New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-18

pulSlVe LIT. hdVeHeI, odCu anu al io"i po"piS'
There is O sub-tragc vein In the story which main
taIns the interest steadily, and, AZ most readers
will appreciate yields at the proper moment to tho
influences which are to set everything straight
LA Neuvaine de Colette.' which appeared
ANONYMOUSLY in the Revue des Deux Mondes '
last year. has been reprinted here IN the original
French by w. r. jenkins, and a translation OF 1t
has also been published by the Appletons. 1t Is a
charming little story. moulded on the simplest
lines, thoroughly puro and admirably con-
strucfed The central idea is fresh. A
young girl whose knowledge OF the world
is confined to the scanty experience OF
two-year sojourn in Paris convent is plunged in
the solitude Of a ruinOus old chateau where she
lends q life of deadly monotony in company with
her only relative a sour old aunt who wishes 10
prevent her niece from having any opportunity OF
getting married. The young girl thrown upon
herself for amusement instruction and everything
else naturally evolves some wildly romantic ideas.
and under the advice Of a village wise woman
is presently induced to devote nne-day season of
prayer TO n certain Saint who is thought capable
Of sending her the fairy-princc for whose advent
she longs This is the motive, and ont OF Colct;es
neuraiRe proceeds the wonderful yet quite natural
little idyll which follows. There is much how
ever in the methods by which Colrttes poItlon
seems to DO granted, tie Saint himself that Is his
imace) taking direct and practical part IN the
affair which is apt to surprise the reader not 4
little
There are bat five characters in the story. ana OF
those only two are completely developed. The
whole il told IN letters and entries in Journal,
mode of narration presenting special difficulties.
But in the hands of this unknown author the best
results are obtained and there is great art In tho
way in which the hero and heroine reveal them
selves through the most indirect a missions and
descriptions. Perhaps the auralnes5 OF the action
il no where more clearly shown than III the prcsen-
taton of Colettc and Pierre "a At hTs strongly an
tipathetic 10 one another. Mutual dislike marks
their intercourse and it is by the subilest ana
most skfully indicated steps that tins DIS
couraglng state of affairs gradually changes
into love. The account of this slow
metamorphosis Is wonderfully well written.
alternately III Cocttcs diary and PeTrcs letters to
his friend Ja0ucs Pierre Is a young man who mas
been disIlusionizcd as he believes and who brings
to his first meeting with Colette cynical feeling
for all women which dispose. him to criIcise MS
young hostess coIdly and rnimcally. Colette o.
her side thinks nobody could less resemble her
ideal of tho fairy prince than this unexpected and
hepess guest. Ihas all the probabilities seem
unfavorablo to the attainment of common nm
Outstanding and yet J., soon becomes evident tn at
the most apparently discouragins factors arc work
ing just to that end.
The man of the woIA is first puzzled and then
attracted in spite Of himself by the h0mcy rcvela-
tons Of tins altogether new kind Of feminine char
acter IIef bizqrr, eldcI'ion. her innocence. h"r
natural grace, even her Ignorance aud helpless
ness. fascinatc him. and when ho thinks he Il
merely passing the time by studying 'olette. he
Is sinking deeper and deeper I'm love with the gtl.
she indeed Is charming enough 10 account for any
infltultion. and many Of her naive sel'-comIrun-
incs are positively delicious Tho story Is t"ld
with a wonderful ligntucss and rac!nc-A II IL fun
Of LITTLE skllfll touches such ~ French literary
art at its best knows well how 90 protnce II j.
character zcd bv kuowledye - human nature and
a ma tory Of stylc and method which indicate thai
il i thc work rather Of a master than OF an'NIcr.
though TIA, possession Of grnIns NAV moro than
offset the Inference between cNp"rienc" and ntui-
ton. Whoever t.e author Of Colcitc may b.
there can be no question that n j. one Of the pref
test, most artistic aud in every way charming
stories that French ic.lon has been LolaTcd by ioi
a lOng time.