New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-04-11
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SOME FRENCH NOVELS.

Jenkins and L. w. Christerh -,
NADENoisELLE DE BREssiEh ALBERT DAh'' VI"
r.. Jenkius
Madame Craven has taught the public to expect
from her pen fresh pure and interesting BOOKS anu
her last story "Le Valbrisnt" fully justihes the
general confidence in her work. 1t Is story princ-
oally of family life. The heroine is Lucie. dauSn
$er and only child of the Count and Countess
Ae Bots d'Harlay The Count is Legitimis'
who has retired to the country upon tho
Sar ne I ou;s Philippe The Countess as the young
girl grows up becomes anxious as to her iu'u'o
They see no society where they are, ana marriage
seers ont O. the question. An invitation ho'h d"
old Paris friend proposing visit by Lucle 10 INC
capital seems to afford n chance OF soino.ni's
And is eagerly accepted bv the mother Lucie
goes to Paris, meets Marquis dc hNo
nois. AMI marres him. He proves 10 DC al
inycteratc gambler leads his young wire wre'che"
life and is at last killed in duel. She returns to
he, fathers house her mother having died IN the
meantime and being crushed In spirit determines
70 end her days in that quiet retreat.
Her father who had never ceased to reproach
himself for letting her marry the Marquls.snrrounds
her on her return with the tendercSt care anu
his tact and affection gradually soothe ana re-
store her to comparative happiness. Inc only
ro;,bbor of their own rank Is a young Count whose
father had begun a large industrial enterprise
and who has devoted himself to the same work. put
IN n different spirit. Convinced that democracy
mnst sooner OF 10 cr rule the country nc has deter
mined to do what he can to fit 1t for us
f,trre RESPONSIBILITIES Employing large
number of people he has undertaken to improve
md elevate them in every possible way. lie has
built them comfortable homes provided schools
and ehu1chcs Tor them and their Children IN eI-
ested himself in their advancement. and so com
pletey gained their affection and admiration 'h''
his works constitute model 1or an '"o
country round. Gauthier Darcy Is indeed
noble Young man, without any sugGeS 10"
Of priggshness full of intellectual and moraltoroc
an enthusas. touched with religion. proud ol MS
noble blood but only because he believes IL MS MN
the better for the fulhlment of hlgh duties.
He is ouite naturally brought INTO relations with
Lncie and he falls III love with her almost
nj first SIGHT. though. as she assures n'I
father that she vii never marry again. he Iepre>ses
his feelings Insenslbly, however. his fine character
exerts its influence upon her. and when she is ASKED
IN plead the cause of another woman with Gauth'er'
and not knowing how deeply her heart is engIHed,
.h. consents TO do So he is aOadcd INTO an on
burst which reveals TO her the true state OF tho case
Fortunately Jacgueline, whose mother WISHES
her TO marry GauthIer. feels strong can ''""-+
the religious life, and rejects all proportions ". X
ing To her establishment III worldly position.
Gauthier is about go away, bitterly refusing tAe
position OF friend which LUCE thinks 1t I'i
him 10 revert to alter what has passed Wheh
catastrophe happens which forces
change in the current of affairs. ire
breaks ont IN hospital at Gauthier's work.
child Is left in the burning building and Gan,mer
goes 10 its rescue. he succeeds In finding the chid
and delivering It, but just then TIE flor falls IL
with hun. aud when after desperate eAertons
his devoted workmen recover han, he l. s"
injured as to be apparently dying. I'dcAe
comes upon the procession in winch NC Is beng car
RED on hitter to his home and III the agony OF the
moment size reveals her love for him. he RECEIVERS
after a long illness, but only to fnl that he Is
totally blind. After seeking relief IN VAIN IRON
the most eminent ocullss in Eurore he faces the
Inevitable and determines to rehnqn,>h all cla
upon Lucie Ii is scarcely necessary to say thai
Incie will have none of This self-sacrfce aud that
she docs what any trne wouid have
done under the circumstances. Jacquelne
aud her brother Donald, young man
who comes to Vabriant ldArcy's estate
10 earn his methods of management and falls Ill
love in a rather feeble way with Lucy are the least
successful characters in the story, though toward
the last Donald develops high qualities. The o'U
Count de Bots Hsrlay, Gauthier d Arcy and Luce
are well drawn. however, aud the story flows on
naturally easily and agreeaby. Nine. Craven
STYLE Is hmpid and fresh. and though she does no.
approach or suggest senationallsm there Is quite
enough action In her narrative TO render
il interesting Lucie is a sweet character, and the
Father Severn, though shown in little more than
outline has plenty OF individuality. The person
ality of GauthIer is singuarly attractive and
exalted without being strained or unnatural His
motives are at once reasonable and lofty, lis
manner Is marked by good breeding and self
respect: in short he is a gentleman. lie Na'-
brIant" leaves pleasant impression on the reader
familiar with ordinary French fiction; 1t Is
no completely free from the faults which too gen
rally sfgure impair the effects of that class OF
romances The theory of Gauthler that since d.
mOcracy is to be in the ascendent Ii must be
baptized is one which declining aristOcraces have
never yet been able 10 put III practice. but which,
could they have adopted it, would certainly have
made many changes less perlous and have cmi-
mated from the progress Of the demos many of the
evils with which friction and ignorance have
rounded it,
In "Les Danes De Crox-Mort" NJ. Ohnet has
changed his field considerably. 1t is story Of life
in a country house, and of the fortunes of mother
aud daughter between whom little sympathy exists.
They have led IA vegetative existence in their
chateau for several years, the husband and father.
a dissipated nobleman, having broken his neck
while hunting. A young baron VINO has retired TO
Ais neigh boring estate to ecOnOmZe after sowing
800 many wild oats, makes the acquaintance OF the
ladies of Crox Mort. Naturally in any case, inevi
tably in French story. the young baron makes
love TO Madame de CToiX-Mort. her daughter being
not yet grown up The Baron dAyeres is as dis
agreeable a man well he conceived, but he is
thoroughly French III his responsiveness lie marries
the beautiful Regina. much to the indignation and
disgust of the young girl. who hates her father
in-law very heartily. The marriage as was 10 have
been expected turns ont badly. The wife IS too old
for the husband Dissipation rapidly destroys her
beauty, and after a couple OF years of Partisan and
seaside lie she is an old woman. BY this time
Edm6e the daughter, has blossomed into lovely
girl and her wicked fatber-in-law proceeds to fall
In love with her. The end is tragcal but on the
whole satisfactory Fernaad beng summarily dis