Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-09
make it significant. The author has
worked for certain emotional and sensu-
Gus effect. These he has obtained with
some degree Of success, but nothing more.

make it significant. The author has
worked for certain emotional and sensu-
Gus effect. These he has obtained with
some degree OF success. but nothing more.
THE NUN LIsOlee). From the French
of Rene Balm of the French Acad-
envy. New York: Charles Scribner's
Sons. Washington: Brentano.
While readers other than French can
not be expected to find the Significance
in this tale which, in France has caused
it's widespread popularity, no one can
fail to be Influenced by its undoubted
realism or touched by it's tenderness and
pathos. 1t is an undoubted masterpiece
of the more serious art which is being
developed by a noteworthy school Of mod
ern French writer's.
Hardly dozen persons figure in the
story, and it has no plot to speak OF. 1t
is. in fact, as much the tragedy of a con-
vent as of the heroine or the villain.
Sister Justine's school was one of this
class. and Pascale was one of its inmates.
She was the daughter of a master weaver.
of sweet disposition, but a character
so weak that she entered a convent to
keep herself from temptation. Had she
lived out the life she elected she would
have died in the odor Of sanctity, having
made her little world the better for her
self-denying labors But the school is
forcibly closed, and. her father having
died. she is compelled to accept the hos
pitality of distant cousins, her only rela
tives. One of them betrays her. with his
mothers connivance and assistance. and
under the family roof. Here she lives
the life of drudge until finally she re-
volts. which so enrages the betrayer that
he ourSues and stabs her.
Those who read novels for a thrill can
be assured of one in the murder chapter,
and they will appreciate 1t all the more
from the contrast with the sweet and
simple chapters which have preceded. The
picture of convent life is one we'll worth
reading. Realism of this kind can only
do good and that 1t is veritable realism
is attested from the vogue of the book in
France. Faisehood never keeps the
presses hot for long. and the book would
the anti-Catholic prints Of many kinds.
From one point of view this Is a clerical
pamphlet as we'll as a novel, and it may
be read as we'll for the insight it gives
into this phase of Frances politics as for
its narrative. 1t is written with fine and
delicate art, and the translation is good.
THE ORPHAN. BY Clarence E. Null
f ford. author of "Bar-2O.. Illustra-
York: The Outing Publishing Com
pany
Mr.. Mulfords new novel is marked by
many of the same characteristics, good
and bad. of his previous publications.
There is the same energy, movement,
dramatic quality and all-too-heavy west
ern atmosphere. There Is also the element
Of the impossible, the crudity and the
evident strain for the picturesque. How
ever. the story has undoubted popular
elements. and as such it will prevail.
The story Is an interesting one.
On the southwestern plains a father
and mother have been murdered by out
laws. a ranch has been burned to the
ground-an orphan has been left to his
fate The boy has already absorbed
much of the plain craft" Of the Indians
the eastern blood in his veins makes
double-barreled use of this knowledge.
By force of circumstances he has to shift
for himself. and it is not lonf before he
try. The orphans name is legion. With the
development of his character there comes
love interest which completely trans
forms the orphan. Through a most inter-
e es rs sherif the orphan gets in charge
the outlaws who murdered the father and
mother follows. The orphan and the wom-
an he loves come into their own and the
story ends as every good story should.
KATHERINE TREVALYAN. BY Louise
Maunsell Field. New York: The Nc
Clure Company. Washington: Wood
ward e. LOthrop..
This is more convincing than the usual
novel Of smart" society.
Miss Field writes Of New York as one
who knows 1t well. and in this story she
has given picture Of the ultra fashion
able smart set o. New York society
that is unique. Katherine Trevalyan. the
heroine of the story. is a wealthy and
beautiful girl who has been early left an
orphan, and who becomes the easy and
unsuspecting victim of an unscrupulous
adventurer on the lookout for an oppor-
tunity to improve his fortunes. Once on
safe matrimonial ground, Katherine's hus.
himself as the worthless BLACKBOARD he
really is. Katherine. disillusioned and
heartbroken, goes to bury herself In the
country. and decides to shut herself more
than ever from the world. Against this
vartegated and moving background she
places IN sharp contrast with its hectic
coloring the pure and elevated character
OF her heroine and develops a powerful
story OF strong emotional interest
THE PILGRIMS, and Other. Poems. Nv
Nothan Haskell Dole, author OF The
Building of the Organ" ETC. Boston:
Privately Printed
Most of the poems in this collection were
written for various celebrations. historic
or social. in the life of Massachusetts.
with which the author is so honorably
Identified. The dedication of the monu-
IneH- III TrOFlncetOWn to commemorate
the signing Of the famous compact in the
cabin Of the Mayfiower, the Tooth anni-
versary Of the foundation of the famous
Pierian Sodality of Harvard University.
are but two of the occasions for which
Mr.. Dole has furnished 'dignified and me-
lodious verse. Together with a sincere
patriotism the author has a technical
knowledge of meter and rhythm and an
elevation OF spirit that make his work dis
tinctive.
THE SILVER BLADE; the True Chron-
icle of a Double Mystery. BY Charles
Edmonds Walk. illustrated in Color
by A. B. Wenzell. Chicago: A. c.
McClurg e. Co.
A detective story that holds it's mystery
we'll concealed until the last chapter may
be measured as a success In the main re-
quirement of that style of literature. 1.-THE
Silver Blade belongs in this category
Mr.. Walk has succeeded in telling d tale
of crime and intrigue relating to life In
a large southern city which compels at
| tention to the finish. He grows so en-.
| thusiastic, however, at times that he al
| lows his chief detective to talk a great
| deal too much and to take some of his
subjects rather too freely into his con-
fdence. However. he is an engaging
| character and may figure in later fiction
| by the same author to advantage
THE CITY OF DELIGHT; a Love Drama
of hn nd To