The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-06
NEW NOVELS.
MAY 81, 1St

NEW NOVELS.
"The Servant Girl of the Period" by c. Cham
berlain Jr., and published by ]. 8. Redfeld, Is not
a story, but 1t comes as near being story as any.
thing else. 1t begins with definitions from John.
son and Webster, and betrays in the same connec-
ton the fact that the author does not know the
meaning and application Of the word "either."
Assuming that "the tide OF immigration" brings to
this country "the seeds Of presumptve arro'
gance," he proceeds to build book upon the
sufrerngs of American housekeepers from the
ignorance Of their cooks and other "help" I'm
fortunately the American housekeeper is generally
more ignorant than the cook, to which we have
only to add, this book is more wretched than
boardinghOu hash
"Expiation" novel by Mrs. Julia c. r. Dorr,
published by J. b. Lippincott Co., is story of
improbable incidents intended to illustrate hered-
ltary insanity. The book Is full OF those zine
touches" which too often make American novels
stupid, as when country girl recognizes statue
OF Eve from print tells how she ''placed upon the
table tiny crystal vase in which scarlet saliva
gowed against background of white chrysan-
themums." talks bad English, saying at had
been pleasant to sit in the soft darkness myself
after the stars came out"
! In ''Never Again" by W. s. Mayo. and published
by u. P. Putnam Son, we have New York
society novel. Its purpose, II 1t has any purpose,
is to satlrize society" and SO some Of our mer.
| chant princes trying to marry their daughters
| to mythical counts, recently BARRIERS; everybody
talks such elegant French as "grosse CONNIE 60, ct
rouge CONNIE un bifteak," and a Hudson River
boatman quotes from Montague's essays and dis
cusses every sea-gong thing from old Ironsides to
Cleopatra's barge and the BassOrah in which Sin
bad made his second voyage.
The facility with which q certain class OF novels
are written is only equaled by the ease with which
they are reproduced. Now here is the yellow
Flag" by Edmund Yates printed by J. r. Osgood
& Co., in O volume Of two long. narrow columns to
each page, making book as unsighty as possible,
And the book is trashy-fu of descriptions Of COM
monplace men and things and places, but lacking
in sprightly dialogue and without human interest
Madame Augustus Craven's novel, "Fleurange,"
translated from the French for the Catholic World,
has been published in book form by the Catholic
Publication Society. Readers who like arlstocratio
tone and religion judicousy mixed will ind 1t to
| their taste.
Dodd h Mead have published novel, by the Rev.
Edward p Roe, entitled barriers Burned Away.n
| The scene Is mostly laid In Chicago. A picture
| dealer Is very proud and O German baron. His
daughter is even prouder and colder. The great
fire and the necessary quantity OF love are both in
the story. The hero is Dennis Fleet, who begins
an ONCE boy and marries Christine. 1t is not
| great novel.
| lit had been thought impossible to write move,
composed only Of commonplace chatter, Nine.
Carlen the Swedish novelist, would have cOntro
verified 1t successfully. zone Year: Tale of We'd
lock-" published by James Miller Is such book.
''My overshoes," exclaimed Julia, stretching forth
her tiny feet. "Who is 1t, Rudolph Will you tell
her name to me ?" "Tne heavenly, charming,
innocent Julia T-.v 'Thats 1t exactly. My
snufris highly honored But II you should, which
God forbid, leave Rosenberg-then-then." 1t is
not TO be wondered at that the translator tells us
1t was difficult to weave such "pleasing and in
structive" story without trespassing on the
| bounds of delicacy."
1t ia one OF the characteristics OF the American
novel to be constantly dealing with the fine arts,
and that, too, in way as cursory as 1t Is unsatis
factory. "The Lawrences: a Twenty Years. His
| tory,n by Charlotte Turnbul sold by the American
| News Company, was We thought, an exception.
1t Is rather crude story but with some freshness
| and many hits OF excellent Characterization. II
lacks harmonious plot and dramatic vigOr, and
yet we were going to call 1t interesting when VIC
discovered the "venus Of Milo," the "Apono Belve'
deren and the rest.
"Spicy," by Mrs. Martha J. Lamb, published by
| d. Appleton a Co., hardly verines its name. II 10
another story dealing largely with the Chicago fire.
but New York is not entirely neglected, even the
mud at the foot OF Cortlandt street being noticed.
| Among the first sentences In "Erma's Engage.
ment,n novel published by ]. b. Lippincott, are
the following -" shut up that stupid book, Erma'
said Beatrice. Don't libel my book How do you
know it is stuplds You have never read it, NO,
and never mean to read it-that is more; but
know it is stupid. All books with small print on
the margin are.'n We are inclined to accept this
judgment In the present case. All long, thin, gaunt
novels printed in double columns from magazines
and newspapers are or ought TO be stupid 1t is
the worst shape bookmaklng ever took in this
country. ana we should be glad to see 1t generally
discouraged.