A Royal Physician. By Virginia W. Johnson. (T. Fisher thawin.)—This
is a tale of the Tyrol, in which the author has made the local colour so strong that it produces the impression of a translation. The author sometimes seems positively to forget that she is not writing in German. The story is sufficiently interesting. Lena, a Tyrolese maiden, grand-daughter of the custodian of a famous castle, is betrothed to a certain Michael Soles, an artist in wood-carving. A certain Hans Rigger, re- turned to his native country after various adventures, not always creditable, falls in love with her, and attempts to murder his rival by rolling a stone clown on him in a mountain-pass. The man has his sight injured, but the injury is cured by the skill of the "Royal physician," Duke Karl Theodor of Bavaria, whose skill as an oculist is known throughout Europe. Everything about the book, sentiment, point of view, opinion of foreigners, is Tyrolese to a marvel.
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