-Paris-Lourdes triogy was one such
SERIES This latest and as it proved last
series was to consist of 'Fecundity," 'Vir-
tue" Truth and Justice" He had finish
ed the third member, TRUTH" and was that
day to begin work on Justice" when he
died, tragically, by accidentally inhalng
gas. Thus the series OF four was shrunk
by fatal circumstances to trilogy similar
to the other, and Truth" stands as Zola's
last work. In some respects 1t Is his great
est, tor 1t tells the story OF the chief
effort of his life, that which resulted in the
final rehabilitation Of Captain Dreyfus.
One who had not read the accounts Of that
celebrated affair--if such one exists
would not recognize the novel as depicting
an actual circumstance, and in some places
1t requires an excellent memory to asso-
ciate the circumstances Of the Dreyfus
affair and the Simon affair of the novel.
Yet the disguise is in places exceedingly
thin, and in the material points Of the great
injustice the story Is true to life.
In this book, too, lola turns his heavy
guns once more upon the baser forms Of
Catholic worship in France, which he as
sailed in his Rome-Paris-Lourdes trilogy.
His attack Is savage. He commingles the
two phases, causing the assault upon the
poor Jew schoolmaster Simon, charged un-
justly with the murder of his little nephew,
to be Unanswered by the members Of the
religious order which has secured a great
power over the little town, scene of the
affair. The champion Of the accused man
Is not a journalist, but schoolmaster, firm
advocate Of the system Of secular schools.
lola brings his work to an optimistic con-
clusion. showing a picture Of France
brought to the basis Of secular education
and with the religious orders excluded. In
some Of the concluding scenes he sticks to
fact, and in others he anticipates. His
translator IN notes declares the belief that
while the optimism Of lola is perhaps ex-
IRENE yet the day of the verifcation Of his
prophecies in chief is sure to come.
Truth" is a book that will stir France
deeply and will cause answering vibrations
In this country. Notable in any event as
the last work OF the novelist, 1t Is intrin-
sically interesting as his rendition Of the
great "affaire" and from a literary point
Of view. with a few slight exceptions. It
represents the height Of Zolas achieve
urents
PERSONAL "REMINISCENCES OF PRINCE BIS
MARCK. By Sidney Whitman. New York:
D. Appleton Co.
Mr.. Whitman made ten visits to Bis
noArck'S nome IN the per1oo between 1871
and 1896. and was on his way to make the
eleventh when news came Of the great
Germans death. HIS personal experiences
have been related with such detail that they
must have been jotted down in a journal at
the time. In fact he intimates as much to
the reader in recalling the incidents asso-
ciated with certain memoranda. Mr.. Whit
man had won the esteem Of Bismarck by
his sympathetic and what seemed to the
German leader Just estimate Of Teutonic
character. It Is natural that this sympathy
should develop into an admiration Tor one
Of tho loftiest types Of the race - en-
bodied In the man Of blood and iron. Mr..
Whitman writes ike = twentieth century
Boswell but with more Discrimination than
Boswell and with keeuev sight. i Is true
that jlo sees many excellencies In his hero
but he is NOT blind to his faults. But these
&c claims are not 30 grave as the world has
believed and were 3nseparable from the
game which resulted IN united Germany.
Mr. Whfmans "Reminiscences were entirely
Of Bismarks home life. His visits were
made to the former Chancellor's country
seats. Eriedrichsruh. Schoenhausen and
| varzin. and his yecollections are wholly OF
| Bismark In retirement.
Xhers n found thA great statesman esta-