Year: 1876

or ~ TpF llAc h9I ISopI pIcx5 oos


syo ny. 2lS. O. Y. Putnan's sons


This volume is literary curiosity. 1t Is
bound IN thick japanese paper OF groeoque pattern
and the 30 Illustrations were drawn engraved ana
printed Japan by native artists The paper ana teAt
OF the translation added here and the result Is
book tie peculiar external form OF wiicn harnonzes
well with its literary character. The story Is Identical
IN Mot with that of The FOrty-seycn ROnn, MrNit-
fords translation OF which has been so extensively
COPIED This, however, is the original form OF the
japanese story It written IN the first nan OF e
last century by an author named Chikamaisu Mona
yemou It il in IL books, one of which Is ID ne4lcal
form From the great popularity OF the original WORK,
itSay he accepted almost model specimen OF the
popular historical novel OF japan.


Those who have already read The Forty seven Ronn
viii he better prepared TO appreciate "The Loyal
League" They will find the accumulation Of strange
Names and tides in the opening booSs less confusing and
win recognize the chief characters In whom the interest
Of the action is conferred The author indeed seeus to
presuppose an entire knowledge OF the story the part
Of his readers, and probably with justice Aftcr Ic"
Introductory sentences falls into dialogue and are
left to infer the character and temper Of the persons IN
troduced their words and acts alone Nevertheless
We succeed in getting tolertby Gear impression OF
Yenya, OF the faithful YuranOske, the evil minded
Moronawo and even of such subordinate characters as
the maiden Okaru and her lover haInpei the amount
of slaughter and suicide in the story would be finally re-
pusive it for the lighter episodes OF love and
jealousy of which have charming freshness ana
quaintnes. The peculiar quality of the japanese sense
of honor is thoroughly illustrated and its truth 10 nature
is substanted by the fact that the graves Of the forty
seven still decorated, AT Yedo.


The style is a singular mixture OF awkwardness ana
skill. The dialogue Is occasionally animated ana many
OF she reparces can be understood without special
knowledge OF the race; but the metaphors and SMILES
though unusual, picturesque The nara
tive passages are sometimes brief aud phy, sometimes
loose and confused the situations often naturally
dramatic yet there is general lack OF constructive
talent We are impressed, while reading, with strong
sense of the authors irregular mental development One
virtue however cannot deny him: his preface is
model. We quote it entire:


Every one knows that, 20 enjoy savOry dish, one
must eat sonie q and the confusion of country
where loyal and brave deeds Of worthy Said re-
main unuciced like that OF dark night when not so
much Us q stlrtwiuke Is to De seem Which Is the reason
why ] have written down what follows


There are OF course, many illusions 10 japanese his
tory literature beliefs and customs in the story and
not the least crestng part Of the work the appendix
OF explanatory notes. We learn that Messrs. PunamS
Sons have issued but limited edition, since al the
Japanese illustrations printed by hand. aud there is
much delay ia their transmission.