The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-01

feeling, impetuous action, etc. Josephine
Churchill is another Blanche Ingram in
identical situations. The two stories cul.
inmate in the dusky, forbidden room, then
the fight of the heroines, both find refuge
in the parsonage, and tragic deaths in both
instances remove obstacles to the ultimate
happiness of the principals. Although the
intractable, sullen gentleman, possessed of
some dark memory, or hopelessly entangled
by Fate,is not new creation, (indeed be is as
inevitable in most novels, nowadays, as the
" solitary horseman of James,) still the
character of Rutledge is drawn consistently
and skillfully. With the foregoing slight sum-
mary of the points of resemblance, ali analogy
ceases; for in construction and conduct Rut-
ledge differs as widely from Jane Eyre, as
the Lady of Lyons from Romeo and Juliet.
1t has not the wonderful imagination, schol.
arly strength, boldness of thought, nor the
stamina and pungency of its great English
prototype. But it has the same directness,
intense continuity of feeling, suggestive
force, and supreme novelty. 1t has more
fearful pathos, and the same ''unity and to-
tality of interest" Where Jane Eyre verges
a little on the romantic and improbable,
Rutledge is eminently natural Itportrays
what Hazlitt calls the common places of
the heart" with truthfulness, delicacy and
completeness. Every day events are invested
with passion but it is not exaggerated to
mawkishness or grossness. There are no
"soft" scenes elaborated to foolishness, but
the general relations of life have the natu.
raj tenderness and earnestness of real, true
character. You recognize the probability
of every incident, the beauty of every de-
scription, as essential to the story, and not
thrown in for ''ine writing" There is no
lingering, no extraneous sentiment, no tire
some depression, but the regular unfolding
of event after event, ushering in, with the
headlong sweep of destiny, the heart.rending
catastrophe. The style is simple and fluent,
idiomatic and flexible, yet occasionally care>
less and slovenly. 1t has the naturalness
and vivacity which spring from knowledge
of the world, and moreover it is so true to
the esprit of society, that it cannot be too
highly commended in this particular.
Some persons might complain of the
straight-forwardness and railroad rapidity
of the story, but the majority will admire
the seemingly unstudied and impassioned
rush, which has the charm of improvisation.
Besides it is strongly imbued with the tragic
element of fatality. From the miniature to
the forgotten bombazine, you are impressed
with its resistless influence, and you see the
unfailing retribution of human fraility.
Nemesis strikes home in the second genera
tion, and direfully too. Poor Victor is the
finest, perhaps the most natural character
in the book. His gallantry, devotion,
troubled heart, and sad death leave haunt
ing, fearful sympathy. His last letter is
thrilling. and its profound pathos recalled
that of Julie, in Rousseau's New Eloise-
"rrop heureuse d'acheter an prix de ma vie
le droit de Palmer toujours sans crime, ct
de te le dire encore une fois avant que je
meursW The masquerade scene is so fines
ly described, that know of only one parallel
to it, in my reading, and that is in the
"Collegians," which is one of the most
Affecting and beautiful novels in the English
language. While Jane Eyre is a sternly
conscientious, almost perfect woman, the
nameless heroine of Rutledge, by her curl
osity, jealousy, deceit, and Irritation, causes
indirectly the death of the man who loves
her, and the misery of another whom she
loves. And do we dislike her for the faith
full picture of womanly emotions and weak
ness How many prefer the stainless
Beatrice of Dante's sad heart, to the erring,
doomed, yet tearfully human Francesca.
Isn't Helen more winning than Andromache,
and Magdalen more interesting than Mar
tha? We revere upright, impeccable NOR
tails, and consider excellence the "one thing
necessary" but that which is kept intact
does not excite our human sympathies, like
that which is gained through struggle and
repentance. The religious sentiment of
Rutledge is strongly defined, yet unobtru~
sively Christian; and seems to be the gen.
uine expression of inborn enthusiasm, as
distinguished from usual mere cant.
RutIedge, then, suggests Jane Eyre, as
Miss Heron recalled Rachel. Her intense
naturalness and impassioned sensibilities won
the heart, while the intellect, marble beauty,
and Athenian grace Of the other captivated
mind and imagination, and embodied ro-
nance, history, and the dreams of antiquity.
Both artistes were alike to be admired in
their different perfection; they stood on
common ground, and were influenced by
the same natural emotions and motives; yet
their appeal and effect were entirely differ
ent. The same is true of these two books,
and here I leave them to their merits.
ETHEL.