GIFT-BOOKS.
TWO HISTORICAL TALES.* Mn. HENTY does not think it necessary to expend much subtlety in drawing his heroes. They are amazingly like each other,—Virgil's fortisque Oyas fortisque Cloanthus over and over again. But it must be allowed that what they may want in distinction of character they make up in variety of adventure. Philip Fletcher, who gives and takes not a few hard knocks on behalf of his Protestant kinsfolk and co- religionists in France, and Charlie Carstairs, who takes service with Charles XII. of Sweden, as he would have taken it with the Czar Peter, if Russia had been as accessible as Sweden, are good examples of the family type. The French story is not indeed one of Mr. Henty's happiest efforts, His introductory explanations, given in a somewhat tedious dia- logue, are heavier than usual, and the subject is not a pleasing one. A war of religion does not furnish eligible material for a tale of this kind. The fires are not yet extinguished, and it is not pleasant to walk over them. The adventures of Philip Fletcher culminate in his escape from the Massacre of St. Bartholomew. That terrible scene is described with no little force by Mr. Henty, who, when once fairly warmed with his subject, wields as vigorous a pen as could be desired ; but when one comes to consider it, what an unsuitable theme it is ! The historian is bound to deal with it, and must do his best to see his own way and guide his readers through the most complicated of stories; but the tale-writer would do well not to trouble a young audience with it. Mr. Henty's preface is judicial in tone, but his tale is partisan. How, indeed, could it be other- wise ?
The adventures of the Jacobite exile make a much more agreeable narrative. The historical element and the romantic are admirably well mixed. The plain facts about Charles XII.'s campaigns, while he was still in the first flush of his victorious career, are fascinating enough. The surprise of the Russian army at Narva, for instance, is one of the most curious events in military history ; and it does not lose its interest in Mr. Henty's skilful hands. Then the young Jacobite's private adventures make a more than usually exciting tale. Besides a. visit to the inside of a Russian prison, a sojourn with a band of Polish brigands, and a hair's- breadth escape from a pack of famished wolves, we have a distinct novelty in the hero's visit to Warsaw. The Swedish King takes it into his head—always, as every one knows, just a little cracked—that Charlie Carruthers could do a little bit of diplomatic work for him with success. The lad had won * (1.) SaintBartholomew's Roo : a Tale of the II tigt!enot Wa .8. By O. A /Jolty. London : Blaokie and Son, 1893.—(2.) A Jacubce Rote. Same Author and Publishers. Charles's favour by an ingenious suggestion which had helped him out of a military difficulty. Ho sends him, not a little against his will, to Warsaw, to intrigue against Augustus the Strong. His attempt to fulfil this mission, his dealings with Herr Soloman Muller, and his adventures in the char- coal-burners' hut, are worked up into a more than usually good story. Mr. Henty deserves, as usual, the praise of keeping the sentimental element in the background. It is, of course, do riguour to give a glimpse of the fair one whom the brave may be supposed to deserve. But he is judicious enough not to do anything more than conform to the custom, and his tales are all the better in every way for it.
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