The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-07

Among tho novels of the month. Bonnie Kd'e.
by CHRISTIAN REID lAppletonsl. seems to de-
serve special attention from American readers.
The peculiar interest OF this story is largely due
To intrinsic merit. but 1t Is also recommended
by n genuine flavor Of the soil. The young
American lady whose nom de plume we have
cited. has some rarc qualifications for the
vocation which she has chosen. She has
the Gift OF observation. and it is PLAIN
that she has had unusual opportunities
for iis exercise. II our English kins-
folk would understand what We mean by
ladies and gentlemen in America who are not
spurious limitations Of English or French
models. but genuine representatives Of an lndi-
genous good society, they will do well to ex-
anime the stories OF Christian Reid. We may
say at the same timo-and we 40 80 the more
freely because We think the author is not one to
care for the pale. stereoyped phrases which
pass Tor laulatory criticsm-that none OF her
compositions regarded not as essays in
photography. but as works OF art. have
yet attained high level OF excellence.
The dialogue is crisp. and the writer I'M
derstands how to keep within tho lines.
and still emphasize the coloring OF ordi-
nary talk but there is rather too much OF il.
The incidents are not superluous; they do not
miss the essential purpose of revealing chnrac-
ter or advancing action. but they are somewhat
loosely artlculated. and they arc not always
graduated In point of intensity to their place in
the evolution Of the plot. In all the works
hitherto published by this author although we
ought perhaps to except Daughter of b.
henia"-the canvas seems 10 be too broad for
the subject. The business Of the piece
could be despatched with Tower characters
and in q smaller number Of pages, and.
OF course, the interest Of tho story would gain
by the compression. Notwithstanding the sue
cess Of Fielding and Thackcruy owing to
specific merits which we need not discuss hcre.
there is little doubt that for the novel the dra-
matte is more effective thnn the Biographical
method But felicity in construction il some
thing which may be compnsscd by the study Of
French models, and it ought to present no in
superablc difficulties to the author Of bonnie
Kate. who ovlnecs shrcwd insight into char
aeter, n satisfactory power OF invention ~ re-
CARDS incident. and ductile. agreeable style.
The second and concluding volume of A
Modern Minister which purports to be tho in =
tial work OF series to be called Tho Cheve-
ley Novels" has been issued by the Harpers.
On tho whole, we should incline TO modify con-
sidrrby tho language in wAirh we spoke Of
tho first installmcnL Tho authors short ,om-
ings arc intensified and his unqucstionahle
merits are less frequently and sharply marked.
The extreme overcrowding Of tho stage and
the compleNity OF tho plot are naturally felt TO
Do worse grievances in tho second half OF tho
story because Wa were hitherto sup
ported ny tho hone that in tho end each
character would HAD his proper niche, and
every thread would be unraveled Bat while
A Modern Minister" is rather a Kaleidoscope
exhibition OF modern English life than a com
pact. organic. univocal composition. yet tho