The New York herald., 1877-07-23
LITERATURE.


BRrrY's STRANGE HrsroRY By the author Of Mercy
Phlibric4's Choice Boston Roberts Brotherz
The next volume In the Mcssrs. Roberts Brothers
successful No Name series s called "Hetty's Strange
History" and IL by the author OF the initial volume of
this The moment one Of these books appears
the world falls to guessing the name OF the author.
Following that attribute this story 10 Mrs.
Helen Hunt Jackson and she be not its author we
shall lose faith IN acuteness. Ono reason Tor
atributng "Hettys Strange History" to Helen Hunt IL
that We do not tnink that another woman in America
could have written 1t, aud It could no moro DO tho
work OF a man than could "Jane Eyre" The story Is
better in every way than "Mcrcy Philbrlck." 1t is
strong, dramatic in literary point Of view, and 20
full OF feeling and tru,hfuness that VIC were not
surprised read at its close that the author knew
Hety Gum and that this really her strange history
Tho story is thoroughly American, and tho
des rption Of tho New England village Of Wei
bury thoroughly characteristic. Tho early chapters
deal with delicate subject-the position OF woman
who Ind gone astray moro through weakness than
wickedness, and had aterward married her betrayor
He.ty Gunn who was power in the village, took tho
poor woman under her protection 'If there be
pitlIcss community in this world" says the writer
''t is q small New England village CaIvnsm. In its
sternest aspects broods over II narrowness and mo-
notouy mako rigid tho hearts when theology has
chilled and grim Pharisaim, born OF a certain sort
,nhumanty." Hetty, tho heroine Of the book. is
thirtysix years old when tho story begins. She Is
handsome without knowing 1t. abounding in physical
pcrfections of decided temper and executive dspo
sition. Her OF bearing the grief OF hcr
fathers death is odd, but not uncommon The most
inconsistent thing IN tho book its leading incident
Hcty married man some years junior, and after
living him happily until her forty sixth year.
she begins TO feel that she is old and in The
pier with younger and different
She broods this until 1t takes entire posses
sion OF her being and she carries into effect plan 10
rid him Of her presence and leave him free. She goes
deliberately 10 work TO make people think Sue has
been drowned and succeeds Her husband, who has
never had disoyal thought and always loved ner TO
the verge OF aaoration, nearly crazed Instead or
looking out for another wife he wraps himself up
the mcmcry OF Hcty and he becomes almost recluse.
the mistaken vile III the meantime belaSes herself to
retired Canadian village and works of OF
charity among It's simple French population. AT the
end OF years the husband By chance drifts to the
place. he his vile and recognizes her AT frat he
is filed with JOY, aud thcn, when he hears her story,
he justly condemns her. "Hctty," he exclaimed,
'you must be patient with me. Try and imagine what
is to have believed Tor ten years that you dead
to huve mourned you as dead; to havc spent ten
whole years OF weary, comfortless days, and then
to lind suddenly that you have been all this
time lvlng--volunarily hiding yourself mo,
necdlessly torturlng me! Why, Hety Het,y you
must have been mad. You must be mad now,
think kneel there and tell all these details
calmly and in such mattcrof-act way. Do you
realize what thing you have been doings"
sight OF stricken lace him to for
get his grievance IN his love. How q woman of Hetys
good common sense could have dono SO wild, not 10
say wicked, thing is hard to understand She seemed
conscious about everything. yet Tor ten she
kept up this cruel deception. We must, however do
her the justice 10 believe that she thought she was
doing right, only she laboring under II monoina-
We feel no hesitancy In pronouncing this tho
best OF the No Name series. It is finished as
story, and has intensity and originality than any
o,hers indeed, would be hard to dnd another
American story to match its peculiar qualities
OTHER PEOPLES CHILDREN. containing a veracous ac.
count OF the management OF Heicn's babics by
lady who knew just how The children OF other peoplo
should be trained; also an exact measure o the sue
cess obtained. By the author OF ''Hclen Babies"
New York: q. p. Putnam's Sons.
"Othor Peoples Children" Is a Of tin uaton
of ..Hclen's Babios" The children are Bulge and
Toddio and the iady who knew just how the children
of other people should be trained" IL Aunt Alice
MRS Burton. There is perhaps, moro literary merit
in this volume than in Hclen's Babies, but tho say
ings and doings of the children are TO brighter or
moro amusing. The author inscribcs the book ito
everybody who knows how to manage other peoples
children iaying to hts soul the 1atcrng unction that
II the compliment Is recognized IN the usual manner
every man. woman ana child In the Unnod States Will
buy copy" Mr. Habberton's preface which he calls
apologize and explanatory, is more chat with
the reader than is usual with prcfaces. He secths
70 have morbid dread the people will look for high
literary excellence rather than an hours amusement
in hts stories and expect from them whit they lay
clam TO- Only modest man could have tins feeling,
for as rule, when man has made success he snaps
his fingers criticism, saying, 81 am to be judged by
| NV successn With Mr.. HaDOerton It is different He
points to and says "Do not ju ige me by
these wait until show you what can do" In con-
| cluding his preface he says:--
Az lhe characters in "Other Peoples Children" arc
| the same us those which appeared In "Hcitns Ba-
bcs ana as certain line oil questioning which has
been vigorously followed for year threatens to gain
new orce the author Dcgs To assure the public, with
the hope that the statement may DO accepted as ina
| pericnces. "Hclens Babies" grew out OF
tempt 10 keep Tor Angie DAY record OF the
dolngs OF brace Of boys OF whom the author IS haf
owner: the remainder OF the book came from what
ever portion OF the human mind Is the source OF stor-
les generally. Had the author not neglected 10 change
the OF the children no one OF his acquantances
would nave declared the book family history, Tor
even at present hundred or more worthy couples
among his friends insist that Bulge and Toddc were
drawn from their children, and that neither the
author, any one else. can display boys hull SO
bright as their own darngx AS Or the ouuis charnc-
ters the author scarcely remember tho time when
he a bachelor, he Is positive that ne never sold
white goods and that ten days vacation, with only
a couple lively boys for company. lie a luxury which
no never enjoyed To inc young mon VINO have writ
ten know ii Miss Mayton has roally disposed OF her
hand the author only say that the lady never
had an abiding place except In ms own Imagination
her hand Will probably remain tree forever
How any man could wrl,e 3o3 pages OF baby talk and
mako interesting to grown people seems miraculous,
but Mr.. Habbcrton has done IT, not only once but
twice Before tho printers mud all OF his "copy" in
TYPO for this volume the publishers had received ao
vance orders tor edition OF 90 900 copies which has
since been increased to nearly as many more. There
is homeliness about these stories that makes them
popular Whether Mr.. Habberton could succeed with
any in the same voin is question, still we fancy
that there Is publisher in the country who would