New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-03
NOVELS AND TALES.
A SOCIALIST STORY.


,,rrzrporr SHOEMAKER 12mo. PIP. a73.
Thomas Y Crowell d Co.
MITo YAsHIKI: a Tale of Old japan BY Arthur
Collins Macay, A. NJ LIZ b. i-o' pp' 500
G. Z. Plitnam's sons. - go
THE LAST ASSEMBLY BALL AND THE THE FATE IaG OF
a VOICE. By Mary 2,,o Haii9cT 80 foo"' iS'Ho'
THE pOu,vCE OF DOILARD. By Mary Hartwell
Gather, God. illustrated. 1@mo I'D. 2oo' The
Century Co. o. :,
NaunassaDt The translation BY Jonathan sturees'
Hn inroiuction by Henry James. 16mo pp' 22o
Harper Brothers. -
two -o; Edwards Illustrated BY E. W. Kembe.
12mo PIP 246. The Century co.
Tho ANONYMOUS novel entitled Metzerott. Shoe
raherp IS a confused aud inconcltsive attempt 10
give shape 10 OF the socalishc IDEAS which arc
al present In the The ain of the writer apparently
has been TO Illustrate theory OF Christian socialism,
d in co doing TO Indicate the folly and futility Of
,oIent measures Tho work. however has been under
taken by an nsnficiently practsed hand. Tho man
Metzerott IS saturnine German mechanic Almost anu
anarchist who has his antithess In most respecS
Louis Metzerott IS represented as modern Ohrs'
and 20 emphasize the resemblance. he IS made
carnentcr But this high-soued youth loves girl
who Is a mere butterfly fckie, shallow and insignia
cant ~ sp,rlt She Is the daughter Of one OF thssa
canalists who constitute the staple boges OF all social
istic fiction and who is Of course accused OF grhuhB
the faces Of the poor To enhance the realism oil inc
| story picture OF the Johnstown flood Is intduced'
and to illustrate the workings Of the Christian form
of socialism there IS vaguely described cooperative
restaurant combined with lodg.ng-house and lecture
| hall through which much saving and increase OF
| comfort IS gained TO many working people. Priests
and pastors OF many faiths and sects it through the
book and there is curious private debate among
a number OF them TO the best means Of filling the
empty churches. Young Metzerott Is finally killed
tha clpd ran n
and his sons tragic fate in some unex planned
has the effect OF destroying the old shoemaker's life
long sccpticism. The story IS very uneven, and the
| main purpose is not adequately worked out, while
the conclusion leaves of the problems presented
| even in fair way toward solution. There some
| bits of strong work IN the book, and not little
genuine pathos but the fatal fault of the novel IS its
pervading indctcrnnatenesS and ooseness OF texture
Mr. Maclay's story of Old Japan is really valuable
study Of feudal times IN Dai Nippon. 1t abounds
in very carefully elaborated descriptions OF arch-
lecture costumes weapons interior decorations and
arrangement social customs and japanese life IN all
It's phases. There also number Of minute and
charming sketches OF scenery in various parts Of the
Empire The story itself is intended TO illustrate the
closing period Of the feudal the fall Of tie Shoguns
and the Daimos, and tho return to supreme power
Of the MilSado A romantic episode Of ronlnsrn Is
sklfIly introduced, the motive being revenge upon
the Prime Minister Of the Shoguns, who had driven
into outlawry and tried cXtcrmnate group of
Young men Who devoted the Imperial cause
The picture drawn by Mr.. Marlay Of the system of
espionage prevailing during this final desperate struggle
between the two powers Is a striking one. Both were
secretly watching another and 50 extensive and
complete the spy system that long escape from It
would seem TO have been impossible. TIL, life Of
the samuras and that Of the Daimos is WILDLY
described, and the family habits OF fairly well.tod
japanese are faithfully represented The authors
~
upon absnse subjects, and he has done his best or
worst, make the last part Of tho book insulerably
dull by giving tedious length the arguments BY which
certain missionaries supposed have affected the
conversion of the heroes, whose much.vaunted IN
telectua kccnncss Is certainly not attercd BY the IA
clty Of their persuasion through the feeble and shallow
representations so proxly set forth. Mr. Macay
should stick to Old Japan. There he Is at home and
upon that he writes with some authority. though IL
acamaintanc, with Japanese Buddhism WsEtng iii
allowance for its defects (which could easily be
highly interesting, quaint and original romance Of tbe
historical ORDER and IT embodes great deal Of care
ful study.
Mrs Mary Halloch Foote's Last Assembly pa'
is curious study Of a peculiar phase Of Western
society," re scene selected being young mining town
I'm which the customs of settled communities are bc
ainnir., 10 be adopted. but with notifications no
cessitated by the differences of environment The
principal part of the study Is concerned with ufc IN
a boarding house presided by an enterprlsInc
little woman Of decided character and undetermined
antccedents; and the main source Of agitation amonc
the young men who constitute her cientago IA a
mysterious beauty named Mile who is enragcd h,,
the enterprsing landlady waIterglrL A foolish
younc Fastener drifts into pseudo passion for Tho
friendless girl, and upon this foundation
Mrs Foote constructs tragedy. which
does not evoke much sympathy for the cbie,
l victims inasmuch the man who could In s,,ch ,
vay sock TO evade the trouble his own blind toI,y
, lad brought upon him must be something worse ia
a coward and shrk. and in no conceivable resrar,
! Gould ne be deserving OF admiration or annrnyal
The q Fate of VOICE Is much better toned snd a. =
sancr line Of development. but here thero ,a
ION married. tendencs 10 magnify trihes and evo,,e
s significance out Of nothings.
S Tho " Romance Of Dollard' is picturesque setting
~ n stcrn old Canadian deed The Iroqnois menaccd
descent upon Quebec, and declared their intention q
sweep the French out Of the Province Dollarl and
q sixteen comrades devoted themselves 70 fprlorn
hope. They undertook To go out, meet the savage.
: on their way, and give them battle, their thought
being thai the losses they could inflc before bcn.
J. overwhelmed b. numbers would impress The
: Indians 20 divert them from their intended raid
i The event proved the sagaclty Of this calculation
Doard and his consccrated band stopped the IroquOs
fought them and being intnnched able ~ Offc
. desperate ana prOtracted resistance that when
c last they Succumbed tbev had tanned tha cniiraaa "a