Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-07-23
Mis-, MARION &. Lexare Reeve.

Marion c. Legsre Reeves has Carolina
| and Delaware blood Ia her veins, and is
cousin of the eloquent and beloved DR.. 3.
| NJ. Palmer, distinguished divine belonging
to the southern branch OF the Presbyterian
Church. Miss Reeves's father was a native
South Csrolinan, and her mother of the
Read family of Delaware. Our authoress
lives not very far from the busy 70 snufactur-
ing city of Wilmington, and her home is
cheered by the presence of her mother and
aunt. Before moving 10 the town of New
Castle, where che now re-ides, Miss Reeves
began her literary career and passed through
those Southern experiences which afford so
fruitful field to the novelist. She wrote at
FIRST under the nom de plume of 'Fadetie,"
and continued to do until after the
publication of her fourth book. Her earliest
work in fiction which the public was per-
mitted to read was story entitled Ingcmisco
and dedicated to her cousin, the Rev. Dr.
Palmer. 1t is tale of travelling party in
Germany. Some of the descriptions are
very able, picturesque in scenery, painting,
and nervously sketched. The characters are
well conceived and painted with great power.
Ingenisco was published by Blslock & Co., of
New York, in 1867. Miss Reeves's next
work was distinctively Southern; it was
called Randolph Honor, and was issued by
Richardson & Co, in 1868. 1t relates 10
scenes of the war, and staunchly took the
oOulneTn view. II Is interesting dlsO 10
know that, though with imaginary charsc-
tiers, it was, regarding war incidents, drawn
from sketches of that which came within the |
aut horS own experience or knowledge. In |
1872 the Lippincotts published Miss Reeves |
third, and in some respects her finest work of |
fiction. Ii is a book conceived III 80 original |
manner and executed with so firm a hand |
as to entitle it to rank very little, il at
all, below Mrs. Burnett's famous Lass o.
Iosrrfs'e her eynOIaIta nnvatefta af /
Louisiana. Miss Reeves Wearithorne;,
or In the Light Of To- Day, belongs to
the Bronte type of stories; and if it had been
Issued with no name on its title-page) dur
ing her lifetime, Emily Bronte would doubt
less have been suspected of its authorship.
This is warm praise, but a perusal OF the
book may convince some of my readers that
tragedy from beginning to end, without a
single bright thread of humor running across
the dark fabric of its plot. II has the SOL
emn beauty of the moonless night and the
sadness of the ocean beating
against a rock-bound coast. Far less somber,
.nd, therefore, more acceptable 10 ths-se.-
raj noveI-reader, WAS Miss Reeves next
story, published by ID. Appleton & Co., in
1878. /, was called Old Martin Boscapen's
Test, and was written in conjunction with her
,unt, Miss Emily Reed-herself an exceed
ngly clever writer of magazine stories. The
literary results of this partnership were ex-
remedy ielIcitous; and, if these ladies so
moose, they may yet establish a
3esant and Rice. Since the publica-
ion OF Old Martin Boscauoen's Jest, they have
'ritten serial for a Philadelphia maya
inc, but have never had an opportunity TO
eruse it. Old Martin is delightful read
ng; the heroine has an attractive personal
y that fingers with US after we close the
ook; the hero and villain of the tale are
rawn with equal skill and consistency. The
,enery of the Cornish coast and landscapes
Brittany are brought before us with
ividness which derives an added charm from !
.rtain ideal touches, worthy of poet. The
lot of the story is as unhackneyed as it is '
leasing. IL Miss Reeves could be per-
1aded 10 turn ner attention TO the cry of 4
Vestcard Ho! in fiction. and give US gem
ine American novel, 1 think her success 1
ould be immediate aud permanent. /