The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-17
SOME NEW BOOKS.
A New American Novel.

Mr.. EDGAR FAwCETT has written novel,
called Ellen Story, after It's heroine. The ac-
ton OF the fable passes at . resort OF fashion
able people on the seq shore. 1tspersonages are
selected from the strongly varied characters
which often assemble at such places, The book
consequently belongs to the sort co monty
called "society novelist" but It is better than
many Of Its class. In the main it is fresh and
vigorous. The characters are distinctly, though
somewhat roughly drawn. They are so grouped
as to present strong contrasts. Many Of them
are but sketches clevery made TO nll up the
background, widen the scope OF the work, and
furnish points Of support for tho action. The
principal personaces arc the heroine, who is
poor proud, truly accomplished, frank, high
spirited, and solf-polsed; her lover. who Is
rich, elegant, rather vain, but having COM
mon sense and real manlinees enough to make
him feel contempt and disgust for tho self
ish and obsequious fattery Of which he IL
the object; the heroine's cousin and rival,
vain, ambitious, after the manner OF $50
ciety," heartless, mean, and INSCRIPTIONS
young woman this cousins mother, a person
utterly wanting in generosity and all the higher
and nobler qualities Of womanhood, ultra-fash-
ionablc, aud q thorough toady; this woman's
hush nd, rich, vulgar. but lover OF honesty
and justice; and tho herolne's brother. hsnd-
some and bad, criminal In fact.
In distinct and well oontrasted dellneations
Of character the author shows considerable
strength. For novelist, as the term Is now I'M
derstood, the power TO do this Is one of the most
important qualifications. THIS, however, Is not
the only claim to commentator presented by
this writer He shows no marked deficiency
OF Incidents, and these follow each other logi-
cally enough, while In them the fates Of the per-
sonages are so involved as to secure the readers
attention from first to last. The motive Is ade-
quate to the action, and thisis kept within the
limits Of probability without suggesting any feel
ing Of constraiut. Among the most alluring
qualities OF the book we remark a certain air
Of freedom, a suggestion Of ease In its compo-
sition, and Of power unemployed.
The most noticeable bad taste of which the
author is guilty, may he seen In his use OF GER
tain words and phrases. Such Alterations as 81
made words" for ~ said "-"'You are very
late,' l made words while Ellen Story's eyes
met mine"-and many Others similar, are posi-
tive annoyances to a tasteful reader. The prac-
tice OF forming new words by the addition of
"wlse," ss "Byronwlse," "Mi1aswise," bed
WISE" and many Others. Is carried to excess.
These are indeed minor faults, bu, we'll worthy
the authors attention. 10 occasionally mars
his style also oy the use OF Latin and French
words and phrases In the main. however, his
enough.
The plan Of his story Is rather felictous, since
It Is well calculated to bring into relief the char
acteristics OF society" which he wished to ex-
pose. This is no mean praise, for the proper
lection OF a subject, and the shaping OF this
into a plan such that It's logical development
shall compel the action and bring into view all
that the writer desires to make prominent, Is
the most difficult, as 1t is the most important,
part OF a noyelists work. Ellen Story, the guest
Of her fashionable aunt, very much against that
aunt's inclination, very much, also, against the
inclination of her fashionable cousin, both OF
whom have been constrained by the husband
and f.ther to receive her, Is entirely unnoticed
and unknown at the watering place. Aunt and
cousin, SO far as practicable, ignore her exist
ence and her relationship to themselves. he
most distinguished Of the beaux Is Archie How
ard, with whom some Of the Idle and gay young
men have laid a wager that he can make belle
Of any girl at the place, however unknown and
insigninoant she NAV be, by showing her polite
attentions aud manifestin for her come marked
preference. BY chance he Is Introduced TO
Ellen Story, who unconscously becomes the
subject OF the experiment, which Is In every
way and almost at once successful In the high
est degree. Howard and herself have become
very much attached to each other. when Ellen
accidentally learns something OF the bet. or
course, the current OF true love is abruptly
broken +; misunderst standings follow without ex-
plantations; Eens criminal brother comes on
the scene to add melodrama to the comedy (;
Incidents more or less thrilling follow one an
other with accelerated movement, ard the tale
becomes more and more Interesting to the end
Tho work I. deformed by no long essays or
anAlyse yet its moral is obvious. In choosing
the way OF telling his story the author m de a
difficulty for himself which he failed fairly to
overcome, The tale is presented partly in let
tiers Of Archie Howard partly IN letters OF Ellen
story and partly in the authors narrative. To
use bis own words, placed at the heads OF DIFF
ferent chapters, " lie narrates," " She mar
rates" The author narrates." Yet the style
OF the book from beginning to end is plainly
that Of one narrator only. Well as he depicts
the characters of his personages, the author
falls to give to the different relaters any charac-
teristic style. Thus his manner OF putting his
work together gives 1t a certain stiffness and
angularity.
This work Is not a great novel; but IL Ia a fair
Que. Many incidental promises Of higher ac-
complishment hereafter may be found In its
pages. Its author has strong artistic in
stincts and considerable artistic knowledge.
But he needs 10 free himself from such unec-
tations are the result Of too great straininG
after novelty and originality OF expression, TO
master more thoroughly his powers so that
they shall always be under his easy control, and
AXE more clear to himself the idea OF perfect
form aud symmetry. That he may In time
achieve these things, his manifest int diligence
warrants a confident expectation.