New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-09
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
NOVELS AND STORIES.

PIP. 1896 j. b. LIppincott x Co.
3. THEY ALL DO 1T; Or Mr.. MIGGs. OF DANRUBY,
3l3. Lee shepard.
4. TIE NEW SCHOOL MA'AM; Or, SUMNER IN
NORTH SPARTA. l6mo, up. l4O. Loriug.
8. CARtrA. Novel BY MRS. OLIrHANr. Svo. PIP.
1913. Harper Brothers.
"Thc MARQUIS of Lossie is a sequel to Mr.. Mac
donalds novel of d" Malcolm yet is sufficiently COM
pete in itself to read a separate story. lt begins
with the revelation of the secret with which the ior
mer work concludes Malcolm is introduced to the
reader as the actual Marquis of Lossie, while serv-
ing his titled sisters groom and the interest Of
the plot simply attaches itself to the time and man
ner of the discover This is not a new device, but
when skilfully handled il is quite serviceabe to
the author and attractive the reader the secret
that is withheld. We fluid more directuess of plot
than in most OF Mr.. Macdonalds previous novels
less tendency to dieSs, and sink the characters IN
their own speculatiOns and more restraint OF thai
impulse preach all occasions which interferes,
and sometimes seriously, with narrative art. In NAL
colin, the three characters OF hsheTmangrOom mar
Guis, and lay preacher are not always harmOnlonsly
blended, but lac remains manly from beginning to
end and never gets away from hearty sympa-
thies. Lady FlOrimel is rather slight and shadowy
character yet she is decidedly more real than Lady
Clementna, whose nature seems TO have been pieced
together out of certain moral qualities In order to
illustrate the higher development of the same
qualities in the hero. The humber characters are
all admirably drawn; nothing could be truer to real
life than the manner in which Peters jealousy OF his
old cOmrade Is represented. The disclosure oil Nal
collins birth managed with genuine dramatic SKILL
especially in bringing together all the persOnages OF
the story, without improbablity and without con
fusion. MI Macdonalds strongly religious nature
leaves It's stamp upon everything he writes. IL is
healthy, humane and eevating and the reader only
now and then suspects that he is being interested
for the sake of eXhortauOn ln fiction, the good
lessons which are iusensDly imbibed are those which
are most fruitful in their operation.
- All Wrong is short story, in winch private
theatrcals, tenement houses and strikes OF coal
miners are rather oddly mixed together The
heroine, who bears the brilliant name of Gem
falls from wealth into pinched circumstances, suffers
moderately, and is happily married at the end The
plot shows inexpercnce, and the characters are
neither so clear nor consistent they might be-
We should guess the work to be the rstling of the
author it certainly possesses the sincerity of an
early effort which is often better than the clever
ness of merely professional hand. In case our
conjecture is right the author should endeayor to
acquire the latter without losing the former. "Al
Wrong Is by no means all right title for the
story.
-ar. Bailey's title is equally pulling. We have
looked through number Of ms stories III VAN at
1t" in Danbury as they are represented TO do IN
these stories, that town may rejoice IN population
which oI grotesQue stupidity, eOncal or stale vul-
gartv and general loafeTishness of man, woman
and child has never been equalled or even mag
ined. But the title is meant for the market as the
contents of the volume are for the pocket. We
don't know whether Mr.. Bailey the first in-
ventor of this variety of literature but he has Ger
tainly been of its most successful cultyatoIs.
Aud, indeed when we consider what task any
man assumes who works for years under the nCces-
sity of producing laughter, are compelled to look
charitably upon the perfunctory character of much
of the fun. Perhaps we laugh none the less, like
one who sees the pucker Of an unrpe persimmOn on
anothers face. In regard TO Mr.. Baleys perform
ance in the present volume, we cannot do better
than to quote his own words: when Lie III
Danbury' was published, believed 1t would be the
last, as II was the first, compilation OF writings l
should make. Even III the flesh Of its great success
did not WAIVER IN this belief In the intervening
years have been frequently solicited to bring out
similar book but steadily refused. similar work
was not desirable. l wanted something different
something much bet'er for a second book and enough
material for this purpose was not at hand. 1t
qured time TO accumulate. That time mas been ac-
complished now believe; and send forth this vol
ume in the confidence, that whatever it may do for
the publisher and myself it is a much better book
than its predecessor" Ii would be diseOurteOus to
question the accuracy Of TINS statement.
THE New School Ma'am has the look of one of
the "fanily series and is about as slight in its
construction rs the most Of them. But IL has a
fresh, lively, natural Tone and introduces us to sew
eral agreeable characters. The heroine, Miss Mabel
Frost who gets tired of her wealth and fashionable
society drops part of her name and takes country
school, Is almost too fortunate in her experience
yet We fancy few readers will like her the less for
that. In three months time she makes herself the
model sehOOlmisTeSs of the place. teaches gentility
to rough boys and girls, becomes helping angel to
soldiers widow and a poor clergyman, rejects
rich snob and takes a talented artist for husband.
But she lady from head to foot, and it is there
fore agreeable TO walk beside her. and watch her
overcome rudcness with grace, and deceit with
fraukness.
Mrs. Ohphant' sstOries are always readable. They
have the same deliberate movement as those of
Anthony TrolOpe, the same evenneSs Of workman
ship and the Same lapses into a somewhat langud
ddaccism. They deal, also mainly with the life of
the middle class IN England and make up in fidelity
of detail for what they lack of strong dramatic
interest "Carta" is, in these respects, a level
with most of the authors former novels. There is.
however, an unnecessary tragedy in the opening
chapters-aremarksbly painful suicide, suggesting
later charge of murder. It's introduction could only
bejustifcd by giving the deed predominant import
ance in the plot and this is what the reader natural
" anticipates. But n0thiug-or next TO nothng-is
made Of 1t afterward II hangs like duh cloud
over the story and becomes simply intoerable as
coon as we find il TO have been unnecessary.
sons.