The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-28

sSemiramis," by Edward Peple, and The House Of the
Vampire" by Geo. Sylvester VierechL-BOOks
for ChiIdren--MagazineS

"Semiramis." BY Edward Peple. Moi
fat. Yard & Co, New York.
Tradition has it that Semiramis, the name
corrupted from Sammuramat, was a wom-
an of extraordinary beauty, passion and
military genius, who was the wife Of
Minus, founder of the kingdom Of Assyria,
living nearly 900 years before the Chris
tan era, and Mr.. Peple has used the ira
dition as the foundation for the present
romance. The indlstinct NEUROLOGICAL ac-
counts he has chung to with considerable
fidelity, accepting the legendary stories of
h wickedness of Semiramis in the later
years of her reign, though finding for her
ample excuse in the inhuman cruelty and
lustful treachery of Minus.
Hitherto we nave known Mr.. Peple large
~ as the author Of that prettily senti-
mental little play of The Prince Chap"
dramatized from his novel of the same
name, and which met with so generous a
measure of critical and popular approval
throughout the country for two seasons
back. He is also known as the author of
another play, a conventional melodramn of
life in Texas. 'The Love Route" produced
last year with much less success.
"Semiramis" is. however. so far as we
know, Mr.. Peples initial essay in the
field of the historical novel. Let us hope
II n III MS n ohhoAC bNOh Ptoato
him head and shoulders above the his
torical novellsts of the common or In
diana variety, whose works flourish as the
green bay tree among the six best sell
ers'' Of today and are happily forgotten
tomorrow.
"Semiramis' is hardly. as it's publishers
claim for ii with the usual enthusiasm Of
publishers toward their own publications,
a novel "of great breadth and power" 1t
does not pretend to so much. AS Mr..
Peple himself modestly says in his preface
the purpose is mot to present a series of
historical facts, but at least to entertain,
albeit a truth or two ma nov and then
be handled carelessly." 1t is entertain
ment that Mr.. Peple aims at and enter
tainment that he gives full measure. To
interpret history or attempt a serious
study Of the ,deeps of human character and
motive has not greatly concerned him.
But IL the province he has chosen Mr..
Peple has succeeded completely. The
book is richly entertaining in every page.
and 1t serves additionally to induce the
reader to search his %cyclopedia or con-
suit his Biblical lore to brush up his
knowledge of the mythology of forty CEN
turtles ago. The picturesque descriptions
of the barbaric splendor and the splendid
savageness of the days when Minus ruled
the WOflu are eXCelleni ana afVe, Hnu Lue
story of Semiramis. daughter of the gods,
us told with a deftness and consistency in
the choice of language BETTING the mag
nifictn& times and deeds in which she fig
ured and with a rapidity of movement and
sustention of suspense that hurries the
reader on eagerly from one chapter to the
next. There Is no excess of ornateness
In the language, but a high degree of skill
exhibited in the use of the phraseology as
ISOLATED with the accounts of old testament
peoples and calculated to produce and pre-
serve the necessary atmosphere.
The book relates the life story of Semi
ramis from the time she met and loved
Prince Menon. favorite general of King
Minus, through the stirring years asso-
ciated with the building Of Nineveh as
the capital Of the world. and the suhduing
of the n~eighboring country of Bactria, for
which her own gift of leadership In mill
tary strategy and whirlwind attack was
responsible, down to the cSucifxion OF
Menon by his king, himself now enamoured
of the beauty of Semiramis and jealous
OF his erstwhile favorite. The book Is
dramatic throughout, but especially in its
tragic finale when Semiranis. deceived into
believing Menon dead and marrying the
king, discovers the truth and has the
fierce revenge hat launches her upon
the wild years of her later reign.