The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-07-16

rative. Compared with such a book as
"Guenn." the 'San Rosario Ranch" is imper-
feet. There is nothing individual, quaint or
winning about it. 1t lacks simplicity and the
beauty that simplicity imparts. and yet, as sto-
ries go, it will be found interesting, and GER
tainly does not lack certain features
which contribute to make a novel popular.
r. H. Newell ia the we'll known "Orpheus
Q. Kerr" In literature, as in the drama, the
comedian sometimes finds it difficult to disas-
soclate, In the minds OF his audience, his trag-
ic role and his accustomed burlesque. They tall
us that when Warren essayed certain serious
Characterization, on the Museum stage, it was
received with laughter. And in the same
way writer of absurdities starts his grave re-
ctal at disadvantage. Mr.. Newell, In the
"Our Continent Library Series," publishes a
story entitled, There was Once Man"-not
"a jest in sober earnest" but an exceedingly
interesting narrative, touched here and there
with the sense of humor which characterizes
the auther. The scene of the story is Malay
sia-c chiefly Singapore and Borneo-new
ground, and, in this case, most entertainly
surveyed. The book is furnished with "Pro-
logue," an "Epiogue" and an "Author's
Note,'' from all which the reader must gather
the mysteries of plot and the authors general
intention as regards his hero and heroine,
which the reviewer declines to disclose. 1t is
enough to say that "There was Once Man"
will rank with the choicest in the list of new
stories.
The London Illustrated News for Nav 18th
contains in Echoes OF the Week" pleasant
mention of Madame Macchetta's blanche
Roosevelts) novel, "Stage-Struck." 1t is pos
sible that "Stage-Struck" may be more inter-
esting to the English than to the American
story reader. We recognize the truth of the
lesson taught by the book and can see how well
the author has enforced her warnings warn
ing to young American women not to rush to
HfTMN into ant gufx1 1x7rrr fAa
cause sweet singing voice and q limited edu-
cation in music have given the possessors am
billions in that direction. The accounts, too
OF the various schools of vocal culture at Lon.
don, Paris and Milan are most interesting. But
to us-even with Mr.. Sala's commentator be-
fore us-the conversations in ''Stage-Struck"
are something of bore and the sketches of
persons lack character and spirit. Blanche
Roosevelt has previously published a
novel entitled marked in Haste'' which
had very successful run, and 'Stage-Struck"
will perhaps be popular, but it is nevertheless
weak story and not we'll written.
If We could, as the old cookbooks say, ''sim-
mer down" dozen or more of the society
novels OF the day, such as ga San Rosario
Rancho, "a Newport Aqnarelle, I" "a WASH
ington Winter" (and any number more of the
same kind that we might mention) including
Mr.. Grants IAN Average Man." there would
not be strength or sweetness enough in the
reslduum for one page OF the good old fashion
ed story which required talent and genius in its
author, and could not be concocted by any
mere society man or woman, such as in this day
of scrinbling may take fancy to make himself
or herself conspicuous Not that Mr.. Grants
book Is the worst OF the list; in fact it is the
best of those we have mentioned, which is in
deed saying for it very little. 1t is written
with pretty facility, and good deal of
brightness, but it is not SO well
done as to have been worth the doing.
Is there public demand for this inundation
of trashy fiction which seems to be swamping
all good taste and critical judgment? 1t must
be SO, for If there were no demand there would
not be the supply. And SO we leave the moral
to the common sense of our readers.
A most entertaining volume comes to us as
Henry Irving's Impressions of America"
narrated in series OF sketches chronicles and
conversations by Joseph Hatton. Very pleas
ant impressions they are and very pleasantly
told. All the good people devoted to tina drop
curtain and foot-lights will welcome Irving's
book and follow with interest his tour through
these United States of America: his good bye
to London and his landing In New York; the
terrors of newspaper interviewers, and his in
PRODUCTION to an American audience; the Lo-
tos Club banquet and Ellen Terry at the
Papyrus; experiences in Baltimore, Chicago,
ST. Louis, Niagara and Canada; and many
bright anecdotes en- PEASANT, as we'll as COM
ments on the plays in Irving's repertoire. Of
late freeman, Spencer, Coleridge, Matthew
Arnold and various other distinguished visit
orB have looked us over so carefully that we
have only to read their Impressions" to
see ourselves as the English see Us.
"Piccadilly," by Lawrence Oliphant, is better
worth reading than Observation-Disclosures of the
novels that have been noticed in these columns
during the past six months. 1t is a little book,
costing i'll paper cover twenty-five cents, but it
abounds in what the majority of modern stories
lack, understanding and wit. 1t has the clever
ness of Irene Macgillicuddy," but cuts
deeper into the enigma of Christian civiliza-
ton as exempliied in fashionable society. 1t
is not quite new book, but whoever has not
read it will not find it stale.