New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-13
TIRE GOSSIP IN LITERATURE.
NEW sovE1s-A1cEsns-A MUSICAL RoM.ScE-THr

NEW NovELs-ALCEsTrs-A MUSICAL ROMANCE-ih~
SECOND wRE-LFE OF CHIEFJUsTIcE CHASE
NEw-BRIGHroN, July 11.-Rare enough 10 DC
noted with real gratitude the good mnso"i noes
Charles Auohesier" when first 1t came he'u suako
and delicate charm; it led to unknown falry NOOK IN
romantic literature. 1t possible that now all OUT inc
most sentimental readers are disposed 10 REGARD MS
Nowerv and dreamy book Of this sort must neces-
sarv he the work Of enthusiastand an enthusiast
Is not always TO trusted with the eccentrces OF the
rse temperament Between his absorption In the ART ne
loves and the character he analyses he is sometimes like
The Chinese ambassador who first drinking champagne
,n the western world, cried after each glass "How do
like civilization" serarhae is Mendelssohn exag-
yerated and ideazed to the verge Of eheminacy
aud fantasticalness Rumor while 1t has the intense
musical feeling Of the Auchester book, is more Vlgor
GUS natural and spirited piece OF work in point OF char
meter Since these there has been no notable mus
cal novel until the coming OF an English book just re
printed by Holt Co. "Acestis," which gives It's name
the volume is the old Greek story turned into an
opera, the work Of the hero, Josquin Doroz boy o
bright genius and sensitiva heart Inc prlin"
DONNA his Acestis the fair-haired, faithful Lisa
gaara whom he loves he might have loved
n sister and who makes for him sacrifice more
bitter than that read Of In the noble verse OF Eurp
Ides The story Of the last century In the days when
Chevaher Guck writing the lovely, passionate mel
odies OF OrfeO; when Mozart, wOndrOus bueeyed boy
was first beguilng people at his harpschord; when
Josoun Dorioz the Of aristocrat married 10 an
artistic Both are dead and his noble Austrian relatives
resolve make of the graceful boy commonplace man
of society But his mothers musical soul abdes In him
he rebels perforce, and runs away to freedom ana
music sad and short life is his. lie loves highborn
girl as fair and quaint lady painted on the queens
Fan and with little heart Then putting all hope INTO
his opera he undergoes thousand griefs before IT can
be brought out 1t is Lisa Vaara his fellowpupH ana
the heavenly singer, who, by marrying a tyrant she
hates brings TO DOroZ whom she has loved all her me-
The last happiness the poor boy knOw-the public
Performance of his work. little while after AIcests
has made its grand success, its composer goes TO tho
"high abode Of harmony" whittier we feel that
poor Lisa, in true poetic Justice should nave gone
with hun. "Alcestis" is not great novel
in any sense but 1t is good one. II
s. dainty dewy pathetic little story full Of the artistic
spirit and prettiy recalling in miniature the pic
tnresque time when fair grs with powdered locks and
handsome courters, in peach-bossom SIR coats danced
the stately mnuet and music and musicians were gam
ing dignity in German Courts
There was enough Of piGuant freshness about the
-Countess Gisela" and the Old Mamselies Secret" to
interest the most languid novel readers and " The
Second Wife" written by the +. Marlitt, and
a,rnted by IippncOtt has the charm they owned
TITS the old story of how two delightful people began by
aang each other and ended by loving very truly and
Economically There is amask of tragedy aud jealousy
going on throughout the book, but it is subordinate to
fhe beautiful high minded woman, and the erratc I'M
controlled man. who hurt each other so long with cold
ness and sarcasm 10 suddenly find last that they
have wandered into that new world which is the Old
THE Life OF ChiefJustice Chase" written by Mr. j.
W shuckers Mr. Chases private secretary forten years,
s. shortly TO appear from the Appleton press Among
The specially interesting portions Of the work CHAP
relating the history OF the reyeIson OF the
Jegal,ender decision and another giving for the nrst
ilme various details II tAgg gea:r,,0n Davis case