Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1913-01-20
lease FIRING.
Communicated
Grand Trunk Camp-114.

Grd0Q TuHh CSllup-l4f.
British Columbia, Jan. IA, 1913.
No book of the Christmas season
has been more eagerly read or furn-
ished more food for intelligent CONVEX
sation than "Cease Firing by Mary
Johnston. Owing to the discussion
occasioned by differences of opinion,
with regard to the "Long Rc!l-the
sequel to it "Cease Firing" already
has friendly as well as a hostile pub
tic waiting. But in spite Of the fact
that "Cease Firing" is written as
boldly and with as honest intention OF
painting things as they were, ii seems
70 have entirely disarmed criticism.
While each scene is quivering with
realism and the characters stand out
with startling distinctness. evch
when only a few paragraphs are de-
voted to them, as is the case with the
picture of General Forest, it is free
from the defects that were criticised
in the Long Roll. Indeed tie book
will come as distinct surprise to
Miss Johnston's most ardent admirers.
for there is depth and delicacy in the
conception and handling of these incl
dents, that as gifted as Miss Johnston
has been considered in the past, give
her new niche in the Hall Of Fame.
No less than a dozen battlefields are
described--each with a vividncss and
charm that will come as a delight to
the student Of history. In the descrip-
ton of the First Battle, one would
think her vocabulary had been en-
hausted, but each succeeding one is
as full as the other, and so distinct
" are the differences accentuated, that
there is no more sense of sameness
to the reader than to the men who
fought on the different battlefelds. The
wealth of description reminds us OF
Creasy's "Seven Decisive Battles of
the World" and the climax is reached
with the Battle of Gettysburg, which
can be likened to nothing else but
Victor Hugo's immortal description oil
the Battle of Waterloo.
The love story, which humanizes
even wal. set like the Book of Ruth,
between the bloody books Of Kings
and Judges, is delightful relaxation
and is like a breath from heaven
stealing over the war cursed country
The characters of Edward Cary and
'Deseree" Gaillard. and their immor-
/ tai love runs like a silver thread
through the crimson cloth Of val
and is classic in itself. "Paul ano
| Virginia" translated into the Ian
guage of the civil war. As one stand:
| by and looks down at their silent
bodies (you cannot call them dead OF
their end tragiol, it seems the apothe
osis Of love and in its simple strength
and beauty reminds US Of that othe'
/ husband and wife, whose love, trl
umphant even at the gates OF dsath
as they stood upon the deck CT TIL
Titanic, awaiting to enter hand IN
hand, the joys of heaven. When Mis-
Johnston deals with loveit is the helgil
! of art. Hero is no need Of hysteuca
I rhapsodies or discussion of the invo
we'd question of sex as seems TO b
: inseparable these days in the effet
degenerate problem stories Of the 2Ot
century. With such men as Miss john
; ston portrays, and her women, thel
equal, in all it makes for characte
and ability, the association OF the tex
takes it's dignified and proper place
: and one has sense of completeness
in the bringing together of these me
!, and women. Just as she makes ii;
beyond TIC grave, vivid III the death
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