The New York herald., 1871-09-25

CEsARINE DIETRICH. BY George sano. Translates
| Co., ISL, Svo. PIP. 1885,
This IS powerful, finely written, fascinating ye
| perpiexing story The plot Is simple, free iron
startling sensations, yet occasionally bafllng com
pletey the conjecJures OF the reader as to how th
characters are to be extrlcated from the last Rrav
situation. The book is full OF that subtle charac
| terizat0n which abounds in the novels Of thi
writer. AS in most of her books, there is little
description OF incident the chief interest centernp
in few Of the more strking Characters who are
made to draw their own portraits in large degree
by the play of dialogue and occasional corresponds
ence. The central figures in the scene are Cesarne
Dietrich. the heroine; an accomplished, beautiful
imperiOus and strikingIy intellectual young lady
her companion and teacher. Pauline de Vermont.
who is made to narrate the whole story
her nephew, Paul Gilbert strong we'll
balanced, well furnished intellect; Marguerite.
his pretty and good-hearted mistress, whom
, he afterwards married; the Marquis de Rivon-
mere, q polished and cultivated man of fortune,
lover OF Mile. Dietrich, and Mons Dietrich, pere,
who Is rich, retired merchant very proud of Cesa-
rlne. hts brilliant, self-willed daughter and very
much attached to her. There are half dozen
subordinate characters; butthe cnier interest GEN.
tres around these. The heroine Cesarine Dietrich)
Is one OF those extraordinary, Independent, nigh
80 much delights In painting. She Is represented as
possessing keenness Of perception or strength of
WILL grasp and comprehension OF all suojects
Wnen yet but mere child, such as almost never
rails TO the lot OF the matrest. Where In real life
does George Sand fnd such youthfui paragons Of
intellectual force among young w0mel of society as
she depicts In Cesarine Detrich9 Does she project
out Of her own experienced and accomplished
career the elements that make such charactersP
Think OF fashionabe young lady OF eighteen
talking to her governess after this fashion,
1--WE are too plebeian for yOu" she said, s.and
am not surprised at It for my own part find our
numerous family very insipid. They have, indeed,
tried to make distinctions among themselves and to
follow different careers; but think my young cousin
the painter as vulgar and as commercial In hIs IN
stncts as my old cousin the paper hanging manu-.
music, has no more Of the sacred fire than my John
Bull uncle who runs cotton factory. Ihave neard
tinctions between the various elements Of modern
society, and that working people talk upon art aud
science applied to industry. It seems to me that
none Of my dear relatives have any ideas at ALL and
! seek IN vain ABOUT me for something original or
inspired. MY mother knew better how to I'LL her
nails. II she admitted few Of our family who now
surround us she also drew in others who
society. When papa allows me to return to society
without going 09t Of hts house you shall see a col.
ngwpeople Who do not come to % approve and ap
plaud, but to discuss and appreciate true artists
real great ladies' travellers poets diplomats poll
shall be placed IN circumstances which Will reuuire
tact attractive conversational powers. real know
ledge and solid talents, and what have failed to
have thus far fixed opinions Let us work, nv
dear friend; make me work. My mother contented
herself s with being & charming woman; but believe
elegant diamonds, fine tresses and beautiful shoul.
ders. must exhibit nobler spirit and charac-
ter worthy OF study Let us work. NV father Will
be pleased, and he will learn yet that the battle OF
life is easy to one who has been prepared for It,
even without the help Of struggle and privaton at
home"
or similar high-reasoned and sef.consci0us anat-
omy the book Is full; yet the interest never nags
The characters are played or against one another
with such consummate art their various opposite
qualities are so skifuy brought out that the reader
is fascinated into the close pursuit Of their develop
ment. The great secret o, George Sands power as
novelist lies in her ability to delineate character
Every person has certain intense individuality.
In her metaphOrical analysis she 10 the most sub
tie and far-reaching Of all writers OF fiction. Yet
these seemingly elaborate effects reached with
little expenditure Of effort. With few light and
mastery strokes the finished result is before u.s.
She has the genius to delineate character by q
phrase, and to reveal an i0iOsy by an epitet
And there is uniteJ with all this power O certain
pitiless realism which prevents her from ever be-
coming as 80 many novelists do, morbid sensa-
tional or Mighty and romantic.
Here Is bit Of philosophy from Cesarine Die.
trich treatment of her lover:-
TWO days afterward the Marquis brought fine
saddle horse, which he mad promised Cesarine to
procure for her. He had kept II in his stable for
month to try 1t ana train it. lie would keep it for
himself, he said, If it did not please her.
Cesarine ran to put on her riding dress and then
mounted lhe horse, which she rode admirably In
N. de Rivonnere, who had been watching her
with rapture, 'This horse Is an exquisite machine:
eut he IS too highly trained; he has neither wIli
Keep him; he bores me with his tameness.'
There's very simple way" said the Marquis,
Orget little OF what he has been taught by turning
lin into pasture l will agree to make him more
'0h, It isn't the lack of fire complain or He has
10 originality. 1t IS with horses as with human
,eings; education stunts natures which have no,
which may possibly Kin me, to q wellregulated ma.
hlne which makes me as sleepy as ITSELF"
The alc0nquering intelligence of this remarkable
erolne has one fatal drawback. She is deficient at
he last the moral slde and those she attempts to
ue and mould to her will and her desires rise su-
eriOr to her.
The lesson OF the novel Is wholesome one, and 1t
J unexceptionable on the side of morality. The |
translator has done his work well, and this tale !
7hich Is among the latest Of Its ustrous authors
(havlng appeared q serial In the |
'ecue des Deur Mondes within two years. Is dis |
ngulshed by the graceful and flowing style which |
light have been, but Is not spoiled in the render
~ into English.
ARIs UNDER THE Commune; OR, THE RED Re- |
BELLION OF 1871. second reign OF terror murder |
and madness: Bv L. p. Brockett, M. u. Illustrated.
New York: II. 8. GoOdspeed co., svo. {; PIP. 10.
This book hardly redeems the promise of the pre-.
ace. Starting out with complaint Of the ICON. |
used and contradictory reports and letters In the
ally papers concerning the insurrecuon in Parisn |
holds forth the purpose OF supplying "a clear and
uccinct account" Of the whole struggle, "freed |
rom contradictions and discrepancies" and stating
he objects Of the anarchists, 'what they wanted,
r for what they were fghting." The author
cts out in his WORK without giving any intrOduc.
ory account, however succnct, OF the origin Of the
'ar, or OF the rapidly succeeding events which |
rougnt about the surrender OF Paris and the reign
the Commune. This Is capital omission. as
othing can be more important TO the general
sader, for whom alone this summary history Is
repaired, than to start out with the great outlines
the eventful years history that led to the Com.