New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-19
mildly sensational romance, as united oonsVl.u''
an exceedingly interesting and attractive novel

Tn An rrnlaid Ghost" which Is also described
=. "A study I'm NIetempsyohosis,' we have the
latest symptom OF the modern new departure III
fiction This time we are required TO Jake
stocl, in- the doctrine Of Pythagoras and OF many
otber philosophers, schools and sects to w.t. thai
since committed In one life on this earth may DO
oxniated in a second incarnation OF the Offending
shirt. To illustrate the reincarnation hypothe-
sis. the soul Of the Empress Poppea, the wicked
spouse of Nero, Is supposed to reappear III 'ne
form of o young nineteenth century glri Oh grea'
hoautv and good disposition, but who brings dis
as,er TO all who have to do with her. AS inc
second part ends happily tho reader may think
that the penalties exacted for the crimes OF the
wicked Empress are surprisingly mild, and that
rho manner of inflicting them, namely, by kill
inc and injuring other and innocent people, Is
more singular than satisfactory. 1t is indeed true
that Hortense suffers herself because of the fatal
itv that follows her, but her suffering after ALL
10 Indirect and it cannot be regarded as an equiv
olent for n 1.-THE OF the dreadful deeds done by
tho Imperial adventures In short, IL metempsy-
Ghosts is true and II this is the way 1t operates
we can only regard it rs distinctly demoranzihs
occncv for the Neros and Popp9as are not at all
uI,oIv IN be restrained by the fear OF such feeble
rotribution ms befalls the heroine OF this story.
Moreover, it is not in any true sense study OF
mctempsychosis. The original doctrine OF rein
carnation is not Greek, but Arian 1t Is the DOC
trine of Karma, taught in India from the Vedanto
neriod and according to that teaching so great
sinner as Poppea never would have Deen apie W
work out her redemption in this easy fashion
Karma demands an eye for an eye and a tooth
for n tooth, and Poppoca, Judged by that ancient
law. would have had an exceedingly bad time
through, not one alone, but several reincarna-
tions.
Mrs. Alexander's novels are always readable,
and Mona's Choice is no exception to the rule.
The choice itself is in the first instance unfortu-
nate and brings the heroine into much adversely,
which. however, develops and strengthens her
character, opens her eyes, and prepares her event
ually for the decision on appeal by which she re-
verses her original judgment Mona is young
lady of decided views who prefers work 10 oe-
pcRdence Her complete, or all but complete,
submission to her newly found and particularly
cantankerous old Scotch uncle does not at all de-
tract from the general impression OF her hrmnesS
and good sense The story is IN no way sehsa-
tiona but the interest is kept up to the close.
Miss SERGEANT Tor is it Mrs Serjeant') has writ
ten a story on familiar lines. There are tWo
brothers, one good and the other bad, and, as
always In such cases tat least in ictionl, the
bad one has all the brains and plays WIN the
rood one and with everybody else quite at his
ease Given boys silly marriage with an al
ventures quick separation, followed by report
of the womans death, and you have all the ma
terials for stock sensational novel OF the braddon
type Roy's Repentance is a story OF TINS Kihd'
Everybody is entangled in the webs spun by inc
wicked brother, who succeeds in all his neiarious
plots, or appears to do so, until, as IN Uie oii-
fashioned pantomime, the proper moment arrives
infn
else. the wicked magician who was about to en-
chant the hero and heroine is turned into Panta-
loon the delivered hc:o and heroine lash iorth
radiant as Harlequin and Columbne; and inc
faithful comic servant reappears as clown ana
loscs no time in beginning his traditional FRANKS IL
makes amusing reading, jars upon nobody's nerves.
and the conventional happy ending stimulates the
publc's Imagination. Roy's Repentance Is
very fair example of this kind OF story.