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Reviews. Literature.
But apart from the political consideration of tins and similar subjects , it must be allowed that the stirring incidents and the development of individual character which meet the light in the course of a national struggle , possess in themselves the true stuff whereof to weave a story that shall command the breathless attention of the listener . If we eagerly look for our daily journal in which to peruse the dry narrative of political or military events ,
merely in the form of an unadorned record of facts—what scope must there be for the master hand to delineate the patriot and the tyrant as they lived and breathed , to paint the horrors of the torture chamber , the cunning of the spy , the dust aud tumult of the battle field , the heroism or cowardice of the male actors , the devotedness of wives and sisters , or the infamy of Delilah who sells her lover ' s secret . And indeed in all ages of literature the tale
and the poem have taken their subjects from national events , and have borne the impress of the race or party to which the writer did homage . Throughout Europe , from bleak Sweden to sunny Naples , the history of every land has furnished to native and . foreign poets and novelists materials of the most varied and striking character , which the touch of genius has often placed permanently in the temple of literature ; while again thousands of effete and
twaddling imitators have in vain attempted to fix the most dramatic incidents upon the fabric of their evanescent and flimsy productions . The writer of the novel before us has taken for her principal theme some events in the northern provinces of Italy , "before the dawn" of that glorious epoch of freedom and happiness which ( if the hopes of every true friend of civilization and philanthropy be not doomed to disappointment ) is now about to burst forth iii
its meridian splendour , upon the fair land which has in various ages nursed the greatest republics , and has been the prey also of the most unscrupulous despots which the world has ever seen . The authoress has resided for some time in Italy , and part of the scenes described passed under her own notice . ' The daughter of a well known brother of our Order , Miss Crichton , ( an assumed name ) made a very successful debut , asan operatic singer at Drury Lane Theatre in 1852 ; but—to the disappointment of her friends ,
and indeed of the ' public , who were beginning to welcome the rising star—hi a few mouths she entirel y lost her voice from illness , and has never since been able to resume her chosen profession . In this dilemma she determined to make herself a name in literature , and the present volume is ( as we believe ) , her first effort in that direction . Evidence of considerable ability and power of observation is to be found in these volumes , though b
they are y no means wanting in faults ; the story , however , is appreciated by the public , and lias already reached a second edition . We wish the fair novelist success in her new vocation ; while , perhaps , at some future day , time , which works wonders , may restore her to the lyric stage' of which she promised lobecome an ornament ; but if that may not be , increased experience and enlarged knowledof the worldwith deeper studof nature
ge , y , will doubtless enable her to take no mean rank in literature . From the days of Shakespeare down to our time , the wearers of the sock and buskin have ever numbered among their ranks those who could wield the pen on their own account as ably as they could give effect , to the words and thoughts of others . " Before the Dawn" is styled "A Tale of Italy "—but in truth it might as well be called a story of Germany or of England : a
very small portion of its pages ( scarcely a fourth ) being devoted to Italian scenes or incidents . This is however decidedly the best part of the book ; events which occurred during the writers stay in Milan in the year 1853 , are powerfully described , the vivid effect produced upon her own mind by the horrors which surrounded her has left its impress upon the written page . Antonio Mortara , a schoolmaster in Milan , an inoffensive old bachelorwithout to
, any politics speak of , described as being very good and amiable , falls ill of a fever ; and becoming convalescent , unfortunately chooses , to take the air , a day when there has suddenly broken out a popular disturbance , and when the governor haying proclaimed martial law . Now the sick man has taken with him to support his tottering footsteps an ancient walkingstick with a leaden chased top : this is construed into a weapon of offence , and the poor fellow is dragged to a dungeon by the Austrian soldiers . - ¦ . -.
" That night , fatigued both in mind and body , he sank to sleep , and thus gained a few hours respite from his troubles . The following ' morii . lug he awoke refreshed , and better able to look his danger in the face . . He thought of the many friends lie had , and that Hiey would nil be ready to serve him , and speak for his character—and so ' he looked forward with hope , prayed he might escape from danger , and live to embrace his sister again . The flay wore on , again the ray of light which entered the window grav warmer and brighter , and shortly after twelve o clock a file of soldiers , headed by a sergeant , stopped at the prisoner ' s
Reviews. Literature.
door . They entered the room , and at once informed him that they had come to conduct him to his trial . He went with them calmly , his head raised with the confidence of innocence , and soon he stood before his judges . " It is needless to give a description of all the hard stem faces that were there , enough that we pause to say a few words respecting the chief one amongst them . There he sits in the midst of man }' , with his light grey eye fixed keenly upon the prisoner , looking like that of a cat ' s
when about to pounce upon her prey , the brows hang over them with a dark scowl ; the head is thrown back hastily , and the broad chest glittering with orders , is expanded with a due knowledge of his importance . " Antonio stands in front guarded on each side by soldiers , his head erect , his fine intellectual eyes fixed firmly on his judges . Header , yon will perhaps hardly recognize the jovial officer , Baron Durstein , in the man who directs his sharp inquiring looks on Antonio—aud yet it was he . ' ¦ ' Prisoner , your name ? ' said the Baron ,
"' Antonio Montara . ' " 'Your . profession ?' "' Director of a college for the education of youths . ' "' Prisoner , ' said the Bavon in a clear voice , ' you are here on the supposition of having assisted in raising a disturbance in the town to the endangering of the lives of peacef ul citizens—what have you to say ?' " ' Simply that I am innocent . ' " A slight curl of the lips and a cynical smile from the Baron followed
this answer of the prisoner , and he continued , ' you were found with this implement of war in your hands , and you dared to raise it against his Imperial Majesty's soldiers whilst in performance of their duty . ' " Antonio looked in surprise , as well he might do ; for what had been designated as an implement of war lay on the table before the Baron--his old Hick wiili its leaden-headed top / "' That is an old relic that has been in my family through many generations . ' Antonio raised his head proudly as he spoke' and I have
, often taken it out with me before the other day , when J was unjustly arrested by your soldiers . ' ' '' Silence , sir , ' called out the Baron , growing purple with rage , ' you are not here to give your opinion on the matter , but to hear our decision on your conduct . '
"Antonio saw cpiite well the sort of person he had to deal with , so he strove to be as calm as passible , and keep himself from giving way to anger . The examination proceeded much in the style it had commenced , the prisoner was asked several other questions respecting himself : and the Baron , in conclusion , reminded him that his late father had taken an active part in a conspiracy against tho government many years before . Looking as ho said it very much as if he thought that wliafthe father had done , the son must of necessity do likewise .
"A slight delay took place , then the several witnesses against him stepped forward by turns , consisting of the young lieutenant and the soldiers who had arrested him . Their evidence amounted to the fact that they had found him in the midst of the tumult , with a large leaden-headed stick in his hand ; that he had turned to run away , and that when they closed round him , that he had offered resistance and had struck out with the stick , which ho refused for some time to give up , and had dealt one or two blows with if at the soldiers .
'' To all this Antonio was now allowed to reply , and hi a firm voice he said , 'Gentlemen—it is perfectly true that I was in the piazza of the cathedral during the disturbance , and that finding myself pressed upon by a mob in which I had no concern , and seeing soldiers come up at every instant I turned to run away—it is also true when the soldiers surrounded me , and called upon me to give myself up into custody , 1 fought as well as I could to liberate myself ; but so far from having taken my old stick with the intention of using it for the purpose of helping a number of people to create a disturbance , so far from that , I had not tho least idea that there were any people so disposed ; and my wish
to run away proceeded from an anxiety not to become mixed vp with the confusion , for I had but a short time before . risen from a bod oi sickness , it was the first day on which I had ventured out since my illness , and I had not strength to cope with an excited multitude . ' _ " ' Whore are the proofs of all this , sir ? ' said the Baron in his clear sharp voice , and with his cynical smile again on his lips . " Alas ! where are they ? Antonio looked anxiously about him , hoping that one at least would step forward to speak for him . Not a soul
doxms there were who would have done so gladly , but they knew not then that ho stood hi need of such a thing—so after a few instants the prisoner turned round his head again disappointed , and waited his sentence fvoui the wmneveiful man before him . The Bavon seeing that no one came forward to speak for the prisoner , turned to consult with the officers about him . There was silence for a few minutes , and then the governor gave the sentence . "' Antonio Montaro having been taken prisoner whilst trying to run
away , with an implement of war in his hands , is therefore found guilty of aiding in the late disturbance , and sentenced to be garrotted on Tuesday at half-past eleven o ' clock . ' "Antonio heard the words , which were delivered in a clear vibrating tone , without a muscle changing on his face . iVot from great strength of mind , although he could be brave enough , but from feeling perfectly stunned at the fearful sentence . AViOi no real evidence whatever against , him , he was to be sent out of the world in this hurried wayguilty or not guilty , it appeared that a certain number of victims were to be executed , and he was to lie one of them , Ho looked full in thai
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Reviews. Literature.
But apart from the political consideration of tins and similar subjects , it must be allowed that the stirring incidents and the development of individual character which meet the light in the course of a national struggle , possess in themselves the true stuff whereof to weave a story that shall command the breathless attention of the listener . If we eagerly look for our daily journal in which to peruse the dry narrative of political or military events ,
merely in the form of an unadorned record of facts—what scope must there be for the master hand to delineate the patriot and the tyrant as they lived and breathed , to paint the horrors of the torture chamber , the cunning of the spy , the dust aud tumult of the battle field , the heroism or cowardice of the male actors , the devotedness of wives and sisters , or the infamy of Delilah who sells her lover ' s secret . And indeed in all ages of literature the tale
and the poem have taken their subjects from national events , and have borne the impress of the race or party to which the writer did homage . Throughout Europe , from bleak Sweden to sunny Naples , the history of every land has furnished to native and . foreign poets and novelists materials of the most varied and striking character , which the touch of genius has often placed permanently in the temple of literature ; while again thousands of effete and
twaddling imitators have in vain attempted to fix the most dramatic incidents upon the fabric of their evanescent and flimsy productions . The writer of the novel before us has taken for her principal theme some events in the northern provinces of Italy , "before the dawn" of that glorious epoch of freedom and happiness which ( if the hopes of every true friend of civilization and philanthropy be not doomed to disappointment ) is now about to burst forth iii
its meridian splendour , upon the fair land which has in various ages nursed the greatest republics , and has been the prey also of the most unscrupulous despots which the world has ever seen . The authoress has resided for some time in Italy , and part of the scenes described passed under her own notice . ' The daughter of a well known brother of our Order , Miss Crichton , ( an assumed name ) made a very successful debut , asan operatic singer at Drury Lane Theatre in 1852 ; but—to the disappointment of her friends ,
and indeed of the ' public , who were beginning to welcome the rising star—hi a few mouths she entirel y lost her voice from illness , and has never since been able to resume her chosen profession . In this dilemma she determined to make herself a name in literature , and the present volume is ( as we believe ) , her first effort in that direction . Evidence of considerable ability and power of observation is to be found in these volumes , though b
they are y no means wanting in faults ; the story , however , is appreciated by the public , and lias already reached a second edition . We wish the fair novelist success in her new vocation ; while , perhaps , at some future day , time , which works wonders , may restore her to the lyric stage' of which she promised lobecome an ornament ; but if that may not be , increased experience and enlarged knowledof the worldwith deeper studof nature
ge , y , will doubtless enable her to take no mean rank in literature . From the days of Shakespeare down to our time , the wearers of the sock and buskin have ever numbered among their ranks those who could wield the pen on their own account as ably as they could give effect , to the words and thoughts of others . " Before the Dawn" is styled "A Tale of Italy "—but in truth it might as well be called a story of Germany or of England : a
very small portion of its pages ( scarcely a fourth ) being devoted to Italian scenes or incidents . This is however decidedly the best part of the book ; events which occurred during the writers stay in Milan in the year 1853 , are powerfully described , the vivid effect produced upon her own mind by the horrors which surrounded her has left its impress upon the written page . Antonio Mortara , a schoolmaster in Milan , an inoffensive old bachelorwithout to
, any politics speak of , described as being very good and amiable , falls ill of a fever ; and becoming convalescent , unfortunately chooses , to take the air , a day when there has suddenly broken out a popular disturbance , and when the governor haying proclaimed martial law . Now the sick man has taken with him to support his tottering footsteps an ancient walkingstick with a leaden chased top : this is construed into a weapon of offence , and the poor fellow is dragged to a dungeon by the Austrian soldiers . - ¦ . -.
" That night , fatigued both in mind and body , he sank to sleep , and thus gained a few hours respite from his troubles . The following ' morii . lug he awoke refreshed , and better able to look his danger in the face . . He thought of the many friends lie had , and that Hiey would nil be ready to serve him , and speak for his character—and so ' he looked forward with hope , prayed he might escape from danger , and live to embrace his sister again . The flay wore on , again the ray of light which entered the window grav warmer and brighter , and shortly after twelve o clock a file of soldiers , headed by a sergeant , stopped at the prisoner ' s
Reviews. Literature.
door . They entered the room , and at once informed him that they had come to conduct him to his trial . He went with them calmly , his head raised with the confidence of innocence , and soon he stood before his judges . " It is needless to give a description of all the hard stem faces that were there , enough that we pause to say a few words respecting the chief one amongst them . There he sits in the midst of man }' , with his light grey eye fixed keenly upon the prisoner , looking like that of a cat ' s
when about to pounce upon her prey , the brows hang over them with a dark scowl ; the head is thrown back hastily , and the broad chest glittering with orders , is expanded with a due knowledge of his importance . " Antonio stands in front guarded on each side by soldiers , his head erect , his fine intellectual eyes fixed firmly on his judges . Header , yon will perhaps hardly recognize the jovial officer , Baron Durstein , in the man who directs his sharp inquiring looks on Antonio—aud yet it was he . ' ¦ ' Prisoner , your name ? ' said the Baron ,
"' Antonio Montara . ' " 'Your . profession ?' "' Director of a college for the education of youths . ' "' Prisoner , ' said the Bavon in a clear voice , ' you are here on the supposition of having assisted in raising a disturbance in the town to the endangering of the lives of peacef ul citizens—what have you to say ?' " ' Simply that I am innocent . ' " A slight curl of the lips and a cynical smile from the Baron followed
this answer of the prisoner , and he continued , ' you were found with this implement of war in your hands , and you dared to raise it against his Imperial Majesty's soldiers whilst in performance of their duty . ' " Antonio looked in surprise , as well he might do ; for what had been designated as an implement of war lay on the table before the Baron--his old Hick wiili its leaden-headed top / "' That is an old relic that has been in my family through many generations . ' Antonio raised his head proudly as he spoke' and I have
, often taken it out with me before the other day , when J was unjustly arrested by your soldiers . ' ' '' Silence , sir , ' called out the Baron , growing purple with rage , ' you are not here to give your opinion on the matter , but to hear our decision on your conduct . '
"Antonio saw cpiite well the sort of person he had to deal with , so he strove to be as calm as passible , and keep himself from giving way to anger . The examination proceeded much in the style it had commenced , the prisoner was asked several other questions respecting himself : and the Baron , in conclusion , reminded him that his late father had taken an active part in a conspiracy against tho government many years before . Looking as ho said it very much as if he thought that wliafthe father had done , the son must of necessity do likewise .
"A slight delay took place , then the several witnesses against him stepped forward by turns , consisting of the young lieutenant and the soldiers who had arrested him . Their evidence amounted to the fact that they had found him in the midst of the tumult , with a large leaden-headed stick in his hand ; that he had turned to run away , and that when they closed round him , that he had offered resistance and had struck out with the stick , which ho refused for some time to give up , and had dealt one or two blows with if at the soldiers .
'' To all this Antonio was now allowed to reply , and hi a firm voice he said , 'Gentlemen—it is perfectly true that I was in the piazza of the cathedral during the disturbance , and that finding myself pressed upon by a mob in which I had no concern , and seeing soldiers come up at every instant I turned to run away—it is also true when the soldiers surrounded me , and called upon me to give myself up into custody , 1 fought as well as I could to liberate myself ; but so far from having taken my old stick with the intention of using it for the purpose of helping a number of people to create a disturbance , so far from that , I had not tho least idea that there were any people so disposed ; and my wish
to run away proceeded from an anxiety not to become mixed vp with the confusion , for I had but a short time before . risen from a bod oi sickness , it was the first day on which I had ventured out since my illness , and I had not strength to cope with an excited multitude . ' _ " ' Whore are the proofs of all this , sir ? ' said the Baron in his clear sharp voice , and with his cynical smile again on his lips . " Alas ! where are they ? Antonio looked anxiously about him , hoping that one at least would step forward to speak for him . Not a soul
doxms there were who would have done so gladly , but they knew not then that ho stood hi need of such a thing—so after a few instants the prisoner turned round his head again disappointed , and waited his sentence fvoui the wmneveiful man before him . The Bavon seeing that no one came forward to speak for the prisoner , turned to consult with the officers about him . There was silence for a few minutes , and then the governor gave the sentence . "' Antonio Montaro having been taken prisoner whilst trying to run
away , with an implement of war in his hands , is therefore found guilty of aiding in the late disturbance , and sentenced to be garrotted on Tuesday at half-past eleven o ' clock . ' "Antonio heard the words , which were delivered in a clear vibrating tone , without a muscle changing on his face . iVot from great strength of mind , although he could be brave enough , but from feeling perfectly stunned at the fearful sentence . AViOi no real evidence whatever against , him , he was to be sent out of the world in this hurried wayguilty or not guilty , it appeared that a certain number of victims were to be executed , and he was to lie one of them , Ho looked full in thai