New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-03

diversions Of perfectly irresponsible tale-teilcr.
who has no scruple about combining the freaks OF
n yarrant Imagination with the realisms OF socie-
ty novelist 1t when Mr.. Grant is indescrioao'e
that we find him most entertaining HIS Roman
tic Young Lady tells her own story In tone whicn
leaves us agrecably uncertain whether she is laugh
lug at herself or not. She Is embarrassed by the
possession of $4,000. 900 and 1t is In tie attempt
to dispose of her money and herself that she passes
through the adventures described In this volume.
The three books into which the novel Is divided
represent three sets of complications unconnected
with ;Dne another We hardly know WHOM Is tne
most unreal or tho most ingeniousJ the secohu'
with its satire on certain types OF addlepate pnl
osophers and female society reporters Is the
sharpost and most entertainingi tho last Is the
most extravagant The umOr of the work IS quiet'
but it seldom flags and 1t Is all in terestins'
"a Phantom Lover" Is we'll named The fancy
upon which the story is constructed shows magma
tive and even poetica power with relish Tor dsa-
greeable and unwhoesome things which perhaps
We cngAt to expect to find in |" Vernon Lee "hon
she applies herself to fiction, 1t is too Snort anu
slight for the development OF character; puC ~ 20
well invented and remarkably wen told, auu uno
accessories worked in with all the tact Oh al
artist.
Mr. Hawthorne has not done his best in his new
book, but he has written good sensational suorS
of q rather common type-a story which has actors
but not characters, and incidents without motives.
John PArmelee's curse Is tho opium habit TO
which he aud his wife both fall viotimsj ana IL Is
partly under the influence of this disease that Nc
commits an error which becomes the handspring oi
msfortunes. The connection, however, DeI"eeh
the curse and its consequences is not very auo'I9
Indicated and the adventures with CRIMINALS are
managed but rudey. Mr. Hawthorne IN TACT mas
written careessly we should say, what would
serve very well for weekly story paper; pue IL Is
not literature.
Poverty-grass is growth which hnds Inc on
sandy newfoundland soils where other plants
perish and hence it has been chosen Us the title OF
a collection of stories which illustrate the hard
conditions of existence among the poor people OF
the factory towns and the sterile farms. Inc
stories are painful with scarcely an exception
some of them have tragic force; nearly all show
sombre element of poetry underneath super
fciaily ugly realism. The book leaves very SAD
IMPRESSION. because it seems to be ali True LIE
fictitious incidents touch us as examples OF con
dItion of things which prevails all around us ana
| of which few realize the dreadful sigolncahce
Although the author does not Affect the G'uace!c
| manner and does not enlarge upon any 1aVoritt
| social reforms she conveys a good many serious
lessons The principal literary merit oil the stor eS
| consists in the striking representation not onS "
| the speech but OF the methods OF thoughI anu
motives of action of several distinct types oil tl'
| poor Yankee Irish and Canadian-wh0 may D'
| studied In the New England towns and villages
| The authors faculty for getting at the inside o
| these characters is very remarkable