New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-30
WESTERN LIFE.
A TALE OF PRAIRIE CIVILIZATION


continually experimenting In ooSer'""o" .ho
preston. there are not many VINO po''e''
srronatbetic vision. the subtle Apprehension neceS
80 .h. ,,roduction of fiction which takes hoid
90 tho reader by its naturalness and simple REALISM"
AZ Josenb Kirkland by his novel :" Zury,' snoweu
hi. title 10 take rank in this minority; ana hc
has followed mn his first decided success oy
.,orv produccd on lines dangerous to the average
novice but capable of excellent results unoei
skilful treatment In The Moneys" VIC rene"
acquaintance with many OF the people ehcoun'',e'
a. ,ho .a,e ~ The Meanest Man in Spring
County. The McVeys are Anne Sparrow Mc'ey
and her twin children Philip and Margaret, anu
zurv reappears also We see him here however,
IN pleasanter aspect. He is in transiuon s'a'o'
His meanness is being sloughed off, and the na'iVo
and sterling virtues of the typical frontiersn"n
are being brought to the front ana are acqu'iine
control of his character. The story is IN large
part that of the evolution of Iury. "haV was
limited and lightly sketched in the authors nrS'
book is now shown with elaboration and in detail.
The circumstance that the continuation OF Aury
history was not contemplated when "Zury' was
written no doubt explains few repentlons wnlch
may seem 10 some readers TO detract from 'ne
general interest 1t would certainly have been
better had the issue of Zury's long courtshlp OF
Anne not been confided in the former volume but
few who enjoyed that book will find serious fault
with a defect which could not have been avoioeo
II the chronicles of Zury were TO be carried
further.
The former " meanest man" does not occupy so
prominent a position in the present work as IN
that which introduced him, but he gives tone ana
character TO the novel, which is no less tnan ltS
predecessor DISTINGUISHED by rarely faithful ana
thoroughly rendered local atmosphere The author
has a remarkable grasp of the intellect pecuharl-
ties Of his complex subject. Carlcature ana uhe
sardonic humor which appears to be an attribute
of the American character in these days nave
dealt so rudely with the whole field OF western
abnormalities as to produce general impression
of extravaeance in regard TO that element OF the
nation No region, however, deserves or can
repay careful study better, and an uneXasgeratd
view of it is a gift to be thankful Tor MT. hirh-
land has given us this In his western peopic
we recognize the influences of the newer forms oil
national life in their just proportions Inc
civilization of the prairies is of course, rapidly
shedding its pristine crudties, and asslm'"''hs
10 the normal standard; but it has not lost and
probably will not for long time lose, ltS mosO
distinctive traits The environment here, as every
where, has exerted a strong influence upon the
people. If the general monotony and hatness oil
melancholy such as affects the jewellers on the vast
plains of Russia, the expansveness of the outlook,
comparable almost to that of the ocean, has de-
velopcd a stronger sense of freedom, more rugged
and genuine consciousness of independence thau
Eastern city life, at least is apt TO 1os'er'
The intense practically of frontier life more
over the directness and constancy OF the human
contact with nature, evolve an alertness ana ca
pacity for selfsupport the possession OF when I'M
parts confidence and ease of bearing. Il the prlm-
airy condition of migration, which is the superior
energy and adventurousncss of the pioneer, we
have guarantee against the growth OF that ultra
conservatism which fastens isolated or small com
munities in ruts and kills innovation and expert
ment The West has grown not only because OF
native vigor and the virgin resources OF magnl-
fcent region, but because the Western people nave
from the beginning been eager to better their con-
dition in all ways, and prompt TO avail themselves
of every method and opportunity. Here then we
find a combination of characteristics the portrayal
of which in action is specially interesting and in
structive In Jury Prouder Mr.. Kirkland has
chosen a strikingy typical Western man. Zury
has lived in two far separated generations. HIS
career illustrates the most diverse conditions and
influences, and throws strong light upon the most
remarkable features OF Western development lie
has been moulded by his environment IN the most
direct way. His infancy, childhood ana yolth Il
prolonged struggle for survival under the severest
regimen and the most sordid conditions both eX-
terna and internal the great force of his character
has naturally taken the line of egcistc absorption
and the strength of his intellect has been employed
almost wholly in the pursuit Of material advantage
Born in a settled society, spared the sordld cares
of his actual youth, this man would have been
great lawyer, or statesman, or merchant VI spec
ulator and while no less distinguished by exccu-
tive capacity might have escaped the " meanness
which procured him his nickname. But had he
dcveloped the same rapacious tendencies in the
latter case he would not have been reclalmaoIe,
and it is here that the Western training appears
in imparing an elasticity and a ductiiity to the
character which facilitate growth and improve
unent far beyond the limits of what may be termed
Observation-Disclosures in older communities.
But the Eastern influence is not left out of ac-
count by Mr. Kirkland. 1t would be an artistic
blunder to represent the West as homogeneous and
telf-centred. The faithful historian must make
full allowance for the important aids the new so
ciety constantly receives from the older states
In this story the benefits so derived are typifed
In the moral regeneration Of Jury Prouder through
the elevating and enlightening example and teach
ing of Anne McVey. She and her daughter Mar
raret arc beautiful characters. and if at times
the tender mother appears little perverse and ca
pricious assuredly these occasional folDles De
tract in no way from her charm. Another pleasant
parsonage is Ansie Masten, and the author has
illustrated, in this pretty study of lovely West
ern girl, who is the daughter of minister West
ern characteristic which deserves TO be thus noted
Annie is a sincere and devout Christian, but with
out a touch of Puritanism. Full Of spirits, play
ful and merry she takes liberties with her rever-
end father which may possibly seem less than dec
orous TO some readers. But Annie stands for that
Western spirit which, while by means ASSOCIATED
from sincere faith and hearty reverence for re-
ligon, takes as by instinct the cheerful view OF
all aspects Of life, and regrets the solemn and
gloomy much as children are won't TO do, and quite
possibly for much the same reason.
No doubt there is dark and melancholy side