New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

I'M THE CARoUINEz WOODS. BY BRET HAhrK'
lsmo pp. 24L Houghton, Miniin Co.
We are indebted to Mr.. Bret Hsrte for an intro
arct,on To a great many blsckguards. but we be-
1i.ve that he has never led us into such very bad
compauy as that which figures in and about the Car
ouinez Woods. His heroine is person OF free man
pers and easy morals and when we are presented to
her she is OH her wav to jail, having stabbed ner
lover and blown = hole through the Sheriff OF
Calaveras.v She makes her escape by shooting the
officer who has her in charge and encounters IN the
forest q Young Cherokee halt-breed who spends MS
DAYS botanzing and sleeps in hollow tree. with
this strange an Of science she holds the following
conversation:
"Oh, that wa. you kicked up such a row. was 1t !"
said the young man with shade CT interest han,
Il reckon" sald the woman, noddlng her hoau'
sand them that was with NE"
sand who are they r. -,
Sheriff Dunn of Yolo. and his deputy"
"And where are they now T. ,s,.,
aThe dcruty-in h-ll. 1 reckon don't know
abont the Sheriff" a,a ,,o, ~
Il see,r said the young man quietly anu you
"I-got away" she s3 d savageiY.
She demands drink of wbiskey. and not only OBJ
taius that refresnment, but is protected by the
young man. and made as comfortable as circum-
stances permit. Naturally Teresa concentrates
upon Dorman the affection which she has hitherto
wasted upon rougher men; and although he remains
insensible of her love and IS moved by no stronger
feeling toward her than compassion, she proves
capable at "a critical moment. of extraordinary
sacrifices for his sake. Dorman exhibits some OF
the NEST picturesque traits of the Indian, and yet
he does not engage our svmpathcs. The reason why
he fails 70 make the impression which the author
probatly expected is not far to seek SIR. Harte
describes his habits but does not indicate his char
acter his actions have ethical quality whatever.
even in the most exciting moments of the story
he is striking igure indeed, but only in the sense
that an esligy in Madame TussauPs show might be
striking As for the other personages OF the little
book they are odioas without exception or qualih-
cation. The humor which exhausts itself IN the
accurate reproduction OF California slang and pro-
family is hardly choice enough to compensate for
the vnlgarlty of their con versatlon.
And yet IL seems. at the rst blush. as if In the
Carou,nez Woods" differed only in a somewhat
ooarser tone from other tales OF Mr.. Hartes in
winch the world has agreed to recognize the true
poetical flavor II has pages of terse and line de-
scription which he has not often surpassed and tho
pictures of the vast redwood forest, drawn with
that quick sure touch of which he alone seems to
have the secret are instinct not only with artistic
power bot with an exquisite feeling for nature In
a few clear sentences he gives the Carquinez
Woods an individuality which We are never able
afterwari to overlook. At times the drama enacted
in their MIGHTY shade only just misses an idyllic
charm Tue my terry and silence of the untrodden
gloom and of tho cool and odorous air. almost de-
lude us to the fancy that there is some element OF
poetry in the relations OF these two prosalc
persons, the impassive botanist and the
hunted prostitute, who are hiding In the
dark recosses. But the truth is that Mr..
Hare has left ont of this story the vital spark which
gives the value to his better works. We have never
been enamored of his DULLES and gamblers and
rogues of either sex his art has been in the subtitle
o;hr. ;.1i NJ he win in. q
good deed, virtuous impulse, waif Of innocence
and simplicity In the midst of coarse and lawless
society. 1t eau hardly be said that the gratitude
and attachment of Teresa rise to the dignity of
virtue or account for the softening change which
comes her at the close. II is not better ma
ture than her own which has aroused the latent
generosity In her corrupt heart for Dorman is much
too shadowy and inert parsonage to be accepted
as an influence of any kind. Her devotion is not
reerable to any moral agency. 1t is rather like the
fidelity of an animal. If the story has lesson, 1T
is that variety actress after loving aud stab6np
many men, may be suddenly ennobled by loving
snother--a theory better suited to those who pro-
vide literature for such persons as the admirers of
the James boys than TO a man of genius like Bret
Harte.
THE DELTA KAPPA EPSILON QUARTERLY.
This periodical illustrates the growth in serious
ness and importance of the college secret society
system. Every year these organizations grow
further away from mere boys clubs. They retain
their hold upon graduates and often exert strong
influence not only within the college but in every
day life outside The Oldest of these societies were
founded moro than fifty years ago, and they are
growing every year into the likeness of estab-
lshed institutions. with numerous buildings in
various parts of the country elaborate machinery
for constant intercommunication and conference
aud, of late, copious literature of their own.
number of these fraternties now publish magazines
or papers, each specially devoted to its own con-
s,ituency but all discussing subjects of general in
terest to colleges and secret fraternitles. The Delta
Kappa Epsilon Quarterly. which published by one
of the oldest. largest and best-known OF these So
cietles contains as much matter and is as hand
somely printed as any of the literary quarterlies
This number contains article on tho writings of
Theodore Winthrop, one of the earliest members of
the society, by Julian Hawthorne, also a member
a sketch of the Omicron Chapter by Claudius
Buchanan Grant, "Our Convention Development"
by Charles H. Beckett, and many editorials and re-
views on society and college topics. Mr.. Haw~
thorne in an appreciative discussion of Winthrops
life and writings, says:
remember seeing, at the house of James I.
Fields, their publisher, who also was - X h. the
manuscripts of these books, carefully bOuOd and
preserved. They written on large ruled letter
paper, anu INC was friJ iaiscs anu
had a considerable slope. There scarcely any
corrections or erasures but it is possible that
Winthrop made clean copies Of bis stories after
composing them. Much of the dialogue especially.
bears evidence Of having been revised and of the
authors having perhaps sacrificed case and naturas
ness here and there the craving for cOnciseness
which has been of the chief stumbling blocks
in the way of our young writers. He wished TO
avoid heaviuess aed padding" and went to the
old stale traditions of composition. and to produce
something which shoud be new not only in charac-
ter and significance but in manner OF tation.
He had the ambition of the young HaiZ. who pro.
fessed q longing to tear down this tiresome old