New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-10-20
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
NEW NOXFLS.

MERCY III t4'A'iN~A
g SNs BABIES BY their Latest Victim l2mo pP
r,4 1JJ FORTUNES ByJAs PAYy. 8yO PIP 22a D.
-, X oW GIIIpa BY FLORENCE ,lAEEYAr. 8yo. PIP ISL
ID. Appleton q Co. 800,
II is a pleasure, in these days, to get hold
ofa new American novel which manicsts both cNl'u.o
and literary skill. The author of mercy Fm'''i.
Choice" is evidently woman who LOOKS upon "uI1''
shin az something moro than % pastne-a woman OF
clear INTEL gent tastes and distinct aspirations Inc re-
nned quality of her intellect imuresscs itself upon 'ne
Co. from first 70 last She has Intentionally chosen
very sinplo framework, allowing tn interest W "0
characters TO depend upon their moral ana 'ti'''.'
qualities rather than upon the events ""i'" 0
tbnp Iftlv seem more like independent Gomez F''H'
tllip actual studies from life We must ADMIT '', gu"
have NOT been lightly selected; and Che principal ld"'
we gYd ina Them Is that they are I'O CON
esf4lt 20 themselves OF their surroundings .i'.' "
brick is q Young wijuW-1ut Why 20 WHO" '-.
reader inv0luntarly asks hm-el-Who taxes sl'' ''
most idiotic mother inland from Cape Goa oA nc
INT of her health and finds quarters ina the house Oh
etenben White wnoi equally dcvocdto cro-s-,Iht
bed-riddcn mother. ,=I5tst' mysterious shi'H" "'A
between tie two "uich soon binds them '' '''" '''
vet II is all mistake. stephen ls bundle 'i CONF awe"
tops selfish and setsacnfciU-, generous ANA
.luip Nv tIqlsffu and mscrany Jealous l'N''H
becomes disaerceable and the little interest "c ' mo-
awakeus dies out Of the story. Mercy ho'"' may
natural lint II takes morbid cast, ana We "i' "N't
willing TO tolerate her because she manages '',t '
live a rather cheerful iiie It ls % pms so.'-l.'' pc
that the son OF such coarse, hde"u'y Semen ~
sbould possess such angelic lorb'ai"hte "-" "''
superblman perception Of The beaoi"U' No' "' W '"
n less surprising that Mercy, also, should "''i-'
60 Gov from the qualities of her progcA.cI7
and boc,n,a a famous potts,s. The poems ''-
t1ibcd TO her are tho least satisfactory portion Oh .
hook They not only could never have been Niuen 10y
awoman I'm her walk Of life ana experience Oi' '''t
eouId never have given her popularity. IH'l are E"."
ooorosasa person of high culture AMI trained '.'''
might succeed in writing without the "id "i any u''Nc
noetical faculty. They seem 70 have been produce"
,prciay to illustrate the narrative, and hence man. ''
a faint impression upon the reader Inc I""s WI. .'
noted indicate lack Of experience III tie''iNt ~.
Gather than lack Of ability. There are So many "--.'-''
touches I'm the work that compcter success Us certainty
within the authors power The style Is very pure an"
graceful the descriptions of nature are drawn N'Ha
knowing and loving hand and the Sketches Oi character
always eiyc evidence of good intention.
"Ueleu's Babies" records toe experiences Of back
eor who undertook ortniynts charge Oh Inc mousse anu
two small children Of married sister. 1t Is bright and
entertaining enough to justify ITS sudden popularity
The altuor somewhat taxes crculity when he ASKS
us TO believe that any man-cspccaly "hep tA'' man s
an uclc-coud possibly be SO ignorant OF the ways OK
children OF that any children OF five and three years "'
could be such amazing compounds of pc'y ana IlscHt
Pu+ the hook does not pretend TO be more than IL s-a
lively and amusing tri1c. The hero and Miss Man Ton
make love in such a demure way n they don't interest
rs IN the least Our attention ccutcrs on the two hte
fellows who are alternately brats and angels aud tuee
fore very agreeable suggestions Of baby reality Even
the confused babbe OF the younger boy OF which we
have almost too much, is made passab!J picturesque.
Parents will enjoy the book, and the unmarried VIII ana
in il some fresh elimpses Of unknown experiences.
James Payn belongs to the class of spectacle pro-
fessional uovelists who to great nor SINK 10
absolutely Door performance Whatever he docs shows
tbe sliu Of a disciplined workman combined with
enough native talent to avoid imitation, yet hardy
enough TO reach marked originality. His stories are
well constructed, his happiness and misery mixed IN
GOOD PROPORTIONS and lis characters generally SUCH as
are possible in real life. In Of his earlier movers
there wa, a tendency to describe and morauzc at 100
great length which made portions Of them heavier IMAM
was necessary; but he has acquired lighter ana
freer mode Of treatment, without dcpriynS bis cEa"o
ters of that earnest sympathy which expect from an
autbor Fallen Fortunes" is tale OF domestic NE
with inst the right number of characters and the right
distribution Of fortune for comfortable reading. We
shall not repeat the story, and deprive many readers
of their coveted surprises, but be satisfied with assuring
them that the latter are not shocks and that the close is
cOnsOling.
Its difficult to account for Florence Mauyai's po
iaIity as writer OF fiction, however limited or prec
,ous il may be- Her chief quality is exaggerated scut
,nent and this in any own Child" is constantly kept
mn 70 the verge of hysterics 1t is tale Of sect1ran
woe occasloned by the silly mothers silly daughter
marrying Protestant who Of course indirectly causes
his vies death and is cursed and hated by the mother
I'm ANYTHING but Christian spirit The tone of the book
IS as bad as the literary performance and we suEss
that il be speedily included in the Ider ETpgaoI1"S