The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-17
REVIEW OF RECENT BOOKS
BY PAUL PRY.

having ever allowed Dr. Lavendar to smoke or occasionally take a drink. The writer planes Mrs. Deland altogether for this weakness of pr. Lavendar's. and de- clares that she is sure the minister would never have done anything of the kind had not Mrs. Deland made him do it several times, and l am sure he would resent if if he could without hurting your feelings D l surmise that Mrs. Deland would be kept busy were she called upon personally to defend all the vagaries of her .spreacher- characters But. incidentally. the letters are a genuine tribute to the author in considering the fictitious characters as living realities and critleising them ac- cordingly.
 When I Was Czar"-by Arthur W.
 Marchmont Frederick A. Stokes com
 pany.
 When you seat yourself cozily with A story by Arthur W. Marehmont you may be sure of an evening of genuine eniov- ment Just at this time, too, when the thought and concern of the entire world is directed toward the political situation in the far east a story portraying the methods of Russian diplomacy Is espe- cially timely. The title and in fact the story grows out of the extraordinary fact of the strong resemblance of an American tourist to the Czar of Russia. and the AoA AlNl V tOISOQucit lilptISOndIiOn or the latter This may appear quite improbable, vet the relation of events as described by Mir. Marchmont does not allow 1t to seem so. and an unusually clever and sprlght- ly romance Is the result. The most pro- nouncedi feature of the authors work is his spirited conversation-a happy combi- nation with a good plot and a generous amount of interesting events. From the very first line the reader is intensely in- fTr-A -f..7 ar ment of mystery commanding the char acters and their doings which lends an eager zest. The supposed czar had an ap- pointment with certain M. Boresld in the environs of St. Petersburg in order to carry out certain diplomatic relations. TO his surprise he found there a young and extremely fascinating woman:
 :" You tempt me, monsieur-American and she fell back In her chair with a half sigh and sat thinking intently. Presently she shook her head. No, not yet. not yet, You know nothing of me- An ignorance you can easily correct But no, you are right, it must not be yet I exclaimed hastily. I had no right to invite eonh- dence from her until she knew who I really was. But my exclamation sur prised her.
 Why not yet-from your sideT T cannot tell you. How long will M Bores- Ri be?'
 She wrinlxled her brow at the ques- ton. You mean you would first know what my connection with his scheme is ? A somewhat shallow trust yours, after all
 Tt may seem so, but I did not mean that
 "'Then what did you mean?' threw up a blocadng smile. How long will he be-?
 "'You play with me- she exclaimed petulantly. I do not make a pleasant plaything NJ. Boreski will be here soon now He will find some one to take his place and play hare to your police dogs the dogs that were not to have been set upon us.'
 US? I repeated with lift of the eye brows.
 "You do identify yourself with him then%
 "She laughed.
 That Is a mans retort. Suspicion for suspicion. and it serves me right. Now that the time has come, I am not myself. I am too anxious You make me feel as no other man has ever yet made me feel
 Was this for the emperor or myself? did not relish the problem and made no reply"
 The character work is vigorous and masterly and gives a number of varied and excellent portrayals of these willy, cunning and exceedingly treacheroua people.