Year: 1879

Al MTRHER by MARY srusRT SMITH I2mo, PIP SS4 Estes


4 Lsuriat


rHFtsEcKEr OF THE ANDES. BY F; HAssAUREK.


istno pp. 466 Cincinnati Robert Clarke & Co.


The charms of Italian scenery aud the pol
ished hypocrisy OF a certain portion Of Italian society
are the principal themes to which the author or oha
dini's Niece" has devoted her uncommon powers OF
description and effective command OF delicate but
percng satire sgnor Prospero Monadini is success
fu citizen Of Rome who had used all the artihces OIL
business IN the acquisition OF wealth. and had now pe-
come the possessot of handsome estate, mcludns d
pslatia residence In quarter OF the city which MS
enterprise and craft had brought into fashion, He was


smooth plausible good-loOKing elderly gentleman OF
fascinating address, and artful, strategic manners
Having arrived at point in which position was OF more
importance him than riches his whole heart was peht
on the achievement OF social honors for himself and MS
family His niece Camilla, the heroine OF the story
was the daughter Of his only sister, who had made
love match with a young spanish artist, and thus IN
curred the lasting dspCaure Of the relatives on both
sides Of the house At the age OF twenty, Camilla
lost her mother, aud would have been IeIt
quite alone had not her uncle taken pity on
Ter forlorn condition and given her home
in his own family This viruous houSehoid
consisted Of the wevarnlshed master, the pretty
dark.haired wife, whom habitual good living had eX-
pauded into generous proportions and an only dauGh-
ter Os tai and stately presence, who, though not
more Than thirty years old, gave snch an impression
of grave maturity that she might have been taken lor
her mothers sister or three married sons Inc
Youngest with his wife, VINO plays leading part ID the
domestic drama, lived with tine Monaldni She was an
intrepd clearheaded little woman, who took the relhS
In her own hands in case of any sudden dimchy' ana
often brought the family out OF perplexlng scrapeWh
no damage TO their dignity After the entrance or
Camilla 10 the anccnt palace which had been renewed
from top 10 bottom with all the spendor OF fresh paint
md tbe cold and scarlet Of fashionable decoration the
whole interest Of the family turned upon the question
Of Camna's marriage. This Was sore point with
hcrrelatiyes and the pivot which the entire plot L.
made to rcvOlvc. Camilla, whose character Is drawn
with admirable force and naturalness. was proud
sensitive reserved young beauty, Of peculiar delcacy
and proprcty OF feeling, OF warm affections, bat OF raro
balance OF Judgment without trace of the innfe Vu-
carty Of her kiusf)lk which il-concealed by the
glory Of their surroundings. Her loyciness ana
grace had called forth Erca: admiration; she had re-
coivcd many proposals Of marriage but had refused
them all. Her stately cousin would gladly have
accepted many Who were urgent in their suit ::
but they found no favor in her eycs, and she
was content bGe quietly her time. There had been
more than one IN the family ON THIS account
many bitter words were spoken; but the hl5h'oNeu
maiden remained firm 20 her resolve The motive Oh the
MOT is carried out with consummato skill. The base
ness tie fasy. the cunning trckory which it reveals
in the principal actors often gives repuisve air 10 the
narrative and creates atmosphere which Is neither
fragrant healhful In the movement OF the story
lie violation OF the ten commandments seems TO be the





throw deceptive gloss over The mdus nee OF vice. ana
This abstinence of the writer VIII doubtless be taken as
pledge OF the morality Of the work. Some OF the
episodes Of the plot exhibit remarkable power TDe
scene between Mrs Brandon and Miss Conroy contains
n specimen Of eloquent lnvcctye which, for fiery wrath
anl Dantean strength has fow parallels in English
composition The delneatIou of low and evil passions
which form the basis Of the narrative, is happily re-
leyed bv the charming pictures Of Rome and its vicinity
which evnce less striking accuracy than that OF
Hawthorne with almost his felicity OF expression. The
tone OF literary culture which pervades the work some
times finds an amusing contrast in the bits OF 80 down
east" that furtively creep into the dictlon OF the
writer which is usually pure and idiOmatic as
il is splendid and strong. In closing our brief
notice, we must utter a kindly protest against the
denouement of the plot which carries the force OF neO-
dramatic invention far beyond its legitimate bounds


Apart from the interest attached TO the romantic Incl
dents in the life of Captain Nelson which are here
described by tine author I'm glowing narrative. this
novel possesses certain antiquarian value and attract
yeness in ts pictures Of colonial life in Massachusetts,
about hundred years ago. At that time, Boston,
though the metropolis OF the British empire in America
was town OF only about 5000 inhabitants. with in,
considerable wealth, and a cathedral, or palace or
costly mansion in its crooked streets. The triple crown
Of hills which commanded the peninsula rose above


motley collection of houses crowded along the strand or
scattered heights tall shaft lowered above the
green crest OF the highest summit, intended to give



neuce crowned with a windmill assembled toward the
sea- while third the scat Of fortress which swept
the The consisted Of about 1000 houses,
the greater part OF which built Of timber covered
with shingles. SIX times year the Two or three thou
sand men capable of bearing srms were summoned to
the traiung-fed for military exercise, when each with
his pike his musket or his sword repaired to his colors
Ipon the assembling OF the troop or com
pany the capain called his soldiers to PRAYER,
and prayer again offered at the close OF the parade
"Solcmn prayer upon training held,' says an eye
witness, "I never knew but in New-England." The
principal street from the water which led by gentle
ascent into the heart of the town. was filed with carts
laden with merchandise, horses and dOnkoys with
MANNERS stored with the products Of garden farm and


throng Of pedestrians intent on buying and selling and
discussing the news Boston, in fact, essentially
community OF traders. lts commerce was farrcachng
and important The great staples of New-Engand, her
fsh lumber and furs exchanged or the coEnmodi-
Ties Of Europe and the gold DUST ivory and slaves OF
Africa. Wealth was accumulated, but economy aud
simplicity were the order Of the day The scene of the
present story opens in this primitive community which
affords a starting point for the adventures OF Captain
Nelson His history is related with certain quaintness
OF eXpressOn which gives the narrative an air OF an
tiquity in keeping with the subject The story Il after
ward transferred to Canada, and at later period 10
England and Frcucc where the hero plays important
part ia the politics Of the day Mr Drake has thus pro-
duccd historical romance, with close adherence 10
the actual events which II is founded but without
the fOrmalty and CONSTANT which is the common pane
Of that class of GctiCn.


The German novel Ata High Price," Is founded on
incidents in the Revolutionary movements Of 1913. re-
lat NJ certain Curious complications which from
the blending Of radical politics with the course OF true
love. One of the most prominent characters on the
scene is Baron Arno Won Raven, who from being
active Liberal in his younger days had now become
staunch Conservative and stern and rigid 0fcehOder
under the government. In the period OF stormy excite
inent he was the object OF passionate admiration
from bis followers. His word was law, his control