The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-03
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"Crcssy" Is the title Of a new novel by
Bret lIarte (IIoEghton, Miflin n Cor in
which scenes, characters aud incidents pccu.
liar to a certain half-ciyilizcd phase Of Cali
fornia life are embodied In q romantic form
with the same vivid power Of dclincation, the
same keen sense 81 humor and poetic grace
that are such marked characteristics Of most
Of thisauthors works. Like the mountains Of
East Tennessee whose glory Miss Murirec's
descriptive pen LAS immortalizcd, California
long ago became the field of Mr.. llnrte's bril-
liant genius, aud belong, TO him, both by
right 81 literary adoption and by the position
lac has since won through his novels poems
aud stories, legitimate inspirations II that
romantic ground and which form what
might be- called the llarte genre Of fiction.
Mr. llnrtc thoroughly comprchcnds aud
a. skilliully porimys the types Of humanity
introduced 10 the reader In Greasy"
as In THE Luck Of Roaring Camp" or the
Two Men Of Sandy Bar" or "Tcnncs.es's
Partner one Of the most pathetic sketches
ever writicn-for they all belong TO the
same individual species. The fronticrsman,
the miner. the squattcr aud other human
products Of the Wild West have uncon.
sciously posed Tor Mr. Hnrtc's pen
pictures more than once; but though these
materials may not be new, the authors
incxhaustihlc resources are proven by the
clcyerncss with which he makes them ap.
pear 10. Nothing could be morn charmingy
delicate than the analysis Of description
Mr. lIartc gives II Greasy Mckiustry, the
heroine II this novel; 'ln the rounded
untouched aud untroublcd freshness Of her
cheek aud chin, and the forward droop u
her slender neck, she appeared a girl Of
fifteen. In her developed figure and the
mnturcr dmpcry Of her full skirts,
she seemed woman, Ia her combina.
ton Of naive rrcklcs-ncs, aud perfect
understanding ~ her person she was both %
A. the daughter ~ rough fronticrsmin. "a
mpn In the habit II cutting Goriian knots
with bowie knife" Crcs,y's personality
l. q strikingly picturesque one, aud by the
time We make the acquaintance Of her
mother who was "a fair type Of a class not
uncommon on the Southwestern frontier.
women Who were rudcr hclpmccts Oi their
rude husbands aud brothers, who had shared
their priyations and sulicrngs with surly
masculine endurance rather Than feminine
patience. women who had sent their loved
ones to hopeless, adventure or terrible ven
delta rs q matter 81 course. or with partisan
fury: who had dcvoicdly nurcd the
wounded TO keep alive the fcud, or
had received back their dead, dry.
eyed aud rcyengriul'" Il was small won.
der that Greasy McKinstry had developed
strangely under this scSlcss relationship"
The scenes of the story are laid In Tuolumno
County Cal, whore the usual incidents
and interests In the lives OF the inhabitants
of that region occur Family fcud, over the
boundary ~ certain pieces 81 land, duel, a
threatened lynching Of the young school
MASTER love, jealousy, passion aud revenge,
the cycrrcurring aud vital springs Of &C
ton as long a. the world stands, are the
elements that make mp Mr. liartc's Latest
creation. which. fashioned and colorcd by
his artistic touch, comes 10 "a bright aud
fascinating story. Mr.. Jack Ford, 'tho
master Of the Indian Spring school, who
hal sought nj, fortune both at San Fran
cisco and sacramento, Is now ON the same
trail IN the struggling hamlet Of Indian
Spring" whore, before lac knows IT, lac Is deep
~ in love with"Crcssy Mckinstry,' one ofhis
pupils She rcciprocaics his love, In fact
had loved him ever since his arrival IN the
town. nut. curiously enough realizing the
wide disparity between the educated rchncd
gentleman aud herself, unframed and accus'