The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-30


shed, as part of their library OF standard works OF
fiction, novel by Mr.. Grenvllle Murray, entitled
"Young Brown.u The title OF the book Is not
suggestive one but the book itself Is narrative OF
the very close relations Of the Browns with the
aristocraey. Since the appearance OF Or. Warren's
''Ten Thousand Year" we have had no such ex-
position of the condition Of the noble families OF
England. warren's book was unlike anything 4
that had gone before II, and II the author had not
painted Tittebat Titmouse as very ridiculous
person-intimating, of course, that all mere linen
drapers clerks ridiculous persOns-tO throw the
sympathies OF his readers with the Audley
branch Of the Dredhngton family 1t would
have been the most remarkable novel in
English literature. Titmouse was made to bear
the disgrace as wen as the discomforts Of legiti-
macy and our feelings are narrowed at the recital
OF the gentle and gentemanly Charles Audley
beng deprived of 100000 year, that 1t might be
spent by the vulgar and basebOrn son OF cobbler.
Mr.. Murray's book has another purpose-namey,
to show that the peers OF the realm are often base
horn themselves, and that half the titles in Eng
land would be In other hands If marriage was, In
deed, sacrament.
Young Brown was the son of Tom Brown, the
hostler at the Checquers Inn, at Wakeaeldn-the-
Marsh. He was seven months child and grew to
be very handsome lad. He looked like his mother,
and she bore very strong resemblance to the
Duke OF Courthope and Revel who was Of about
her own age. Tom Brown supposed he was Young
Browns father but II the Duke OF Court
hope and Revel had been the son OF his father
Young Brown would have been the son
OF his own sister. Young Browns mother, the
hostler's vile, was real countess, entitled
to part at least Of the Dukes estates, while the
Duke was not entitled to the rest. The former
Duke had secretly married Margaret Brown, and
riage, but the acknowledged Duchess was child
less. The law OF entail made 1t desirable that the
Duchess should have q child and the Countess Of
Pencarrow, who had secretly married Lord Alfred
Wyldwyl, the Dukes brother and could not avOw
the marriage, because its acknowledgment in
volved the loss OF the Pencarr0w estates, for which
alone Lord Alfred had married her, was about to
have child, which would be very much in the
way. Lord Alfred died before the child was born,
and at the Dukes suggestion the Countess gave
her child to the Duchess, and so in time this
youngster came to be Duke OF COurthope
and Revel in place apparently OF Lord
George Wyldwyl, commander OF Her Majesty's
forces In India, but in reality in the place Of
the Countess of winguid, barmaid at Wakefield
and Tom Brown the hostlers wife. This Duke Sc.
cretly married the niece OF an opera dancer and
publicly espoused Lady Helena Cardwell, the
daughter of the Marquis OF Wencomen BY this
marriage, which was in fact no marriage ct oil,
there was born son, who. as Marquis OF Kinsgear,
was as necessary to the Duke on account OF the
law OF entail as he had been to the former Duke.
his supposed father. Young Brown, who was the
half brother OF the young Marquis and ONLY a few
weeks older, came to be born pretty much as New
England was populated with musicians when the
Dutch ruled in New York and Anthony the Trum-
peter VISITED Connecticut. The family name Of
hn Nm knao nj
pronounced wivel, and it will be perceived from
the foregoing summary that Mr.. Murray's novel is
in fact history OF the Wyldwyl family, legitimate
and iegItimate.
1t is unnecessary to follow the fortunes Of Young
Brown, who eniists as common soldier and is
sent to India, where he shows uncommon bravery
and Is raised from the ranks. 1t will sufice to say
that in the end Captain Brown married Miss
Wydwyl, the daughter of Lord George; that the
Marquis OF Kinsgear died before his father; that
George Wyldwyl was the last Duke OF Courthope
and Revel, and that his daughter. the wife Of Cap
tain Brown, succeeded him as Countess OF VIM
guild. From all this 1t Will be perceived that Mr..
Murray's tale is an ambitious one, requiring
abilities in working out his plot not less remark
able than the courage which would undertake and
execute such a novel; II the book itself falls below
the courage OF its undertaking the fault is evil
IDENTITY not in any lack of ability in the author, for
every character is clearly drawn, and each chap
ter is as perfect as any one of Tennyson's
'1dyls of the King" There is a culture In
the book, as well as truthfulness and vigor
in the style, despite its cynicism, which
has not been shown by any modern novelist
except Thackeray. II Mr. Murray had given his
novel the iuness and completeness Of "Ten
Thousand Yearn these merits would have con-
tributed to make 1t the great book of the century.
INF alv with thc limit
of its title. and while there is not commonplace
line in the book its title forces it upon the lists OF
commonplace. No student of English literature
would suspect tnat In o novel called "Young
Brown" he would find not only the germ, but what
reads like part OF great book, on English society
OF the highest class In this piecemeal history Of
the Wyidwyl family this novel, in which the author
is justified OF mis- remark that "Wisdom is justified
of her children" have laid before all the can
Rering sores OF the arstocracv of England. Mr..
Murray has barred for our vision q disregard for
marital vows among the great families as
vulgar as that OF the bigamst tailor who
runs away with the cobbler's daughter aud
finally forsakes her for Fgurdnte In tho
ballet at Nibo's or the Grand Opera House. He
even goes further and shows US a peer OF the
realm--one who is every inch q duke-who got
into the House OF Lords bya trick as unworthy az
that by which Mrs. Cunningham sought TO supply
the murdered Dr.. Burde!l with an heir. There is
nothing commonplace as We have already re-
mark ed, in anything that he tells and the only
fault that we have to find with him or his book is
that he mas not told us more. At the same time
we admit that If the novelist had not invented a
family so completely typical OF the entire Eng
lish aristocracy as the Wyldwyl OF his imagtna-
tion-a family whose history admitted OF elabora-
ton only less marvellous than the family itself
we should not complain at all With great talent
for elaboration he seems to purposely refrain rom
its exercise, and instead OF presenting his wydwyl
figures In grand show piece, with all the music,
scenery, effects and properties complete, he turns
them into mere puppets to dance aud caper around
Nataa