The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-11-22


ing on the man whom Gods gracious
Providence has placed at my side, and
who has done such great things for
the fatherland, the well merited recog-
milton of his services as soldier.
The books are a notable addition to
contemporary history.
Merriman, Mcclure, Phillips & Co., pub
fishers For sale by the st. Paul Book
and Stationery company.
Dear Papa Barlasch! A great man
that citizen! Henry Seton Merriman
has written books with core continuity
Of thought, less hackneyed plot and
quicker action, but surely never more
unique and faithful mana gentleman,
too, though peasant-than Barlasch,
of the Guard! Though in reality the
hero of this strange story, Barlasch
seems to play but an Insignificant part
in the plot It all concerns the occupa-
ton of the Prussian city of Dantzig by
Napoleon's troops just prior to and aft
er the disastrous Russian campaign Of
the man who remade the map of Eu-
rope to suit his own ideas. The story
begins with a wedding-that of Desiree,
second daughter of Antoine Sebastian,
to Charles Darragon, a lieutenant in
Napoleon's army Of occupation. Charles
made friends rapidly, and the Dant-
tigers said if there were more officers
like Darragon the army would be pop
ular. He falls in love with DeSiree.
whose father is silent man who play
ed the fiddle while his daughters
taught dancing. Mathilde, the eldest,
was cold and calculating; Desiree, we
are told, was all heart and emotion.
Doubtful as to the state of her own
heart when Charles told her he loved
her, she was hurried off her feet by his
impulsive wooing, and when the story
opens she is returning from having
been married to him.
1t was a simple wedding and the
bride and groom returned to the the
Sebastian house on foot; on their way
a cloud of dust heralded the coming of
a coach, and as it passed them its &C.
cupant glanced out and looked keenly
at the new made husband; he returned
the glance. It was the emperor.
Charles was a changed man from the
moment Napoleon's eyes rested upon
him. These were troublous times in
Dantzig. There was plotting, counter
plotting on every side, and nobody
knew whether or not his next door
neighbor was a spy.
Charles is called away Unexpectedly
before the wedding supper is served,
and upon returning meets and brings
with him his dear cousin Louis OAR
ragon, an English sailor, who happen
ed to bring his boat to anchor at
Dantzig that day. So he takes him
home to introduce him to his bride,
Desiree, and Louis enters her life,
bound to play an important part there
in. Again is Charles called away, and
following him goes Louis. Enter now
Barlasch-Papa Barlasch of the Guard,
nf tho nt Of
France. He is quartered upon the Sc
bastians. Old, tired, hungry, he asks
only for a kennel and food, which
Desiree, in her goodhearted way, pro-
vides him and wins his allegiance for
ever. Then the story really begins;
the continued absence Of Charles
and his explanatory letters to his
bride, which do not explain-the pro-
tective friendship of Louis, and above
all the watchful eye of Papa Barlasch,
who sees more than he reveals. 1t
would be an arduous task to tell the
whole story here; suffice it to say that
it ends happily for the little bride,
Desiree, who is helped out of the be-
sieged city by Barlasch, who gives up
his life to save her and deliver her
safely into the hands of the man she
loves. Taken all in all, it is heroic
story, painted upon a large canvas,
and the touch of the artist is a true
one. Perhaps not even in history has
so vivid picture been given of Ma
poleon's disastrous Russian campaign
as here in this book The retreat from
Moscow is handled In a mastery way
and the test Of it's greatness as a piece
of description is that the reader is
several times tempted to close the book
and read no more Of it's horrors. Its
faults are a certain VagueneSS at times,
leaving the reader somewhat in the
dark at certain points of the plot, and
the stiffness of the heroine, Desiree
She is not a flesh and-blood woman at
all; even her calculating sister,
Mathilde, is better drawn. But what
remains is Barlasch, Papa Barlasch,
adorer of Napoleon, who, when he Is
telling Desiree of their plans, says:
GAS for me, shall make a new begin
ming, too. The captain will enable me
to get back to France, when 1 shall go
to the emperor. / am getting old, but
he will find something for me to do.
that little emperor, that little citizeni"
So old Barlasch, who through starva-
ton, wounds, battles, hardships in
credible, is still faithful and courageous,
goes to his death, but bringing first to
happiness the girl whose fortunes he
has made his own.
The Green Satin Gown-By Laura e.
Richards. Dana Estes Co, Boston,
publishers. For sale by st. Paul Book &
Stationery company.
The writer of this little book of short
stories may be called a follower of
Kate Douglas Wiggin, though she is
far behind her in literary ability. She
has written just one story by which
she will ever be known. and that is her
first book, Captain January a tender,
beautiful tale which those who have
read 1t will not forget. '"The Green
Satin Gown is the first story in the
present volume of little tales and is
simple pretty romance of an old green
gown worn by a modern girl. The 9TH
ers are tiny bits Of fiction, and the
whole will make an acceptable Christ
mas gift for a young girl.
Tennessee Todd-By G. w. Ogden A. 8.
Barnes & Co., New York, publishers.
For sale by st. Paul Book & Stationery
Co.
It is hard to realize time when a
railroad train was not only novelty,
but fearful and wonderful thing with
wierd and dangerous power, but such