The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-27
Story of AristOcradc Life of
 New Orleans
TRADITIONS OF THE CONGO
Miss Pitkin Declares Their Magic Has Descended From Negroes of Africa In Amalgamation With Semi-
 Tropical Superstitions.
BY ANNIE kENDRIck WALKER.

"The air filtered through the old ap-
 plique lace curtains in attars of myrrhy
 fragrance; a late rain had distilled the
 very blood of the roses.
 There were defnable breaths of jas
 mines, and the persuasive, aromatic
 notes of the oeander." This breaths
 through Helen Pitlfin's hand. An An
 gel by Breveti" published by the Lip
 pincotts.
 Miss PitlSin's story is of old aristocratic
 life of New Orleans. and she has blended
 as few writers have done before her, cer- tain characteristics of creole society, it's superstitious strain and it's passions and
 has described the diemas and fatal in- 1uences of the Congo religion that her book will undoubtedly be classed among the leading and remarkable publications
 of the year.
 Miss PtlNn is one of the beautiful cote Tie of New Orleans writers who have charmed southern readers and Is equally as well known in New York and Boston, Her rank as q writer is so well estab- lshed that her first book naturally com mands literary attention and critics both north and south are promising 1t a story of absorbing interest.
 New Orleans furnishes a peculiarly rich setting for the novelist, it's traditions it's "eolor" and Miss PitlIin has utilized 1t as only one entirely familiar with the most opuent phase of it's life is able to do. Her descriptions of the old life of New Orleans, the habits of the creole are as vivid as pomegranate blossoms and her pictures of the voudo orgies are given with such realism as to awaken en- tirely new thought on a subject which has hitherto commanded less serious atten- ton.
 The love story is one to delight in it's delieacy and charm and Angelique, her 'memere,' the very remarkable Madame de Margnz, whose broken French is as charming as Monsiur Beaucaire Colonel Dabnay, the Docteur Paradise are finely drawn,
 The story, half French, half English. Is interspersed with musical Illustrations. with creole chants that float down with the softness of the creole tongue There are first breezes from the gulf there are strokes from the old belfry in the old ca thedral, a tinl1ling of guitars, and spectral blossoms calm and white in the moon light.
 Then there are a great many Mon Dieur
 "The main incidents of the story.' writes Miss Pitlin. in the "Foreward," "have been delved from the unchroni- cled mysteries of old Creole families the most jealorsly self-defensve of all races. It is astonishing that scenes of voudouism and warlockry still prevail in | Louisiana, though there is a judicial prohibition of these practices. Evil and | mystery love the dark and it is not inn | probable that the law sometimes sleeps | It is generally known hereabout that on St. Johns eve, the 23d of June, the most | hideous cabala are enacted on the banks i of Bayou St. John, the sluggish stream lnflowing from Lake Pontchartrain and bisecting the outer demesnes of old New Orleans-rites that are frenzied into orgies in which the real inducement to is forgotten. Marie La Veau, long the voudou queen, Is dead, her hovel in St. Ann street, with It's superb native offerings-among these presented by Louis Philippe himself during his visit here--razed in the new progress There is no longer a leader among the voudou unregenerates but there are countless "wangateurs," or ''doctors.' the names of whom, given in the story, are authoritative-weird mystics with brains turned by their own odylic powers. The Congo religion is an other mafia, whose measures are with the drug rather than the dirk; and while 1