The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-22

Tho plot, however is not unlohcd with tho
consummate dcNtcriiy and artiul rotlconcc
which distinguished such performances as tho
Drumo de la Rue De la Paix." or Monsieur
lie Cou.' There is another point too often over
looked 10y those who would turn to account tho
morbid relish for what may DO called the roe
nance and mystery " crime. so widely awal-
cncd by Gaboriau's nctons. Tho latter au-
thor was mo-; only the most dcft weaver IT mar
rativc, md since Edgar Poe. tho most pro-
ncicnt in firing and suspcnding eNpccta-
ton, hut he had other merits OF
high order. without which, indeed we might
Wow his complicated web Of incident with as
much Indifference as % Chinese puzzle lie was
n close student Of human life. not only in It's
morbid, but in its wholesome and winsome
aspects; and he could draw living mcn and
women whose odious or pleasing individuality
loaves It's stamp upon the mind. Besides tho bold
vitality Of the actors in Gaboriau's narratives
the persons Of Pontmartin's novel movo before
us ike "a company Of marioncttcs There are
crimes enough, but there arc no criminals
| They who perpctrate the deeds Of violence and
wrong arc puppets without voico or inn
puiso Of their own. and whose clumsy mo-
/ cnnnical motions deceive nobody II is GER
| tainly astonishing that 80 weak a book rs this
/ should nnd translator. seeing that not only
/ the larger part Of Bid1ac's Com6dic Humane"
/ but almost all tho vigorous II wells " Frederick
/ Soulic are vet unknown to English readers
/ Why docs not somebody delight the lovers II
/ sensational romanccs with a version ~ the lat
/ tors Saturnin Fichoty' and why has no ono
J taken in hand the remarkable series Of con-
ncctcd tales published 10y Ernest Fcydcau un-
dor the respective titles of NJ lie Saint Bertrand:
Tn Debut rOpcra.' and lie Mari do la
| Danseuse?'
Among the recent numbers Of Applctons'
/ handy volume series are two short stories 10y
/ ASpEE TnruLiEr. We have spoken at length
/ OF this author, who ranks with Alphousc Daudct
and Gustavo Droz among tho most promising
writers in the younger generation Of French
novelists. and have pointed out many points Of
| resemblance To- his English contemporaries
| Hardy and Black. That master Of pastoral
narrative who has had the skill to wilc us far
/ from the madding crowd. and to stay us
beside him under tho greenwood tree. Is not
more faithfully idyllic ia landscape and senti-
ment than is Theuriet. and the latter is quite rs
| sure 10 charm u with graceful AMI poetic prose-
a. is the laureate OF Thule's Princess. To
many readers his books must be a sort Of revc-
lation. for they lie wholly outside OF the con-
vcntional fantastic world-where men and
women invariably love the wrong person. and
break with more or less nbrultncss the seventh
COMMUNICATIVE world invented by Balzac.
and tacitly coun.cnancedb by About. Fcuill,t. and
the majority OF the later French novclists. On
| the other hand Theuri,t's stories open to US a
world where wives do actually contryc. sooner
or later. to love their husbands. is it pos
| sihle." many readers Of Antoinctto' and the
House Of the Two Barbels will doubtless cry.
such scenes Of sober and rightiully directed
Infection can be- laid in France?' So It seems.
and we might venture to say a priori that
amouS some thrty-esht millions of thrifty
| and honest and singuiary claunish folk
| such thing rs coniuCal virtue would probably
exist A. h. the former Of tho two novelties
Just mentioned tho author molcstly terms
it m adaptation Of Bhoda Broushton's story
Good bye Sweetheart" but few readers we
imagine would have detected tho fact. the two
books having really very little in common.
except the central motive which Is trite enough.
The collision OF a hayward. giddy. impulsiyc.
feminine nature. with rugged. grave. inlex-
lille lover is n familiar theme to English novel
readers. and can hardly. We should think. be an
unusual phenomenon in Fronch society,"
Three or four other stories Of small compass
included in tho same series seem 10 deserve
special notice. By far tho best Of these is hrs.
GdmSIOrOnghs Diamonds. 10y JULIAN HAw-
THOESE. and although Il must be esteemed but
a slight performance for the author Of Garth.
it Is on the WHO'D tho most crcditahle
piece OF work in the list OF Handy vol
umcs. We have glimpses in this little book
Of the qualities att'st"d VS. Nlr. Hawthorne In
his larger wurks-expertre- In construction,
fertility ia IA" Invention % incident. ski! in the
sharp projection and Elective grouping # char
acters and happy faculty Of landscape draw
ing. The novelette, opcus like comedy. trcm-
b.es now and then on the edge Of mololrama.
and concludes IN tho merrlmcnt II farce 1t
rceD rtl- la. adventures. of a very yDunr and