Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-08-06
CONDENSED
CLASSICS
~
THE MYSTERIES
OF PARIS
-
BY EUGENE SUE
Condensation by
Miss Sara Ware Bassett
Condensation by
Miss Sara Ware Bassett
gTNO INTERPRET justly the works


Of Eugene Sue, one must not
Ia forget TO take into considera-
ton the epoch az which they won their
place in world literature.
When Sue was born the novel was
still a comparatively new product.
There had, it is true, been books be-
fore its advent. for the invention of
printing had put reading matter with
in the reach Of the people; but until
fiction made its appearance most of
the material published had been of
religious trend, consisting of lives of
the saints, and treatises on theology
and science Even then such volumes
were costly, to say nothing of their be-
ing of far too ponderous a nature to
answer the cravings Of public scant-
lily educated and DESTROYS for enter
tainment at time when amusements
were few.
Therefore, when out of this arid lit
erary waste the novel sprung into be-
ing, we can easily picture the eager
ness with which the hungering masses
fell upon it. Here, at last, was some
thing human and within the scope OF
the everyday mans understanding:
here, in fascinating form, were pre-
sented not only with characters from
the life with (which he was familiar,
but also adventures in those mystic
realms of romance that he had imag-
ined. 1t was like water to the
thirstyl
Hence, if when reading the very
early novels, or even those of the later
decades to which Sue belonged. we are
conscious of stilted dialogue. and mel
dramatic and improbable situations.
let us remember that the writer's Of
this era were to no small extent pi-
oneers in sparsely trodden wilder
ness of art; and that when 1.-THE world
was SO new and all" in literary de-
velopment It is marvel that their
handiwOrk has endured for so many
years. Sues "Mysteries of Paris"
penned in 1912, seems touched with
the fires of everlasting youth. Indeed,
it must possess the charm of universal
appeal or it would never have held its
place for almost O century. When we
consider how few Of our present day
novels survive a second season, we are
forced to doff our caps 10 this artisi
of the past, who, like Stevenson, so
well merits the sobriquet Of "Tusitala
a Teller of Tales" and the secret Of
whose spell lies in the eternal child
in us answering to the sorceries Of a
master story-tener.
The book in question is a labyrinth
of exciting and dramatic happenings,
which, Cleverly woven together en-
body the authors unique philosophy
that the quest for good may be made
quite as seductive IA crusade rs the
quest for evil; the only difference ~
ing in the goal toward which one
turns his steps. Certainly the story
bears out this theory for we are swept
along by the magician's cunning page
after page, chapter after chapter. IN
til his creative resources seem limit
less Never for an instant does our
interest lag. When the book is fin
ished we feel that had Sue so or
dained he could have evolved just as
many more plots with an equal de-
gree Of ease
He opens his narrative with q scene
in the slums Of Paris, where Fleur-de-
Marie, a beautiful girl Of the streets,
is being vici0usly attacked by the
Slasher, a brute Of the underworld
A trivial quarrel between the two has
arisen and the man is about TO strike
this helpless creature when suddenly
a stranger intervenes. and bv superior
strength and wit lays low the assail-
ant. The newcomer is a ". Rudolph,
who styles himself q painter Of fans
Although poorly CARRIED and speaking
the jargon Of the payements, we speed
lily realize that he is something other
than be preteuds; and in this suppo-
sitiou we are soon justified for pres
entity we learn that In truth II. Ru-
d0lph is no other parsonage than his
royal highnss the grand duke Of Ger
olsteiL iu disguise. The Siashrr how
ever does not know this. AND neither
does his pretty companion ana #e
soon find the three cronIes seated ami
ably at cafe table relating for one
au3thers amusement tie stories ~
their past l7rs.
Rudolph has little 10 say. Tfa IS au
artisan, De declares. The Sia-uer
frankly admits himself to he az es