New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-13
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SOME NEW NOVELS.

GREAT TREASON. story Oh Ine mn u oa inue SaS
Macmillan & Co.
BETHESDA. BY BARBARA ELBoN. Macmillan Co.
MIR. Henry NJ. Trollope prefaces this story with
the following note: This story, An Old Mahe
Love- is the last of my fathers novels AS nave
stated in the preface TO his Autobiography Inc
Iandleaguers' was written after this book, hut was
never fully completed" Now that MI. 1rolope
has ceased to write, his work Is more appreciated
than ever. and this story. coming "a literary
legacy which was unexpected, will be douply
welcomed and il deserves a hearty reception loi
its intrinsic merits for while il Is by no means 80
elaborate as many of the authors earlier books the
plot aud treatment are in some respects Poou
Garlv nanny The motive of the story is
indeed suggestive. The principal character " Imam
Whittlestaff is q country squire OF moderate o""'
who has reached the age OF nifty without maI'Slus,
When Young man he had been JiIted' auu nc i"'
taken il to heart So he lived quietly, cared lor oS
a bonsekeeper named Mrs. Baggett, who is one OF
the most original and boldly drawn OF lrohoPcS
female characters. She has lived with her master
family half a century She really is the mistress ol
the bou,e She uses the utmost freedom IN advising
her master. and cordial relation exists between
them IIpon this quiet life change comes. An
old friend Of Whittestah dies, leaving -
daughter without means Whlttcstah VINO Is
one of the best OF men. takes her to MS NOME
meaning TO make daughter OF her. out III lcsS
than a wear falls in love with his ward. anu oneiS
her his hand. The behavior of Mrs Baggett at 'iiS
period shows high art in the author. Inc Ola laoS
reseuts the idea that Mary Lawrie VIII "epoSe no'
from her domestic superlntendency Dut aC ,'e
same time she cannot bear the thought that hei
master sbould he thwarted So she lectures poor
Mary roundly telling her buntly that she ought "
give herself uu unhestatingly, and then declaring
the marriage and "weaIy out the rest on EN-
fmeaninc the rest of her years. ut PORTSMOUTH
where she had committed the error OF her iIie III
marrying red-nosed, wOoden-logSed ana most
ebriose and disreputable sergeant. foor Mary
il really in love with one John GORDON VINO mas
gone off to the South African diamond helds III
ouest of fortune, though without formally decar-
ing AN affection which nevertheless both Oh 'heh
fully comprehend She thinks 1t her duty 10
crafty her kind guardian, and consents 10 pe HIS
wife When 10 upon the very day of her betrotha
comes John Gordon, returned from hlmoerley WIN
q fortune in diamonds, and eager TO claim his
bride.
or course there is much embarrassment. Whlt-
tlestaA will not relin0ush his betTotEed; Mary
will not shrink from the sacrifice she regards as her
dntv: and John Gordon all his hopes dying
away before his eyes, AS last desperate resort he
seeks an interview with Whlttlestah, tells MN
that Mary loves him (John tells him that she VIII
sacrifice herself 10 her sense of duty and be I'M
bappv. and puts the case so very PLAINLY mat the
elder man cannot fail to see it. But he VIII not
surrender the pleasant dream which has hghteheu
his hitherto dull life, for long time, ana IL "ouu
not be fair anticipate the Crisis OF the story anu
tell how the complication is cleared up. The con-
ception of Whittlestaf, however is beautiful
one and it is especially pleasant to think that the
wQ
end. when his work in the world was almost
done should have finished his literary career
nv the deneatiOn of this noble ana
selfsacrifcing Christian gentleman, who IS worthy
TO stand by the side of Colonel Newcome and no
land Caxton and who constitutes an ideal of almost
superhuman excellence. John Gordon indeed seems
unite small and pitiful beside Whttlestaifand even
Mary hardly appears to deserve the sacrifice made
for her. But it lisa very charming and we'll written
story aud Mrs. Baggett with her quaint provincial
dialect her unreasonable perversity, and her old
fashioned loyalty is pleasant foil 10 the tempered
tragedy of the main plot Some of Mrs.
Baqgett's sayings. indeed, are almost as
original and pregnant as Mrs Poyser s.
as for instance. when Whittlestaff being in hesl-
Eating mood about Mary, the old housekeeper tries
10 brace him up, observing that "A man may mann
der away his mind in sofnesses till he amt worth
nothing and don't do good to no one.' 1t must
be confessed that John Gordon is less fOrclby
drawn than the hero and Mrs. Baggett. and in the
character of Mary LawTie there Is perhaps some
thing of tenderness lacking. But the analysis Of
thought is az usual with Trollope, keen and ADM
r9ble. and the people are made TO develop them
selves in that quiet subtle way which Is character
istic of him.
The story is thoroughly well done. 1t shows a
much power insight literary ski aud invention,
any of It's predecessors and the subject as we have
said allows and almost makes necessary the INTO
dnction of sub-pathetlc element which cOmpen
safes for the lack Of softnes5 which was TrOlope'
most conspicuous defect. In his last novel there i
no let ting down in short, and 50 far as such evi
dence is conclusive there seems no reason why, hat
his bodily health endured, he might not have GOn
OH writing good stories for many years
Miss Hoppus Is a young Engli.bwoman all o
whose ESSAYS in fiction display conscientious ant
refined method, and considerable imaginative
power In a Great Treason she attempts to de
scribe some phases of the American Revolution
not an easy task for a yOung lady unskilled IN wa
aud the ways of the military male. That she la
succeeded in making an entertaining and here ant
there picturesque story, must be admitted. Th
chief fault is that 1t is too longs ii is stretched on
to u degree that tends to deprive the character
OF dstinctness and the narrative of vigor. The un
reasonable and loving girl who is her heroine is $
attractive and her kerO is so simply and honestly
gentleman, that the reader cannot but regret tina
their portraits should not have been painted wit
sharper and more rapid strokes. The "grea
treason" is that of Benedict Arnold for whom tb
author has apparentlya kindly feeling. She paiate
his crime, 80 far as may be, by elaborate develop
nent of tho tantazing and unjust trcatmen
which as she holds, led him to betray his country
and she makes of him in the beginning a rather en-
eaging figure. The episode of Andre is told vivdl
and with much pathos. Miss HOppuS's style
cyaip aua from he