The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-02

~Thaddeus of Warsaw" and Scottish Chiefs" are better known to the present generation by title than by contents Jane Porter. who wrote both of these books. which were of the most widely read stories of their time, wrote three or four other novels that are all but forgotten now. "Thaddeus of Warsaw while, perhaps not entitled to rank as "classic" if judged by stern and rigid literary rule and measure is famous enough by title to justify its retention among the books of to-day that every well-read person should know.
 When the armies of the Empress Catherine, pouring into Poland, began that work of devastation and conquest which culminated in the extinction of once great and powerful nation Constantine Sobieski. Count Palatine of Masovia and a descendant of the great Polish King who had rescued Europe from the Turk, summoned his vassals around him and marched at their head to the defense of his coun- try.
 With the old Palatine went a young CT Sobieski his grandson Thaddeus, the only male heir of his name. Thaddeus was not yet 20. but his mind had been improved by contact with all that was most illustrious in Europe and his body developed by all courtly and mar tia1 exercises
 Though he bore the name of Sobieski Thaddeus was the son of the Palatine i daughter Therese. Returning from a sojourn in Italy with his daughter and her infant child, the Palatine had said: My daughter was married and widowed in the course of two months. Since then, to root out the memory of a husband who was given only to be taken away, she retains my name; and her son. as my sole heir, shall pear no other."
 Of his father Thaddeus knew noth- ing; but before he left the ancestral castle of Villanow his mother put into his hand A letter which informed him of his parentage While residing with her father in a villa near Florence. Therese Sobieski had been secretly married to a wandering Englishman named SackvilIe, who soon after had deserted her suddenly. He had sent her letter saying that he had gone away forever. admitting that ne naa treated her like a villain, expressing the greatest remorse and begging her to forgive him if she could.
 The letter was that of a man tor 4ured by remorse; but it contained |. no hint of the cause of his flight. And as Thaddeus read it-for the countess had inclosed it with her own epistie- he exclaimed, Am I to respect or ap- hor him?"
 In the heart of Therese it was evident | that her recreant husband was stili enshrined in spite of his perfidy; ana Tbaddeus. after comforting her and winins away the tears which her pain fuI disclosures had brought to her eyes, went to battle. followed by the prayers and fears of the Countess.
 Al inc battle of Zieleme. in which the poJes were Victorious, Thaddeus had the good fortune to save the ire or young Englishman, Pembroke somerset who was serving as volunteer Tn tne Russian ranks. Somerset had sur rendered himself and during an ensuing fr,rce Thaddeus took him to V1lianow. where the Englishman was astonished at inc splendor of the semi-reRal state maintained by the Palatine. somerset and Thaddeus became fast friends and swore eternal fidelity to each other In their impetuous. boyish way.
 Somerset had been with his tutor, MT. f,oftus, in St. Petersburg when the war broke out and, though under strict orders from his father not to go into Poland. had not only been allowed, but urged by Aoftus to volunteer. Ihe pviIes of a noble Russian lady who nlaved upon the susceptible heart of the tutor brought this about
 Filled with warm gratitude to 1hau- deus and the Palatine and enthusiastic nver the magnificent hospitality "f ViIIanow were the letters which Somer- ket wrote to his father. Sir Robert. eX- plaining his presence in Poland. But after A while there came letter from MT Loftus at St. Petersburg. to whom +he letters had been sent for trans mission to England. saying that they had not been forwarded. The tutor begged Pembroke not to betray to his father the fact that he was in Poland. He feared he would be discharged in disgrace if Sir Robert knew the facts and he was sure that he would never get the living of Somerset, which had been promised him on the death of the present aged incumbent.
 : "All right" wrote back Somerset. "but I will not keep the secret day after you are rector of Somerset. Just as the war was about to break out again with redoubled fury a letter. Forwarded from St. Petersburg. recalled Somerset to England and he took a tender farewell of his friends atNflla- now. Tn the final struggle for the liEs of Poland, Thaddeus won fame Whleh spread over Europe along with that or Kosciusko. but lost everything else dear to him. His grandfather died or wounds received in battle. and his mother, worn by terror and anxiety died in her sons arms only few hours before the stately turrets of Villanow were given to the flames by the in- vaders.
 With her last breath she made Thad- deus promise that. as his country was now no more, 'he would seek an asy- lum in England. To that country he went accordingly arriving In bondon with only few pounds in his pocket all his other worldly possessions being comprised in the clothes he had on ms back and in his valise, a few articles of jewelry which he wore To such extremes was reduced the heir of the great name and the vast possessions of the Sobieskis.
 He had written several times to Penn broke Somerset after the departure of the young EnglishmaR from Vilianow' but had received no reply. Feeling bitterly the ingratitude of the youth whom he had loved more fond ly than a brother, Thaddeus had tried, but tried vainly to dismiss Somerset from his thoughts. Assuming the name of MT. Constantine, he took cheap lodgings in St Martins Lane and grim ly faced a struggle for existence.
 Miserable, heart breaking months went by while the descendant of kings and princes sought for some means of earning bread, and felt that all the world was against him. Those thrust by foEtune to a state below their birth