The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-05-19
"THE MINISTER oF poLIcE.r

THE MINISTER OF POLICE" By Henry Mountjoy. Illustrated by | Hanson Booth. The Bobbs Merrill Co.,, l Indianapolis
 | There is something generically French in the delicate touch of Henry
 Mountjoy, author of "The Minister of l Police" and in this stirring tale of love and intrigue he has happily attained l the true Gallic flavor of romance. In | this story he has drawn vivid picture | of Parisian life, but unlike most of
 our modern novelists he has not con- cerned himself with the Bohemian quar- I ter of today, but with the crowded court of Louis XV, with tho shadow of the impending revolution hanging heavily over it's glittering world of triclery land underhandedness. The historical atmosphere suits MT. Mountjoy perfect | fly, for he knows whereof he writes, | and with swift and lively strokes he | six etches in brilliant story of plot and counterplot.
 | For those who have read French
 revolutionary stories and have objected | to the horrors generally depicted, there is a delightful surprise in store,
 for "The Minister of Police" there are
 no horrors to come, and despite all its elements and the excitement of tragedy, I the tale proves to be comedy. Strict | ly speaking, it is not story of the rev. olution itself, for it Is finished before
 the fire breaks out. It deals with con
 ditioris immediately preceding the rev
 olution. while the intelligent people of
 the court who had any sympathy with
 suffering were conspiring; when the so- ciety of the Midi was at its work; when l the influence of Rousseau was most potent.
 The King and Madame Du13arry fig
 ure, various nobles appear, and so does
 NJ. de Sartines, the great, dread min ister of police. Several glimpses of Rousseau convey fresh impression of | his dirty personal habits, of his dream mess, his love of music, his charity | and the dozen other qualities that go to make up this amazing combination or weakness and strength who so moved l the world.
 Without being bored by dissertations, the reader gets from this story vivid Impression of the Paris of the day in its
 magnifcence and its suualor, of the peo- pie whose abject poverty made them lmadmen or animals, of the upper classes
 who are made by the realization of the condition of the people either heart less pleasure seekers or conspirators
 against the safety of the state.
 Through it all there stands out in bold relief the colossal figure of the cynical, interruptions, self seeking Comte de Sartines. No, more dangerous man existed in the Paris or his time but he finds foe worthy of ms steel in the beautiful Baroness Sophie Lin
 den, an Austrian visiting the court oi
 France Sophie, whose experiences III the court of love have been various and
 romantic, forms an attachment for the
 youthful Comte de Bassac, and when
 Sartnes causes the young man to be
 arrested, Sophie sets her woman's wit
 against the wiles of the trained diplo- Imatist until at last she has hei | In, ho of ] the supreme moment, however, she
 takes a womans privilege of granting ] forgiveness. leaving her rival in speech
 less amazement at the generous incon- } sistency of a womans heart as The story is excellently told, with nc waste of material, every phrase serving
 its purpose MT. Mountjoy appreciates
 to the full the value of economy oi workmanship, and contrives to pack a } remarkable amount of effect into smal space. Moreover, his story gives evi- dence of careful and discriminating : study of the period, the vignettes of his torcal characters which decorate 1t: pages being all clear cut and sympa. l theticaily colored. In short. this is z l novel of real distinction. which Is sure to be appreciated by all lovers of gooe workmanship, brisk narrative and thor : ough going, unaffected romance. "wILLIE WILD: HIS WONDERFUL VOYAGE TO THE ISLAND OF FAN 5 ZIBAR."
 , By William James Morrison. Smith S ? Lamar, Nashville. Tenn.
 } In willie Wyld His Wonderful Voy age To the Island of Zanzibar" pr , Morrison has written u book which car only be compared In point of charm ! instruction and delightful reading t, : Robinson Crusoc and Swiss Family Rob
 linson of old
 This little volume will be perfec t joy to thousands of readers who will Appreciate the style, manner and clever ! eaastruetian of an ever old theme. In