The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-06
THE FIELD OF LITERATURE.


AIRED townsend well In the writing or gossipy
newspaper letters becomes fatal facility when
transferred to the field of romantic fiction
Katy Of Catoctin. or the Chain breakers" just
issued by the Appletons, Is his latest essay in
this line of writing. and cannot be regarded by
the impartial critic as an entire success. Prop
erly enough, considering that the story opens
with the John Brown instruction and closes
with the death of Lincoln. it is entitled by the
author anational romance. The period of time
embraced by these two events certainly afforded
abundant scope for the powers of the novelist,
even when the scenes described are all confined,
az in this case, to limited territory in Mary
land and Virginia This richness of material
accounts to some extent, of course, for the
length Of the tale-nearly GOO pages-but If the
interest were sustained throughout this defect
you'd not be regarded by the discriminating
reader. It is the prolixity and unnecessary de-
tail which causes one to lay down the volume,
half read, with WEAKNESS, and to take it UP with
effort. AS an example OF this diffuse-
ness, of style, over two hundred pages
are given to the Harper's Ferry episode.
Regarded in the light of an historical event,
merely, no fault could be found with this de-
tailed description, but as passage in novel it
loses dramatic force and intensity where it
should have been the moat impressive, and be-
comes painful and tedious. The death scenes in
this part of the story are in particular, long
drawn out and distressing, a wounded man.
whose groans and farewells lead the reader to
think that they are relieved from misery, APP
pearng again, 10 the course of fifteen or twenty
pages, still alive md grooming. The most promi
nent personaRes in The story are John Brown,
the Quantrells, John Wilkes Booth, and mem
bors OF that curious Dutch sect known as the
Dunkers. Lincoln bears part in the narrative,
save as an incidental figure, until the final chap
ter. A number of noted men are also brought
In incidentally, and there are so many minor
characters as to be confusing The adventures
of the Quantrells and Both among the pretty
Dutch maidens forms the sentimental! part of
the tale. AS lovemaker, 1t must be said that
Mr.. Townsend verges on the offensive, the pas
sions he describes being in every instance. of
for the primitive habits of the
simple Dutch people of that day and
region, it will be doubted whether parents and
brothers looked placidly on at wooings of sis
tiers and daughters which rvaled that of Juliet
in haste and intensity. Aside from the defects
mentioned, and which mar the story as work
Of art the book is of undoubted value rs an his
sorical record and a transcription of life under
conditions now passed away. For the many
who prefer history under the guise of fiction
this story will have interest, and the interest
lowering about the scenes and people described
increases. rather than lessons, with years, the
author may congratulate himself ON having
made something more than an ephemeral con-
tribution to literature.
Henry Janss's princess Casamassima, I"
which has been running as a serial in the At
Iantic Monthly, is issued in handsome vol
ume by Macmillan g. Co. A taste for James's
novels, like taste for olives. requires to be
cultivated but it may be done. though only
by persons of leisure, since much time is re-
CURED for properly careful perusal of any one
of the works. On the other hand it must be
aai6 f1af SuAn Aicl dfclsN o
them very much. and those will probably
pronounce the Princess Casamassima" a
tedious and wearisome tale. Neverthe
less it has many admirable points,
style and felicitous flow of language
which all must admit merits. There is an
air of ubreality about it as it, notwithstanding
the minute attention to details, he had not quite
entered into intimate relations with his charac
ters With all this, however, there is less of
the Impression conveyed to the reader that the
personages Of the story are puppets moved at the
authors will than is The case with some former
novels. The Lady Aurora, Miss Pynsent, the
little dreRs maker, Hyacinth Robinson himself
are clearly drawn and pathetic figures which
lnger in the memory. AS much cannot be said
for the Princess herself, for Paul Imminent his
sister, nor, i'll fact, for any of the remaining
characters, ali being not only erratc. like the
others, but disagreeably so. The story deals
with the socialistic element OF London. the
Princess figuring as willful, whimsical woman
Of adventurous spirit, who explores the under
strata of London society and fancies that she
courts danger by associatine herself with per-
sons of anarchical tendencies and seeking to
share In the mysterious duties of their secret or
ganization. The reader Is left to infer that she
is brought to her senses in the final chapter
when she faces the dead body of the little book
binder who kills himself rather than obey the
order of mis- society to put certain public man
out of the way. One closes the book with the
impression that vast amount OF work, mental
and physical, went into its making, feeling
chat is certainly not usual one to follow the
reading of novel of the day.
There is something in the stories written by
E. P. Roe which suit the popular taste, notwith-
standing the fact that critics, as rule, decline
to consider him worthy of consideration as
novelist characteristic which crops out in
many Of his narratives is a strong love of the
soil ard of country life and this fondness
coupled with close acquaintance with his sub
jeet, gave charm to Natures Serial Story"
which many had not found in earlier tales
Dodd, Mead 81 Co. have issued new edition of
this work, and have accompanied it with his
latest effort, He Fell in Love with His Wife. .
This, which has appeared as a serial in a news
paper syndicate. partakes of the same rural feat
uree as the other book mentioned, and will I'M
doabtedly share with it in popularity Mr.. Roe
is not great novelist but his stories are clean
and pure, and no one is the worse for reading
them.
Houghton, Mif1in & Co. issue in book form
Charles Febert Craddock's story, I'm the
Clouds" witch has been running as serial in
the Atlantic Monthly. For so young writer
Craddock has unusual number of what are
apparently fixed mannerisms Of STYLE Those
who have read any of the authors earlier works
will find all their peculiarties repeated and en-
phasized in this later novel to somewhat tire
some degree One grows weary of the mists of
the Great Smoky the "harnts" of Thunderhead
the 'elusive eyanescences,' and other features
of the twilights and of the weather, especially
when they are interpolated into the narrative
for no apparent purpose than that of adding to
its pcturesqueness. Craddock as Miss Murfree
evidently prefers to be called, seems to know
her people. though even this is denied by Ten
nessee critics, and is certainly imbued
with the spirit of the mountains, but, agreeable
i.,Aa hnr ,oha