New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-19

man. sometimes eren though she mores another" 1t is
an English woman of our day who writes this.
Mrs Wister's skill in selecting interesting ana
characteristic German novels for translation is now
so well known that the public confidently accepts
whatever she offers She rarely fails to make choice
of q compact and symmetrical plot, strong con-
trast of characters, and clear illustrative pictures
of the various planes Of German society. "A Family
Fcudr il good example of all these qualities
not marked by power and originality enough to lllt
its author into the front rank of novcsts, but lar
removed from the nmsy work of writers Tor the
cheap press, whose success depends on the number
rather than on the intelligence OF their readeis
There are few changes of scene. not more than
seven or eight characters, nothing very tragic or
even startling in the incidents, and n comfortable
happy ending for the story; but the author yields
himself wholly to his creations, supprosscs his own
personality, never confuses his backgrounds or ac-
cessoies is realistic to the proper degree and thus
holds the readers interest from beginning to end
Otto Won Aiming aud Beatrice, the two chief person.
ages, are neither ideal nor eXtravagant: perhaps
they are a little too strong and positive III Their
natures TO need cur whole sympathy,-but this Is
all the more pleasant One can enjoy the gret and
disappointment of fiction very well, without using
northumberland
Mr.. Charles Rcado is turning more and more TO
'tcudencv-romances.v "A Woman Doctor" would
be much better title for his last work than "A
Woman Haterr-seeing that Mr.. Wizard does not
hate women at all and that all the wonderful COM
plicatios Of the story have been invented solely Tor
the purpose of bringing into notice Miss Rhoda
Gale, NJ. D.. Mr.. Rcade always delights III exhibit
ing his knowledge Of physiology and medicine, ana
lie seems 10 prepare pathological chart OF each oi
his characters, IN advance. and to consult IT now
and then az be goes on This is not bad plan, pro
yided the readers suspicion of the fact be not
aroused; but when Mr. Rcade gets hold OF a good
application of his knowledge, ho is apt to repeat
emphasize and so call attention to IL. Equally 80 ne
presents feature or an cpithct, until we are almost
! TEMPTED to say: " Yes. we know all that" Thus
with his great constructive ability or rather indus
try hc not only does not conceal his processes but
fakes an increased delight in showing them. his
gives an air of article to his later work. and detIacis
from the CHEEKY and breezy air which made ms
former ones so refreshing. When we begin 10 sus-
pcct that difficult situations are created solely Tor
the illustration Of the cleyerncss chat solves thcm
and their bearing on The development of the charac-
tc,s becomes a matter of minor importance. We are
much less moved by the horrors, or suspenscs or
despairs of fiction In "a Wonan-Iater" the char
acers change place and relation but pass out of the
story very much as they came into it. The best
drawn woman is not Miss Dr. Gale, or Iva kloskng
or Zoe Wizard but Fanny Dover, and the best man
is old Aslnread, the dramatic agent. Many 0i the
situations are very ingcnously coutrivod, and the
novel we need hardly say, entertaining through
out. Whatever we may think of Mr.. Rcados
method, we never can help reading his books.