New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-15
FICTION.
ATALK ABOUT NEW NOVELS.


EMERsoNvILLE, March 4.-The Duke is poor
but clever person who dwells In this town. He ased 70
i've the Forest OF Arden where he acquired the peace
Of mind which makes Yankee retirement pleasant W
him. He has o manly character, but mooes' o"'
wthal lie has a cool brain. gay humor, ana AL w.
est soul He can enjoy the woods like boy anu ..
sbout them ike priest or poet. His worst iau'
that he loves CONVERSATIONAL which his in'eiioo"
seman silent Ths does MT matter, for We his ne'Sn
tors are not OF much intellectual consequence ""
whom his OF new books from the publishers We
Nike IN sit around his beautiful wood nre anu "''o
40 his monoogues Sometimes indeed, ne loves Y"
among the ancient oracies, ana PIRATES W ~ 80.
siuge the honey OF Theocritus; put oi'ehei "o e"' ~
tah IN his audience and does not 80 oehihu I"ei SUI"
and Dr. John Brown. and Hamer'on' anu Ar'u"h iiepo
and perbaps Spencer Draper. The rest OF US nave
80 "a, CARLYLE RACES and Emerson rages we have
atao h,sorv like the influenza and biography ike 'he
,sases and to tell the truth, are in chaouc state VI
mind with tendency toward novels and poetry ana
sreat comfort 10 the Dakes lectures. He GROWS
1t eur frivohty. but INDUCES us with placid con-
tempt learned from a friend Of his named Jacques
Who 10 mentioned together with his Grace In pleasant
little play called las You Like It," by Mr.. william
shakespeare We found him the other evening beside
his chimney corner. quantity of books scattered aoou
and the kitten mapping upon pile OF them.
"New Novels !" says Orlando. mild youth who
aspros TO be cynical His Grace the Duke dey0urihg
soves -
.Cslm your transports" said his Grace. Il got them
Cor my Blu. was little curious as 10 wIal Ane
Novel is coming to- and I've read them myself con-
fess."
"And do the wild and thrilling nummadiddles OF
tbose thingumbobs stil finger In yonr Graces BRAIN
'They do" said the Duke, solemnly GOOD my
masters some Of these books are most toeraoe ana not
~ be endured They make think of Dejazet and the
Two very moving ballads made on her charms by
Lpan no
best One she put III her pocket unread aud one she
handed back with sweet smile. prefer the otaer,
SAYS Mademoisele. have my opinion OF anybody VINO
reads this sort Of thing constantly"
None Of us dared to ask that opinion was, for the
Duke was walking about ling with his hands IN MS
pockets.
"what do people mean by writing such boOksi" he
erewled az last Here IS with style something
like this looked out the rampng yellow sea and
sYinned tore handful OF my tawny hair out by the
roots aud ate peanut. o, would those waves e0e'
stop playing eapfrOg with my misery! Ihat $ uo' 50
bad as the aristocratc style: Lady Maud lifted her
elegant embroidery with one pretty hand. do you
ride TO morrow g. she asked Lord Alfred watched the
effect of the red worsed the grs,wbite dress beau
tifuly trimmed with blue ribbons. Perhaps. Do
youf" aud he gazed az her calmly with those large
sweet blackberry eyes of his And here is another
style--the larntellectua Sir Blunderbus did
not pause but throwing glance of ptiless hatred at
the woman he adOrcd, he mounted Ddbolus. Inen
while the frantic steed cleared the fence at
one bound no turned three stern somersauts'
and drew from his pocket the Munava Dharmasastra
and the Niebelungen. Lied. "FddleSticks and small
beer are the conundrums OF the universe said Coniu-
cine that glorious day when he lunched on olympus
with Apollo and william the Silent; and through the
smash Of n thousand golden valleys and the walizes OF
silver hills those gsunt and bony words have come
down to us from the daisied ages Oh, BAH!
aunin llli
,uo Of us gged family. We had an uneasy conscious
ness that we'd read the books Rosalind changed the
subject picking up little white volume from the floor
Mistress Judith" she read. what qaaint little
utIei"
The Dukes brow relaxed ats quaint little book"
he said. How shall describe ti-its buttercup OF
story simple and dewy I've forgiven 1t for being sad,
re such a poetic little thing. Judith is like lmogen,
piece OF tender air., dear little maid who goes
sweety ehndlke through gentle life to gentle DEATH
ike her and like her father. the learned. absent
minded old pars0n. Ii Is really clever triie-the best
Of the late reprints"
0rlandO-" Better than the Hardy novels, which
Jou've condescended to praise -
The Dnke-"' Far From The Madding Crowd and
Mistress judith are both novels Of English rural life,
but the last is like butercup said, and tue first
ike an elaborate painting OF the flower. Mistress Ju-
dIth Is like the wid-Oird heard IN Arden and
SIR Hardy's book fantasia built upon the birdsong
10y a good artist. Yet / have fancy that 1t
Hsrdy's work that suggested the life and manners Of
Mistress Judith. Hardy ia certainly strong enough
10 make school, but he probably didn expect TO fad
follower with more Spontaneous air than his OWL"
Bald Rosalind tnidly with an ingratiatng smile:
thought Hardy's simplicity almost perfect"
Inc Duke" Well, | think 1t is more than a little
forced. When original ami cultivated writer at
tempts wfully to do" simplicity 1t is almost sure TO
forced. The elaboration ana affectation of sim
pcity by the way, what object to IN good many
Vt the young NcwEngland writer. They appear to
seize that delicate quality By the throat with per.
sistent grip that destroys hail It's charP II to
,ne that dainty freshness OF conception and dction is
INFORM and that OF artistic dc erminatlou
can successfully simulate it, Art, art art-I fear this
constant talk about Literary and the
rg after IT is an injury rather than help
10 the best school Of American writers. Tell n
ample tender story. untouched yourself, AMI with
premeditated intention TO be tender and simple, an
your work will inevitably show the veneer"
Orlando" What's this Oh. Tue Maid OF Killeena'
know you like William Black"
The Duke-"Y in a way. lie has a merry humOC.
sense OF justice, and painters thinks Of him
a. a witty weLread cOmpanionabe friend. But he has
cot the OF stopping He his descriptions and
bright little hits at human pvculiarities and incon
stences to the ground. That capacity for picturesque
ae,a Is a dangerous possession. Look at Miss Thack-
trays new serial, MISS Angel She 10 absolutely
stranded upon the rock OF minute. she draws every
.aGfon of sunset and every rose Of dawn until l.
Tor one long TO 20 some writing In which may fad
u.rIe carelessness but al the time more frank
IIcezness."
Oltrer-" You don't for much detail. and yet re
member you have kindness for the writer OF the book
which the cat has turned INTO couch TIE Passionate
pilrim'"
The Duke brushed OF The kitten and lifted Henry
James, collection of stories with gentle hand "James
hss n mannersm rather than manner" he SAID, but
he does honest work Miss Thackerds detail Is the de
tail OF a sentimentast who watches and Young
James, detail is like that OF strong who
Tee Once In while he back to the ue elastic