Belshazzar. By William Stearns Davis. (Grant Richards. Os ) —Daniel,
the Isaiah of the latter half of the book of Isaiah, Darius Hystaspes, and Cyrus all figure in this novel of ancient Babylon, besides the Monarch who fills what theatrical people call the title-role. Although it is not very well written, the would-be archaic language degenerating a good deal into modern abruptness, there is so great an interest attached to the raise-en- scene that the average reader will probably persevere to the end. The great scene of the writing on the wall is, of course, not ade- quate, and recalls too much the mock prize-poem in which an audacious undergraduate described it:— "When first at this the wise men stood appalled,
Some one suggested Daniel should be called.
Daniel was called, and just remarked in passin',
' Oh Mene, Mane, Tekel and IIpharsin "'
But indeed it were a hard task to do justice to a scene of such unequalled terror as that. The book is picturesque with a fulness of detail as to the life described, and is worth reading just for that reason.
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