The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-29
The Rider OF the Black Horse.

THE Rider OF the Black Horse" is the
record of the personal adventures OF one
of Washingtou's couriers during the heVo-
luton. set forth in the simple, stralghtior-
ward style that boy readers admire with
plenty of stirring incident and exciting
hazard and with the lore moif 30 dehcately
introduced as never TO be disturbing. The
hero. Robert Dorlon, is one Of those trlsty
soldiers of fortune employed by Washington
to deliver his personal dispatches into the
hands of his commanders and to return
reports OF the same kind from them-mat-
ters too important to be lntrusted 10 'ne
regular expresses, who were simply rapid
riders carrying messages from one post
to the next and delivering them up TO walt
ing SUCCESSORS to be handed on Ill Turn
Naturally the mission was periious one.
and il was in this capacity that ROBERT
Dorlon contrived to have series OF thrhling
experiences calculated to satisfy the youth
full craving for excitement. he s most
accommodating hero, and the readiness
with which he falls into every danger trap
Get for him is only equalled by the dex-
taritv with which he extricates himself
His recklessness in losing his horse ana
leaving his pistol belt behind just when ne
needs them most is a bit suggestive OF the
at. oe hero who knows he is sure TO be
rescued in the last act, but 1t is to be hoped
that the boy reader is too artless to notice
tbinos Of that sort The author, DR.. Tom
linson. ia something Of an authority on
Revolutionary topics, and his descriptions
of the situation are sufficiently accurate TO
vale the hook instructive as we'll as en-
pertaining.
A Tale OF the Days OF Louis the Nintn.
aFala;se OF the Blessed Voice. is we'll
told tale Of the youthful days OF LOUIS the
Ninth which opens up vista OF histori'ai
incident through the medium OF picturesque
Action. reveals this so-caled saint in some
verv human and not at all saintsly ACTIVITIES
and introduces the reader to his oeautiiul
wife. Margaret Of Provence. his mother me
famous white Queen Blanche OF CASTLE,
10 Gui of Avignon. the singing troubadour
and 1Slaye of Love, ""Alithe, whose beauty
nearly works the ruin of Louis 80 far as
oanonization is concerned and the host OF
high personages, "swashbuckling' soldiers,
willy traitors and expert swordsmen which
20 to the making up of the usual historical
romance.
The stage setting is the familiar one
of the huge castle with donjon tower. secret
stairways, hangings Of arras and hoors
strewn with sweet herbs and PUSHES, but
it is we'll done and realistic, The plot en-
cages to spoil the fair fame OF Margaret
and prove her marriage to the king invalid
by the old scheme of a flow in the wedding
service that the ambitious Alithe may
become queen consort OF France. But
oil tba avil designs are frustrated by
the cleverness of Falaise-the blind girl
with the BLESSED Voice. who goes singing
through all the turmoil, scraps Of Latin
hymns and old French songs-interesting
even to read, because they are transla-
tons of the real thing from the old records.
The action is brisk and moves at crucial
times in the breathless sort Of way that it
should, and the story, although rejecting
the spirit of it's day, is refreshingly pure
and sweet Youthful readers will enjoy 1t
and older ones will know 1t is their own
fault II they cannot gain pleasure in its
perusal.