New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-02
NEW NOVELS.
MINOR WORK OF TIE DAY.

MARRIAGE By Margaret Lee. l2nO' pp' BIZ
AN ALIEN FROM THE COMMONWEALTH; ,,, BY
HuTd
A SPLENDID EGoT1sr: by Jeanette H. wSi~Orth
l2mo, PIP. FAC. Belford' Cleric 20.
FAR AWAY AND LONG AGO " Frances Ammo
Kembie. limo. pp. $50. Henry Holt Co.
THE SPHINX IN ACBREY PARISH. By N II.
Chamberlain. i2mo pp 4sl' Boston CuppeS
THE BERKRLEYs AND THEIR NElGHDoRs, BY
n Elliott seawell. i2mo. pp. 252 Tie Amer
zrT AND xoE by the author OF Lady BiueOesrd."
i2mo PIP. I42 Harper 4 BrUthers
AN l. D. B. IN SOUTH AFRICA. BY Louise
and seeI Al HencSS. lime pp. 2OS John W. Lovci
Company.
Margaret Lees story. Marriage" was published
several years ago. but at the time appears 10 have
attracted much lees attention than It really deserves.
and new edition Is justified by tho success Of the
authors latest novel not than by tho Intrinsic
merit OF the tale. Marriage Is Il clever study Of
the relations between and wife. thrown into
the form Of a chronicle OF q NowYork family In good
circumstances. Nellie ThOrne. the heroDn msrrios 3
man older than herself, Of upright and unsel0sb
character Ther married lie IS exceptionally happy
until q sudden reverse in business threatens Water
bury with ruin lie has settled upon his wife an
amount sufficient TO save him could he II. but he
win not do So and bis resistance 10 the ontreatios
OF his wife brings q crisis which is exceedingly
well described. and which issues in victory for the
loving wife and the consequent removal Of the last
barrier between the couple The characters arc
natural, their talk easy and interesting, the action
sensational but htelike. and the general develop
nncnt OF tho plot indicative Of htsrary shin and
judgment and a nrmness Of touch hardly 20 have
been expected from young q writer. Indeed, Mar
rtsgs Is q novel quite good enough 10 make = promis
ing debut for author and II IL in many respects
distinctly above the average Of merit Exhibited by
writers Of far greater experience and vogue. The
moral that there should be perfect confidence and
trust In marriage Is tncuicated In Q delicAie and
striking msaner, and the tone Of the book is whole.
sono and elevatrlg
The subtitle Of AIR. TlmSops story Is Tho Romance
Of Odd Young Man. and the hero certainly IA Odd
90 much so In fact that nothing could have saved
him from disaster but the inartlsto device Of groai
bccaest just % the hopeesspess OF his case bccomo 10.
parent. He Ia q young soulhcrner, who Ia born
tired The last OF old family Of wastefll. thrift
icss planters, he nberits ruin and lack OF ambition
and sncrgJ which hapdicaps him fataly. A sweet
disposition and pretty wit npndeF him Interesting and
toeraiie, though his constitutional iDdolence and
apathy Ferpeually expose him 10 rcproach. Tho
author has utilized Eome apparently personal ex-
perietees In sreat Few.York publishing house for
series Of Sketches Of the workings OF The establishment
vAieA arr curious, smusing, and dsosdedS disHson-
smg In the taik Of the back-wTfters who slave IN
ne great machine there Is much hight and brght
hoacmiaaism and some originality Of thought The
pnnsns tn Of rich California uncle 20 help DICK out
mo hspslnss nvt IN which his life is tan Red IA tho
Ios.s Satisfactory thng IN tho book aud in effect n
.pasn 20 cthsswtse clever study. Such a man A
y ~fsA Sh1 shas IN cue way II allowed 20 manage him