The Portland daily press., 1884-02-19


have the advance shests of new book
that is going to make sensation if am moi
much mistaken. Whatever the critics NAV
say OF 1T, whether of praise or blame, they will
probably none of them deny that it is decided.
ly out OF the beaten track, aud that its dialogue
Is original and stimulating. The title of the
book is an odd one-"The Pagans," and the
author Is Mr.. Arlo Bates. the author of that
very clever little burlesque upon ''Mr Tsaacs, .
called 'Mr. Jacobs" which Is now a sort of
companion piece to the larger book, and should
be read by everybody who reads that. Mr..
Bates also distinguished himself as a sstirist in
the New York Tribune four or i've year, ago
by eatirical reply that he wrote to Mr.. j, T.
Fielda's article "To Leigh Hunt in Elysium -
Mr.. Bstes's reply purported to come from
Leigh Hunt in Elysium to j. I. Fields. The.
taken with "Mr. Jacobs" has made peonle
here expect something very sparkling and
original from Mr.. Bates in his promised novel.
and something decidedly out OF the beaten
track How out OF the beaten track 1t is, I
Will try to give my readers sn idea
The title to commence with-that was the
name of company Of young Boston artists. I
cannot do better than give the authors descrip-
ton Of II:
"The society had no organization beyond a
rule to meet each month and to limit its mem
bership to seven; no especial principles beyond
an unformulated, although by no means unex-
pressed, antagonism against Philistinism.''
The invitations that were sent ont to the
members ran blithely and briefly as given spon
enc occasion.
'The Pagans: Friday, Jan II.
Pipes, pictures and punch.
"A seal bearing the impress of the goddess
Pasht headed the note.
''Fenton had suggested Pasht as n sort of
Dea Mater, and had furnished the seal, bearing
the image OF that goddess, which it was custo-
mary to use upon the notifications of meet
ings; and for the rest, there was nothing def
nite to distinguish this group OF earnest, and
sometimes fiery young men from any other.
They doubtless said great many foolish
things, but they did 30 many wise ones that IL
seemed but reasonable to assume that there
must be some grains Of wisdom mingled with
whatever dross was to be found in their
speech"
This society OF seven is Hrst broken by the
marriage Of Fenton, who is one of the most
prominent members, with daughter of the
Philistines.
At the wedding reception one of the Pagans
remarks to another:
"Into the camp OF Philistia ITSELF" muttered
RaDgely to Bently, as they elbowed their way
through the GRO d. "By the great horn spoon,
il there isn't Peter Calvinl Arthur calls him
the great Boston Art Greek. That ever 1
should live to see the humbug under Fenton's
roof-tree."
"Pshaw," returned Bently with an oath.
"W hat set of rubbish of old fobs and dows-
gers there is here anyway. Is this the kind of
peole Fenton means to know?"
"'Means to know" echoed Rangely. He's
got to go down on his marrow bones to get
''za art, and that means that they snub ar
lists"
"humphl" exclaimed Bently. "Is he syco-
pbant enough to do that?"
That's as you lcok at it. His wife proba-
oily decides the matter for him. She very nat
nraily likes TO know what she would call nice
people,"
This strikes key note and the story of
feptons progress, or retrogression from this
note Is clearly suggested. The wife Of Fenton
is very tiuely drawn, from the slight but firm
touches that reveal her personality-"a woman
to wear lilies as one of the artists describes
ner-to the development of her character
through the conflict of her married life.
Helen Greysen, the real heroine of the book,
is an artist, a friend of the "Pagans"-a beau
tiful woman, who sends the man she loves
sway from her, out of her high ideal sense of
honor.
will not anticipate the story by giving any
farther hints of the plot, but as specimens Of