The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-18

sort OF archness. and at all times carries the
Satisfying aroma OF mind acquainted with
books and mon. But we fancy that this writer's
skill lies in analysis rather than COMPOSITION
In these sketches. at all events there Is moro
dissection than embodiment OF character. Tho
puppets OF the scene move nimbly on their
wires but II is the Snowman who talks. Tho
best thing in the book il tho " chat by way OF
preface" and this is well worth the price OF tho
volume. Tho hints and "reminiscences OF
veteran magazine writer will be read with pront
ythoso who arc beginning to earn II livelihood
with the pcn.
Mrs. ELEPHANTS latest story. Cdritd uiar-
pcrs) il not an Improvement on Mrs. Arthur"
and the litter, IA we pointed out. WIS an un-
equivocal instance OF living ON reputation
Two or three times this writer has demon
strated her ability to construct what may De
called Il nrstr novel OF the second-class; u
work that il. whose technical merits satisfy
high standards, and which misses place i'll the
highest category chiefly through inadequate
breadth or completely in the types OF charnc-
tor portrayed. We nccd not say that such
performance as this. the achievement OF Bul-
wcr or a Kcadc, is not to be compassed win
facility or frequency. Instead. however OF
practising tho patient hand-tooling OF those
profors to follow tho high pressure pro-
c,ss Of Miss Draddon. who is said to
drive her stories iOur-in- hand. 1t Ia certain
that "Carit3t" is 10y no means the sort OF work
which. coming from unknown hands, would be
likely to ho snapped ut by publishers or com
mnnd II wide circle Of readers. Az In all per-
functOry production. the first strokes are the
bcst-the writer apparently setting out with the
intention of serving two masters. But art is
long. while money getting. as things are or
der'd. IL not slow paced If you have won what
gulls the judgment Of simple fOlk-u name.
IIaro the first chapters evolve the one clever fea-
turc of the book-thc situation presented by Mrs
B'resfords death. and the interesting study Of
circumstances which might justify suicide
Otherwise there Is nothing in Carita beyond
the range of the average rapid bookmakcr
Except in the case Of Agnes Burchcll the char
acterigtion is faint and self-iorgctful. and the
loose plrXus Of incident cannot, without abuse
OF language. be termed Il plot
1t IL pleasant 10 turn from n signal example
Of deterioration and disappointment to the
! work OF an anonymous author who has invested
| time and brains in his undertaking. and who
cNtorts recognition by his ,serts We refer to
u remarkable book published 10y Carleton under
the meaningless al cdptdndaoa name of lie and
/ l. but which. considering the imaginative
! more nty have received some such title as
"saathus: A Fantasy" Tho pivotal assump-
/ ton on which tho action turns-tne existence Of
/ II mysterious parsonage cut of from human
| sympHthies by the curse Of perpetual
earthly ife-has given rise. since the be-
/ ginning OF our era. 10 mass OF legendary
literature Of which Eugene Sues Wandering
/ Jew is the most elaborate representative. IL
awkward hands. this Introduction Of super
natural element would be apt to entail gro
tesque results but here. as in the cunningly-
wrought fabrics Of Hoffman, and the elder
Hawthorne. your crcdullty is taxed hut once.
namely. in tho fundamental hypothesis. the
whole manipulation Of the theme-the cvou-
ton Of the strange story-is accomplished in
strict accordance with the laws Of form. We
need not say that when the nice conditions
| governing this species II composition are fully
| met the product must De allowed "a place among
the delightful feats OF the Imagination. The
skill of the writer under review may Doe meas
ured from n single circumstance: he has
so dealt with the ineongruOus siiua-
ton growing out Of the presence OF
the mythical individual above mentioned in tho
garish daylight of New York society. that the
readers interest il not once shaken by "a sense
OF absurdty When We add to this capacity of
stepping an intensely prosac scene in II weird
matchmaking atmosphere the adroitnoss
. with which the moro -trikl Of the olt legends
IA ".svn mo Tn t~At az the story. not ~ ran
dom diarcssions. but as keys. ella idations and
combinations Of the central figures suspected
identity. We shall be prepared to concodc that
the Romance 30 unluckily chrstcncd He and
! is Ia reality one ~ the marked books Of the
current hour We may add that it is seldom
our good fortune t. see in works Of fiction the
instrument Of language welded with such mic,
perception and adequate command OF It's re-
sources.