Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-12-18
NEW BOOKS
E" opportunity"


TIM. j. the title of new novel, written by
tbc author of % Emily Chester = book
which has been generally recognized as
showing unusual power. both in its dclinea-
rions IF character and it's analysis of the af-
,cctious Emily Chester, as well as
..Onportunitv.'' deals with what is, perhaps,
one phase of life among persons of consider
,ble intellect and strong affections, especially
IN the wealthicr or more cultivated classes Of
society. In both these stories, es,-heart-histo-
rios we prcsunie the author would call them
tho course Of love, whether true or fal SC,
d,.cn t run entirely smooth Husbands and
wives are not nearly SO much in love with
zach other sS they are with some other " af-
fnitv. and while they make show. some
r rho time Of faithfulness to their mar
ris-c vows, it is quite apparent all the time
fhar they are in an unwilling bondage,
1heir affections continually heating against
-rc bars Of their prison house and not un-
requently breaking through the restraints
" c9nscience and propriety. 1t happens
t.o. d. often az otherwise, that the Z" affni-
-,t more worthy, and often are less worthy,
than the lawful partners whose places they
usurp. =
There are two objections urged against thie
class Of novels. viz That they are not true
r. nature or if true, they are not healthy
in their moral influence. We presume. how
ever. the latter objection Is the ono chiefly
relied upon. inasmuch as it il quite probable
that love and duty do not always. in the i'll
assorted matches of this world. 20 in com
pany- But there is much truth which it car
hardly be profitable 70 public or private NOR
alitv 10 proclaim upon the house-tops, cs-
pecially if the error faithfully described
while ostensibly shown TO be wrong, vet
fights it, battles 80 bravely and chivalrouslv
IS 10 win respect. There is no absolute ne
rcssitv of writing fiction al all but if one
Is Ii he written, we hold it to lie the authors
duty. while being true - nature, to :,
choose characters and incidents ~ to teaeI
nr false or mawkish. or dangerous -enti
mert That some marriages are not happy
undoubtedly true. and this i reasor
enough why marriage vows should not bC
hastily taken. and it may be reason why
an author should portray the infelicity ol
such marriages. as a warning against incon-
-i4e-areIv "a kim, such vow.. but no GOOD
can come from describing this rather une-
..ual war of love and duty in such way a.
10 keep the readers svmpathies on the wrong
side .. Emily Cbestcr- and :. onrortr-
nitv are. If seems tn u,. obnoxious to this
criticism. and. while in fact Observing all
rho duties or :, virtuous Life. are continuallv
maxine, rho reader .,.ro1,tbi.e with the char
.....-s 7rI,;,.l. sor,o+i,,cs y. ,,er;I,nsI, raar
+b. 1ot,,-aIIa land whore incIination u the
,.-1,. -o.,.,,,i,.1 Ia,,-
.o-,,~-.,,i-,,, ,;,l. r,,,,,t, ,,,,-
- vta-ar,- ,Ia,- he aid IF r.. r,,,tnraInoss
-he ability Of the writer cannot be denied
l. has the fault of many well-written sto-
rios. however. in not making the characters
distinctly individual. So that they are recoc-
7isabIe by what they -av and do rather
than bv heinz, announced bv name 1t is. No
do,h- the HIGHEST achievement of Genius
and few bors r.,,I, IT. to create as il We're
: character that hcnceforth has eeparat,
;,5ivid,aIitv and If may NJ triumnb enouoI
s,r +f,i. ,,+b.- -, b..,., written an interest
,-.. b,ot r. which tbe heroine is \ brilliant
.ntbor and tbe ber, i fno-looking fellow
,-irb whom all the voner, in the story arc in
l.vs andwbo i. evidently. unworthy the love
AMI ,n,. woman of the nersons introduced
.ro man ,narries because he thinks it time tc
.ot,le IN life and bi~ wife parries for no.
sition nei+bcr ,rastin,, anv affection on the
.,bor. tbe ladv-kiIler IF the story is dis
,.o-ed n IN ,nnrb thc -a,ue way anothe,