The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-07
CHATS ABOUT BOOKS.
"Old Myddlcton's Money Katerfelto and
Poetry Discussed.

"Od MyddlctOn's Money Katerftlto and
Poetry Discussed.
CHOICE EXTRACTS.
at IL like coming across that much talked Of
spring In the desert for the reviewer to ind one
OF hacdonald's works lying upon his desk. He
does not let 1t wait it, turn, but takes hold OF the
enchanting volume az soon a. he seats himself 70
work." said Fred, throwing himself o. his
mothers feet upon the rug. before the open wood
IRE that cracked upon the bedroom hearth. And
such q delightful room It is-a real mothers
room-where oil the children love to gather OF Q
dismal day. There Ia no room In the house ike It..
1t IL q safe harbor from every storm; or, TO use
another figure, the OAK about which the young
vines cling.
The MorHIR-l suppose you have been reading
"Malcolmr a. B. Lipptncott co.,. to Judge from
your preface.
reveled In every page, rom cover to cover
Macdonald's heroes are like Kellogg's Mignon,
q new revelation; each shows NJ poetry and
pathos We had not dreamed Of ! look at the
world with different eyes after reading one OF his
novels.
The MorHER-They arect me in very much the
same manner. am anxious to read Malcolm"
how does II compare with his other booksf
FRED-very favorably. think II one Of his
best 1t abounds In the same exquisite sentiment.
manliness and grace for which Robert Falconer'
Is conspicuous. Macdonald is always preacher,
put him where you WILL but this does not affect
his novels disagreeably. Usually dislike preach
ing in novels, but his Is 80 very mild-not weak,
understand me- only not orensive-that 1t gives
navor to the whole. Malcolm Is splendid fellow,
and am glad to know that mis- story will be con-
tinued In another volume. The scene Of the story
Ia little village on the Scotch coast. The plot is
quiet, and the characters are simple, grand
people. The Highland piper is delightful crea-
ton.
The MornER--I believe the Scotch dialect is nm
usually conspicuous In .'Malcolm," Is 1t not
FRED-lt Is pretty thickly scattered through the
book, bnt enjoy 1t hugely. got to be quite
Scotch scholar before had done. Macdonalo's
Scotch is beautiful that It adds to the fascina-
ton OF the book in my eyes, and seems to give
character to the most trining remark.
The MoTHER-There is no getting around the
fact that you admire Macdonald, my dear boy.
Well. am glad you do, for admire the man as
much as l DO the novelist; his Ia, indeed q noble
life.
FRED-I think that malcolm" shows the innu.
ence OF his recent visit to America. His enemies
call Macdonald ereminate. do not understand
what they mean, unless 1t be that the perfect
purity OF MS writings gives them that character.
The MoTHER-Mr. Macdonald's righteousness is,
or course, distastetul to many; but hts religious
writing partakes not only OF The poetic quality,
but OF tine quality which comes from extraordinary
insight. He Is o seer as well as poet
''OLD MyDDLETON'S MONEY!"
Misc r ACuEI-sOld MvddatOn,a MOnevy fHar-
per Brothers), for q novel that apparently makes
no pretensions, is really quite clever. 1t is not
often that one comes across such mysuiying
plot. thought half dozen times that saw how
1t was going to end, but was not. right once. Up
to the very last moment did not suspect who
Lady Lawrence was
FELICIA made up my mind to one thing early
In the story. and that was that Gabriel MIDDLETON
did not murder his uncle. but did not guess the
real criminal until the confession was read.
Cousin Lou, who Is spending the day at the
Doctor's-I could have sworn that Royden Keith
was Gabriel MIDDLETON. The author does every
thing but say so. One cannot blame that odious
Lawrence Haugnton for suspecting him, too; he
did SO many things likely to lead one or the track.
FELIcIA-Honor Craven Is not q very romantic
name for heroine, aud particularly such good
little heroine. She Is o delightful creature; very
much ike an everyday girl OF an interesting
order. II she had known just how the land lay
she could not have planned better. think that
one OF the morals OF the book may be said to be
that one does not lose anything BY being KIND TO
friendless old ladies'
Miss RAcHEL--Mrs. Payte Is nrst rate char
acter; q little too severe at times. perhaps, bnt
then the best OF us might nave been the same had
we seen things through her spectacles.
Cousin LoU-n any one thing above another
does disgust me. 1t 10 to see people waiting Tor
dead mems Tor dead women's) shoes. Luckily
am not anybody's heir. II sucn were my misfor.
| tune l suppose that would Do a. dtsagreeable a.
| the rest OF them.
! MISS RACHEL-Mra Payte played smart game
and wise one. II she had not done as she did
/ she would PROBABLY have lett her brothers. fortune
to one Of these odous men. AS 1t was every
reader OF the book Will DO satisfied. She knew
what she was about. like such eccentric charac-
ters, both IN books and In real lie.
Cousin LoU-Honor Craven Is one Of the few
novel herones who has q mind OF her own and
! speaks up when harshly spoken to. That was the
very quality about her which her fastidioua
cousins despised and which Royden Keith admired
to such excellent effect.
| FELICIA picking up dropped st.ca) --Tne md
ing OF that mysterious white lady In Keltn's house
was enough to upset stronger latin than Honor's.
Yet II had been in her place. would uhat ia, Il
cared enough Tor him) have asked Keith what II
meant. Was he Rochester. with q crazy wife In
the garrett. or what did It all mean Honor GER
talnly was NO Jane Eyre.
Miss RAcnEL-There IL not much stress laid
upon the discovery OF the woman. Honor only
felt herself growing slightly cold, that was all.
Well. her mystery was soon cleared up.
FELIc1A-Ihat plotting Trent family, although
highly entertaining In the story, would have been
very dull out Of It. How Mrs. Payte must have
laughed IN ner sleeve as she pursued the even
tenor OF her way, and how the tables would have
been turned had the greedy relatives knew who
she was. To be sure, they heard eventually, but
| then tue mischief had been done.
Miss RAcHEL-Mrs. Payte played the role Of