New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-28

Shenandoah. Another capital passage Is the descnp-
ton OF the calling out OF the cavalry when the news
of stuart's raid is received fragment dealing with
the opening Of the Battle Of Fredericksburg occurs
near the close Of the book and all OF these are so
graphic, so full Of careful observation marked by
the artistic Imagination, that the reader regrets their
paucty and wishes Captain King had given space
to his military "reminiscences, for 1t IS there he
trcads most firmly No doubt the poor boys in blue
who nfsd and drummcd out of their blankets,
and II the dew had bceh heavy, arose damp and
chilled little of the pcturcsqueness Of the soldiers
Ife and rule cared not dot for the natural
beauties Of the scenery in which the camp was
pitched the halt made 1t is, here everywhere,
only by the lookeron that the picturesque can be
appreciated in actual lfe but the novelist is author
ized to employ certain licenses, and 10 up,
whenever the exlgencie5 Of the plot demand IT, the
ugly realities. This Captain King has done neatly
and we'll, and his story rapidly TO the
denouemcnt which Is both dramatic and pathetic
The Illustrations good
There is a sombrc realistic effect in Lewis Bcnja-
MINIS story, Why Was ItDfor It has the air of being
moro less the record Of personal experience. The
fact that few people go through life without com
ing In contact with men answering to the general
description Of Hugh Mcdowell. and that nearly all
can parallel the most melancholy incidents
recIted in his history, gives to the tragic tale some
thing of the interest which attaches photographic
chronicles Of mental analysis and conflict. Hugh Nc
Dowell is handsome. brilliant young Of amlabe
disposition honorable purpose and excellent prospects,
but fatally handicapped with inherited craving for
Is stronger than death, and no proceeds
to make her life prolonged martyr
DOM Every step Of his descent is recorded
with dspasslonate minueness which is far more
impressive than denunciation or lament. Nothing is
concealed disguised. Hugh struggles, first
manfuly and hard but after few slips less and less
earnestly lie loses his moral sensibllty and
lies to deceive his wife. Next he to reflect
upon or care for the consequences either to her
himself Of his Indulgence, and from that stage to sell
Ing of all the household goods in her absence and
going proracted spree which ends in his deser-
ton Of the poor GIRL is natural and inevitably rapid
progress. The realism OF the story IS shown in the
refusal of the author to represent Mcdowell finally
reforming, in order to make a happy ending. Such
men never reform. 1t is not possible for them to
surrender the habit which is destroying them. The
only concession this morallst makes Is to
kill Hugh with pneumonia instead OF delIrium ire
but the pneumonia is the direct result Of the
drinking which has weakened the mans system and
predisposed 1t to disease. In all such is the
drnkards wife who is the principal sufferer, and the
faithful and devoted she IS the crucer is her
fate. This is powerfully emphasized In Lewis Benia-
Uniformed and the language not always such edu-
Gated people speak, is full Of the force which belongs
to truth earnestly presented, and is free from the
drawbacks which often render so-called temperance
stories repellant and a vcxaon to tho spirit.