The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-05-01
Gertrude Athcrton Gives Life
Picture of Modern Million
aires in Her Robes
Of Kings"
NEW VIRGINIA BOOK
Major David Humphreys, OF
Norfolk, Writes Of Spies and
Heroes Of the War--Contents
OF the May Magazines-Chat
About Books and Authors.

RtitrRs OF KINGS. BY Gertrude Ath'
erton. Published by Harper Broth
ers. For sale by the Bell BOOK and
stationery Company
Probably more tnan most writer's. Ger
tr,de Atherton reflects the spirit OF
,,nfnruity. Talcntcd. travelled and bril-
liant she has seen most phases OF
twentieth century life in Europe and
hnerica. Her experiences and observa-
ttons IRE Put into her books with free.
dom snd daring which few women have
,mulntcd and mono have snlpnsss1' iiel
,col,s hive excited severe criticism, 'lut'
MS they have amused many who are ever
seeking new sensations, they have Deei'
ntdely circulated and widely read.
H. ncr latest work OF fiction, the
rulers Of Kings" are American mutt
,a,,on,ires whose wonderful resouf"ta
ir ptncy and influence are usei 10 sway
the soyereigns of Europe In accordance
With their wishes and desires.
M, central figure in the !pol IS tes'
seuden Abbott The writer describes NJ
totrs childhood and boyhood Ia t..o
sdiror6ack Mountains. New York Slate.
,,I.nrc hc was most rigidy and Simply
ghronrht UP, In entire Ignorance o. ne
fathers position and supremacy a. .,a
richest man in the world. Mr. -anop -
the cider. had n theory of his own as " nus
sons rearing and education. VIII ~, ~
,,row older the son earned his ooard
e. ~. farm as a farm lahorer. His edu-
aa,ion and manners meanwhile were
inotcd after by tutor whom the tather
,oIocinfI. n man of parts and good oreea11
t,. ,ut ono whose health needed We
.as,io Influences of rest and mountain
1,ter Fessendon Abbott went to the
,,rivnrsit,, of California and BY ms
fathers direction, worked his way
through the institution with honor. ! ne,,
whom he was ready to make his starr II
Ne wor,d. his father sent for nm 70
como ia New York, took him nome anu
told him the truth.
From thenceforward tho domination u
money makes the motif of the STORY.
F-essenden Abbott's CARER mas
onnosinr obstacle swept from its pain
hv the supremacy of the millions which
he can call to his aid at need. He JOINS
his sister. Alexandra, in Europe, where
enn is STAYING as the friend OF the Arch
d,,ohess Ranata of Austria an imaginary
daughter of the Emperor Franz Joseph.
70 tully carry out her purpose, Gertrude
htherton causes the young American
msrnnte and the Archduchess to fall ro
.
When the Emperor Franz Joseph mani
tests natural wrath and astonishmcn'
over such fact, the all-powerful Ameri
car demonstrates TO him the fact that nc
is prepared TO sweep Austria and the
Austrians from the face of the earth UNI
less Ranata is given to him in marriage,
With such conditions and alternatives
confronting him, the Emperor yields;
Ranata renources her royal claims and
ic m h.
hott and sails with him in his yacht for
America.
With much that is altogether unreal
and whimsical in her book. Mrs. Ather-
Ton has nevertheless introduced much
that is written to hold attention and
thought, Her ideas OF the mistakes made
in the ever-indulgence of American chill
dren aud her views from a different
standpoint, as exemplified in Mr.. Abbotts
course towards his son, are in some re-
spects emnently correct Grd sensible.
Her descriptions Of certain phases of
European social life, notably that among
the Hungarians, whore the national Hun
garian dance-the chardash--is described.
are often dramatic and always interest
Ing. u /.
William OF .Gcrtrariy figures prominently
in the book, and is dealt with in a. man
ner that Is distinctly Amerlcan--not to
say flippant Certain 1t Is, that neither
in respect TO the German Emperor nor
to Franz Joseph OF Austria, who should
claim an immunity from sharp criticism
by reason of his age and his many
great sorrows, does Gertrude Atherton
exhibit the slightest hesitation in the
expression of her very Intensely American
views and opinions.
Faults and weaknesses are sternly
pointed out; selfish motives and auto
cratic love Of power are unsparingly con-
intimate personal lone assumed by the
has devoted large part of her time to
houses Of Europe.
the ouintcscence Of The twentieth GER
fury womauhood, for Ranata. Arch
duchess Of Austria, is filled with the
most unbridled impulses. the most abso-
lutte determination TO have her own
sweet will and way though in the having
OF It tho heavens fan and tho earth dig
solve beneath her feet.
The description Of tho dulness and te-
dunn prevailing nj the Hapsburg Court,
and the failure OF the palace apartments
there to come up to the standard OF
American luxury in living are too plainly
expressed 10 leave any room for the illu-
aIons of imagination. Whatever may be
The reasons which Impol her, Gertrud,
Atherton is bitterly loonocastlc ir. he
attitude toward European royalty, an,
quite determined TO DO away with IN
prestige of what she conceiYes TO be
Eorm-eaten and vermont past.
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