New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-22

the phenomena for which they persist In searching
under normally discouradng condinons mn'
Wordsworth, however. Is perhaps wise IN nmP'y
telling her ghost stories straightforwardly, aho
leaving the discussion Of them to whomsoever IL
may concern.
Mr. r. Hopkinson Smiths sketches are clever,
and the reader will experience lively regret be-
cause Of their brevity. They have to do with
the life and work of travelling artist, and they
display much humor and keenness Of observation.
The artists aesthetic principles operate to the en-
hancement Of the harmony and pictur-
sequences of each sketch. and tho
color, light, proportion and values arc as care
fully distributed and assigned as in picture.
There is a grace and crispness about the authors
style which adds greatly to it's effect Perhaps
most people will like the Venetian sketches best.
Certainly that Of the Summers Day In Venice"
with the brilliant picture Of the sunny fisher
man" is most taking and wonderfully full Of the
warmth and color and bright light it describes.
Yet the Holland studies have charm of their
own, though set IN so different kind Of frame,
and the one Spanish bit Is excellent too, In its
way. Mr. Smith has 50 manifest gift for these
admirable little sketches that he will do himself
less than justice II he fails to supplement- the
present too modest little volume with larger col
lection from his travelling portfolio
Before the Dawn" is what may be called an
old-fashioned story, belonging to the romantic
period. 1t Ia full Of action, Of street fights and
ambushes ana abductions 1t has Its good and
bad knights, it's orthodox witch, its mysterious
young woman who was stolen when chile and
is las usual in such cases. allowed to wear locket
L. {al hnar WIVES Of her raal
family, yet which nobody has understood the sig
nifcance of until the right person appears The
historical element is not very strong Etienne
Marcel and some other characters Of the time are
introduced, but little effort seems TO have been
made to give them versimilitude. The tale is
not ill-wrtten but the author has more imagination
than creative SKILL and the plan is not OF kind
to AFFORD much opportunity for good work
Lady Sophia Palmer's volume Of stories, pub
ished under the title Of Mrs. Perricotts
Ledger" is Of higher grade OF fiction. The
scene varies, being sometimes laid in England and
sometimes in Italy and France The longest Of
the tales, Beppa." Is also the best 1t relates
the experience OF young Italian girl who has been
spoiled by petting, but is still sound-hearted and
only needs few sharp lessons in serious hfe to
bring her sterling qualities to the surface. 1t Is
simply and effectively told. certain hghtness
of hand charaoterizes Lady Palmer's writing and
she seeks effect through study OF the emotions in
stead Of action. The description of life in an
Italian commune is especially interesting and shows
careful observation.
"A Magnificent Plebelan" is almost survival
from dead past. There was time when the
staple of fiction consisted Of Just such queer trayes
ties of human life. We have here an impossible
hero, o Phebus Apollo Of young man, whose
beauty amazes everybody: who is grace Itself;
who is also grand, gloomy and peculiar; who has
lighted, like Mercury, upon New-York, TO practise
the grovelling profession Of lawyer, and who be-
comes the bright particular star OF naughty
Fifth-ave. belle. The pride OF this beautiful
young man is stupendous and he is not In the least
vsin but morbidly ashamed Of the fact that he
Is Of lowly birth--if such phenomenon can be
admitted possible IL this land of equality. His
vulgar sister is, however almost tho only natural
person in the story As for the magnificent pie
beian himself, he would be far too good for this
miserable world if he were not obviously con-
trolled by what the author does not seem to per-
ceive is fundamental snobbishness which hes
the effect of rendering bis deepest gloom ridicu-
lous and his shrinking senstiveness mere in
centive TO soothing
The translation OF Mrs. Mathews from the Ger
man story, The Angel Of the Village is far
plcasanter reading. 1t is a perfectly simple tale
of life in g small village, the chief business Of
which centres about mill or factory. There are
few characters, but they are fairly and clearly
drawn and speak and act naturally. The good
old Hofbauer is a particularly pleasing, though
homely figure, and his daughter, the angel Of the
village, is sweet and lovable. The complete alb
sence Of effect and the atmosphere of repose and
old-fashioned conservatism which envelope and
characterize the tale give it refreshing effect
and throw into stronger relief the great virtues
Of the good people described There Is indeed
O touch Of Werterism in the ending of the hard
hearted manufacturers career but this Is pre-
sumably concession to popularity of German
taste in fiction which belongs to national charac-
ter rather than TO any literary school