New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
SOME CURRENT FICTION.

THE NEITHER WORLD. by George Gissins. lsm0'
PIP. $40. Harper Brothers.
THE PROPHETS MANTLE BY Fabian Bland i2ms,
PIP s22. Belford. Clarke 4 co.
rREAN; OR, THE MoRMoNs DAUGHTER BY
Alive Milton Kerr. I2mo PIP. 1874 Beford' CArhe
Do. sos. r Frank +. lowell d Co.
LARAMIE; OR, THE QUEEN OF BEDLAM, 10. story
& the sout 1S %ss q ): if B. 1,ppineotR Co.
ANToINErTE; Oh, THE MARI PIT MYSTERY
From The French Of Georges ohn0'' LIMO . D.
MERLEy CRUSADE. BY Rosa Nouchctte Carey
l2mo J. B. Lippinoott Co.
sA iamo, S pp, sse. Boston: Winthrop Publishing
Company. -.
mr. weir Mitchell has written a good novel in Far
I'm .hs Forest 1t is decidedly fresh, deals with un-
hssaneyed themes, is full OF the breath OF the woods
and curious knowledge Of tho old-fashioned life
deep in the uncleared forest, and the scene
"a peopled with quite striking COM
esny of strongly drawn and well-difercIAiated
men and women. Perhaps the least clearly defined
character is that Of the German Rivcrus All the rcst
arc natural and obvious Phlatus Richmond, the
blind giant woOdcuuer, who has evolved strange
swsdenborgan philosophy out Of desultory reading
and continuous study Of nature, and whose other
senses are so developed that hardly feels the want
Of his eyes-s one OF tho most original and interesting
OF the dranatis personae DR. Mitchell discusses forest
scenery with the faithflncSs and detail OF careful
observer and true lover OF nature and he tells his
story simply and straghtforwardy II he were inter-
ested IN IL himself which is evidence that he possesses
the true narrative genius.
"The Neither World reminds us In some things OF
HGermnie Iacereaux7 that grimly realistic novel or
The slums which the brothers De Goncour cn!laoo-
rated. The neither world is the world OF the poor OK
London. Mr.. Gisslng has evidently studied the mileu
taptN tor a SCrihn In
with an elaborate naturalness exceeding IN cautious
precision the descriptions Of Charles Dickens though
showing nothing of that great authors picturesque
and fascinating powers. Over the whole dreaiy scene
hangs O depressing and malodorous atmosphere. Inc
penury, squalor, iheath coarseness lack OF privacy
Sordid greed and grinding labor which condition mo
existence of the poor in great cities cannot indeed DO
expected to evolve much sweetness and light. Mr..
Gssing neither ovecolors nor undercolors his pcufeS
They are entirely free from the radical vice OF all
Zola's writing but they none the less melancholy
II the reader is made feel that in these pages the
life Of workng mcn and worknSwCnIen Is shown foTh
almost for the first time, without any attempt at e1-
aggeration and without any scntmentalSm either he
Is also made feel, that after ALL tho life so re-
vealed does not lend itself to the purposes OF fcon
that IL is too se' and gray too deadly dull save
for the excitement Of hunger thirst and cold; too
hopelessly dependent and circumScH bed too wholly
unnelectual and prostrateto furnish anything in tho
shape Of amusement. The moro faithful to facts
book of this kind is, indeed, the greater must be It's
failure as q novel. II may make people reflect ana
that It is certainly calculated to do but 1t Will not
help them 20 pass away leisure hour by uui
lating their Ina ginatiOn niniStcrinG TO the COM
mon love Of adventure and excitement The sad story
is told with much power and sincerity, but II IS to
much In key, too deeply and continuously Aahed
too destitute OF light and relief. II may be recon-
nended TO thinkers without hesitation. but novel
readers are apt to find few pages OF tho melancholy
chronicle moro than sufficient for them.
Mr. Fabian Bland appears TO be a writer, but
the tyro's hand dsccrnblc In " The Prophets
Mantle which IS bright and clever story The
motive is Russian Nihilsn. and the inevitable mystery
and secrecy which surround that explosive subject are
intensified in the present instance by the fact that
ali through the book OF the characters IS masquer
ading under the style and utc OF another. Tho
author keeps this fact clcverly In the background
though possibly the ambg uous termination OF the pro
logue may put veteran nOvclreaders upon the scent
The false Count Lverof plays his difficult part with
much shlI and GOODNESS He is a difcub prison 70
anslyIe nor is IL quite certain that the author has
made up his mind what u do with the personating
count until near the end, when he develops an aph
tade for remorsc and repentance hardly at all idi-
cated IN his previous carer. Mrs. Quad. the LONDON
hostess who gors In for Socialism, and puiSucS II
enthusiastically, though seeming TO Intimate hope
always that existing conditions will at least last her
time is very well drawn; the Ferrcr brothers.
and Glare Stanley, ard the lafelds. II must be said
that tho Genouement is not exactly cheerful though
Il leads to a wedding for the bride ard bridegroom
pass Oh the scene route 10 Russia whore as agents
of the Revolution they are about to devote 50 much
life as the Russian police may permit, them 10 possess
To the sscmir alton OF doctrine ard dynamite nor Is
the closing reflection that Liberty will "consccrae
their graves though she may not crown their ves
especially cheerful. The most perfect union OF rhc
hearts and hands cannot be regarded with absolute
satisfaction when the perspective shows siberia ana
the scadod behind the nupual altar.
Miss or Mrs. or Mr.. Kerr has written romantic
story OF Mormon life from the point Of view OF one who
has lived In Utah, and who knows much more about
po,ygamy than even considerable residence at salt
Lake City alone convey. 1t the village life OF
Mormondom that here exhibited. and the picture Is
clear vigorous and realistic There is an account OF
4 sermon or discourse purporting TO have been do
Nyered By Brigham Young during one OF his percd
cal progresses, which seems to emoody someuhhs
Actually said by the Prophet one OF these OCCASIONS
II we'll known that though he was careful enough IN
his utterances when alien reporters were present he
often while away from home on his tours SPOKE Win
ornat freedom concerning the deep things OF Nor.
rnonism We should doubt however whether In his
most expansive moments he ever discussed the ooc'nno
Of ablood atonemcnt" with the uncompromsihg can
dor asoribed 10 him here: and we DO not MINK inc
.udac,ous denunciaon OF brigham in the face OF the
congregation by the young Gentle, Paul EHhaiu'
would in actual fact have been followed By 80 slip
.hod a vengeance. The Danitcs were not primo I'd
make mistakes Lee and Porter Rockwell "ere eA'
rerenced and coolheadcd assassnS, ana II tfend OF
ours had ever got himself into Paul Elchaos scrape
,e should have felt strongly inclined 10 regard him as
already removed" The truth is. that In the early
times escapes from Utah were rare, and dark tragedies
much less so than the people Of the United States
generally suppose
Mrs Mona Caird has a cause 10 champion. She be
u.y.s that marriage is failure, and naturally enough
wh,n she writes novel she endeavors TO reinforce
ths theory 1.-The Wing OF Azrael" seems, however
somswhst farfetched title for story which Is devoted
10 exploiting the Of young woman who Is Sacr
6osd BY weak and wicked parents 10 perfect brute OF