New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-22

in literary art to occasion surprise at any OF his
occeutrci,e8 in that direction lilo possesses super
tluous fertility OF invention, as well command OF
dramatic effect but instead OF using Lis rare powers
IN the construction 81 natural scenes he strives by
audaCity Of design and cXtravaCauco Of cOlOrng 10
give reality to situations that lie beyond the bounds
az probable experience In this story, winch pre-
scn,s an emphatic Illustration both of the mentS
and defects ot his genius tho principal actors on the
stage awaken hut G,le personal sympathy. and
barely sustain the interest of the reader 10y per
potual appeals to HE curiosity. They must be re-
,ardod az fantastic studies Of character I',h.SS
trials of artistic strength rather than rs ialtIu
portrarrrs OF human nature in any oi the n''ui''u
phases which 10 presents TO the intelligent observer
Not one Of Them suggests even the iainte9t r'ih"-
iseencc Of actual 10. although the author h'soNs
no email degree OF peyverse ingenuity TO IeeIe "l9
cari,aturos from thc suspicion OF ahsur NY i"''
may be said 10 bear certain resemblance 10 sun
of IA, wonderful pictures in the famous Nn'st gar
Iery in Brussels. which excite astonlshment 'a'n',
tban admiration irlurc-siuC YOU with sense ol
protesouc mower rather than of aesthetic harmony,
Not only The motives of action, brt the lnolNmUal
traits are presented on distorted sc'Ie' WIN
sfrancc blending Of fact ard IMAGINATION when
rives fLc whole scene peculiar G.eaml-6c vague
ness and pcVleEity.
NJ, t-,,,i,,, of he novel Lady Bassott. is repre-
noes IN whom The intellect is swamped in the af-
fcc,;ors without the courage 10 say No! always get
ting bcvlIderad in "mush of concessions though
with an innate purity Of nature and childhkc in
experience Of evil. which preserve her intact at
heart from any more terrible temptation than
that cf engaging i'm stratagem for the benefit
Of the husband whom she adores. In spite
Of her iIsipioi.y. she IS described % 1as-
cinating woman. Her a'abaster complexion
Of Iorl rp1
hair! mot usually rcyk0ncd a sign Of feminine
softness'. and with her large dove-Hke eyes and
BLOOMING oval fa,o might have passed for classical
bcau.y IL her fan and rosy lips had not been too de-
cidcGlv Nrclo-SaNou fo~ the GrCcian type. Her tall
and slim figure was anything but commanding;
every gesture o. her supple. graceful frame breathed
womarly suHsoryeUce: she could not take uPher
scissors on thread Ter needle without looking round
with tirid ltsarciug look, as il 20 say, BY your
- leave T.is PARAGON of mec6-eycd lovei'ness was
manic. % S'r Charles Bassett reformed rake, who
had riya'.l cousin. one Richard Bassett, in win
ming ,La affections Of his bride, and in OBJ
tanning t,o Ua'eWal estate Of the latter by
means Of defeated entail. The night 10
inheritance, however, depended on the fact
cf i-.uc aol tie welded couple remaining
for some time clii5ces Sir Charles is thrown into
u state of morbid anxiety for the birth Of an heir
In default oi that event, the estate al his death
would urss into the hands Of his cousin Richard
whom De l.t d with lis whole heart, and who fully
returned TIA. ami IDLE sentiment. BroodinG over
wal to deemed the signal calamity Of lis life, his
health l,..ue iriphtfIlly impaired, and al length
he cNljrts ssoh marked symptoms OF insanity, that
o. tie instance d his cousin, who makes use oil n
legal process @, that effect. lie is thrown into pIi-
vate h..at.c asylum. Lady Bassct; falls into an
a5yss q G.l1.r Like the ancient Hebrew wifi"
sho alters tie perpetual cry, Give me chill
drou. or else I die" In this extremity a