New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-06-06
MISS cARY's BISHOPS soy.

THE BISHOPS son. 4 yoygt Ey ALICE ClRr l2ro. pp &c
g. W. Cilieioa 4 Go.
The incidents and pcrsonages Of this story arc
drawn nom the experience Of every day humble lie In q
country village. The hero, Samuel Dale, Is common la
borcr o a farm, rustic, homespun uuoouh individual,
who beneath "a coarse exterior oouccals a susceptible
heart and certain tendency 10 ideal aspirations not
actly In keeping with his rude environment. lie natur-
ally enough falls in love with aprety damse In the neigh
borhood whose good gacc hc secures by saving her life
when exposed a deadly peril, namely, that Of being
bitten by yenomous snake, which had crcpt near Co her
unawarcs and whose head the brave Samuel snaps OF
before could say jack Robinson. The two lovers be-
immensely attached 10 each other; nothing but pur
pie aud gold Il seen IN their horizon visions OF earthly
bliss float before their dJzzed eyes, although the bcaui
ful maiden finds rival for the affections of Samuel IA her
own moher but the enchanted couple remain mutually
faithful aud true until length the devil comes between
them the shape OF Methodist minister the Bishops
SON." who Ia the d. gse OF angel cher!ahes the pas
sions OF satyr The craft and yIllGiny Of
this smoothaced sweet-tonguod clerical scoundrc are
placed In striking contrast with the simplicity and good
faith Of Samuel, WHO from the first wins upon the respect
Of the reader and In the course Of the plot develops
qualities which warmly commend him 10 their sympathy
and admiration He Is constantly placed In the most try
ing situations. ~ is sorely beset every side, his repu
talon made suffer from unjust suspicious, he be-
comes the subject of village eer and deson, his heart
j. stung 10 the by the weakness ana perdy OF It's
idol; but he always comes ont bright always SHOWS
higher aud noblor traits OF character and at last sacr
fees his dearest earthly hopes to delicate aud manly
sense OF honor The Bishops SON., too is excellent
study In its way. Ills alectaon, his pomposity his
pucre vanity wildly illustrated, and gradually pre-
pare for the disclosure OF his want % principle No one
is surprised IN his when the VOLTS make their
appearance from the sleeps clothing but the downfall
of poor little Margaret has ground in her anecedents
and was necessary to reveal the depth OF baseness IN
her betIayer. To be sure, he makes her the com
pensation OF marTiage-miserabe enough under the
circumsanccs-but his turpitude might have been dis
played without accomplishing her ruin. The finale Of
Samuel Dale is In accordance with his character his
last appearance upon the carpet IL that OF n
resolute, devoted, selfsaerifcing preacher OF the
gospel who instead OF becoming disguised with religion,
by the famy OF OF It's professors is sofened by d
vine grace aud from the bitterness Of his experience reaps
a rich harvest OF Christian virtue The subordinate per
sonages of the story Mother Fairfax, Old Whefoek and
his wife, Prosper Allprlcc, NJ d., Uncle Charley Gay
feather Father Goodman, drawn with free pencil,
often extravagan sometimes grotesque in its cooring
but with some natural and vigorous touches. In con-
sucting the plot the author Is entitled to the credit OF
originality and considerable ingenuity but In the man
agencn of the details she shows less artistic skill than
certain stran of fancy and often places her char
acters In situations which make the judicious Grevc,
and excite the ridlcule Of the uncharltabc.