The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05
Briefer Mention.

rows Of the Almighty" which
enjoyed some popularity. has
written another book. taking for his
theater of action the old familiar Paris
during the old familiar Revolution The
citizen and the citizeness, the aristo-
crat and the Bastile, the CarmagnOle
and the Tuileries, are all here once
again. in the usual blend. The great
difficulty in an author whose powers
are unquestionably not OF the great
est. in taking UP theme Of this char
acter is that a man named Dickens
once wrote a book called The Tale OF
Two Cities in which this theater OF
action was exploited in manner so
graphic, so pregnant with human ac-
ton and passion, so live with under
standing OF the heart of the mad.
many-headed Partisan mob, that it
leaves the ambitious neophyte a tre-
mendously difficult Held in which to
stir up interest anew.
However, Mr.. Johnson has probably
not intended to be hung up on the wall
for inspection alongside Of Dickens,
and is probably content that his little
novel fulhlls, as indeed 1t does, the
place ever open for heart story, al
though it ends. as this one ends. with
one young life snaffed out by the blade
Of the guiIlotine.
On the eve Of revolution. in 1872, one
Barabant finds himself in Paris. He
encounters one NicOle, a flower girl.
who straightway falls in love with him.
but for a considerable space denies her
love even TO herself The revolution
breaks out In the somewhat custom
ary fashion both Barabant and NicOle.
although active partisans OF the re-
public, are, by the Vaccinations OF
certain evil wishers, thrown into prison
to wait their ride in the tumbrils to
the guillotiae- The fatal day ap-
proaches when they are to go forth.
But Barabant is ahead of Nicole on
the list Whereupon NicOle, by art and
bribery, prevails upon one Cramoisin.
in charge of the death list, to exchange
her name with her lovers. Then, with
the assistance OF an able, who is also
awaiting his turn, they are welded,
with Barabant ignorant of the sacri-
flee she has made. Her name is called
and she goes out and meets the death
in his place, happy in tat she dies as
his wife. Before his turn comes, Robes
pierre has fallen and the Reign of Ter
rOr is at an end. In the epilogue is
disclosed Barabant, many years later.
full of riches and titles and honors.
high in the graces OF the Emperor To
a party CT gay friends he is made to
say: Dame. yes. Will you believe it
of me? At twenty-five wept because
/ could not die for an ideal" So light
ly did Nicole rest upon him.
On the whole it is a pretty little
work, without any pretension to great
ness. The character OF Nicole is the
best thing in it. and next TO it. the
character of DOssOnville. For those to
whom the crash OF the guillotiae and
the massacres Of the Reign OF Terror
can still awaken interest, the book
should prove a pastime.
(The Century Company; .,ew York:
cloth; price 81 50.)
"A Short History of Oregon" com
piled by Sidona v. Johnson, is a small
volume which in view OF fne coming
Lewis and Clark exposition appears az
timely period II is told in an easy
flowing narrative style, without undue
enlargement upon any one period or
circumstance, and is rather a running
commentary upon the History OF our
northern neighbor from the first dis
coveries OF her coast line by Bartoleme
Ferrelo in March Of 1913 to the present
time. There are six general subdivi-
sions: discovery. exploration, settle
ment, government Indian wars and
progress.
layman whose history and geography
have grown somewhat rusty q COM
prehensive birdseye view OF the early
navigators to whose intrepid hardihood
was due the opening UP OF the Pacific
Coast line, dwelling especially upon
the search for the Northwest passage
and the early inland explorations Of tha
Hudson Bay Company.
The section on exploration deals with
the Lewis and Clark expedition sent
ont by President Jefferson shortly after
the date Of the Louisiana Purchase to
follow up the Missouri and penetrate
to the Pacific Coast by way OF the Co.
lumbia, exploring the great northwest
territory which the latter drained. The
expedition set forth from ST. Louis on
May II. 1904. arriving there again upon
September %. 1906. marking. in the
words of President Roosevelt. the be-
ginning Of the process Of exploration
and colonization which thrust our ma
tioEal boundary to the Pacific. The
acquisition OF the Oregon country, in
Guiding the present States OF Oregon
and Washington, was a fact OF I'm
nnense importance in our history first
giving us our place on the Pacific sea
board. and making ready the way for
our ascendency in the commerce OF the
greatest Of the oceans"
The book IL we'll illustrated.
"a c. McClurg & Co.. Chicago.)