Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-03

woman. as the name might suggest-a
stalid-taced giant. Best of all. the por-
traits, whether in text or in drawings. is
that of Ross-Counaught, appreciator and
vendor of literature. with a positive genius
for living on nOthing-save what he can
eXtort from others. The book were worth
while if only for Ross-Connaught, James
father. lie is "a pearl without price. He is
unguestionab.y drawn from life. and it
would he worth the experience of meeting
him to run the risk of his persuading one
10 buy a full set of some great edition of
costly works. The story itself is that of
the mutual love OF the three chief charac-
ters-Jane jugs and the Juke. the two
last named being respectively George. the
narrator. and Edwy. Juggs is naturally a
scoundrel, though perhaps the author has
not seen him altogether in that light. He
paWnS his mothers diamond to buy Jane
a gift He FORCES his fathers name twice
once to provide funds for surreptitious
patronage of the impecunious RoSS-Con-
naught. and again to help out his runaway
sister and brother-in-law. He serves his
term in prison for the second offence. and
then thinks that Jane will be smirched by
his association, although Jane is ready to
fee to him a the word. He is an egotist
who ignores the woinans point of view, and
hugs mis- Remuneration and misery to his
breast. and then turns traitor in Edwy,
James husband. There is nothing worthy in
jugs Even his virtues vicious. The
story would sound better if told in the
third person. Jane is interesting in all her
moods. The best part of the book lies In
the early chapters, WHICH zeal WIFI lue
delectable Ross Connaughts. The whole
family is real to the point of intimate ac-
quaintance. Genuine humor flashes
through these early pages. but the closing
CHAPTERS are as gloomy as night. 1t is a
story that brings happiness TO none of the
actors in the plot
THE LAST HOPE. BY Henry Seton Merriman. au-
thor IT ''Barlasch of the Guard &c. Illus
end ~ \ foreyST New 1 W63sw GndFlts
Lothr"p.
Henry Seton Merriman left the manu-
script of this story awaiting final prepara-
ton for print when his death occurred a
few months ago. 1t appears therefore, as
his last novel and ii will be regarded by
many OF his admirers as his strongest one.
1t is based upon the often-used theme of
the lost king of France, though with an i'm
portant variation. The lost dauphin
story usually treats of Louis XVII himself
but this one tells tale of his son. who If
he had been born in the circumstances de-
scrbed in this novel and had regned,
would have been known as Louis XIX. The
plot is based on the theory that the dauphln
was struggled out of the Temple by loyalists
and drIfted to the English shore in charge
of woman. He grew up in a fishing vii
lage in England and married a woman of
the people, who bore him son. When that
scion of the throne of France is in his
twentits. just afte" Louis Napoleon assumes
charge of France the prince-preSident.
there come to the English village two men
seeking the lost heir. They persuade him
to go to France and build up around him
a considerable royalist sentiment But
through the Vaccinations of an English
banker doing business In Paris, John Turner.
the government is appraised of the move
ment and the plot is frustrated by ingen-
touS means. The pretender escapes from
custody and returns to France after an
effort has been made to send him to the
northern fisheries. Then Louis Napoleon
deliveries his stroke of state and assumes
imperial power and the royalst plot col
lapses The pretender Is lost on the Eng
fish coast while trying to save companions
from the wreck of the vessel on which he
ana his associates OF the plot have escaped.
Dramatic episodes occur frequently to give
the story vital force. An excellent picture
Is drawn of the state of the old royalist
society of France during the days of the
second republic John Turner looms large
on the canvas, and not merely because OF
his physical bulk. The climax is exciting
and rounds out a satisfactory IL not alto
Eether happy tale. 1t is a lamentable evi
dence that the dead author had reached
high point OF development as a story teller
EMILE lola; NOVELIST AND REFoRMER. b
Ernest Alfred Eizetelly. New York: John Lane
Readable in every line is this large and a
first glance, rather appalling volume o
biography. for II relates to a man who wa
interesting in all his phases. who was un
uoubtedly much misunderstood or. at least
who was not fully understood and who wa
for years IA powerful and ever-growing fore
in French affairs. literary and political.
Is. moreover. written not only from thu
point of view of one who knew lola In al
his later moods and who was in touch will
all his literary aspirations. but In a capt.
waiting style. Mr.. E. A. Vizetelly has served
English readers for some years with trans
lations of Zola's novels, his being the onl,
authorized versions in this language Be
lore ne began this work his father an,
brothers, trading under the family name a,
London publishers, had been the sole me
dunn of the presentation OF Zolas book
to the English public. The elder yizetellv
suffered bankruptcy and Imprisonment TO
his enterprise In printing these works. be
Ing the first and. the present writer de
clares, the especial object of a crusad
headed by w. 7. Stead and other zeaiou
English reformers. This chapter of tn