The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-09-21

lieutenant for twelve and the master for six months
in the common Jail of Exeter
-S0O-
LADY ALICE OR THE New UNA-A' Novel,
1t is not often that the daily press can take time to
critcise a new novel, especiallyin an age when
almost every day volumes upon volumes are sent
forth to the public, and in a country where real life
is so busy and varied as in ours But the Lady
Alice deserves more than a passing notice at our
hands for two reasons it is written by an Ameri-
can, and it belongs to style of literature in which
it was presumed that Americans must necessa-
rily fail.
The book cannot be considered a failure, for it
exctes interest and absorbs attention. But it can
hardly be called good novel; 1t is too statuesque
in its eharacter-not sufficiently dramadc-to be
put by the side of Ivanhoe, or Rob Roy, or Kenil-
worth. The second title "The New Una," is
more correct and descriptive than "The Lady
Alice" The heroine, as we'll as all the personages
in the book, are far more allegorical than human
much more like the personifcations of Spenser
than the flesh and blood creations of Shakespeare.
Accordingly, all the scenes in the book present the
appearance we so often remark in second-rate
statues and pictures-a stTaining after something
striking and effective. Thus in one of the opening
scenes Clifford is made TO save the life Ofthe Lady
Alice under circumstances peculiarly picturesque
and pictorial The cove in which the heroine is bath
ing, the smooth waters, bright sand, and overhang
ing rocks are described with particularly which
would enable painter to transfer them to canvas
without the least aid from the inventive faculties
The whole Of the first interview between the hero
and heroine is in the same style. There is little
talking between them, and yet they seem to be
pretty well acquainted when they separate. Their
by words-nore after the manner Of the ballet than
after that of the legitimate drama. As the author
himself observes, Clifford and Lady Alice look and
behave much more like Apollo and Venus than like
Romeo and Juliet. They are mythological-not
human-in their character and conduct.
The inaptitude of the author for the development
of human character, may also be observed in the
person of Madame de Sch6nnberg. When she first
appears the reader is led to suppose that she is Pc
culiarly hard and intriguing in her nature-one of
those lady-adventurers, halfgamber halECyprian,
sometimes met with at the Spas OF Germany or at
the crowded hotels of Switzerland. But she turns
out TO be something different. Instead of being a
duper she appears oftener as one of the duped-the
victim and not the scourge of society. We cannot
help thinking that the authors idea of Madame de
Sch0nnberg's nature was changed after the first
conception. If not, he certainly has incorrect no.
tions of human nature. No recognized theory of
psychology could reconcile the Madame de Sch0nn-
berg of the mountain hotel with the Maddalena of
Venice, or with the Madame de Sch6nnberg of
Glentworth Castle.
There is also another mystery in the life of Ma
dame de Sch0nnberg, or the Lady Glentworth as
she finally becomes. How is she ever cured of her
love-for it can be called nothing else-for Frede-
rick Clifford and made satisfied with the affection
of the seemingly more ardent but really shallOWer
passiOned elder brother! To all appearances moth
ing more than the au-potent will of the younger
Clifford is required in order to transfer the CEe of
highly passionate and imaginative woman from
one person to another. The idea is absurd, and
beats all the wonders of mesmerism and clair
voyance.
But the strangest thing in the book is the friend
ship of Clifford for the young English painter at
Rome. The latter is none other than the Lady
Alice herself in the disguise Of a mana disguise
which, by a series of accidents and msfortunes,
she has been forced to assume and maintain. Cliff
ford supposes that his mistress lost at sea some
eighteen months or two years before he meets her
at Rome in mans attire. He is struck by the re-
semblance of the gifted painter to his lost Alice
forms violent friendship for the eccentric Fiz.
allan; lives under the same roof with the distressed
artist for several weeks, and yet never, for mo-
ment suspects what others have discovered. that
the young and feminine looking Fitzallan is none
other than the Lady Alice Stuart The author at.
tempts to eXpain the phenomenon but we admit
that his psychology is too subtle for our understand
ing. Clifford is described as a man of very clear
and piercing perception. He is remarkable for
taking in at glance what it required long obserya
ton in others to discover. His understanding is
said to be remarkably calm and free from the agia
lions Of passion. Yet the author tells us that the
idea Of Alice's death was so fixed in her lovers
mind that he never once dreamed or hoped she
might yet be alive. A man of Cliaord's mind
would never have formed such conclusion from
such imperfect premises. Nor would a conviction.
however firm, have so thoroughly obscured the per-
cephons of such an intellect as Clifford's. The
author goes on to explain that Clfford's mind was
just in the state when friendship for one who re-
minded him of Alice was the most agreeable feel
ing he could possibly entertain, We admit our
inability to understand such dramatic incidents
and such doubledistilled metaphysical reflections.
II we had the space or the time we might 90 on
developing at some length our general ideas OF the
work We shall only say that the descriptions Of
scenes, palaces, and other works Of art are peeu-
liarly fine. As for the religious tendencies Of the
bonk we cap saw hut littla--Darhsns fhn Tsss H.