The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-24

book. 1t Is full OF sermonzing and religious
moraiizinR. ana tho story is very childllke.
could scarcely believe that 1t was written for
grown up people.
Aunt ANN with dangerous click OF her knit
ting needlesl-I am much older than you, Felicia,
yet enjoyed the book exceedingly. The charac-
ters are not plumed princes. nor satin robed
ladies, to be sure; they are plain, everyday
people Only wish they were commoner; just such
as one might meet In an questionable street.
Unfortunately they are not found in fashionable
society.
FELIoIA-I don't know what You call the Van
Arsdales If not fashionable Certainly Mrs. stowe
intends that they should DO thought 50. grant
yeu that IL Is not often that very fashionable girls
come down from Murray Hill to teach in mission
Sunday schools. But there is no telling what they
win do when there is rich aud good looking
bachelor clergyman In The question.
FRED-Sucn girls are my horror. They don't
know anything beyond dress and sunday school.
good fellow like Jim Fellows ought not 70 have been
caught In that way; but he seemed very willing.
Those editors and reporters were queer lot, but
they always are In books; 80 devn-may-care
and always talking about the influence OF 'our
paper.
the DocToR-That Dr. Campbell interests me.
He Is curious STUDY. man who never said
Miss FITZ JAMES lwho had until this moment
been listener rather than participant in the
conversation III must confess to an interest In
Bolton, who flits through the book like dispep-
tic shadow. cannot imagine what Mrs. stowe
put him in for Evidently she meant to make
something more out Of hun, put did not find him
worthy. How did you like Mrs. Harry Henderson,
Feliciai
FELICIA have nothing in the world against
her, only on the general principle that those vine
training women are apt to neglect the holes in
their stockings. 1t Is Q rare exception where a
woman can attend thoroughly TO both vines ana
stockings. She showed more puck than gave
her credit for when she visited the slums OF New
York, looking for that poor, lost girl The best
characters in the book in my opinion, are the two
old ladies who lived across the street They are
very nicely described. Aunt Maria Is q pretty
good character. have known JUST such aunts,
though their name was not Maria. she made me
SO angry at 1rst that co2ld hardly 70 on with
the book III had been Mrs. Harry would nave
shut the door in her face.
FRED-Aunts are not so easily disposed OF. By the
way, what lay figure Harry himself is. His wife
even admils that.
The DocToR-I think, on the whole, that You
must admit that Mrs. Stowe is a very pleasing
writer. She may choose hemely subjects, but that
should not make them unin teresting. She writes
easily ana clearly. There is not much in the plot
OF this story, put that Is not always detriment
I VIII venture to say that she Will find larger
dience than George Macdonald, whose serial sue
ceeds hers in the Christian Union.
FRED-That's doubtful compliment.
"oAsrLE NOWHERE"
FELIorA-Isn't 1t Stedman who speaks so highly
OF constance Woolson's storiesi
Miss RACHEL believe 1t Is, and well he may
only read or two OF them when they ap-
peared in the magazines but since osgood has
published them In book form have gone through
the lot.
FELIcIA-Tney certainly are pleasant reading.
JET there is something lacking.
Miss RACHEL-You mean that they are not per-
fecti
FELIcIA-No not quite so bad as that; but
think them very unnatural, and that after gong
TO such on: OF the way places 10 lay her scenes
and writing OF such impossible people she does
not accomplish much a stronger writer
might with the same material. Take the first
story, "Castle Nowhere;r how thoroughly fan
tastic and improbable, and II is not intended TO be
either.
Miss RAcHEL-I grant you that It is both FAN
tastic and improbable, bu! never thought that
any drawback to a story. LOOK at Hawthornel
FELICIA see that you are determined not to
understand me, and are pound 70 believe that I
do not appreciate Miss woolson do ike her ex-
ceedingly. and ! ike what she says about Bret
Harte too That Is very true about common
people not caring for Harte. Il Is among culti-
waited people that ne 1nds his greatest admirers.
Miss RAcHEL-Atnougn she admires Mr.. Harte
she does not paint her miners like his. Those
that figure IN "Peter the Parsonn are q hard
crowd
FRLICIA-what an unpleasant character that
parson Is. The scene where he intercedes for the
sham parson Is too maudIin to be pathetic. was
not the least touched az his death. do not won
der that the burly miner rough was enraged that
Rosamond should prefer such poor specimen Of
humanity to himself "Jeanetten Is one OF the
strongest stories IN :hls volume, though / prefer
the "Lady or Little Fish ngm as q whole.
Miss RACHEL-That story is spoiled to me by the
scene with Mitchell. 1t is 100 improbable. Solo
NOM is ratner a pet OF mine. There is more
thought In that than Is apt TO md In magazine
stories.
FELIcIA-It seems 10 me that we agree pretty
well, after oil, my dear cousin. We both like Miss
woolson's stories, but neither OF US is blinded 10
her faults. II she VIII only prune down her words
and concentrate her force, aad not apostrophize
quite 90 much, | believe that she win accomplish
great results, Tor she has both youth and genius
IN ner favor.
An OLD WRITER.
The DoCroR-I am glad that you young ladies
have come out " your discussion so peacefully.
almost reared Dloodshed when you began. l
have been employing my leisure moments during
the past few days in looking over the works 81
Thomas Love Peacock (Scribner, wexford Arm
Btrone) that the Professor was good enough 10
leave on my once table. don't believe ne knows
where he lett them, and he Il probably now
mourning over their untlmely loss. What care
less man that 49, lie would leave his head sone-
where ii Ii was not fastened to his BODY. But
should not complain for have been the gamer
by bis iorgeuuness. 1t does an OLD ieiiow IKE
written. Peacock was a regular lighter. He ala
not have much love Tor America. he says IN the
United states the human mind mas c0ntlnuOusy ue-
generated, and the present superiOrty-such as "
is-of the white man IS onlJ kept up by intercourse
with Europe. A time may come Wnen y
new Columbus will find nothing there but saw
ages.n lie had great disgust OF the false Latin
Of Excelsior, y tine only return we nave got i1r
the gilt Of classic literature with which we mad
endowed Jhem.n
FRED ike peppery old chap ike that. There
Is some amusement In readtng writer VINO
knows now 70 are a round OF wholesome abuse.
he - y IN ~ Val u