New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-27
CURRENT NOVELS.
MRS. COOKIES NEW STORY.

sTFADFAsT: The Story OF a Saint and q Sinner. BY
Rose Terry Cooke. i2mo. DID. AGA. Boston Tick
nor & Co.
sTIFFNEcKED GENERATION. BY L q. Wal
A FAIR FMIGRANT. by Rosa sulholaud l2mo.
pp. 374. ID. Appleton a Co.
PIP. 330. Boston: Cupples Hurd.
THE SERPENT TEMPTED HER. by ssqui smith
I2mo PIP. 1871. Belford Clarhe Co.
Mrs Cookies novel Is a Nev-EnRland story Of
colonial times: Of the period wherein Church and stae
were closely allied, and ybon the authority OF tho
first apt 10 interfere, at times arbitrarily and M
reasonably, with the freedom Of tho individual Though
the author calls this tho story Of saint and sinner
there Is moro than Sain. In It, snd also moro than
one sinner Ths saint singled out for itular rep
sHentauon, however, Is the Rev. Philemon Hail. and
II Is undenlahle that no IS very noble and beautiful
character. Promised in youth TO a sweet rri no
finds returning homo after an absence. thai rheu-
matte fever has crippled her hopelessy. sho Is. IN
short bedndden and can leave her couch again
Philemon does not hesitate, but marrfes Rachel az
once, and thereafter devoes hmsah % her most doll
cately and tcndcrly. She becons the village saint
Lying helpless thore all tho virtues expand. all the
oarthness is purged from her She grows more
purely spiritual year after year. uni at leDgth she is
taken. The discipline OF this experiences has, OF
course, ennobled and strengthened tho young min
lister, and prepared bim for further trials.
The sinner" IA Esther Dennis, beautiful girl, OF
an impassoned and extremely sensitive temperament,
whose spirit has strong worldly tendencies. and who
falls IN love with spontaney and thoroughness I'm
dicatng Of those impusive and plastic characters
which almost predestined to misery and betrayal
Esther also, IN accordance with the class of which
she is type, falls in love With the wrong man;
hard ooh selfish creature who accepts her devotion
as an amusing fact diverts himself with her. and
presently employs her tool 70 commit tho crimo
Of destroying win which would have snatchod an
expected inheritance from him. That done, he eoony
marries another woman. Now, poor Esther Is so
much Of sinner that sho does not cease 10 love the
wicked Philip, even when so deserted BY HIN. In
fact, she goes loving him even after she has dis
covered all his iniquiyfor in destroying her uncle's
will she had robbed herself alone, but Philip he'd do
ceived her INTO thinking that by destroying tho win
she would benefit the church The bringing together
of the saint and tho sinner, their premature marriage
and tho manner In which Parson Hill hnaily wins the
love OF his wife, form the principal events OF the tao
which IS very skilfuly plotted and worked out and
Is full Of the spirit and color OF the tme IL may
indeed be thought that the quaint local favor which
Mrs Cooke knows so we'll how to impart and which
40 strongly indiyduazes the talk OF Della and Hiram
Deacon Hopkins, Miss Tempy and Aunt Ruthy, be-
longs, strictly speaking, 10 later period. Perhaps
II does Perhaps Mira. Cookies dialect Is littlo too
modern But were II more In harmony with the time
written Of II would probably DO much iess sympathetic
and interesting.
sybl Is a second for third saint she, Indeed, does
not attract the reader greatly, her idea OF duty being
plainly narrow aud deusve, and consequently her
martyrdom a waste Of capacity for endurance.
woman who allows theological bubble to stand
between her aud her hearts happiness must always
rather be an object for wOndor than Tor admiration
Esther is a far more interesting figure than sybil,
and when The latter becomes a Protestant num- one
feels that The she has found her vocation Philemon
Halls long conflict with the bgoted and despotic Con.
sociation IS as Mrs. Cookies preface states, matter
of history and there Is nothing in tho story In the
least difficult TO accept, considering tho period The
Parson Is a grand conception, and tho whole episode
Of his married fo with Esther Is powerfully and adj
mirably dealt with. Some Of the chords touched
feelIpey by Mira Cooke have almost ceased 10 ro-
spond 10 this generation, and she herself goes out
her way 10 manifest her antipathy 10 certain moder
currents OF thought the only result boiDg 10 show
that she is peculiarly httcd to treat such topics
she has chosen in this instance. steadfastn Is
decidedly clever and strong story, characterized by
elevatios Of tone, keen insight aud rare apprecIa
ton OF and faculty for reproducing tho best type Of
| hew,England hnmor.
Mrs waford's brilliant novel Is a document illus
trape the spirit Of caste In English society and some
OF the most striking OF these illustrations appear to
have been unattended by the author Tho unobtruded
moral rs that people Of tho middle classes ought not TO
sock matrimonial alliances among the landed gentry
ana astocraoy for II they do thoy SURF 10 shock
the delicate feelings OF their social superios by their
| IN breeding, and matter how many manly OF
womanIy virtues they possess, their want Of the
cachet Of good society will condemn them TO ostracsn
This Is the doctrine impaired by the story Of Major
| Gilbert, who, while really one Of the strongest
characters IN the book and while decidedly the most
prompt ana serviceable in action, is condemned Il
be cruelty lifted by the heroine and then dispatched
| 30 Burmah TO be isnobly killed 10 night attack
| upon some native rebel force
Not the Least interesting fact is the evident belief