The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-02
rHE GOLDEN KINGDOM. written


l.. c. Page Company, of Boston. For
gale in Richmond by the Bell Book
and Stationery Company.
South Africa is comparatively new
fcld FOR explorers In the field OF fiction.
Anthony Eope has touched 1t by impli'
cation In making Cecil Rhodes the hero
OF his God in the Car" Oiivei Schreiner
has lifted the curtain for n sombre mo.
mcnt in her STORY OF an African Farm"
The Anglo.African war has furnished
the motif in much that has been written
since. but probably the most fascinating
OF all books having the scene laid In d
region. which, like Alaska, Is dimly mys-
tcrlous. and which is Just az alluring,
because OF its mysteries and dangers Is
Henry Seton Mcrrimans with Edgcd
Tools ono Of the first written. and one
OF the most vivid and picturesque VI
African romanccs.
The Golden Kingdom" has strong
points of similarity and dissimilarity to
Mr.. Merriman's book. The two are dis.
4 similar In that they treat altogether Of
different people and OF their different
surroundings; people that are impclled
by different motives. Tho books are sim.
liar In that both contain tho history Of
guest. the one having attainment OF an
auriferous drug for its object, Tic other
the finding OF the Golden Kingdom" and
the acquisition Of Its treasures.
In neither book Is the element Of proha-
bility taken into estimation. Mr.. Balfour
tells his story through his hero d. Hen
~ Mortimer, whose manuscript account
OF adventure is found In Eoer Bible by
a British surgeon. who visited the house
OF Nikoaus Mortmcyer, living In the
Carolina District Of the Transvaal during
the Boer war. DR. Mortimer was an Eng
iisliman. persuaded by seafaring Walt
whom he harbored to quit quiet and
tranquil life In a rural English district,
and to face unknowrd and undrcarned
of pcriIs In tho attempt to enter the Col
den Kingdom Of South Africa, a city
With towers and battlements OF gold and
heaped with golden treasure.
Much or the book Is devoted to the sea
voyage and shlpwrccks attending the
passage from England 10 the Cape OF
Good Hope. The whole chapter OF these
makes as wild a telling as might baton
OF leaves taken from tho "Abarian
Nights" and the land episodes are equal
~ as incredible. But for the lover OF such
Wild rouanccs there Is plenty OF en-
tertalnment in the four hundred and
twcnty-four pages, which make UP the
tale OF 1.-THE Golden City" 1t is true
that tho treasure troye turns out In the
end to be very much Ike the pot OF gold
on which the splendid arch OF the rain
bow rests. but what of that? DR.. aIortl-
mer doubtless finds his better reward IN
the wife and the home where his wan
derlngs cease. and where he loses even
the remembrance of other scenes and
former life across the deep blue sea, And
a contented heart beside ones own
hcarthstone is better than great riches.
COUNT ZARkA. Written by Sir VIII
liam Maguy. Published by the l.. c.
Page Company. OF Boston. For sale
In Richmond by tho Bell Book and
Stationery Company.
Anthony Hope, In the prisoner OF
Zcnda.' set fashion that has been
steadily followed ever since by writer's
OF romance. both In Europe and America
Count Zarka' has It's scene laid in one
OF the petty European Kingdoms, Which
Russia would like TO absorb. The action
OF the book hinges on the abduction and
forcibln detention of Prince Rocl. Of
Rapsbery, who Is held In duronce vile
by the villain of the plot Count Zarka.
man In the pay OF the Russian govern
ment.
In tho discovery and release OF ths
Prince. the discomfortng of Count Zarka,
tho working out OF n pretty love story and
the successful pitting OF diplomacy and
patriotism against cunning, the author
has constructed a very clear and enter
taining book, one which the midsummer