New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-23

Mowsiis i2no PIP. 40S James H. o7s"ou
Co
s,,asee fashion in criticism has lately decreea
.,.t xhenevor DIR. Howeils writes a new pooN NO
sa,ll 10 condemned tor not De'os 6o'ne"o"' .ia0
:....ssd Of himself We are prepared therefore 10
..ts .h.s &c novel of incident Nonans
$50 !. NOT 70 be con pared with The Woman
a ,v,itsp and that as a Tudy OF character u Is
,,,eb les exciting than "Nanity FAR" Tue ad
,r.r. of Mr. Howells--and ia that large part! %
rcais,r we are inost certainly to be roeSoho'-"'
40, care about di sputng these propositions iHe'
Iii r,u,e,obsr that MIR Howeils has never lrleu ~
tell sensational story. or to conftrAe, an lu'ii
cate plot aud that the characters ana manners no
has chosen to describe hayo generally Deen 'noS0
which fall under daily Observation " ne'N't
N. TOPICS are compatible with tie highest ORDER %
80 ,,r;t,nr mr. NOT IS n question hardly worth dIs
rutinp II is enough TO take hs books ioH "haI
tbsv are and what they profess to be; to look III 'l
intrinsic value OF their art. rather than 20 Spoo"
late upon the relative Importance OF someullng e"
tirolv different. We have been ciamorhs Vue'e
uanc wears for ALI American novelist; ana Wien
waGnd ono--as we found Bayard Taylor twenty
xea,s aoo--we read his books and forget that tneg
ore American and go on with the clamof as Il .ne
American novelist had not already appedie"' Ing
stories of Mr.. Howells are not only American III
their rersonages and their local coloring. but
character and temperament when we al roe's "'1o
,,ha, they are pointed out to u.s. but winch NOBODY
ttor. hin, ever knew how to indicate. Tue New
Eo,laud country girl and the Boston young laGV
ore drawn in his pages with starting hdeH'y W
life That would not be very hlga merit Oe-
cause externally tho types are somewhat coihihoh
Mace. But with def touch wholly his own MI
Hocells adds to his portraits OF ordinary peopIe
,nritual quality which lifts them GU, OF 'he 'ul-
car category into the higher regions OF true art'
Tho cuickpess OF observation, the keen appreeia-
ton Of feminine graces and ways Oh 'nouSn'' CIV
gentle and alert sense OF humor, the sure peneua-
e., 10 the motives which sway sensitive and
sincere ,ersons tho unmistakable relish for what
avsr ~ trus and honest and renned IN tie NE
around ms. save Mr.. Howellss sketches from the
reproach of being common, even whch they are
most simple aud familiar.
I, "a Modern Instance" he drew vulgar char
acters for set purpose; ard he dlo IL III mas
terlv manner. In "A Womans Reason" he deals
with the most amiablc and attractive men ana
women aud the purest springs OF actlOh' auu lis
art is rs firm ss in tie other BOOK ana muc1 more
agreeable We have read the first chapter several
times, always with new delight, partly because
Il sets the key Of the story so exactly. partly
heeanse il engages our synlpsthes so promptly and
adroitlv with the heroine and still more because IL
60 an good an example of Mr.. Howellss literary
,nethod Nothing could be less romantic than tho
materials with which 1t deals. Boston Common
and Beacon Steps. a decayed merchant ana slim
vouop lady. would promise little IN other hands !;
Init Mr. Howells makes them fascinating from the
first paragraph, in which couple are exhiolteo on
one of the common benches, making love almost
as frankly ia that public place as they might IN the
scclusion of a crowded railway tram, 10 the iaSt
lin, in which we have su h beautiful picture OF
l,or fatiaa 20
npDroa,slng sorrow. Tho description of Helens ar
rival at the house. just after Mr. Hardness having
beep taken i'll in the street. has been helped home
nv policeman, is worth long quotation;
Tho nocemau 0,pped the dust from the breast
md collar of his coat, in walking back 20 ms beat
with the right feeling of a man VINO would IKE 10
be better prepared If summoned second time 10
befriend a gentleman of Mr.. Harkness'S standing,
and to meet in coming out Oh MS mousse young
lady of such beauty and ELEGANCE as he haa Juss
encountered. This young lady, as he closed tue
door behind him, had run up the steps with the
loop of her train in hand-atter the fashion oil
ten years ago. and III the other pIeesy uaye ,
knows that people are out of town. She glanced u
little wohderlngly little dehantly, Ak the poloe-
man who seeing that she must drop one or the
other of her burdens to ring, politely rang for her.
Thank you'll" said the young lady. speaklna q
little more wondcringiy little more dehantly tAan
Onite welcome Miss" returned the policeman,
and touched his hat in gong down tho stepe, while
tho lady turned ana bLaIcu alltT nli' lbdhbb
little over the top step on which she stood, Win
her hack 10 the door. She very pretty indeed,
with blue eyes, ut once tender and honest, aha the
fair air, that goes with thsIr beauty. hanging
loosely upon her forehead Her checks. IN then
young perfection of outline, had flush beyond
their usual delicate colcr; tie heat and her eager
dash up the steps had sufused them with dewy
bloom that seemed momently TO deepen and soften
Her lovelIness was saved from the lnslpdily Oi
faultless lines by lttlo downward curve, qulrh,
or call il diInple, at corner of her mouth
which, especially in repose, gay 1t touch OF hu-
morous feeling and formed Its final charm: II seemed
less trait OF face than OF chara, ter Ibat hne
positive grace. which is called Style and which /.
SO emInently the gift OF EXQUISITE nerves, had MOI
cost Ter too much; she was slim, but not fragile
and her very motionlessncss suggested vivid bird
like mobility she stood, as if she had alighted uDor
the edge OF the step. At the opening OF the dooi
behind hor Sue turned aertly from the perusal OF th
pDliccmans retreating back and spraug within.
How DIDO, Margaret" She greeted the COOK ~
voice W bose bright kindness seemed the tiansla
tion of her girlsh beauty into sound "Surpliseo
TO see moi" She did not wait for the cookI
answer, but put down her bag, and began pulllnl
off her gloves, after shaking out her skirt, an'
giving that penetrating sldelong downward look a
#, which women always give their draDery a.
moments OF arrival or departure She turned mt
thedrawing -room from the hall, and went up TO tn
long old-fashIOned mirror, and glanced at the fac
which It dimly showed her IN the close sho,teIeI
room. The face had apparently not changed sinc
she last saw it in that mirror, and one might nav
fanced that the young lady was somewhat sur
prised at THIS
Now there Is something far beyond photograph
accuracy in ths-and something beyond mere felicit
of style. There is a charming play OF fancy; Their
ere what we may fairly call flashes of magma
ton; and we have only to study the picture o
Helen, in that positive grace which is so emf
nently the gift of exquisite nerves." standing wit
her vivid blrd-like mobility as If she had alighte
upon the edge of the STEP" greeting the cook IN
voice whose bright kindness seemed tho TRANSLATION
of her grIish beauty into sound" shaking her Skin
and glancRg at her face in tie parlOr mirror-w
have only to observe now suggestive and how aliui
ing are all the daintiiy chosen and perfectly fin
ishcd details of this scene to understand the vas