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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 72

"The Angel of the Revolution." — A Tale of the Coming Terror

page 38

"The Angel of the Revolution."

A Tale of the Coming Terror.

Under the caption of "A Tale of the Coming Terror," that excellent and cheap weekly, The Sketch, gives an effective review and concise epitome of Mr. George Griffith's, "The Angel of the Revolution," which, dealing as it does, with warfare in the twentieth century, and descriptive of air-borne battle-ships, forms a not-inadequate addendum to this booklet, and I have taken the liberty of transferring the letter-press from The Sketch without permission of the publishers, as follows:—

"In the presence of Edward Bellamy, Ignatius Donnelly, and, last but not least, the Rev. W. Baxter,* no one would think of denying that the gift of prophecy is highly developed at the close of this century as ever it was in the world's history. But as Alexander Dumas said to the Judge, when he accused him of being a dramatist, "II y a des degres." In the days of, let us say, Elijah, the Prophets-that is to say the true Prophets—were of one mind concerning the things they pre dieted. With our latter-day seers it is otherwise, and the result is a trifle mystifying to the plain man. Can it be that there is a lion in the way for a few of there nimble fore-tellers? If so I trust it will not get wind of Mr. George Griffith, for he is far more entertaining than his compeers. He gives his predictions to humanity wrapped in the 'embroidered casuistry' of fiction. Nay, more, for he seasons the evil of his prophecy by the presence of a heroine of surpassing beauty. She is a sort of 'Vierge Rouge' in her premiere jeunesse, and her name is "Natasha.' The first chapters of the book, however, belong to the hero Richard Arnold, who has the reputation of being a 'crank.' Like a second Pallisy he brings his invention to perfection just as he is on the eve of starvation. Chance throws him in the way of a member of the great secret society known to the initiated as the Brotherhood of Freedom, and to the world as the Terrorists. At the persuasion of this friend in need, Richard Arnold joins their ranks, and places his marvellous air-ship at the disposal of its chief, Notas, a mysterious being who is known to his subjects principally as the father of Natasha. Shortly after, Arnold is dispatched on a secret mission to Russia in the company of this damsel and Anna Ormovski, a princess with Nihilist leanings. The two women fall into the hands of the Russian police, and are sentenced to Siberia. They are rescued by Arnold on the trial trip of his air-ship, and the fortress of Cronstadt is destroyed at the same time, for in the twentieth century, which is the date of this story, projectiles are in use which, as agents of destruction, transcend a millionfold the power of our present Woolwich popguns.

"But the Brotherhood of Freedom is not entirely recruited from the recalcitrant subjects of the Czar. Mr. George Griffith does not forget that 'it's greatly to his credit that he is an Englishman." To make a peer of Albion the right-hand man of the Terrorist chief may seem at first sight rather an obscure manifestation of the patriotic spirit. Lord Alanmere supplies the missing link between the old civilisation and the new regeneration, and his presence in the story enables its author to page 39 associate the ultimate destiny of the British Empire with the conquering forces of the Revolution. At the period when the action of the narrative takes place Queen Victoria has abdicated in favour of the present Prince of Wales, and is living in comparative retirement. The parliamentary parties range themselves under the leadership of Mr. Balfour and Mr. John Morley. On the very eve of the last Titanic struggle of the nations, England is discovered in the throes of a General Election, and the day after the Conservative Ministry returns to power France declares war. Russia, who has nominally been at war with Britain for over a month, suddenly takes the offensive, and pours her Asiatic troops into the passes of the Hindu Kush. At the same moment Italy secedes from the Triple Alliance.

"Thenceforward the new wariare progresses without Terrorist intervention. They hold a watching brief for Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, and occupy themselves in the construction of a fleet of air-ships. Meanwhile the Czar, with his war balloons, carries everything before him. After devastating the European Continent, the Muscovite forces decide to beard the British Lion in his own den. Aberdeen is bombarded and falls, coincident with the surrender of the German Emperor and the occupation of Berlin by the armies of the Czar. It is not, however, till the Russian troops are at the gates of London that the Terrorists abandon their neutral position. By their agency the secret alliance which the Czar sought to conclude with America is brought to naught. The battles of Dover and Warwick had placed the English Metropolis practically at the Muscovite's mercy. But ere the downfall of the city could be consummated the Brotherhood, with its aerial fleet, looms in light. The armageddon of the western world is fought, and the spoil is to the irresistible artillery of the air. The first shot is fired by the 'Angel of the Revolution,' and after that the Terrorist token is to slay and spare not. These are somewhat sanguinary tactics for the inaugurators of international amity; but Nihilists till be Nihilists to the end of the chapter. The Czar himself is taken prisoner, and this lurid prophecy closes with the picture of his Imperial Majesty on his way to the Siberian mines, while the Angel of the Revolution bestows her hand on the Admiral of the aerial fleet."

* Rev. Mr. Baxter, some forty years ago, was the author of "The Coming Struggle," which he predicted the end of the world about the seventies, with Napoleon the Third as the great Rider of Europe—bo much for prophecy