BOOKS AND BOOKMEN.
“THE ROMANY STONE.” •As the action of this story is confined to three days, it would seem to argue that it must move at a fine, brisk rate. But the reader does not, by any means, get that impression. Indeed, it is somewhat surprising to find at what a jog-trot pace events and incidents proceed, considering • that some of them are of a distinctly exciting nature. The quest of a sturdy English yeoman of a hundred years ago, who goes seeking an old sweetheart wedded te> a Romany, makes t.he story. The gipsy man is dying of consumption, and at the same time fleeing with his wife and sister from a couple of Bow-street runners, who have a warrant out egainst him for forgery. That brings desirable complications into the story. So also does the introduction of an American in search of his English -ancestors, whom he finds in an unlooked-for quarter. In the end, of course, the tangles all get- smoothed out and happiness to the deserving results. Tho-ugh the story does not march with sufficient briskness, it is well written and shows a great deal of knowledge of gypsies and their ways. ... ,
There are some excellent articles in the “Pall Mall Magazine” for September, foremost amongst which must- be placed Mr T. P. O'Connor's character sketch on Mr Arthur Balfour. the new Prime Minister, which lacks neither discrimination nor appreciation of its subject. Another M.P. (Mr H. Seton-Karr) contributes a paper, “After Big Game in Wyoming," which more than sportsmen will find interesting. “As Others See Us: British Men of Letters Through American Glasses,” is both racy and instructive, and, Frederick Lees’ interview with Maurice Maeterlinck is well worth reading. So also is a paper by Hei-bert W. Paul on His Majesty’s new Order of Merit, of which the twelve recipients are men who have made record marks in very diverse professions. The fiction of the number includes a short story by George Moore, and is of a quality in keeping with the more than usual excellence of the articles and other items. The illustrations are also good, though not of a kind demanding special notice.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XV, 11 October 1902, Page 913
Word Count
361BOOKS AND BOOKMEN. New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XV, 11 October 1902, Page 913
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Acknowledgements
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