New-York tribune., 1886-08-22

ahady member Of society. but her punishment is
excessiya Her step-daughtsr is interesting,
though her vague yearnings after higher lie arc
rather suggestive OF the WEAKNESS OF safety than
of any Renuine desire for a mDre noble existence.
The story is told we'll on the whole, but the sub
flavor of Thackeray diluted which characterizes
the book 10 not especially attractive Whether Mr..
Whartons imitation OF the master Is conscious or
unconscious it is an imitation and all experiments
of the kind are to be deprecated. When man has
something of his own to saw and says it in his own
way the world listens patiently as rule. but
there is really no Justification for attmpts to copy
the style of other writer's. All such copies chal-
lenge comparison certain to be to their disadvan-
tape. Mr. Wharton has ideas OF his own, and a
style Of his own. He cannot approach rhackeray,
but he can do very we'll in his proper manner.
Hannibal of New-York is good story of its
kind though the studies it contains are Of largely
impossible people.
@The Phantom City" is an interesting story. and
in line seldom followed. II is the account of the
supposititious discovery of a city Of Central
America inhabited by remnant of the ancient
Toltec race. The legend of such city. buried III
primeval forests, has really existed long ac'ong
the Indians After vainly attempting to find it in
the ordinary way. by an exploring expedition. the
hero of :" The Phantom City" procures a balloon.
and is successful his quest. Here, however, the
authors invention seems to have broken down.
His account of the people found is really derived
almost entirely from extant histories and records
of the ancient races of Central America. and be
does not venture to give versimitude to his story
by entering upon those minute details which real
traveller would be sure to observe and register.
The result is that after the adventurer attans the
object of his quest the interest rather declines and
there o cuItaiment and hurry toward the end
which suggests that the writer was getting tired
of his own narrative The compass OF the concep-
ton is not large. but within that COMPASS the
idea is carried out with sufficient care and ron
sistency. No doubt there might be such a hidden
city as is hero described. The country is unex-
plored to a great extent, and we know that dead
cities are scattered through the Central American
forests, and that even they still await thorough
exploration. Mr. Westal therefore has taken
legitimate ground for his romance of adventure.
and the only cause for complaint is that having so
virgin a land to deal with he does not make the
most OF his opportunities.
Mrs. Whitney's stories are too well known TO re-
auire much comment, and BonnybOrough" is like
the rest in general way. This author makes her
people talk in a way peculiar to herself. hey
are always saying smart things of kind so subtle
or profound that the average rea1er IS be-
wdered. 1t cannot be said that anybody ever
heard people talk in that way. and one is apt to
imagine that if they did they would lie good
people to keep away from. Mrs. Whitney does not
care for incident much but prefers to develop her
heroes aud heroines slowly and carefully. 1t is a
strange Kind of fiction but 1t evidently satisfies
large class of readers. and the moral tone OF all
these stories is uneA Aceptionable.