The New York herald., 1874-12-14
LIT E R A T u R z.
Winter Novels and What Their
Readers Say.

"Hardys Far from the Madding CroWP
10 away above the average run OF novels" said
Miss Rachel. laying down the latest addition TO
Henry Holt Co.'s "Leisnre Hour Series !" "but
should as soon think or comparing Dryden TO
Shakespeare as TO compare this volume TO George
Eliot The London Spectator. 1 believe, said. in
reviewing the opening chapters OF the book, that
hit was not written by George Eliot then there
Is new light among novelists.' Thomas Hardy Is
new light among novelIsts that Is fact. 1t Is
rarely that We fnd as good character painting as
that in Far from the Madding Crowd.'"
"lt s . beautiful story" remarks Felicia; ~
can scarcely imagine a woman like Bathsheba;
but suppose there are such in the world-vain
weak and cruel. What t.ere was about her to WIN
the hearts OF three men cannot understand.
Her beauty could not have completely hidden her
glartng faults.n
"Bathsheba begins well, !" puts In Fred, who sat
up oil night reading the book; "but don't like
her as she grows older. She Is just the sort Of
woman should want TO strarRle or marry"
"Perhaps both." suggests Miss Rachel.
1T seems TO me-" continues Fred. without no
ticing the interruption. "that Hardy gets one
worked up for climax when there is none CON-
Ing: For instance, when Sergeant Troy goes TO
sleep under the waterspout In the churchyard IL
is only natural TO suppose that the rushing stream
would drown him. After page ana a half OF
description 1t is little disappointing to have 1t
all end Ia a lew flowers being washed on q grave.
think that Hardy missed q good point there"
81 can understand very well why Bathsheoa did
not want to marry BOldwood. good, kind fellow
though he was," says Felicia Gabriel Oak
lacked snap and Troy after all was more the man
to win such woman. He just loved her enough
to make his courrlng agreeable, although must
acknowledge that he was an unworthy wretch,
with heart that would have snamed an honest
chicken"
."You must not speak snghtingy Of Gabriel OAK"
SAID Miss Rachel ''he is the best character In the
book. love that man for his perfect unselnshness
and for his co0iness under the most provoking
circumstances. He was forty times too good Tor
BatbsheDa; she had no idea OF his worth. The
only weak point in his character was his love Tor
her. Poor Gabriel wish Fate had been kinder
with him than to have placed his happiness In
that woman's keepin4.n
some or the dramGtis persong in this book are
little tiresome; but. taken as WHOLE the story is
powerful and delicate. too. BY long odds it is, so
.far, the novel OF the season.
A FoREGoNE CONCLUSION.
III any one should ask me how thought MIR. W.
d. Aowells wrote" said Feltcta's father the Doc
tor II should say under microscope. His books
impress me like the finest sort OF miniature paint
ing, which. although beautiful art 10 not pleas.
ing az Q few bold srroKes that give The same
.efYect.u
''Mr. HoweIs' men and women," adds Felicia.
'don't seem like real flesh and blood. In "A
Foregone Conclusion James X. Osgood & Coz,
which We have all been reading there ia not q
character that suggests any one In real life. Mrs.
sVervain, innocent, Anticipated creature that she
was, Is the most natural character In the book.
Florida Vervain Is an impossible creature, and
Henry Ferris, although evidently pet OF the
writer, lacks backbone and Is often very ungentle-
manly.n
'In any other hands DON Ippolito would be ex.
! ceedngy interesting" says Miss Rachel, "but
Mr.. Howells has made him too weak and maudi u.
1t was not at all unnatural that he should have
fallen IN love with Che pretty American; that was
folegone conclusion, as well IS the love OF Fer
rIs BY the way, DO you notice how Florida Is
described as o rather homely girl; but Mr.. Howels
calls her q beauty. Pale, cheeks with sugges-
ton OF freckles. and eyelasnes touched with the
5ainssst red ts certainly not attractive descrp
tton."
my dear girls, you are altogether too fault nd
Ing" says the Doctor, rebukingly; "you should be
delighted TO get hold OF novel written In suca
good English. It certainly Is refreshing nowadays
cannot say that think Mr.. Howels genius put
he is very talented man. and his verses particu.
larry are as dainty as o new blown rose."
"Did you feel, father, that you had been reading
q novel when you finished "A Foregone Oonclu-
sionY'n
.yet the story is very pretty. Neither the sWed.
ding Journey nor Venltlan Life can be called
IKE One than are ne Other tWo read mSre %r
Howells more for his language than for his story,
lor LIS plots do not amount TO row
work upon whicn ne rears a graceful structure CURE
on the other hand, one OF tne most tnouEhtlul
to his family, and tney ali Thought tnat parts Of it
at least squalled George Eliot in psychological
insight and knowledge or human nature.n
''THE LILY AND THE CROSS"
Felicia was surprised upon reading 1.-The Lily and
in it. She had peen told Inat De Mile had ground
himself out ol late. and she was prepared Tor some
fS 20 s ne Ss
LILY and the GROSS as Felicia told Mss Rachel is
the S reign % of King George ~. Tne ' plot IIs IS
not bad, and although some Of the
reading. Inc scene Is laid In Acadia partly aboard
schooner and partly at Louisbourg a French
cues from watery grave Nina de Laborde, the
heroine, who, with her iather. the Count de Gaze
neau Mma,s G maid and M Two sailors n are lound loat
while sailing into port from France. On board
the schooner which rescued them were Pere Micnel
Roman Catholic priest; Zac, the skipper, and the
regular seamen. Now. it fell out tnat Claude
Motier was noble Frenchman Count de Montre.
enemy and De Cazeneau was the enemy or both.
Tne ihther OF Claude was supposed to be dead, bur
MICHEL claude Cn and Nina a Rels0n IN love wis
each other, DE Cazeneau tried to separate
them and the good old priest unknown TO his
son, aids him in freeing himself from the tolls OF
the wary Count. Old Laborde dies ana NINA Is
lett alone. Claude steals her away ana gets
locked up In consequence. In the sequel right
trumphs over might, the priest declares himself
and the brave young couple are happily married.
The story abouuds in hairbreadth Escapes and ad-
ventures generally.
GENTIANELLA.
Here Is novel high nown enough for the
most school
taking up .Gentianella' Porter Il Coates), by
Mrs. Randolph ~ don't believe that you, Felicia,
this volume.u
II have just finished the book,n replies Felicia.
with guilty smile, land must acknowledge that
1t Is little beyond my endurance. The first chap
Ter Is enough TO stamp the book. cannot
imagine why an author wants TO name O heroine
Murlel vavasour. girl with such name de-
serUes to have hair of the hue Of ax, with the