The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-21

crush proud end sensitive hearth We do not
say that eny avenue OF escape from dlsappoint-
ment lay open TO Newman. We are disposed to
mink that. given the character Of the dowager
Mnrchioness. there was none But OF sundry
futile expedients one. at all events. might have
been chosen which should not gruvely belittle
the character OF the hero. besides going far TO
rehabiiitate his personal enemies.
Mr.. james has ut no time discovered lively
sense OF humor. or. at all events. the power Of
interpreting humor 10 his readers. We are less
disposed. however. to regret the absence of THE
quality in the present volume. because. as we
have said. the action turns on more than one
incident OF tragic or melodramatio nature
But we cunnot 40 easily condone certain con
sitaint and irigidty dscerniblc in passages
winch might be frnught with intense pathos. 1T
Is probably consciousness OF certain short
cOinngs in this direction which Is charReable
with one OF Mr.. James's very few technical
faults. He Is sometimes led to mar climax
going back TO the picture aud retouching 1t
again and ngain. as IL he suspected another
might have infused more fervor and poignancy.
This il true. for instance OF two specially i'm
| prcssive scenes--the death bed OF Valentin de-
bellegardc and the final interview Of Newman
with Madame de Cintre. And generally. II
may be said that. In grave and moving crises.
Mr.. james drops too frequently into II tone OF
gentle cynicsm. almost OF pcrsinage as II he
felt the strain ON his sensblities excessive and
intolerable. So much for qualifying sugges-
tons. 1t Ia none the less true that this novel OF
The American" which commands dscrm-
NATIVE attention. Is merltorious work Of art.
and. II we compare II with the writer's earlier
essays an augury OF still riper and more glow
ing achievement
1t is credtable to American readers that Mr..
Jemoss story should have won hearty recogni-
ton. Yet we are constrained to add thnt an
other novel has been published during the
/ present year which deserves "A larger measure
| OF approval. although II seems to have received
less. In the first place the narrative is far
| longer. and obviously. provided other condi-
| lions are equally well satisfied. this circum-
sanre OF itself b.tokcns more remarkable
performance. Before indicating. however.
some of the merits which distinguish Garth"
II may be well to ask what is atttestod by the
pscuniary SUCCESS of novels. OF course. on the
threshold OF criticism lies tho inquiry does the
| book please for novel Is interesting or II is
nothing. But interesting to whom? 1t is
known to booksellers that there has never been
any great demand for the tales OF Poe and the
elder Hawthorne Again. the works OF Howells
OF James. even Of George Eliot. cannot pre-
tend to vie in interest. IL circulation be critic
rion with the precious piece Of inanty current
during the past summer under the name Of
That Husband OF Nine" The essential
quality Of charm. no less than the ancillary pro-
prietics belonging to q work Of art whether
novel. picture or statue-can only be authori-
,atively affirmed by people OF taste and
the question for the mass ~ men
pust needs be. not whether they like a book. but
whether they ought to like ii. But 1t must be-
owned that while like Plate they are iain b.
query. what is truth. they will not always stay
Tor nm answer. Fielding and Bnlzac find few
READERS in this country. aud it ia probable that
tho authors Of The American " and Garth"
must content themselves with an esoteric audi
cncc. We can 500. neverth cless. that the former
story would appeal to u somewhat larger class
since there is more widespread curiosity
touching tue doinrs Of fellow couniryman in
Paris than about his experiences at home. II
Il fact. too. which We arc not called upon 10
-tirma'ize or Justify. that majority of those
Cultivated Americans who are competent 10 en-
10y imaginative works ~ a hiGh ordcr.are vastly
more Interested in portrayal of the Faubourg
st. GERMAN than q, n New England village.
They think they know all about the latter but
either this is a great mistake or art II wholly
futile. While 1t Is plain. therefore. that Mr.
James has hit upon luckier choi,e OF theme.
we are 10y no means to infer too hastily that he
has made the better novel.
Atlol All, however. II iF lnoNDlicabln 10 TINT
the mass Of hoinoly folk who follow with hun-
CRY eye the dramas OF life unfolded in the daily
press should not scan Garth" with eneer in.
trrest. Just ~ We have heretofore been CON.
founded by booksellers assurance thar the
Gold Bdg" and tie Murder in the Rue
MOrgun" are In M considarnhle r4on.st ror
this story OF" Gartn" mas what 80 many lannon's
novels have wanted. nstrong. inserutsh,. vnt
compact and organic plot. The plot IL intricate
but the intricacy is OF thn O, watch ,yhereeverv
spring aud wheel, all tho tiny cocs md w,raa
have their nice function, 90 that when the nm.
pointed sum OF revolutions is complete tn. hour
strikes and the tale il told. Regarded merely
a. piece OF mechanism. the plnn OF MIR Uaw.
thorne's narrative IA scarcely less worthy If
dissection than the skeleton OF Tom Jones"
And when we reflect how many readers his
deNterous construction OF plot. almost his only
merit has rallied to wiikie Collins. we marvel
that all seekers Of sensation have not been
tempted Ia track the wndinss OF the strany.
history set forth in the pages of Gnr,h "