New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-11
NEW NOVELS.
DIR. WyinSton ChurchiiPs Story Of
Pioneering Days.

TIE BRIGHT FACE OF DAGGER, o. by R q
Nelson Stephens. Emo, pp- 81. o1os'oh' L. -
Page Coz
FRENcHY: THE STORY OF A CENT. E ~
Company
LITTLE TRACED AT ,., TdEN n. s5s 2di;-
Frances Aymer A'tH'"S- l<iho PIP 80 '
ert Cr:er Cooke
In Reierword" with which he has filled
couple af pages at the back Of his new book,
Mr. churchill explains why he has named Il
TIE t-r,1ssing." II is because he has tried 10
express ia n The beginnings OF that greet move
rant cross the mountains which swept re-
s.sticss over the continent, until at last it saw
the Pacific itself" His hero. born "a subject OF
king Geo.Se the Third. in that part or his realm
known rs the Province OF North Carolina
arows W ~ iEeUtucky with the cry Of the Indian
often rreiae In his ears. shares In the great
enterprise of George Rogers Clark, and wit
nesses the transformation Of Louisiana from
French into American territory. The book is, in
short another one Of those stories in, which
Mr. Churchill has sought 10 weave familiar ele-
ments IN our history into a fabric Of romance.
In The Crossing" as in Richard Carver' and
The Crisis" he gives rs the fruits of careful
reading so arranged 10 form a background
for the adventures Of a likable young man He
confesses that his task has been hard one. Tor,
given what he may call his historical ambition
ne has had 10 cover an enormous field, and has
had 10 crowd his canvas with many figures.
The burden has proved, indeed. so heavy that
ne has broken down at one very important
point 1t is only at the eleventh hour that it
occurs TO him TO provide his hero with a lady
love, and by that time the delay has put the
reader in a frame of mind which makes him
slow to sympathze with Master David Ritchies
sentimental awakening. When you have been
following the adventures of youth through
four hundred pages, regarding him simply as a
type of pioneering days. a worker and a fighter
!n the wildwood. it is little disconcerting 10 be
asked to consider him. in kind Of extended
postscript as the adorer of a titled beauty from
the court OF France. To be sure, Mr. Churchill
describes David's life from the beginning, and
so the latter's romance, as a mere matter Of
chronology, must necessarily fall a late stage
Of the narrative; but to be thus logical is to
claim the historians privilege, and The Cross
ing" after all, is meant TO be a novel
IT is easy enough however, TO overlook the
authors Indifference to the demands of senti-
ment for the good reason that he has contriYed
10 make his book thoroughly interesting. He
paints for a panorama which embraces all
manner OF picturesqueness the cabin Of the
frontiersman, the stately manor of the arts
tocrat the virgin forest and the rapidly grow
ing town He portrays men like Daniel Boone
event after the other. and keeps wondering
as to Just what David Ritchie is going TO make
Of all this and Just what il is going To make
of him. The tale is told in natural fashion If
a famous man is to be brought upon the scene
he is introduced without beat Of drum, but slips
into David's life with perfect ease. This deft-
ness in stage management which Mr.. Churchill
shows all along the line, is well illustrated in
his description Of the meeting between his hero
and Daniel Boone. a meeting which. occurring
in the first chapter. puts the reader in the right
mood for ali that is 10 follow. We quote from
this part Of the hook:
While sci about the task OF sKinning the deer my
father had shot that DAY. Presently felt a heavy
What's your name. adj he said.
''Davy. In Iari yc "A trick worth a little time"
said he, whippins cut a knite. In trice the red
stood with my mouth open lie turned I" me ana
Some day you'u cross the mountains and skin
twenty Of an evening, he said. You'll make a
This little piece Of praise from him made me hot
Game rare@' said he TO my father.
Teeko oae n eGod nS% bn ia On my se5Ie
forty miles above, and games going there. too
settlements said my father. But presently
sfter a few whns, OF his pipe. he added Il hear
fine things OF this land across the mountains that
The Indians can the Dark and Bluidy Ground"
And well named" said the stranger
But a brave country said my father. and all
Boone and others have gone into il and come back
WITH marvellous mary tales They tell me Boone was
Dye ken him." W ~
The ruddy face Of the stranger grew ruddier still
MY names Boone" he said.
What" cried my father. 1T wouldn't be Dan
you've guessed it, I reckon"
my NY latter rose without a word. vent into the
couple OF gourds. one Of which he handed our
Tell me aboot it," said he
mat was the fairy tale Of my childhood. Far
70 Mr. BONES talk It did 2 4e%g at e Tst a sSeh n
steady stream, for he not a garruous man.
thrsiasm. ] recall but little Of it, being so small
todeS tSs s1 G5 closer s and b closer E until could
the Wall. Marco Polo was no greater wonder To
He spoke OF leaving wife and children and setting
out FOR the Unknown with other woadsmen He
a valley beyond, they found a WARRIORS Path"
snfo ts , g@p aerss an2iher range and so down
talked he lost himself r the tale Of il and the
land OF wooded hin and pleasant vale 0 of clear
, water running over limestone down 10 the great
OF which We're pied with flowers Of wondrous
peo1y where g roams t6 buffalo in countless
turkeys ana festhered game and hear I'm the tan
The others had LEFT him he v for Iq ib now 1 whf
'os f ths ya hills So alone with Nature herself
father. 'U my
be drowned"
ingly. ''1'''
ps-ty % shswnees fclng back 10 their lands north
had II was hard" he added. reaectiyeiSy a had
stslSsS my n.y., fortune on the yenter. and we'd got
there is land enough Tor YOU and ne as black and
rich Ms Cansan."
The land was there for the taking as It seemed
20 Boone and his friends bur IL Asr. Churchill
gives us now and again a glimpse Of pioneering