New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-04
RECENT NOVELS.

HOMOsELIE. THE Round Robin series.l 16mo, PIP.
367. James K. Osgood Co,
ROYAL GENTLEMAN. BY ALBION W. ToURGEE.
LID. l2lno. PIP. 500 Fords. Howard & Hubert.
ONE OF THREE and MADE OR MARRIED. BY .IEs-
Sic FoTHERGILL. THE Leisure Hour Seres.l 16mo,
PIP. 1913. Henry Holt Il Co.
The latest addition to the Round Robin Series is
story of much than common interest and
merit We Judge from its inequalities and especi-
ally from the marks of certain unhandiness
managing the machinery of the plot. that it is the
work of now. III the arr of vel-making Too
much prominence, for Instance. is given TO incidents
which lead to little: curiosity is stimulated without
sufficient cause: mysteries and forebodings
jured up only to die away again and the denoue-
nent. with the inevitable explanations. is some
what weak. But to counterbalance these defects
Homoselle'' has many strong points of excellence.
1t has little claim to the rank of a work of
literature. Many of its pages are full of a simple
poetical charm 1t presents vivid pictures of fas
cinating and not too familiar life. 1t sketches
character with vipor. Its narrative is animated;
its Dialogue is natural and lively: its descriptive
passages forcbo: its action is rapid and in
more than one chapter 1t strikes the note OF true
feeling. The Is laid Oh a Virginia plantation.
mauy years before the war, and a rather piquant
effect is produced by bringing into the home of
cblvalrous, hCspltable kind hearted freeiving aud
nearly bankrupt save-owner. at the very be giu-
nng of the story. "a laundering Englislman." who
makes the mistakes natural tn u stranger such
delicate ground and is destined To be the hero of
the little drama The central incident of the story
is an abortIve iusurrecton of the slaves. who are
reused by preacher Of their race and n
Northern school-master to attempt night attack
upon Richmond In dealing with this part Of the
subject. the author seems TO have adopted the easy
rule thai the novelist need not try to solve social
political. moral problems, aud may leave the
Gctiou characters to ,hink, talk aud act as such
persons would have thought. alkcd. and acted at
the time of the story In short. Homosele" is
neither an exposure. nor a defence. nor lesson;
it is simply interesting tale and very bright
picture of MANNERS. AS a specimen of it's style.
may take the following pretty scene:
About an hour before the time appointed for
dinner, tomoselle Despard was lying asleep IN her
own room. Sleep had cveraken her. 1t had been
her intention 10 take not more than ten minutes
rest before changing her morning dress. But the
ten minutes had a ready extended to an hour. and
she had not stirred. A breeze from the south, fra
grant with the breath Of clover ueI Is and Hover
beds, n"aed IN at HE window. aud played with the
loose teudrils of her hair. but did not succeed IN
moving the long lashes fast closed over her blue
eyes
After while the door opened softly. and a dark
face peeped IN then pair of shoulders. and finally
Chloc's whole person entered.
wide open smile spread over her cOuntenance
ut the sight of her mistress
La Miss Ula fast asleep" she chuckled to her
self. Miss ulla Miss uinm shc called aonol.
But the sleeper did not move Then she passed her
taxable expression of love aud admiration IN her
dark velvety eyes.
Miss liza time to gut ready for dinner"
Chl"es rich hut uncutIvated voice seemed incap-
able OF producing a line or acute sound. Her
vowels were of the broadcast character: and lila
was the nearest approach she ever made to pro-
nounclnR the pretty name of lila
Miss lila. tmn 10 dress for dinner" she re-
peated and liomosellc awOkc at last with n start
"Chloe have been asleep"
"feS, maam, dat yon is come to see Don't you
COS | hear Miss Berti" tell uncle Dick daT was
dinner"
strange gentleman! dare say it is that Eng
lishnan who was here this morning" said Homo.
selio and Oh hotherl suppose | shall have to
do my hair all over again"
az Miss ua let me Tx yo' hair" pleaded Chloe.
well be quick about IT," said Iiomosce, taking
her seat before he mirror. ami removing her comb.
IL was not often she thus ln'inlreh Choe, and Inc
OF hei race. she possessed a natural talent for
arranging hair. JfeI slender hnaers had firm,
light touch. aud gentle movement. that made her
manipuatons n luxury and, what was more sur.
prslng she displayed undoubcd taste in the grace
and simplicity OF her handlwork. Sho liled 10th
ing better than the handling of her young la,ly's
soft hair which was Of PALE brown color with
threads OF darker hue running through It, like the
repas,od the comb through it's shining lengths
Hon"selle looked into the dim, old fashioned
mirror and caught sight If the girls face Just above
her own. There were the two reflections in juXta-
position and ~ she glanced from one to The other
2 new thought flashed upon her, or rather. a
vivldly recalled
,r. Why, CHLOE" she exc amed-and her sur
you are something like me- after all"
Chloe laughed "Well, if / is Miss Ulla,o she
knew ntuitIvsly what HonoseIls feIt.~~ t a ST
h "rrn me" IKE you than yo' dark shadder fol-
Hounoselle FLUSHED. The affcctionate humility Of
the sirFs reply, and the CLEAN of unconscious
poetry expressed IT her uncouth negro dialect,
touched her With the quick impulse Of n generous
nature rghting itself after mumrntary Injustice
she began comparing misl ress aud maid. with rigid
severity toward herself. There was certainly a re-
m linz
differing widely in color and expression Homosrlio
smiled Mt her INDIGNATION of the morning as she
its th3ughtiui eyes, and cloud OF straight, light
hair looked cold and colorlcss by Choe's golden
brown face, her soft dark her full red lips.
and her glossy black hair ripping up in strong
vigorous waves from brow and temples. But she
said nothing m she contemplated the atectionaio
langh'er-oving slave from Il standpoint But
when the last harpin had been put in place aud
Chloe, in thorough admiration of her own work,
Oar now. Jest look dat ut head Miss lila, hang
and pins can't better il )" SHE answered warmly
- Yes, you have outdone yourself to-day, Chloe
YETI forget"
mo. maam. Aunt Cinthy say she swine do it
Tell her not to touc.. them until I sec her II ia
time for your dresses to be made long"
Chloe looked down at her shapely bare legs with
great smile that seemed to swallow up her face in
n flash of merrlment
La Miss Ulla is growed up'"
Yes: you arc as tall as an; and that decd
me to give my old blue dress TO you nste adj of In
Cinthy. Get it out of my wardrobe and put il ON I.
"Thanky, ma am said Chloe, delighted at tbs
prospect OF wearing enc OF her young lady's
But whatT
~, ~" 1t Will be mighty announcement when runs wild
Mars Skip and de dog, and when climbs trees, and
go over fences" N
"a Royal Gentleman" is the new title of an old
book. Judge Tourgee's story was published several
years ago under the name of ToinetJe" and i. now
reprinted in company with q new sketch OF negro