New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-18
SOME NEW NOVELS.
ENGLISH. FRENCH AND AMERICAN.

| I2mo PIP. 355 Boston: Ticknor 81 %.
| Mr. POTTER OF TEXAS. By Archibald Clsvering
| Gu.ter 1880 PIP 27s. The Home Furnishing Co.
JEAN MONTETTH BY NJ G. McCLELLaND. 16po PIP
252. Henry Holt Co.
| la NEUvAINE DE COLETTE Reprinted from Z" La
Revue DIES Dsux Mezies" W. L. JENKINS.
| THE STORY OF COLETTE. D. Appleton Il co. Trans
lated frOx the above.
Nj Gaines story of the Manx Deemster Is
strong one and is SET so far back IN history as 10
| give the author a wide margin for possible an
! achroni.ms Whether indeed. the representation
is true to life in the Isle of Man 800 years ago Is
neither to be determined easily if at all, nor is 1t
of much consequences. 1t is cuough to feel that the
life described in broad sense true TO human ma
tire in a half-dcveoped state. and it would doubt
less be possible to find at this day, among
the islands of the HebrIdes. crude and
unsophisticatel society as that so boldly
aud wildly drawn in this novel. Its main
characteristics are local flavor so thorough
that one may be sure modern Manxmen and Manx-
women Lave sat for models to the author, aud a
remarkably skilful reproduction of that wild.
| picturesque superstition which Is so conecnial an
atmosphere for untamsd Celtic poo?l s. Whether
| the dialect put in the mouths of the Islanders Is
! correct or not whether 1t is archaic or modern,
| we do not know but aSsIredy 1t IS real dlaicct
| and which harmonzos wonderfully Win Tue
quaint folks who speak IT, Tnere Is great deal Oh
vigorous AMI romantic description in the story and
! the play of passion is managed with adroltnesS
The central figure. half hero. half ileiactor Is
convention any novelist mi yht be proud Of and IN
the account of his lonely life after beng eXpelled
| from human society with the curse of the Church
upon him. and the brand of Cam, there Is some
! exceedingly powerful work. The old Doemster and
! his brother the Bishop are strong ana clearly
drawn characters and in the action there IS an
energy which carries the reader along rreslstlbly
THE Deenster is certainly the most mature work
of its author.
Mr. Stockton had difficult task before him
when he undertook to write sequel to " Mrs
Iocks and Mrs. Aleshine," but the curiosity OF the
public 10 know m)-o Of the Dusantes oyerbore his
natural re uctanc, to enter urOn kind OF expert
( ment against The wisdom Of which prec 'dehi IL 80
strong. rhOIgl 1t is no; TO b expected that Inc
second nstam mt Of tls Story VIII b thought al
together az good the ir't. 1t Is good enough to
be read with pleasure. rhs prevail hug conceit OF
The Dusantes scarcely Yields IN num'r 10 that
of the original. There drollery In the concaena-
ton which brings tn, mysterious own,r OF the
island house and Mrs Lechs and Mrs. Alcshine to-
gether on "A mpun ain il the Sierra Nevada, ana
the event is described in Nh StocktOaS best man
rer that is 10 say. with imperturblbo gravity ana
| a calm ignoring OF ever element o. eXtiaydSaDc'
which is productive of the liyeli'st Amusement.
The ginger jar III which the board money was ic-
posted by Mrs L,cks and Mrs Aeshne before
leaving the island ays prominent part IN Inc
Dlsaotes" and its ira lsit the snow slopes IN
| the watchful arms of Mr.. ID Isante 10 an amusing
! ons.
Mr. Saltus dellcatcs his last novel to " Nv Mas
! fer the Philosopher of the UncOn-clo Edward
Won Hartman J." and calls IT an attempt in or'a-
mental dIscnchaltmeat Mr. Sa!tus cOlceivcs 1t
10 DO his mission apparently, to uphold the stan
dard OF pc uism fiction, and the result OF MS
efforts IS the production Of tales which leave slngu-
larry IN pleasant tase IN the mouth. The truth
, About Trstreln Vagick y IS the story of young
mans infaiuliIon for a young grl who does not
love him, bat who does love n married friend or
his ani who. af or suffering from tins married
man the worst on rage a W oman can sustain. con-
times TO love the cOwardlY brute who has iniiict"c
| It, and bitterly r,sents his ASSASSINATION by the
hero-this crime boing committed under the dclu-
SION that it is an act OF vengeance which viii
crafty the girl. 1t Is Irisircm NMlct who - thus
asenchanted. finding himself waited to the loot oi
the gallows by tbs operation Of his conn
dence 10 his friend AMI his mistress. Tho
opyortunitIes which such = plot furnishes
for the inculcalon OF pessimisfic ideas
are clearly abundant, and the author makes the
fullest use of them. With the exception OF TITS
trem the people in the story are vague AMI shadowy,
has been bestowed. goss through life in haf-
comatose state and olly mustcrs some dccisiychc -
on two OCCASION; once when ne throws away a
great fortune for m air-drawn fancy. and agaln
when he commits murler for the sake OF wOmaI
VINO never care for him. Ii IS commended that this
singular person not insane that on tho con-
trary he was rather saler than most mon; but tho
steps taken to demonstrate tins position viii prob
ably not TO thought conclusive. The story Is nor
without sort of power, bat 1T IL not the power OF
reproducing real life. Nothing could be more i'm
probable than Mr. Saltuss whole creation. and the
Only practical inference to b. drawn from is that
his studies IN pessimis!ic philosophy have eiyon an
oDhquity to his intellectual perceptions which
spells him Tor any serious work IN hctlol
The Worlds Verdict is the virgin book Of a now
writer Marx Hopkins, jr 1t IS one OF those inter-
national stories in which the persons OF the drama
wander about Europe making love, quarrcling. and
getting into various tangcmenGs III various cities
and diverse countries This kind of book offers
emp. atiOl ID YoIak TO lri5t5 WAC have formed
ideas about Paris London. Rome, Florence and
other places since it enables them TO relieve
tho action with descriptions OF scenes and
places 1t 10 not. however, the KIND OF move
which af Drds the best opening for strong and
original work, for il is apt TO induce desdltory
manner and lack of concen tration in the genera
effect Mr. Hopkins shows plenty Of Imagination
he has an easy and pleasant style, and his people
talk with some animation and ntturdlness. Ihouei
the story Is weak in invention and the Impression
produced is rather vapid and fiat. yet for a irs
attempt it cannot be considered altogether I'M
promising.
"Mr Potter Of Texas" opens well with - very
spirited description of the bombardInent of Alex
andrla and the perils Of the English man and
!. woman who had remained in the city, After TIN
|, stirring Introduction. however, the story plunge
into a series OF sensations and entangemcnis OF TN
widest KIND and these centre about an alleged
( Texan such as citizen OF the Lone star Stat
| could by any possibility recognize. ms amazing