The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-26
An Interesting Novel.

The second collection ofanonymous stories
by American authors. 10 be published by Rob
erts Brothers. under tho general title OF the
No Name Series has been happily begun
with Si0nor MOHdhiii,fs Niece. tale OF modern
life in Rome. We need not at this late day re-
mind tho reader OF tho high average quality
which marked tho books previously brought
out under this title. Almost every narrative nd
mittcd TO this collection has invited. and well
sustained. far more rigorous criticism than IL
usually vOuchsafed to American novels; and
properly SO. since the living writer's Of English
fiction who can do better work may be reckoned
on the fingers Of ono hand. Ard here we may
point out that the No Name books have COM
PEELED tho most respectful attention and COM
mandcd n wide sale in England. II American
authors can 90 on producing work Of this
order OF merit. the question Of International
copyright will solve Itself by an entire change OF
front on the part Of American publishers.
The initial volume Of the now series is in
respect Of arrangement. diction. and most OF
the features Of technical excellence fully up 10
the standard created by its predecessors. OF
plot. however. there ia but little, and the climax
which WIS obviously essential TO happy end
ing OF the tale is secured By Il fragrant intorpo-
sition Of the deus el mdchUd. That. notwith-
standing lis weak ness Of structure, the book
ting attention attests the authors skill in the
manipulation Of incident and the projection Of
character. The persons Of tho story talk crisply
and engagingly. but they talk little too much.
The writer's insight Is so we'll trained and deli
cate. and the range Of her experience so con-
siderable, that the is sometimes tempted 10 cx-
pound her conclusions AT too great length.
Such Is notably tho case with a chapter in
which American civilization Is discussed. Aud
here We are constrained to make one or two
observations on the attitude n this lady (tho
Althor's sex is scarcely Disguised toward GER
tain social questions. II we had not outgrown
the sensitlyeuess VI twenty years ago. tho tone
Of her remarks on American society and lhe
Apologize vein into which she half uncon-
scOusly runs would be apt to give offence She
is earnest enough in her advocacy. but she con
cedes too much. and chooses the wrong ground
on which to make plea. Like n good many
other people who have lived somo years upon
the Continent, she is disposed TO credit her
countrymen with a little too much Tawness. md
her vindication OF our artistic and social short
comings. like Mr. William Storys defence
OF American institutions, has In II a trace
Of the condesconslon with when We pat
promising lad upon tho head. Tho fact is that
the MAJOR premise Of such advocates is all
wrong Here in the United States we have
never accounted II the supreme end and crown
ing glory Of human society 10 secure a statue
Of Angelo or q cartoon OF Raphael Tor the de-
location Of some scores Of amateurs. And We
are still less disposed to accept that theory now
that tho whole OF Europe seems to be drifting
steadily toward our view of tho aim Whitl
ought to shape civilization. We may assure tho
writer Of sgnor Monaldni's Niece that her
notions Of the social importance Of art are be-
ginning To look antiuIaied even In the country