New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-01
AN AMERICAN NOVEL.

TIE GENTLE SAVAGE. By EDWARD KING 12mo'
pp. 444. James L. Osgo0d 60
MI King has written an American mover Oh ID very
pronounced type Most of the action takes place In
France and Switzerland, where American CHARACTERS
are brought into exciting relations with peIsonages
Of the Old World and thus in sbe choice of the scene
and the setting of the stage it follows recent con-
spicuous examples. The story however is by no
means an imitation. 1t bears no resemblance IN
motive or treatment to Mr. Jamcss studies IN COLI
trasted manners or to the charming and subtitle
novels of Mr. Howells To compare the workmah-
shin with that of Mr.. Kings distinguished predeces
sors would be unjust, for not only are MS literary
methods unlike theirs, but his objects are duite uii
ferent and his gift is distinct from theifS III hiu
rather taan degree He has been known as iache
and lively writer, excelng in vivid and often poeti-
cal description with great powers OF obserVatoh
and sharp eye for the picturesque Ills talent 10
rpening It'll great deal OF bis early eH"oer-
ance seems to have been corrected without any ios
ON the contrary, with decided galn-oi F'ac'S
and strength. His pictures Of Swiss scenery, his
sketches of life at the Swiss resorts IN the tourts
season. are admirable for their reality their bright
color and their brevity; and often as we nave Deen
led over the same ground. we traverse it again IN
Mr. Kings company with new interest. To ma
turcd descriptive talent. he untes in The Gentle
Savage" lmapination humOr the art OF dranatic
presentation and effective grouping and great skill
in clear and rapid narration.
The Gentle Savage an educated half breed Cher-
olee who goes Europe as the representative oil HIS
nco,le in order TO defeat the plans of q railway
company which is meditatng an invasion OF the
IndIan Territory. An interview with Germah-
American banker. with whom the company Is heeo-
tiating Tor the sale of its bonds leads the noble
young barbarian into strange associations ana ne
49, iano or n ri n
ordinary ard distressing kind. We shall not spoil
the readers pleasure in an entertaining story py
premature disclosure of the PLOT, although the ex-
psrienced devote of novels will have no difculty
in guessing long in advance the fate Of ali the prn-
cIpal characters Tue chief merits of the book are,
first the fresh and brilliant idea Of placing the sim
pie honorable, passionate, naturally rehncd anu
partly cultured. but wholly unconventional lndlu1
in the midst of highly artificial society secondly
the strong individuality of all the six or seven I'M
pOrtant persUnages. every ono of whom deserves 10
lie called successful and consistent creation and.
thirdly the ample variety of character, scenery AID
incident there being quiIe enough oil each TO iur-
nish two orthree ordinary novels. lbs dramatiS per
sUnp fall into three groups, all involved with each
other. the first embracing the Gentle Savage and the
bankers daughter, the second including consplr-
acy of Nihsts while the central figures of tie
third are an American girl studying for the stage
and her anxious and ungrammatical mother-not as
inpurtant as the Others in the development OF the
plot Int perhaps the mo completely and aTtsti-
caly successful portraits in Mr. Kings entire gal
erY II is in the last mentioned of these-Nlrs Mer-
lima pathetic but an irresstibly droll igure-that
the authors rich humor finds play. She is drawn
with a bold free hand, bat she is not overdrawn;
and We have noted several instances in which Mr.
King uses Der With admirable adroitness to heighten
the effect of a striking with contrast and re-
ef