Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-12-02
EooK NOTICES.
A MIRAGE OF PROMISE BY Harriet Penna-
we'll Belt Published by the j. P. L'ppincott
Company Philadelphia.

n
we'll Bet. Publiahed by the j. P. Ippincott
Comppny Philadelphia.
II memory serves rightly nearly two |
years have elapsed since the fair authoress |
OF this work made her debut as novelist |
In 'Mariorie Huntingdon" romance that
received hattering mention from such |
papers as the Washington Post, st. Louis |
Philadelphia Euentng Can and Baltimore
Morning Herald. A careful reading Of Miss
Balt's new book warrants the deduction that
she has done considerable hard thinking
and conscientious study in the interval and
the prediction that "a Mirage of Promise"
will be even more favorably received than
her first effort. 1t bears evidences OF I'M
ptvSement thar speak of brOadened study,
jealous labor and 'ripened experience. The
touches OF the amateur are being super
seeded by the erisper handiwork OF the pro-
fessional. It is In this feature erispness,
characters move and talk more like real
men and women the authoress has become
less q painter and Is drawing nearer to the
fidelity of the photographer. This is very
distinctly shown In her handling of the
vsrnacular in such episodes as the report
the word fits best-of the free and easy
discussion at the Black Horse tavern,
difficult bit very cleverly done.
"a Mirage Of Promise" marks, furtht r.
m re, u stepping outward into a more
ambitious sphere of action than "Maiioiie
Huntingdon suggested. The authorehs, in
her preface, di5avows any claim to the pro-
duetion Of an historical novel, but her
chRHctsrs are shown up all the wsy
through against u background through
which panorama of American history is
steadily uurolling. The period is that Of
the exciting campaign of 1925, when
Andrew jackson, the choice Of the people,
was turned down by the House in favor nf
hrt Dftftt A. ,o,I, .l.,.,I
Though tho story does not go into this)
with Henry Clay, the third party candidate
by which Clay made Adams president in
order that he, Clay, might in turn BE- made
Secretary of State. Out of the political
turmoil Of that time the authoress secs ris-
ing whar quarter of a century ago would
have been called the spectre of abolitionism
but to her vision, and the apotheosis need
otfeTd no one now, the spectre wears an
angels wings; mere pln-feathers at 6r-t
that before the story Is all told grow expan-
sive enough for the hero and heroine to
nestle beneath for life.
The character of Reed Van Ness the artist
and real hero of "a Mirage Of Promise Is
interesting as a literary mosaic. The reader
is like one who stands by watching the
artist without comprehending the in
| corporeal ideal he is clothing In imperish.
| able garments. AS. he fits each suitably
fashioned and eolored fragment to Its place,
4
| more than admire the dizziness of tho work
man. To him some of the fragments may
seem ineongruuu5 or inharmonious, until
the completed picture shows the part they
play In thu united whole. 1t is much In this
way The character of Van Ness Is built up
Until from its varying elements tho man is
developed who not only dares but delights
in lighting the battle Of principle at the cost
Of popularity, and the risk of bodily harm.
A good foil To- such character Is the easy
going and ttme-seTving Captain Philetus
Clemson whom the heroine, Alma, fnmil-
farly known as Tiny, is lucky enough to as
cape as a husband. We receive the book
through G. L. Thomas ( Co,
HARrER's You're PEOPLE FOR 1886. bound
in the regulation green and red and gold
which Its predecessors have made familiar,
would make an admirable holiday gift In a
family of two or three children, If there
were more, unless they were like the fabu.
lnnslv coed children - Ssra9'' - ~
books, they would quar-: osAr the attrac
tive book, which is large enough y two ~
vniee 10 ioOK over simultaneously. Ihos,
too young to read will flud long draw
. out enjoyment in studying the pictures, o
which there are about 700 that alone ar
. worth the price Of the bound volume 81. 30
while for the older ones there ls IN the So
, large pages reading matter to suit all age
t and tastes. One Of the most charming
features are the quaint stories of Howar,
Pyle, with their quaint illustration
3 by the author, Of which stories there arr
3 eleven In this volume that will unques;ion
, ably be as readily picked out as choice NOR
sells by the girls and boys Of California a.
/ by the girls and boys OF Wilmington. Their,
. are stories for the youngest and the oldes
III profusion; stories of boys and girls
! stories of binds, eats, dogs, fowls, fishes
frogs, goats, rabbits and sheep; stotie
funny and stories pathetic; long stories anC
short stories; information scientific ant
miscellaneous; talks on hunting, toboggan
i ing, sailing, lawn tennis archery, canoeing
, swimming, photography, baseball, lacross.
and yachting puzzles Of all kinds, and. n
{ auction handbills say, many other thing
4 too numerous TO mention Published b,
Iiarrer Brothers, franklin Square. New
3 York, Received through q r Thomas
. COMPANY,