New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
prCENT FICTION.

no GENTLEMEN. 1emo, pp s4e SN'~e'
BLESSED SAINT CERTAINTY: stS %SyioDs ~ Dune 5ne
wcddie. Millionaire etc lom0' pp' 4''' ''''' 20
rBE STEAM HOUSE. part IL I ,n;la S5o% An tbc
French by Miss Agnes D. kingston 1omo' pp' z4o'
Charles scribner's Sons. -
AMArTER2rF4cT GIRL R ssi BY H Hnno Holt CO.
ArrssoN IN LOVE Round Robin Series. 16mo pp
sis. James r. OsgOod Co.
HAP IJo !so sy CARLETON sGs SnteS Co.
QUESTION The Idyi of Picture BY AM asr maD
ENA. Related BY Georg Ebe1s; fT rSs w William s.
Gottsberger.
p.oas-s of Matrimony will fud in 1t a novel OF
n merit and interest much greater than the average
II IA true that Mr. Norris has evidently based niin
self upon Thackeray, but in the days OF no many
false GODS in literature one may be thankful LOT
writer who goes for his model to the greatest Oh
English novelists. Resides. Mr.. Norris has nothing
10 fear from the possible charge OF IMITATION lor ns
work apart from its freshness, Is OF much or'gin"
wortb-a fact which may be pointed out as sug-
restye to those who look to more unworthy sources
for their Northumberland is by way OF praise and
not NJ blame that we allude to his resemblance I'D
STYLE and execution TO Thackeray 1t cannot De
said that there much plot in the story but tnere
is much excellent delineatOn of character an easy
flowing narrative and an abundance Oh khuly
humor which go far to make it novel to he placed
high Oh the roll in this branch OF literature Such
plot as there is may perhaps be not OF the n'os'
cheering character That marriage Is q lottery
where the blanks are terribly out OF proportion 70
the prizes: that easy-going gOod-nature is more
likely TO lead to conJugal happiness than oriiliancy
or passion or even affection; that man s-al
things considered-more wise in avoiding fascinat-
inc women than in admiriug them, is perhaps the
sum of Mr. Norriss philosophy But this is a novel
in which it is very easy to take the tale and let the
moral 60 and the author is probably as little open
to the charge of cynicism as was his master. 10
those who prefer very clever, lifeiike ana easy
drawing of modern character and society, without
much or any plot TO an excess OF plot without char
meter or recognizable sOciety,-to those, IN o'her
words who prefer Thackeray TO Mr.. Wilkie Collins,
aMatri,nopy NAV be recommended as book which
will repay perusal much better than most Others
that they are likely to meet The following extract
will give an example Of Mr.. Norris's style:
Gland said he did not mind going as far as five
ponnds: and soon afterward the veterans were
heard stumping down the staircase the SLEEPER sleeper
invoke: the other young men rose ana strctcheu
themselves and presently was LETT IN soie tenancy
of the smoking room. 1t was not suggested that
Thought for a moment of doing so, had been
asked though it is possible that. like MIR; fender.
mG have felt hattered by hav,ng t,1 0p r;th
Young men: they are forever unconsclously remind
Ing Que that Que is no longer young ones sell. ,o
aeparted, thinks to myself, as stroll along the
sea front under the stars and let myself in WITH my
latch-key into tho hail. where Hicks rs wallng 10
omen bottle of soda water for me, and o ask few
questions about the young gentleman as they 40 Hh
him is o nephew Of hold Colonel Gervis of south-
lands An ef tsa Gd WAS put Into rSqas
ton at hours of which you were careful TO keep your
respected mistress in ignorance fon are discreet
Hicks and you do not remind the mddic-aeca gen
tleman who stems in so demurely at ii o'clock that
he too once knew something Of the seductive game
of Loo you alude no longer 70 the ueri,"o nr 70
those cnuningly devised potiOns by means OF when
Won enabled him to present himself at the breakfast
Another race hath been. Hicks. aud Othtr-hm!
we'll never mind about the palms. Every 'd9g mas
his day and now that mine has passed by | nave
the more leisure TO contemplate the proceedings OF
INV successors in those howery. thorny paths which
j have left behind me. From the serene height OF
middle-age / look down upon them-upon their
laughter and dances their vain ambitions their
foolish loves their absurd standings anu nouhuer,,
ings Can you for one moment 1hd' %o ,n
imagine that anvil hing would induce me 10 SUI up
till the small hours gambling with Lord Lyncheser
and his friends like those two silly youngsters
No no. Hicks you are too well acquainted with me
TO misjudge me greatly L know that III your
heart yon have respect IC[ ie as Of b
health and his comfort, who has contriVed Ia steer
clear of the shoals of matrnnony and who mas ever
kept steady eye upon the main chance hana me
INV fat candlestck, Hicks and let me 60 upstairs
and get TO bed before midnight, as all respectable
persons should envy no man ana @ouiu ao so eH
wears against all the calow dreams oil carry me.
At the same time. think those jewellers might nave
gone through the form OF asking me 10 JOIN III 'ei
game.
"No Gentlemen" belongs without doubt to the
literature of tho summer season. While there Is
little IN it to distinguish it from Others of the class
of summer novels which are turned out so regularly
and-it may be said on the whOe-sO credltably, Tor
the amusement of the better portion OF creation
during those painful intervals of summer boarding
house life which extend from Monday morning uii
Saturday evening, it is readable, bright and never
bores one which is the highest of all merits in this
class of work Perhaps this particular book is-ih
spte of what was Just now saId-Of higher merit
than the average of its fellows because il If unusu-
Dlly free from the assumption OF superiority
whether of wit or acknowledgement, in at least
one character, the New-England summer boarding
house keeper shows a power which in future efforts
we Judge this to be very early one-nay lead 10
work of a higher value. However. the author is
entitled to the unusual praise of understanding her
powers and keeping well within Them
OF Blessed Saint Certainty the less said the
better The serenity Of judgment demanded in the
consideration of all books, even such as this, would
certainly be marrcd by the memory of recent eX
asperation If we were to go into extcndcdnotce of
it. 1t may be remarked, however that this story Is
not free from the charge just mentioned OF afcetaton
of superior knowledge and insight, and when we
recall the assertion of the author-in the character
Of historian" What l never do is to preach Up.
7s, and reflect upon the inordnate quantity Of very
commonplace preaching inflicted upon the reader
we have a momentary hesitation whether leniency
is deserved. So we prefer to stop here.
1t IS to be supposed. on economical principles that
there is still demand for NJ. Jules Vernes produc-
fions otherwise the never-failing supply would go
begging for an explanation. To the creators OF this