The New York herald., 1878-10-21
LITERATURE.
HENRY JAMES, JR.'s, NovEL-PRINcE BIS
MARCKs PRIVATE LErTERs-'sTHE EURO

HENRY JAMES, JR.'s, NovEL-PRINcE BIS
MARcK's PRIVATE LErTERs-'sTHE EURO
PEANs.''
The very qualities that make Horny James. Jr, one
OF our critics him from being altogether
successful as q novelist He has a critical and
analytic mind. AIS characters are arranged before
him, and he regards them 1rst through microscope
ana then disseots them with lancet. This peculiar
treatment was nosicsable in "Roderck HUDSON, was
more marked IN 'sThe American" ana Is carried 10
the last degree OF surgery In 'srhe Europeans"
tHoughton, Ossood Cob Mr.. James' best stories
are his shorter Tnore Is moro OF tho human In
the volume entitled "rhe Passionate Pilgrim" than In
all his novels put sogctneE "Roderick Hudson"
was an unpleasant sort Of puppet and "rhe
American" moro like q tsior's dummy with
. Boston training than a real There
Is not human being in s'The Europeans" unless
except Lizzie Acton, 10 at best mere sketch.
While the OF 'The American Is Lard In Europe
that OF "rhe Europeans laid in America The change
Is not pleasant one; we prefer Mr. James In the
OLD World. The local color thors helps 10 warm his
subjects the Purtanio GOODNESS OF New England united
with his Icy nature, strikes chill to tho heart
OF the reader. II there was some means by which
Mr.. James could his figures aud lot another
Pygmxion breathe life into them the result would be
more agreeable 10 the reader. Not that we do not
admire nis literary style, bat we arc bcnumbed BY
his cold dissection and frg,d treatment OF the char
actors he puts up consideration The Baroness
Munster is q woman VINO should stand out In warm
and gorgeous coloring, but she seems littlo
better than a machine. NO cannot tell
whethor Felix, her brother, tho other European,
s tor good follow or ne'srdo-weli, with his
perpetual smile and trling manner. The story Is
that OF German Ameroan baroness and her painter
prsther, who came to live with their very New Eng
laud relatives in the neigh borhood Of Boston, The
Baroness has contracted morganatic marriage with
. German prince, who Is anxious to get rid OF her.
AS one might expect, the arrival OF this woman OF
the world. this almost adventures. In quiet New
England family would produce . sensation. Tho Bar
described thirty three years OF age; "ber
com plexion was fa.isueu, as the French say; her
mouth large, her lips too full, her teeth uneven,
her ch,n commonly modellsdj she nau . thick nose,
and she smiled-she was constantly smiling-the
lines beside !, too high toward hor eyes" Ger
truds, tho other heroine, hardly more attractive
In personal appearance .:Sne tall and pale, thin
and little AWKWARD; her hair lar and perfectly
straight; her eyes dark, and they had the sngu
arity OF seeming At dun and restless" This
docs suggest please mt picture at all; We fancy
an underdone school girl whose eyes have grown
'dull and restless" from too much study and slate
pencil diet. Nsvertheess the dashing Felix fell in
love with shis cousin married herr the Baroness.
failing TO the "catch," Robert Acton, returning
TO her German home. There q great many
good points in this etory. Mr.. Wentworth has
. good dcai OF tue New England father IN his compo.
sitton--a who couldn't understand amusing him.
self because ho ne longer child. Tho convcrsa-
tions different characters at times md
meaningless, but Mr.. James remarks Loading up to
them are always intelligent and often brilliant