The New York herald., 1879-08-25
BOSTON BOOKS.
THE pANBuRY NEwsMAN's STORY.

BOSTON, August %, 1879.
The early birds who return from the country the
first week in September to have their reward in
the shape of little book by Danbury Bailey or to
speak properly and respectfully Mr.. James NJ
Bailey the editor OF the Danbury Neics the title of
the volume being "Mr. Phillips Goeness." 1t is
strange little story. The hero. Tom Griggs. is In
love with Anna Bsyard. and makes the usual pro-
tests Of devotion. undying and thorough; is willing.
nay anxious. to die. that she may never know
seconds weariness in short. is in the state of mind
quite familiar to every man who has ever been in
love. and to every woman who has ever had lover
or read another woman's love letters, and in less
than year after his marriage he has forgotten all
his VOWS. and husband and wife leading life OF
nharmonious selfishness in which there is nothing
beautiful. although there is nothing that calls for
the services Of divorce court. ''This is a simple
story. simply told" says Mr. Bailey. in his sCon.
ciliatory Word" to the reader If it is not attrac
tive it is because it is true. and finds cruel en-
phasis all about YOU" There is something almost
like bitterness in the way in which the difference be-
tween the conduct Of lover and husband is con-
trasted, and had woman written the book she
would certainly have been accused of being soured
by experience. As is the author it must pass
for piece of keen observation OF other men.
Mr. Phillips. whose goneness gives the title to the
0
hero's newspaper is printed and his goneness is a
sensation that seizes him whenever he tries to reveal
the OF his affections to tho young woman upon
whom they happen to be fixed. In tho opinion of
Mr.. Phillips woman IL "a fattener, O koeloy.rer'
and his suferings from her influence justify him In
the conclusion. The other subordinate characters
are not numerous. and none Of them has any story
Of his own. the whole strength of the book being
concentrated on the history of the hero and
love. There In very good realistic picture of
formal New England prayer meeting and an admira-
bio miniature portrait Of q small boy, named
Dockerty Quimby. Those are Dockorty's reflections
a. he contemplates the ivo cent piece which he
Is to send to the heathen:-
"whats the good? I'm good mind ter spend Il
myself; that's what I'm a good mind ter do.
I'm just az good rs heather, II l do wear Clothes
But nobody gets pennies for me an talks about me,
an makes pictures in books of mo- won't stand
this much longer. can tell You. l amt going to
have my money scooped up like this. y I've
good mind to be heathen my selt. there = 80 much
money in it,
The style In which the book Is writton IL much
better than that OF any OF Mr.. Baeys former works.
and indicates careful and thorough revision. The
descriptions of n country printing Office aud OF
scenes in village life are free from exagReration and
full of clever touches and readers will lay do wn
the book with the heartfelt wish that 10 had three
volumes instead of one. Editors who have not yet
learned the New York art OF ntrenching themse YES
from visitors will especially enjoy this etched por
trait of a familiar nuisance :--"They sIouchcd in
hesitatingy. gazed about furtvely dealt In forced
smiles and seemed to have been created without
special reference to their use. but in the rather
vague hope that they would some time prove ayaila-
able for 'hlling in 4"
'Mr. Phillips Goneness" will be published by Lee
Shepard.