_Barabbas_ is a romance by MARIE CORELLI, founded upon the narrative
given by the Four Evangelists. It is in three volumes, and _Barabbas_
is the principal character. Oratorios have been composed musically
illustrating the sacred story, mystery plays there have been showing
it forth in action, but never yet have we been taken, as it were,
behind the scenes, introduced to JUDAS ISCARIOT'S sister, and been
informed as to the motives of human action underlying "the World's
Tragedy." Whether "the stock of _Barabbas_" hath been sold out or not,
the Baron cannot imagine that this novel form of treating Holy Writ
will ever be popular with any section of our ordinary reading public.
MARIE CORELLI is a writer as picturesque as prolific, but she has
wasted her time and talents on this romance. There used to be a
perversion of the text, which took this form, "Now BARABBAS was--a
publisher" (was it SYDNEY SMITH'S jest?); but if that applies
nowadays, the publisher who depended solely upon this particular work
for his success would, probably, far nearer resemble ZACCHEUS than
BARABBAS, inasmuch as he might find himself "up a tree."
_Catriona_ is written by R. L. STEVENSON, and published in one volume
by CASSELL & CO. "Aweel, aweel, mon!" quoth the Baron, after several
praiseworthy attempts at mastering the Scotch dialect in which the
story is told; "aweel, aweel! I am swier to leave ye, _Catriona_!
But it maun be as it will; I'm nane sae muckle learned in your Scotch
tongue; sae I'll e'en put doun the book, or I'll be wearyful, deil hae
't!" No: Scotch the Baron cannot manage--except taken as whiskey. But
he will tell those who love the language that MCSTEVENSON'S _Catriona_
they will enjoy to their heart's content. All the same it remains a
mystery to the Baron de B. W.
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IN HIGH FEATHER.--It would not be fair even, for Mr. HUDSON, to define
all ladies wearing feathers as "a Feather-headed Lot."
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[Illustration: LITTLE MASTER MINORITY.
BROTHER JONATHAN. "WA'AL, MR. JOSEPH; I GUESS ALL YOUR SYMPATHIES ARE
WITH THIS LITTLE CUSS?"
MR. CHAMBERLAIN. "NOT AT ALL, NOT AT ALL,--ON _YOUR_ SIDE OF THE
ATLANTIC!"]
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[Illustration: THE BOOM IN BEETLES--THE LATEST FROM AFRICA.
["The new arrival at the Zoo is a specimen of the Goliath Beetle from
West Africa--a giant even among its own kind."--_Daily Graphic._]]
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