New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-10
SOME RECENT FICTION.
LONG NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES.

SOME REOENT FICTION
LONG NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES.
HE FELL IN LOVE WIFE HIS WIFE BY EDWARD
p. RoH l2mo pp. 353. Dodd. Mead & Co.
NATURES SERIAL STORY. By EDWARD L. ROE.
12mo PIP. XIV, 4s6. the same.
A STEP ASIDE. b. CHARLOTTE DUNNING. 1Gmo. pp
1873. HoughtOn, Mihln * Co.
REAL PEOPLE BY MARION WILCOX. lGmO. pp 247.
White. -tOkes u Allen.
l2mo. PIP. 35I. G. +. rutnsm's sons
Both of Mr.. Roes works have recently apr cared in
periodical publications. The first has been read
with great deal of interest in HE WnKLY
TRIBUNE, and the second. with the Illustrations
Of W Hamilton Gibson and f. Diclman has been
an attraction Of turner's Naga:iae The chief
elements Of Mr.. Rocs popularity a novelist are
very exact under standing of the habits OF
thought of the great majority, SYM athy with
ordinary passions and sentiment respect for what
ever is just AMI decorous, and lastly, the art of
telling simple story in simple ami elective
manncr-an art which, the sad-eycd critic
knows TO his cost not all our nO'ellss lave ac =
CURED. ale Fell III Love With His Vic is a.
story about plain co,niry people; the experiences
which ii describes are such as might be III any
country town the emotions with which If is con
ceIned are not too fine for everyday people. 1t
treats familiar forms of life and types of character
with realistic fidelity, and pres MS conduct in a
light which every reader viii declare to be nat
ural Moreover, it contains an abundance of
humOr, of the obvious ami farcical variety, which
always comman Is the most general appreciation
With these qualities TO recommend it, need
hardly say that it is very readable book With
out sensational incidents. storms of dubious
passion, or perVcIsc puzzles of morality, IL eX-
hibits a striking picture of hOmey lie, and con
Neys q sensible lesson and II never laiscs into
dulnoss.
Natures Serial Story" is less novel than a
set of country sketches, connected by Slight love
tale. We are taken 10 fine old homestead on
the Hudson ana there while the little story un-
folds itself in the course of the year we are made
familiar with rustic scenes and occupations ut the
various seas, rs, taught many things about the
habits of plants birds and beasts, and instructed
in the lore of the farmer 1t is all done Ill a
pleasant, lively, unaffected manner with anec-
dotcs of sport and adventure intcisI cised The
Illustrations are reproduced after fashion, but
the charm which belonged 10 them III the mag
azine has vanished.
The story of two young people who arc tempted
TO postpone marriage until they have money
enough TO live with comfort and fashion contains
the material of good moral lesson The man
allows his better instincts TO be stliied by the
desire for wealth the woman, encoula-ed by nm
70 delight in luxuries which at first she was quite
Willing TO do without loses a great deal Of the
puIity and unselfshness of her affection Hugh
Lan.muir at last con mits a dcialcatlon. III a
small amount and attempts suicide, in which
his betlothed intnatcs that she would have fol
lowed him if he had been successful
From this crisis they happily emerge, TO be mar
ried without a cent. The narrative is animated.
the incidents are varied ami abundant the stud
les of many of the vulgar aspects of real life In
a cheap last Side boarding house and also in
haunts of wealth pIetcnsion are generally vivid
Peri,als there is much vul- aI1ty "A ep Aside"
book however is disanuointing for another rea-
son than this. 1t contains, as we have said. the
material for a good moral lesson; and yet ii is
difficult TO lind in it any trace OF moral senti-
ment tale of error and sin from which ethical
considerations are totally omitted is something
Of a curiosity
Wbv Marion Wilcox should call his collection Of
sketches Real People" is not selfevldent Per
hons tina characters we're drawn from the life but
if so they have been changed good deal in the
process of transfer, tor their reality does not i'm
press itself strongly upon the reade There are SIX
Short sketches in the volume. Two not prop
erly stories one of them being description of the
Wagner performance oil Parsifal at BAyreuth. and
being a my stical production which possibly the
author understood when she wrote il, but which
other human being at all is likely to make head or
tail of A Spanish A Inerican Engagement" and
q" Coucha Carablanco" are tue most Interesting
short pieces IN the volume They deal with new
tyne and there is some quiet hGmor and observa-
tlon in them. Kee psakes, the longest STORY. is
rather more ambitious, aud not at all I-dOne. but
ON Inc whole WINE smooth and pleasant. some
what thin The little volume Is dalntily printed
and certainly does not fali short OF the authors
very modest claim on It's behalf.
MIR Bishop has written novel of considerable
strength and interest IN Inc Psychologist"
although the general reader Will be apt 10 ind his
omen No chapters rather d iscouraging Mcpherson
altar whom the story is named Is Il cll-cOnceIyed
cnar.cter with IA great deal more individuality
and originality than usual. He S keen observer.
a., analyst of character. and takes Pleasure IN
stndyine and puzzlIng cut the people about him.
wherev.r he goes Much of JoImans talk is lar
above the ordinary conversation OF hctlon, and the
supenority Is not always or altogether an add
vantage for there Is danger that ,his too lntelll
gent person may be regarded as IA prig and a bore.
A., really is neithe, one nor the other. lie talks
often very we'll indeed. But he IS prone to di-
dactcIsm. and tina, is a tendency Tie novel reader
resents, ana not without reason, remembering the
mons frauds OF winch he was Tie victim IN child
hood when the suceulent preserve was made 10
conceal The nauseOus med cine lie story grows
much llveer as II prOceedn, and tDe episode oil
Orrln BariecR IL skllfuly worked out III tue story
IT, rs We conjecture, the authors hrst essay In
fiction, 1t " very good beginning.