The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-22

Sat Loves Extremes" by Maurice Thompson.
The scene of this story is laid in the South,
and certain of the characters are mountaineers,
or poor whites, facts which naturally suggest
a comparison of the book with works of Charles
Egbert Craddock Miss Murfree) in the same
field The similarity ends, however, with the
circumstances named. No one suspected the au-
thor of Where the Battle Was Fought" to be
woman, but no reader ignorant of the author
ship could doubt for moment that the writer
of this story is man. Eat Loves
Extremes" is emphatically mans work, from
the first page to the last. This is by means
equivalent to saying that it is manly book, or
that men will universally admire it; but only
that no woman could have written it. Mr..
Thompson has evidently attempted to make his
novel on the plan suggested by one of his char
acters. namely, "a genuine love story, with
lots of incident and spice of adventure In
the latter particulars he has succeeded admira-
bly,, but in respect to the genuineness
of the love the reader is conscious of
a sense of disappointment and dissatisfac-
ton. Throughout the volume there is vein
of coarseness, not t o say sensuality, which give
to the expression Of tender sentiments a sug-
SeStlOn IL IaluU, OF LOidlSu. HlS Is luulcdteu
by the unctuous descriptions of the faces and
particularly the forms of the female characters,
no room being left for the imagination in regard
to the Curves" and physical development pos
sessed by each one. Such expressions as ''the
aawless admiration which men reserve for
women and sure-nosed dogs" also illustrate the
tendency mentioned. The love is pictured as
very fierce and absorbing, but the conviction of
its temporary character its shallowness, is so
great as to prevent deep sympathy with the
sufferers in the final catastrophy and produces
calm confidence in the readers mind that they
win soon rally from their despair.
The hero, plainly favorite with the author,
since his personal appearance is minutely de-
ecribed at least three times, is detestable. He
is represented as grand, gloomy and peculiar, a
man with violent conscience, whatever that
may be, an extremely sensitive, proud natures
and as possessing all the charms of mind and
manner which go to make up magnetic man of
the world. fascinating alike to men and women.
His high-mindedness, however, does not pre-
vent a vulgar ENHANCEMENT with the idiotic but
''lithe-limbed" daughter of humble people who
had befriended him, and there is no room for
sympathy when, as a way out of his final pre-
dcament. he has no choice but to marry the
girl.
In spite of these defects, and the exaggeration
OF style and school grlish repetition of pet ad-
iectives nseparabls from Mr.. Thompson's fiction,
'At Loves Extremes" is an entertaining story,
sure TO find many readers. The movement is
rapid, the descriptions good, and the incidents,
with one or two exceptions, novel. The fainting
of the hero at his sweetheart's feet. and her
prompt betrayal of love for him is not only
hackneyed, but in this case superfuous, mas
much as there is no reason to suppose that she
would have hcsitated to throw herself into his
arms in the orthodox manner had she been given
fair opportunity. Mr.. Thompson is at his best
when describing out door pursuits, and his
vivid portrayals Of the wild turkey hunt and
qual-shooting are calculated to thrill the hearts
of sportsmen,