New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-25
BOSTON.


RosroN Feb. 23.-No little stir is destined to
~ made in the reading and talking and preaching world
ep the opening chapters Of Charles Reades new story
make their appearance in print, coming out slmu'"'
ouslv on both sides Of the Atlantic Charles Reaue s
man rather in the habit of making sensauon' He
Is audacious combative, self-roliant. ana iona
AZ a fuss He apparently likes TO nave HIS
hooks talked about not alone their literary qualities
but for some salient point which IS sure to strike the
public attention, II IL also shocks 10 some extent
the public taste. The aggressive points OF "rinllh
Caunt" the assaults made upon il from the pulpit ana
mart o. the press the furious counter attacks OF the
anthor upon critics whom he chose 10 call "prurent
prudes will be universally remembered think there
Is very fair prospect that "A Terrible Temptation"
will arouse n hurricane beside which the gale over
"Grinith Gaunt" viii seem a gentle commoton OF
And IL seems well that TRIBUNE readers should
know a little in advance Of what is coming, that they
may take in sail necessary. and make fit preparation
for meeting the storm in proper trim.
As 20 what il peculiar in the story, 1t may he very
briefly indicated without resassing ON the narrative IL
self which II il the nOvess right To be the hfSt 10 I'M
fold prominent characteristic foremost character In
interest aud importance far can be judged nom
the early numbers-is prosperous London courtezan'
carefully studied and wildly presented from the me-
SIZE Is not pathetic Nancy Skies, not repentant Mag
dalen not an full lesson in any whatever she Is
the Anonyma of whom the journals have told us
young beautiful, coarse, meducated, vigorous woman
formerly a slrimp-gr the coast who has come up 10
the metropolis as the mistress OF one nan,
e. become rapid succession the mistress Of Others anu
possibly Of more than at time. she lives III INC
house elegantly furnished she drives Gashng ponies lh
The Park sets the fashion there and has vruous women
fooviug I'm the wake OF her team, Chafs the drivers
and cahmen She makes no secret of her position IN any
way She like trooper, spells Ike onii'' anu
dresses like "a duchess She shans fits, ana sells Her
lover for an annuity and team. She plets ana con
spires and the is left at the end Of every number
FL White heat Of anxiety to what she Will do next
80 much a. 10 the matter which win give offcnse. As
10 the manner j. the manner of Charles Redde lheIe
Is no apology, hint Of any apology being necessary
a. to the scenes and persOnageS 10 which the reader is
introduced There is no o,tentatious drawing Of moral,
there are no tears Of the author the sad things
which this world contains There is no warmth OF
description whHeyer nothing To inname the Imagination
Of ANYBODY Indeed It Is rather an idosynciasy with
MI Reade, which do not know as his critics have
noticed that he reserves his descriptions for ms
N5irtuous women As far the Rhoda Somerset OF "A
Terrible Temptation" is concerned there is the everest
realism, throughout the advance sheets which nave rea"
the woman is rough vulgar hch!e, tcmp'S'uouS D"'
never seductive or allurng.
~ n may he taken FOR granted, as have said, that
all this is certain 10 make prodlglous outcly Inc
question If may put il, OF the propnety OF impTo-
,tictv in literature, is always open. and always de-
hated with asperty. Every age and every language has
it. own standard and IL may almost be said that every
reader has bis rule. II is impossible 10 draw any
definite line. Certainly not going TO shut ont the
enIur We have Hetty Sorre, and Nancy Skies,
and Hester Prynne, and Becky Sharpe, not 20 come
down 20 Nngclc and Cherokee sal who certainly cannot
he spared from literature. How shall build our fence
20 as % keep an these uSidcl There j. Mr.. Anthony
Troopc's last book but OneOr has he written two, or
perhaps three within the last six months Title
Vicar Of Bullhampt0n," deals. as boldly as MI
ToIope deals with anything, with fallen woman OF
the lower orders and the difficulty attendngany scheme
of reclamation. Mr.. Shirley BrOokss latest and think
one of best mistress Of the hero living with her
children at all ashamed Of her position, I'm St Johns
Wood and the whole story turns the difficulty of pen
siouug her OF, that ne marriage OF the hero and
heroine may result in m disturbed happiness And yet
II is clear enough that Mr. Charles Rcadcs effort viii
excite pOher which none Of these books have created
and this not only because he Is Charles Reade and the
most popular novelist living 5ut because De does
The doubtful things i'm peculiarly aggressive way so
that the most cOmpl0ccut cannot help being shocked
little and those all fa>tidol- feel that they have good
cause for complaint.
And having said Tins mu b, cannot quit this subject
without saying, for myself, that / am sorry Charles
Roade should select such theme, believing that he de-
bcracly lowers his grade artist while lie isyet caa
HE of advancing it, The sphere Of art is big enough
without making necessary for any one 10 daDbe III Tie
dirt for drt's sake II &, al well for an author TO
ay that does not wrto for bows and girls but nova
DAYS BOYS and girls read everything and il is surely not
the least element n tle great fame OF Dickens and
ThacR,ray that neither OF them wrote line that their
daughters might not read without harm. II
is % be remembered, also, that a writer hold
Ing the rank of Charles Readc must be himself
solely responsible. He las conquered hearing. No
publisher has the right or tire power sit in judgment
on what his PEN with the intent To suppres
Im Tho interest Of taste or morality. The novelist must
bear tie burden of his acts The editor OF Tie
Saturday Bericr has equal responsibility with his
unknown contributor the vivid picture of Auonyma
printed i'm that journal The manager who brought out
"Fomo.a- Was as much party TO its character as alr
BOuG,iuit. But u Ar. Beale works the mateIl. ot
Auonyma and Foruo.a into for serial publication,
The criticism SHOULD justly fan him alone, since Ius
great enough Co place whatever lc writes before
the whole public.
MINOR LIBRARY NATTERs
Messrs Roberts Brothers, iu addition to the books
announced la,t week, wiz have an edition u a nov
novel by the French writer's, ErcIInann-C hatriaI
titled T,e Forest House" These authors now an
tic rage in London and lalfa-lozen publishers are run
ming race, with their books. The Rev John Weiss
volume, Tie American Religion" though made up
mainly az lcruD- is f material worked over TO hca
complete and sylnucrc, work OF its chapter heads
are fun Of suggestion: The Divine Imnluence" An
American Atoucment =" False and True Praying ;""A
Conscience for Truth " Consistency 10 an Ideal 20 Tho
American soldier" Ne-r-. Roberts Brothers hear from
london that boolbousc there has issued lirated ed
mons OF Miss Louisa Ncott- books, absriy remaining
lie second part oi Little Women as Good Wives,'
and 80 ha, iaid itself liable toa suit which may deter
mine something new 6, he r3hjs OF AmercanauthOls
abroad, and tlc copyright question generally.
The only bool. which lee q shepard have added TO
their announcements since my last resume is volume
at foreign travel y Mr. Curtis Guild The editor % The
Boston CoDmeyciei Erttj.a keen practical observer
and agreeable writer. ia. material or the book l@. Ma
ono publication iu the c,umus Of Nh Guilds Journal
It's title will bc cover tine Ocean; or, scenes and sight,
a. Foreign Lands
Tbc announcement is made that Mr. James J. Fields
will make a first app..au.c Oi, the lecture platform