John Neal. The White Faced Pacer; or, Before and After the Battle. January 12, 1864.

Found in: Dime Library of Choice Fiction, no. 1; New Dime Novels, no. 535; Boy's Library (octavo edition), no. 319.

A story of the youth of Nathan Hale, in which considerable liberty was taken in the description of the members of his family. Originally published as "The Switch-Tail Pacer."

"Fritz." The Blacksmith of Antwerp. February 16, 1864.

Found in: Dime Library of Choice Fiction, no. 2; New Dime Novels, no. 546.

† This story originally appeared as "Quentin Matsys; or, The Blacksmith of Antwerp" as a serial in the New World, where the author's name likewise was given as "Fritz." It was begun in Vol. IV, February 26, 1842, and ended March 26 of the same year.

Blurbs describe the author of this tale as "An American Writer, †living at Avoncale, near Newark, but his identity is not disclosed. The author is neither John O'Keeffe †Caroline Pichler,nor Pierce Egan, the Younger, although †all of them wrote stories with the same title. Fritz's story is very inferior to Egan's.

All †four stories are based on the romantic life of the famous Flemish painter, Quentin Matsys (Metsys, Metseys), who was born in Leuven in 1466 and died in Antwerp in 1530. He is said to have been a blacksmith before he became a painter.

John O'Keeffe, an Englisli playright, published, in 1798, his play "The Blacksmith of Antwerp," which had been performed some ten years before. The play begins with arguments about wine that was to have been delivered to Herr Van Dipembeck's house. The characters, except for the blacksmith-artist, are entirely different from those in the other tales.

In 1839, Pierce Egan, the Younger, published his "Quintin Matsys, the Blacksmith of Antwerp." The date of the story is 1480 when Quentin was about 20 years old and his sister Blanche was 17. Quentin, an artist in ornamental iron work, abandons his trade and turns to painting in order to win Agnes Flors, the daughter of a famous Flemish painter who has declared that only a painter superior to himself shall have her. Quentin is the leader of an association of apprentices known as "The Redressers," and thus becomes entangled with the dreaded "Fehmgericht."

† Caroline Pichler's story, also entitled "Quentin Matsys," was not examined by me in the original German, for only a translation was available. (Beauties of German Literature as Exemplified by the Works of Pichler, Richter, Zschokke, and Tieck, Chandos Classics, London, ca. 1875.) It differs from all the other Quentin Matsys stories. In the beginning Quentin is spoken of as an artistic blacksmith who was unhappy in his love for Margaretta de Brindt, the daughter of a famous painter who lived on the opposite side of the street. They eventually marry, and in the last chapter there is reference to a son, John Matsys, who was also a painter.

In the story by "Fritz," Rose, the sister, is 16 years old in 1468, and Quentin a few years older. He-assaults his master, and when the latter goes for a magistrate to swear out a warrant, Quentin flees to the home of Anna Van Vriedt, the daughter of Baron Van Vriedt, and claims her protection. She dresses him in her brother's clothes, and when her father sees him, he thinks it is a nephew whom he has never seen. Having seen some of Quentin's paintings, he forgives all when he discovers his mistake and Quentin and Anna are married.

Anonymous. The Maiden Martyr. A Tale of New England Witchcraft. March 22, 1864.

Found in: Dime Library of Choice Fiction, no. 3.

This is Mrs. Mary Stevenson Gaskell's story, "Lois, the Witch," masquerading under a new title. It was originally published in London in 1859.

A. G. Piper. The Loyalist; or, The Channel Scourge. A Story of the Protectorate and Restoration. April 12, 1864.

Found in: Dime Library of Choice Fiction, no. 4; Pocket Novels, no. 16; New Dime Novels, no. 565.

A romance of the doings of the Earl of Sussex. This is an entirely different story from Irwin P. Beadle's American Novels (title varies. See Abbreviations under IAN), no. 19, by H. K. Browne.

See the comment on this tale under the biography of Piper.

Rose Kennedy. The Country Cousin. May 24, 1864.

Found in: Dime Library of Choice Fiction, no. 5; Waverley Library (quarto edition), no. 37; Waverley Library (octavo edition), no. 25.

She came from the country to New York City. A love story.

Herrick Johnstone. The Messenger; or, The Maid of Gresham Grange. June 21, 1864.

Found in: Dime Library of Choice Fiction, no. 6; New Dime Novels, no. 335; Pocket Novels, no. 254.

Lives and characters of the year 1651, when Charles II struck for his throne and lost all in the battle of Worcester.