The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-30
ROMANCE, sAr1sE AND VERSE.

Brotuers) rs whoie- is not MI. Blacks best novel.
Tho weaving OF his American travels in with the story
is artistic as the story 81 English travel in The
Strange Adventures OF a Pbaton." This want OF con-
tinuty however does not aTec, tho interest in tho
story, which absorbing from the first page to the last
The hero, Hugh Baliour is most attractive charac-
ter such man as any woman might be proud to call
husband. With Lady SILVIA, his wife, we have but III
tic sympathy Her husband was Just the same before
his marriage as It, yet she felt that they
were es,rangcd That she was shocked at the wire-
pulling III politics Is not surprising. For ono who
thought a man was elected to Parliament
because the people wanted him there on
account of his stalcsmanlikc qualities, and that
this accomplished by Tree and independent voters,
uninfaonced by filthy lucrc or seductive whiskcy,
must have been surprised wscn made acquainted
with the bribery and corruption conspicuous in cleo
tons In OF Balfour's clectionecring it was
very mud being limited to an offer 10 buy certain
property from an influential and turn it into
a public park. In seeking separation from her
husband silvia acted in most heartlcss man.
ner girl may be unsophis,icatca and not
DC cold bloodcd. 1t would have been impos-
s,be for an American girl 10 have acted as
Silvia did thank Heaven Aside from Balfour and
Lady Silvia there deliberately drawn characters
IL the book Lady silva's father, Lord Wiilowby, is
merely sketch. he is one OF those deoayed noble
men who live in good style and keep up a handsome
establishment nothing year. How they manage
this 1t is possible say; there mus be something
in blood, or perhaps creditors in England are not as
persistent they this country Queen Tita and
Won Roscn and Bell now hs wife, who ngurcd as the
leading characters in tho 'PhBton, arc introduced
as subordnates here It is they who travel through
America, bringing Lady Slvia with them. The plot
OF tho story is very simple, but thcre is something
very hOu NELL e in waV 4
There is an amusing incident recorded page las
OF the library edition OF this work. where Baour has
invited Boiiiho dine with him ut the club is
interested in the subject on which no is conversing
that he forgets his guests wants. Boltho is man to
whom dinner is the important matter OF the day and
his suppressed rage and indignation are very anus
ing Mr.. Black writes about America in decent
spirit; found something more here than slang aud
pittoons; although have plenty OF both articles,
we have other things we'll and OF these this ira
weller writes OF The fret group of Americans no met
he snys--They fully bore out all We had heard about
this country. The eldest daughter was rather pretty
but saow and unhealthy. and she drank frghtiul
quantity OF ice watcr. The mamma was shrunken and
shrveed--ail Dyes like young crow-and seemed
afflicted with a profound melancholy. The papa de-
voted himself to his newspaper and his toothpick,
and there two younger children, noisy tur
Abulcnt ported and impertnenL All these we'll known
crtstics we perceived at glance 1t is truo
VIC aterward discovered that the family English,
but that was OF little account" OF this city this no
says:-s.we had expected to find Now York u sort OF
oyergrown Liverpool, but We were in Paris!
Paris Paris, Paris evcrywhore. Look at tho cafes,
with their small marble tables; look at tho young mon
in straw hats, who continually chewing tho end
of damp segar that won't keep alight. y
And still she believed 1t New York, though wo
went in the evening great hall that all lit up
with small coiorcd lamps, and the band playing
Lecocq and the same young in the straw hats
were promanadlng around and smoking cigarettes
and smart bringing glasses OF beer to tho
small tables in the boxes"
ON the title page oil this book is announced that
Mr. Black wrote this volume "in conjunction with an
American writer" This is to test the copyright law
the samo as Mr. Farjoon did by having Mr.. Jefferson
write few words In his ''Soomon lsaacs.''
s'wmAT COST HER."
Mr. Payn's novel; .'What He Cost Her, Harper &
Brothers. is conspicuous for ts title than for
any merit in the book. The style OF TINS writer is
rather common, but no is not without certain dra-
matte instincts "What He Cost Hcr'' was a law
suit or to quote from the book, "Shc had lost her
honor lost ner fame Tor ono whom she had not do
serted but who had deserted her" The plot is
rather improbable. A girl marres a under an
assumed name he leaves her Tor another woman,
whom he marres, and she sues him for dcser,iou;
but he wins the suit because OF the assumed name
business The heroine is weak and tho hero is weaker
Altogether the book Is not worth the tmc expended
upon 1t.
stDITA.n
That person who gays he cannot read book that
contains the words "Hoot, moni" would lay down
.Dita," by Lady NJ. Majcndie Henry Holt 4 Coz,
after CHANGING at It's FIRST page But IN doing he
i,,tto q
in which, notwithstanding its beginning, there is very
little OF daicct conversation. "Dita" has a great
deal OF freshness and purity that is strong fea-
ture OF the Leisure Hour scries although its plot
old as the hills The heroine, Perdta. supposed TO
be an Legitimate child up TO the last chapters,
when marriage certificates found in secret
drawer and she restored 10 her rights.
She did not have us hard tme as most girls in her
position, for She was very pretty and very amiable
aud was adopted into respectable family in infancy.
she is ovcd by loves Sir Edward Norton, but re-
fuses his offer OF marriage on account of the mystery
OF her birth Whom this rs cleared up they are united
aud everything goes well with them. We cannot say
that the work ends happily, for Angus Macmonacn
turns miseraby, and his young wife dies at the
shock produced by the discovery Of his real character
Notwithstanding this tritcness OF the plot the story
Is freshly told and ieels genuine interest In tho
characters.
s'TuI REPUBLIC"
'The New Republic" (Scribner, Wcford & Arm
s,rong) canno. bc called novel. although 1t is work
OF nction Tho book has created great cxciteme nj
IN England, although just published. " Is satire
upon certain circle OF scieutnc literary and artistic
men and women, giving their style OF conversation
ana manner OF thought Matthew Arnold, DR. Pussey,
Herbert Spencer, Mr. Patcr, D. G. Rossett aud many
others arc served up by Mr.. W. II. Maliock with
good naturod wit These people supposed to BIO
guests country house and tho subjects Of con.
vcrsation Tor the dinner table written out with
the menu. Tho "Aim of Life" camo on with
the soup and was followed by 'Town and Country
with the fish, which was designed to intro
duce discussion as to where the aim OF life
was TO best attained. After this by easy transi.
ton, came ''Soccty; ncxt by way Of entries, "Art
and Literature" "Love and Money" 'Rches and
Civilization - then "rhe Present." something
and nstIu oh rluitv