The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-17
wInlsm RIseL.. I.n,,,, Nnrsi.

thinR larger and deeper than an idy or a draw.
Inc room comedy seems 10 DO established by
his latest work. Mcleod Of Dare tHarpers,. yot
that we do not find ourselvrs introduced onco
more 10 the old scenes--the only scenes n,.
parently with which this author deems himself
thoroughly acouanted-namcly. the western
| Highlands. and what is known as society mt
the West End OF London. The old and some.
what shabby keep from which tho young CHA,
| OF the McLcods sets out upon his Journey 10 tho
southiands 10 In surroundings and associations
q duplicate Of the rugged. patriarchal home In
| which the tourist Lavender found his Princess
OF Thule; and just as the herolne Of that e,orv
had father. 90 the you z Laird has q
mother and cousin. whose function In the
story IL 10 typiiy the severe and simple
virtues. and illustrate the generous though
somewhat uncouth. mnnners Of an Isolated aud
semi-foudal position. In both novels we en-
counter some OF those humble followers rorre-
senting not so much the constant service OF tho
antique world as tile desperate and unauestion.
Ing ndelity OF half-savHgc clansmen. These
minor figures. moreover. arc drawn with all tho
/ vividneEs and neatness IN tho details Of feature
bearing. aud dialect. which have secured Tor
/ Mr.. Black species Of monopoly IN the
/ contenip orary portrayal Of Scottish life. In
a word his latest work Is a Highland story
/ but 1t is also q transcript. siugularly fresh
and warm. from tho brightest side Of the
| London world. The drawing rooms in which
/ this writer presents US bear. like those
/ Of Trolope. tho impress Of reality. but IN.
! like his. or those OF any other living
novelist are invested with rare and
dainty charm. Mr.. Black does not always ask
| us TO put on evening dress hut when he does we
nrc certain Of meeting delightful people. We
are never bored in the society into which he in.
| PRODUCES US. aud il seems atriumph Of genre
painting 10 reproduce so accurately the forms
/ Of conventional existence. whia infusing 80
much eayety and winsomeness into lis spirit.
All this Ia tho moro satisfactory because In the
present Instance. the author who has hitherto
drawn bis foremost persons from the millo
or upper middle class. now Invites us to ascend
with him some OF the social submits. wehaye
the honor. for example. OF chattiu: At one bail
or another with two Of tl<ce puehesses.
and exchange word or two with tie
Prince OF Wales. We observ, that our
conductor does not. Ike ThG'kcray ioso
bis breath on these occasions and rctrcat.
Ing 10 Il corner puckcr up his tremul3us lbs
into tie ghost q a sncsr In this novel thu
Young men talk 70 her Grace rs &. they were In
| the habit VI meeting her every o,hef eve. NJ
during the season. anil this. Wa need not saE
10 toleraby conclusive indication that tins
writer knows something about the society lie
depicts. s. far however. wo have merely
markedthe double bgcksround-int the Hebridas
and in DclErGvia-against which is projected
the strongest and most traglca character which
Mr. Black has created. The clements II asts.k.
!ngy dramatic situation are f'unl In tho Pros
/ once Of u young stranger from the North with
| ais candor. good faith. enthusiasm, and pro-
found capacity Of vehement and poignant feel.
ing. amid the pale. ,epid. and stereotyped sonsa-
tons and emotions OF an artificial VOID,
where. moreover. {; is bis fate 70 fan IN
ove With tho most artificial a. hsrcs
an actress who happens for man,h or
two 10 DO the pet Of certain drawing rooms
cnEor for a new distraction. This clever. but
essentially shallow your: person. after con.
truiirg hog vanity by accepting the devotion 81
Sir Keith Mcleod. discovers tta, Aer Highland
lover is no; particularly rich aud cannot aG1gl
n house In London wheroupon she forsets 70
pract!se her Scottish songs aal THROWS tho
young Laird over for one 81 her own Kind. ID
to this point the action OF the ia.a has kept
within tho limits ~ comedy. but tho slight q
this s!ily woman. watch most y0uae i.lows
would probably have lived to count
! blessing In disguise. r'uscs the soInhrc pas.
sions Of n viking IL the man she has mis-
used. This hGrdsom- and well-nannered
barbarian from the Western Islands seems
to know nothing Of tho ehc'ks upon e.
centric impu.se inv1ntel BY civilization. su'h
40 the conceit of seli-repression. tho tarrN
81 ridicuic, the reverence for custom. Ahe1
Mcleod 10 s;ill IA Highlander. resoluto to Wreas
his will. aud least 81 all disposed 70 selicorIoi
whore he cannot accuse himseit Of WRONG. II
s true tho young woman in London has refused
! him. has engaged 70 marry another. but that's
no conclusive reason why he should give her
up. IL sueh case his ancestors would have
cut matters short by an ab1u 'tion; what that