The New York herald., 1873-12-14

of Lord Lytton and the numerous highly contrast
i've themes to which he applied himself, there runs
through all his prose fctions peculiar homogene-
ity OF treatment which marks them as his own.
We do not refer now TO the mere mechanical SUB
division into books and chapters, though this is
popularity found in almost all his novels, II not all.
We allude rather to certain tender philosophical
tnge in which political TINS are frequently alb
sorbed, and which. rdculed by critics OF more
practical cast OF mind as the very bathos OF The
True, the Beautiful ana the Good, still survives in
his latest composition, and lends 1t an idealizng
beauty that the romances other English writer
can Justly boast OF possessing Lord Lytton Tor
instance, does not philosophize after the manner
OF George Eliot. Beautiful and opposite and ex-
quisite as his reflections are they are never
marked by the sturdy grandeur OF conception and
the broad and picturesque simplicity OF expression
that frequently characterize the author of 'Mid-
dlcmarch.n And they are as far from being the re-
nections OF a man OF commonplace mould, carefully
educated and placed from childhood in the centre OF
daintily refined surroundings The philosophy Is
such as would naturally be nurtured by one OF
noble and poetic intellect who, while not only ia
the world, but OF the world, is also above and be-
yond the world. whose spiritual organization pre-
sents two sides-one OF which is in intense sympa-
thy with earthly work and earthly pleasure, while
the other hungers and thrsts after those tender
idealzarions impossible TO be made actual here.
which his hope transfers 10 another time and
place. he knows not when or where and in whose
objective existence he would tain believe.
.The Parislans," which has been publishing for
the last IL months in BacG,cood's Magazine, is
near enough completion to justify few remarks
with regard to the purpose OF the author and the
manner IN which he has carried that purpose out.
In .Kenelm Chilngy'' the obvious intention was
TO depict the processes through which young
man OF finely fibred nature and more than ordi-
nary mental endowments passes in becoming
weaned from impossible ideals, to be brought
face TO face with the sad and imperious actuals
OF life. With what power and grace, with what
noble intuitlons and deep learning and wide
experience, with what wit and sparkle
and fancy, those processes were painted,
every one who has read "Kenelm Chill
lingy'-that is to say, every one who was worthy
to read it-already knows. In 'The Parisians" the
scope Of the author has been much wider, though,
perhaps, his aim has not been so single or so
clearly defined. The scenes, with the exception OF
few little episodes not essential to the general
now of the story are laid in Paris. The date Is
1869 and the ensuing year or two. The characters
are very numerous and are, to a certain extent
illustrative OF the sentiments OF the three great
lists and the republicans-by which France was
at that time and is at present distracted. large
portion OF the book-too large portion to please
the average reader-is occupied by political discus
sions, in which the claims OF the legtimistes and
orleanistes are alternately canvassed and the pre-
rogative or the Comte de Chambord contrasted
with that Of the Comte de Paris La Droite and
la Gduche have almost as much argument de-
voted TO them in this singular cher d'Rucre as II
II were political pamphlet instead OF contempo-
raneous romance, and moderate republicans who
venerate NJ. Theirs jostle radicals who believe in
The same picturesque intermixture
is introduced among legitimlstes, Orleanistes
and imperalstcs, and the reader has the priv
ilege OF nearing those who give allegiance to
Louis Napoleon exchanging views with the adher-
ents OF the man whose proud fidelity to the white
nag of his ancestors has gained for him the dis
tinction among his enemies, OF having his name
spelled Henry Roy, in satirical reference to his
antique bias. The one class which finds no place
in the Partisan political world to which Lord
Lytton introduces us is the bdt0ns fOttdnts-those
who have no political opinions whatever or who
are liable 10 have them changed with every pass
ing breeze.
The political complexion thus given to the tale
does not prevent charming traits OF characteriza-
ton and incident from being distinctly felt and
seen. A plot almost as complicated, though not SO
ingenious, as that in ''What WIN He DO With It''
shows its roots at the surface just often enough to
remind the reader that the author is as much in
earnest IN the sequence OF his incidents and the
development OF his characters he is in his por-
traiture OF an epoch in the existence or France
that will live in history as OF the most agonz-
ing OF all the experiences OF that nuctuatng
nation. That gentle and ldealizing philosophy to
familiar but not the less fascinating glamour over
the pages. There Is one popularity or style, also,
which might have been expected from writer SO
fastldious as Lord Li tton was in his rhetoric and
from whicn,th reader viii remember, his "Kenem
CnIllingly" was wholly free. This consists in the
abundant use Of French words and phrases The
chapters are studded with them not so avishly,
indeed as 10 make the reading OF the book a pain
TO those unfamiliar with that language hut in sum
cient abundance TO suggest, when contrasted with
the English purity OF style OF the authors other
recent works, that this persistent use OF Gallo
id.oms, applied with Messonierkn strokes was
intended to accentuate the Partisan lights and
shadows, and give vernacular chiarooscuro to
the style.
Little space is lett us in which to speak mnutely
OF the plot, would we lessen the interest OF the
reader OF the book by doing SO. II
VIII De sunclently 10 tnc purpose TO say that the
story deals with the adventures OF the young Alan
de Keronec Marquis de Rochebriant whose estate
being heavily mortgaged, threatens 10 pass from
his Keeping, and VINO thus suffers for the ex-
travagance and improvidence OF his father Alan
comes to Paris and there falls into the hands OF a
and enormously wealthy usurer named
Louvier. BY the sembance OF liberality Louvicr
almost succeeds in gratifying his ambition by be-
coming the possessor OF Rochebrant but at an
opportune hour Alan Is saveC by the Intervention
OF DupessIs rival Of LouvIer's and possessed OF
a daughter named Valerie, who ials in love
with the young Marquis, and is thus the
cause oil her fathers becoming
In his behalf. Frederic Lemercler
an old classmate whom Aan meets at
Paris, and Alain's two cousins, RaouI and Enguer-
rand de yandemar. became the means OF intro
ducing him to two very different classes OF people,
la the one we meet the notorieties or the PARIS
financial word, are conducted to the Bourse and