The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-08


kings officer. and is arrested rs a leader of the
mob. The last of the elder branch of the Tran
somes is also killed in the tumult, and the pro-
perty must pass from the younger branch, If an
heir of the Byclifes survives. While Jermyn lis
nrpssino tins circumstance on Harolds atten-
ton the latter, through another source, learns
the story of Esther; and, after family con-
sultation. Miss BycliTe is invited TO Transome
Court. Here a few weeks pass joyously away,
and vague rumor floats along the countryside
that the halfcentury-old difficulty between By
Slife and Transome is to meet peaceful solu-
ton in marriage.
When, however, the day of trial of Felix Holt
comes round, the aspect of things changes.
There had grown up between Esther and the
young radical an affection which, though OBJ
scured by circumstances, now manifested itself
in ardent love. Miss Byclitfe employed all her
influence with Harold to secure his acquittal
She even presented herself in the witness-boX
to thesurprise OF every one; and when the verdict
OF guilty was pronounced, 1t was her earnestnesS
which led the country gentlemen OF allparties to
unite in forwarding to Government petition for
pardon. Transome who had acted unsuspi-
ciously throughout, and still believed that Miss
BycifTe was free sought her hand only to be
refused. The sequel IS in part painful one
Harold, unmindful of his mothers entreates
was relentless in his conduct towards Jermyn
when the latter, stung by insults and the dread
of legal inqui-ition, retorted before a crowd OF
the gentry with an open avowa of what had
hitherto been a doubtful scandal. The lawyer
with whom he had quarrelled was his own
father! The gloom of this cruel discovery is
only partly lighted up by the generous renuncia-
ton by Miss Bycliffe of all claims on the estate
Harold Transome, of course quits Treby-Maena
for the continent, and Esther marries Felix Holt
From this synopsis it will be seen that there
is nothingin its plot of sufficient excitement to
warrant the attention il is attracting, or ac-
count for the unusual favor being bestowed
1t Is because of the nice blending Of the char
acters their consistency, their rational conver-
satlon and rational actions, that we read of
them as though they were real acquaintance,
and feel as though they we're indeed familiar to
our sight We can picture each one, and under
stand their train of thought
1t is too often we feel called upon to complain
OF work in which sufficient care has not been
bestowed upon the style. But the reverse is the
fault with Felix Holt. We have cause to regret
that such an elaborate revision was made and
SuCu SJuuGu SGulGuCG5 5GCuIcu. IL gives W
some parts stilted appearance, which may be
mistaken for atlectation. This is particularly
noticeable in the opening chapters. The utmost
elaboration is resorted to, so much so, indeed,
that peTspcuity is often sacrificed to sound.
For instance, we are at a loss to understand the
following sentence, describing country view:-
But everywhere the bushy hedgerows
wasted the land with their struggling beauty,
shIouded the grassy borders OF the pastures
with Cat-kiued hazes, and tossed their long
blackberry branches on the corn fields. Per-
haps they were white with May, or starred with
pale pink dog-roses; perhaps the urchns we're
already nuttmg among them, or gathering the
pleLteous crabs. 1t was worth the journey only
to see these hedgerOWs, the liberal homes Of
unmarkelable beauty-Ot the purpe-blossomed
ruby -belred nIghtshade, of the wild convolvu-
lue climbing and spreading in tendrilled strength
TIL ii made great cIrtaln OF pale-gTeen hearts
and white trumpets OF the many tubeG honey
sucEle, which, In its most delicate fragrance,
hid charm more subtle and penetrating than
beauty. Even II it we're WInIer the hedgero VS.
showed their coral, the scarlet haws, the deep
CRIMSON hips, with lingering brown leaves to
make a resting place Tor the jewels of the hoar-
frost. Such hedeerows were often ds tall as the
laborers' cottages dotted along the lanes or
clustered into a small hamlet, their little dlngy
windows telling, like thick filmed eyes, Of
nothing but darkness witnin."
Now what does all this mean? What is such
ture it according to the description. 1t would
be bushy beauty, abounding with the follow
lug Plants which the reader may never have
seen growing luXuriantly together without the
hand of man interfering hazels blackberries,
corn, dog-roses nut-bearing trees, crab apples,
rubY-berried nightshade, cOnvOlvulus, honey
suckle, and scarlet haws. Really, we should
judge we were in some botanical garden,
and not within an uncultivated field of
old England. Then, again, what is meant
by the dlngy windows" of the hedge
rows, which, like thick-ilmed eyes" told 'of
nothing but darkness withn?" A few such
sentences would be too eXhausting a puzzle.
We are thankful there are few such. From this
it will be seen what we mean by over-elaboration.
Too much care had been bestowed, and that the
success of the work was most dear to the
authors heart Is proved by her leaving Eng
land to escape the critics. Surely, after such a
welcome, she may return and fear no adverse
criticism.
We do not intend to particularize the charac
teIs. Of them all, we think that Harold Tran
some is probably the most distinct, not except
ing Felix himself. Felix had one fatal pecularity,
and that was an undying anupathy to collars or
cravats. When we consider the developments
in regard to paper collars we do not wonder at
Felix if he had a desire TO leave his neck
beautifully bare. As, no EeveT, the scene is laid
thirty-fve years ago, we fear it must be inn
puted to eccentricity rather than discernment
But then he was a radical, and radicals do not
wear collars. There is a radical Philadelphia