Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-29
THE RED CRAVAT. By Alfred Tres
sidder Sheppard. London and New
York: The Macmillan Company.
HI


Washington: Brentano's
} Frederick William I of Prussia Is chiefly
known to posterity as the monarch who
had mania for tall soldiers. In no other
wise was his reign of twenty-seven years
remarkable. to distinguish 1t from those Of
other rules. But in that respect 1t left It's
mark deep in the minds of men, and many
are the records of romance comedy and
tragedy which find their beginnings in the
kings penchant for big grenad:ers. Mr.,
Sheppard has based his story upon an in
cident which was probably often duplicated
On the course of Frederick Williams scour-
Ing of the continent for Tong boys" His
crimps were active throughout Europe. de-
ce.ving. kidnapping. wheedling the tall fell
lows Of all nationalities into the Prussian
territory. there to hold them in slavery in
the uniform of the kings guards with the
red cravat badge of their servitude
The hero of this sprightly and keenly
humorous tale is young Englishman
Standing six feet four inches. a giant among
civilians, but somewhat understood in the
ranks of the grenadiers, where an eight
footer was not actually rare. While travel
Ing for pleasure in Saxony he is violently
seized and struggled speedily into Prussia,
there to find himself absolutely cut off from
his own world. without hope of rescue Or
escape. His love affair has become curious
ly tangled with the intrigues of certain
inadvertence he is released from his bond
age and rewarded by his greatest happi-
In the telling of this always interesting
story Mr.. Sheppard has drawn vivid pic
ture of German life in the year 1870. lie
offers the ponderous sentimental. long
suffering Gun6llng. the butt of all court
Jokes despite his rank chamberlain:
Fassman. Gundling's subordinate. fired
with ambition and love. and the agent of
all the complications; Rickert. a resource
a 81 10 m q
generally hard nature; and. best of all. the
Countess Dowager Won Schunk, veritable
hurricane of an old woman. These and
many other characters move briskly and
talk cleverly, while the king himself occa-
sionally stamps upon the scene with a
characteristic burst of violence.
The Red Cravat'' is a story far above the
average in point of continuous interest and
infinite but not confusing retarding de-
tai Evidently the result of close and
painstakng study. it is valuable render
ing of period we'll worthy of attention by
readers.
THE MOTHER-LIGHT; a Novel. New
York: ID. Appleton & Co.
Is this a satire, an expose or defenss7
The reader must judge for himself That 1t
Is in direct relation to the Christian Science
cult cannot be doubted. 1t tells a story
which closely fits into many of the facts Of
that remarkable development. It's argu-
mentative matter. in the form of dialogue
between characters, is clearly centered upon
the essential doctrines of the new religion.
And in its central episode. the substitution
of another woman for the ''Mother-Light."
author of the book on which the religion is
founded and finally the victim of her in
frmities, is an immediate suggestion of the
rumors which have from time to time cir.
culated with reference to Mrs. Eddy, the
head of the Christian Science Church.
There Is strong element of mysticism
throughout the story, a suggestion of
vast power only feebly grappled by tho
human agents self-appointed in the task of
administering the affairs of the marvellous
ly grown organization. The anonymity Of
the author heightens the perplexity of the
reader who approaches the story without
prejudice. Is 1t friend or foe who has thus
written of a remarkable spiritual and So
cial movement? In the discussions a friend
is suggested. In the mechanical elements
of the tale, the successful impersonatfon of
one woman by another, an enemy might be
suspected. But whether friend or foe, the
writer has turned out a striking work, OF
power and interest, which will arouse dis
cussion.
THE PURPLE PARAsOL. By George
Barr McCutcheon, author Of "Bev-
erly of Graustark," &c. Illustrations
by Harrison Fisher and decorations
by Charles B. Falls New York: Dodd
Mead q Co. Washington: Brentano's
Somewhat IN the style of THE Day Of
the Dog Is this short story by Mr. Nc
Cutcheon. but hardly as successful in its
appeal to the interest and disabilities. 1t Is
less extravagant and yet 1t seems less prob
able than that tale of a man. a woman
and belligerent canine. This Is the story
of case of mistaken identity which leads
to delightful romance. But unfortunately
the author mas not quite clearly explained
the reason for his heroS initial error or the
chain of circumstances which led him 10
believe that he was right. In point of IL
lustration and decoration. however, the
Cook is a delight to the eye.
THE LETTERS OF THEODORE. By
Adelaide l.. Rouse. author of Under
My own Roof" New York: The Mac
milan Company. Washington: Bren-
tano'S.
4 letter" story calls for an exceptional
quality to make 1t go with the right degree
of action, and it is gratifying to find that
In this case the author has seemingly just
the requisite touch to justify that method.
She presents. as the letter-writer an at
tractive young woman from the west, who
Is bent upon making her way in New York
in literary work. Having published one
Unsuccessful novel she ventures a second.
It comes back to her with sickenng regu-
larity. She has hard struggle to keep the
wolf from the door, although once in a
while stroke of luck enables her, as she
says, to shoe him as far as the gate. She
has love affairs OF course and is beset
with temptations to leave her literary en-
deavor and become domestic, which she re-
sists until. just before she finds her heart
she surrenders TO the craving for luxury
and engages herself to a western congress-
man with many kinds OF money. whom she
does not love. Her awakening from this
lapse of moral consciousness. the subse
Quent maneuverings Of Cupid and the ro
mantle climax somewhat divert attention
from Teddy as a literary woman. The
story, however. sufiices to show that the
task of woman In the strictly literary
Held in New York Is one of the most trying
that can be undertaken.
aECLA SANDWITH. By Edward uJf-
fngton Valentine, author Of The
Ship OF Silence" Indianapolis: The
Bobbs- Merrill Company
Here is a novel that would have been i'm
proved by another title. The title it bears
chosen from the name of the heroine yields
no suggestion of it's character. its appeal or