New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-07-03
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A NEW YORK SATIRE.

suffering for censor. Perhaps since " The Poti-
phar Papers there has been 10 truly effective and
brilliant exposure Of the vices and weaknesses of
our so-called fashionable life and that famous book
so rapid are the changes in our protean afecta-
tons-is already mewhat antiquatcd. The fast
frivolous, unreal ladies and gentlemen of the
ent day have not taken the place in literature
which they richly deserve, carcat Qaid rate
Perhaps the mantle is to fall upon Mr.. Fawcett.
We have hoped for great deal from Mir. Henry
James. jr Daisy Miller" was admirable por-
traituTe of typical American girl, and we wish
that Mr.. James had done moro wor, in the same
style. But he has preferred to set before us the
manners of the tourist, who is not always a good
representative even of the society in which he
moves at home; of any phase of life in orr own
country he has offered rs only few accidental
glimpses, save when he has undertaken to exhibit
certain American customs and modes of thought as
picturesque background for the portrait of a for
cigner. lie did this in The Europeans" but not at
all in the way of satire His only notable attempt
to shoot folly it flies romans the trapc sketch
OF poor, innocent, reckless, loud and Improper
Daisy.
Mr.. Fawcett dealing with the aspects of society
rather than with special types pursues larger OBJ
jet than Mr.. James and his satire cuts deeper lie
seems to have yielded now and then to the tempta-
ticn to sketch weknown individuals, instead of
conining himself 10 classes, and this is not lcgi
mate satire nor good art hut may overlook the
lduit Ill consideration OF Tie truthful ana tOrcihIG
exposure of current vices and absurdities The
story is not without its dolineaons of female follv
and Mr.. Eawcctt has more tender feeling for his
young cOuntrywomcn than Mr.. James appears to
entertain. Here is the record OF the sentiments of
the Gentleman of Leisure -: " To speak IN general
terms most of the women whom he had thus far met
since his arrival impressed him as original breezy
buoyant, exhiiarating. They lacked the wnsome
constraint of their English sisteghood and the
tender unconscious pruAery which often, pre-
VIous to marriage, among the latter seems to par
take of an effect vcrnal and poetic as dew on
young clover But Wainwright's vislant ohScrva
ton had discovered that the self-posscsson of
the American girl her bold flights of candor her
saucy assaults against convontionalism, and her
occasional trick Of doing innocent things in a wise
and worldly way, were all resultant from an educa-
tonal system where liberty of conduct and purity of
motive hold equal control" This is putting the
case adroitly and kindly. Mr. Fawcett's chief
business is with the fashionable New-York young
man, product of our civilization upon whom he
has no mercy. wainwright, American by birth but
English by education and associations returns to
his native country at the of tweny-siX, and is
disguised to find in New York rage for initiating
English manners and customs and decrying every
thing American. The prevailing affectation is well
illustrated i'll the person of Mr.. Carroll Gansevoort
and nobody familiar with metropolitan life can
fail to see how sharp and weobserved is the satire
conveyed in this amusing pOrtraiture:
WAINWRIGHT shook hands with young gen
tleman of slender shapely figure dark, expressive
eyes and hair brushed with glossy nea;ness from
either side OF an exceedingly exact parting Vain
wright had seen a good many young Englishmen
who looked, when III evening Dress very much like
Mir. Gansevoort. The latter wore a large gold fob
pendant from black ribbon under his low-cut
wastcoat, and the white width of his shirt bosom
Ievealed but single stud made of one fine pearl
Ne had shoes that came almost to sharp point at
superiinc patent leather. On delicate hand was
q seal ring INTO winch crest and arms had been
craven; on the small lnger of the other hand Il
heavy gold band, i'll which sparllcd Il large sunken
diamond Mr. GanSevoOrt had an extremely loung-
ing manner; the muscles of his tall, slight frame
appeared IN a perpetual state of laXity: He sat
t MN legs crossed one m9ment and with an arm
was slnok ing a cigar. which he transferred from
hand to hand in graceful unrest. lie always
promptly occurred TO Wainwright that his manner
was initiative, Fictitious though he had mod |
spoke. which he at once did. the English pronuncia-
Ton was so perfectly rendered in his speech that
scarcely tell why he should not feel certain n that Go S
"a was an EngIl'hman But he somehow
being able to explain his doubt.
Il heard Binghamton that you had just come
over began this young gentleman, with ciyty
that had the air of beng rather seldom given.
=, ion must have got awiully used TO it there by
oh, yes said Wainwright, 81 am very used to
En- gand's snch an enormously jolly place" con
finued Mr. GansevOort: This country is a heastly
hGie IN comparison. I've no doubt you think so
already, dOn NOu now I"
Wainwright started as this last question was put
TO him. No, do not really" he said with dec-
sion.
Mr.. Binghamton broke into a laugh. Good :" he |
exclaimed d" 1t isn't beastly hole bit. Gansc- |
WORT here is always running it down"
He was freshly raimented every morning; VAIN |
wright had the fancy that steamers must be con- |
judge by the prodiga variety of his costumes. 1t
was dvcrtng at fgst to study the adroncss of his
English imitation, and to try and decide Just how
II fell short original models Mr. (;auseNOort
walked, talked, sat down, got up smoked his cigar
and carried his umbrella precisely like English
man, and YET the trained vision of Wainwright saw
That 1t was all spurious mannerisn, and not uucon-
sclous habit. The matter was there, to speak, |
but the inspiring soul remained absent He some
times cruelty louged for chance to let Mr.. Ganse-
WORT know that the truth continued patent through
Ieadlng-room, intent on morning paper, he over
heard friend with whom Mr.. GanseVoort was talk |
ing utter the following sentence. whose tone and |
manner were not at all according to the British pat
tern:
Well. had some good sport on that lake last
GUNNER. l hshed with a pole for three steady |
hours"
All. yes" said Gansevoort. He had crossed his |
legs in an attitude of lazy grace; hc had ON a |
woolly sack-coat. extremely light in shade, and |
trousers OF such dark hue as to make the contrast
especially striking; he also CATERS, whose !
upper portions of yellOwlsh cloth, and dotted
with little pearl buttons. He smoothing his |
blond mustache gently with one hand; the other |
held a half-burnt cigarette. By Jovc,' he went |
il sounds Internally odd, my dear boy, to hear
man talk OF fishing with pole. suppose you mean
o rod"
Oh we'll a rod. if you choose" replied the other
in good humored conciliation. Anyway, caught |
four dozen hne trout"
Mr. Gansevoort laughed. He threw his cigarette |
among some big logs that cracked III ruddy turmoil |
beg your paruon old fellow" he said with enough
politeness to blunt annoyance. but it always