New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-06-17
MRS. STODDARDS NOVELS.
THE FIRST VOLUME OF A NEW EDITION


1t was happy inspiration that suggested new
edition OF Mrs. Stoddard's novels-for we conclude
that The Morgesons- and Temple House" will
follow the present neat edition OF Two Mem
and fortunately the time is ripe for such general
rocognition and appreciation Of these works as
circumstances deprived them Of when they were
FIRST issued Mr. Edmund c. Stedman has written
an analytic introduction to the present volume,
and his Endorsement will assure the mistrustful
TINT whether or not they are brought TO concur
in his opinion the book is seriously worth reading.
But indeed Mrs Stoddard's novels are quite
strong enough to be selfdcpendent, and Two
Mem will strike most readers with kind oil
rcqretful surprise that excellent piece OF
work should have been virtually overlooked dur
ing the lifetime of generation.
1.-Two Mem is, as Mr.. Stedman puts 1t, the
work of writer possessing gift, so great glit'
we are inclined to add that the conditions when
seem TO have checked her productive tendency
have cost the world much. just at present we
are at one of those representative, hypercritlcal
stages of literary development during winch
docIine of creative power is sought to be offset
by an augmentation of formal art. Hence 10
results that the way in which thought IS expressed
is sometimes held of more Importance IMAM the
character and scope of the thought ltsell ana
there are living critics who go the length oil
approving skiful literary methods, without re-
gard for the fact that they are employed IN the
service of immortality Nevertheless IL remains
a fact that in literature style is an expression OF
personality rather than an original art' ana thaC
the power OF expression is gift, not less III prose
than in poetry. Mrs Stoddard was practicaiiy
untutored when she wrote Two Men, ana Iorlhai
criticism will discover in her work some defects
OF nexporicnce, perhaps some redundancies' anu
occasionally AN imperfect rendering of her own
conceptions Yet there is so little evidence OIL
immaturity so little real crudcness, in this novel
that the candid reader cannot iai TO recognize Vne
touch Of true genius in its pages
One striking proof of this genius Is the strenGi II
Of individualism exhibited throughout the book
IT, has n distinct style, character which stands
ont clearly. We are indeed reminded of two
widely separated writers-the author Of :" Jane
Eyre and the author Of The Story OF Country
Town, We are led to think of the first by the
s1vle. Of the second by the tone. Mrs. Stoddard
takes the reader into a world whose familiarity
as to externals does not greatly help to compre-
hension of its inner life The scene is laid In
New-England seaport town. The story Is con-
ccrned chiefly with the fortunes Of one family
and its dependents There is little movement
scarce any excitement no melodramatIc stua-
tons The study is Of peculiarly stronS-willed
but undemonstrativc, reticent people, ohshoots
of that sturdy old English stock which exlled
itself forever rather than yield its convictions
of truth and right, and which, IN the subsequent
struggle with hostile natives, became still more
determined and still more severe and sel[con-
tanned The attempt TO expel human nature
seldom succeeds for any length OF time. 1t
returns and rcasserts itself unexpectedly. IL re-
acts in excuses. 1t vindicates its right to un-
fettered development by apparent reversions to
less advanced types just so IN history the re-
straint Of the English Commonwealth is offset
hy the indulgence of the Restoration Just so the
rigor of a Calvinistic youth is apt TO be followed
by the laxity of an Agnostic maturity.
In 1.-TWO Men," the same family produces both
types; Sarah, the sister, representing the Puritan
characteristics and Osmond, the brother, the loose
Cavalier tendencies Sarah is u wonderful study.
She embodies wellknown Ncw-England traits en-
phasized a little no doubt, but not exaggerated.
She is the kind OF woman for whom the word
duty" is talisman, and the word " love" has
no meaning; one who will fulfil every obligation
ineligible to her with scrupulous conscientious
ness and fidelity, but who knows not the vital
secret of giving herself with her gifts A family
brought up under such hand can have few bonds
OF unity. In this case the fundamental hardness
and unexpressivcness of Sarah nearly blight the
sensitive, delicate, impulsve nature of PElippa,
Southern-born child bearing in her veins the in
surgent blood of OsmOnd Parke, and requiring
tender and sympathetic upbringing. Sarah freezes
this tropical soul, forces it in upon itself, binds
il until it grows numb and sluggish and is on the
way to desiccation. There is deep insight in
the episode OF Philippe. Jason Auster, while
certainly the most striking figure in the story.
seems to be less completely analyzed-perhaps less
completely understood; for it is quite possible for
authors to conceive characters which puzzle their
creators subsequently.
Jason Auster indeed clearly does not know him
self at first He marres Sarah ParlIe apparently
under the vague impression that it is a worldly
wise proceeding, but his establishment is speedy,
and if il does not enlighten him, it convinces the
reader that a less worldly minded person never ex-
listed. In fact he had not, and could not secure,
his own consent to the position he had made for
himself The wealth Of his wife never became
Cor him anything but burden and humiliation.
lie tries to rid himself Of the latter by refusing to
benefit by il at all, but he does not find peace or
selfapproval. He also is OF the tacitum, rugged
Anglo-Saxon breed, and is too proud to contend
with his wife or try to compromise situation
which he socn secs is fatally inharmonious. lie
even neglects the plain duty Of overlooking his
sons education lie becomes recluse; spends his
time in the woods with his dogs pretending 10
hunt or on the sea in his boat, pretending to fish,
But if Jason Auster is silent and averse from the
sochty Of his fellows it is not the GOODNESS of his
nature that so isolates and utilities him. His
wife really satisfies herself with the arid perform
ance of mechanical duties. He is parayzed by the
evcr-present consciousness that, hungering and
for love, he has doomed himself to de-
pryation. He too, holds strongly to duty. but
it is not enough for his life Feeling that he has
had his chance and missed it, perhaps he seeks to
enace himself but meantime his fate is growing
up beside him unsupported The revelation comes
TO him before Sarah dies, and it shocks him greatly
but the need of his nature for expansion, sympa-
thy la.n L. GO iranerinus that snrnnr GOLF nora