New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-13
NEW NOVELS.

1anio. PIP oSo. ~ AppietOu ~ w.
THE LUCK or THE HOUSE BY Adene Sergeant
lemo Pr. 297. Frank F. Lowell * Co
"A NAMELESS WRESTLER. BY Josephine w. Ba5es'
I2mo. PIP. 215. Philadelphia: J. H. Lppinco't 20
The translator Of Dragons Teeth" coniesses
70 having taken liberties with the text OF her
author in the interest of "a taste that has been
largely formed on Purtanc models" How mucn
or how little she has altered or omitted on TINS
Plea we do not know, but the story as 1t STANDS
certainly possesses merit of high order, ana en-
hibits tho power which genius alone can glVe' III
several respects this novel recalls that terrible
morbid study by Dostoievsly, Crime and run
ishment" It's realism presents the same general
characteristics yelled cynicism lends pecu-
iafly gloomy atmosphere to the narrative; anu
the march of events from the doing of the wrong
10 its cxpiation is followed with paSslohiess
persistence which cOmprehends every ueu"h anu
REGISTERS IT, AS il were, automatically. The story
IS Of A wo,nans frailty and its consequences
voung wife. happy in her little home, is left alone
for some time by her husband, whose professional
duties he is an engincer call him to Distant
,ovu. Lula has no occupation she is naturally
;ndolcnt and she has few friends During her
husbands absence former sweetheart, who has
made a fortune at Buenos AyreS, returns TO LIS
bon and rencws the friendship with his ola uahe
III is selfish and unprincipled rake, ana she Is
simple mi nded impressiOnablc and lnilrm oil char-
ac,er The natural result ensucS, and dreadfuI
situation is prepared 10y the action of a malignant
and rapacous servant named Jullana, VINO steals
some crimiDatnC letters from her mistress ana
demands heavy price for their surrender. III
.vitablv the entity wife becomes the abject slave
of her own servant, and this condition OF Things
affords n. author opportunity for some subtle
and keen analysis. The lover, Banlio, extrcateS
himself from the ENHANCEMENT as quickly and
quietly as possible and goes Paris, leaving poor
Lula TO bear the brunt of the danger. At the
most critical moment Julana is removed by heart
disease and the menace of discovery is lifted The
final touch in the story is the perfectly simple ana
natural accident by which, just when she THINKS
herself saved the infdelity of tho vile Is re-
yealcd TO her husband. The end is sad enough,
but thoroughly in keeping, and the whoIe
subsidiary drama moves with simplicity and free.
dom which are in the highest degree slI'ltui ana
artistic The influence Of the new Russian school
is indeed apparent from the first page to the
last. but this does not affect the authors MERIT
tince il is only the principle which he mas Dor
bowed. all tho power of the work being due 10 MS
mastery application of IL. In the impression Oh
relentless fate hurrying the actors on to an un-
,ecn destiny regardless of all endeavors to avert
The consequences of their deeds, there IS sug-
POSITION Of Bal and the conclusion may be COM
Eared with that of Pere Goriot" as regards us
bitterly cynical expression of the indifference with
which the world turns its back upon mlserlcS ana
tragedies and rccurs TO its anuscments ana occu-
patons with callous cgotism.
THO subtitle Of "Arisucss Beatrice Cope is
sI,assaccs in The Life Of a Jacobitcs Daughter
The story is OF the times when hopes oil Stuart
restoration were still cherished, and plotting was
plentiful in spite of axe and glbbet ana prIsoi
and local friendships and enmiheS often turned
wholly upon the holding of Hanoyerian or JacoDite
nrenosscssions The heroine of this tale IS the
haucbtcr Of a man who lost his head for the IN
crate Stuarts and who in his last moments De-
oueaths his child TO a sister Of his VIE, aned 10
., strongly loyal family Beatrice is brought up
kmons HanoN cEians, and IN due time becomes
hnaaaed TO the heir Of . neighboring loyal house
rbo ie Suddenly nlsoed in most difficult position
bv thc appearance OF her brother, long since re-
puted dead who IS an adherent of the Pretender
md who runs great risk of his neck The rising
of '45 opens the way for much picturesque de
scription and II is during that troubled perlou
that Beatrice Cope is compelled TO pass through
kp ordeal which nearly kills her, and which IS
told with graphic force. The novel IS above the
average in ability; the pictures of country NE
in the old-fashioned manor Is full OF charm ana
tenderness. The figure Of Beatrice herSeh rs mus
tracious attractive. sweet and maldenly anu tle
leaders interest is not likely TO decline before inc
fnd-not an unhappy one. be 1t sald-lS reacheu'
We ore inclined to give The Luck of the
house. frss rank in Adelne Sergeants writ
hnss. Il has more action more SPIRIT ana d
6rrner. closer texture thar her novels usually
brcsept rs misunderstanding is also pet'et
trt better s-tstairea and stronger IN many ways
with perhaps oas exception, namely, That OF hnss
riff the Villain Of the story. Alan Moncrleh
rould hardly lave been blind TO the palpable
L. laN ha
sseacious. GIFTED man he is supposed 10 De
in all ethe. relations Kingsclr, too if the sub
he rocuc he is represented to have been, would
essurcdlv no. have subjected himself 10 so many
.,afsnt risks as lie is made to encounter deHper-
stely But K:ngscif, bad as he Is, really does
rot compare for iniquity with John Hanhhgtoh'
fbe beartless fortune-hunter, who wants to leave
q bride OF few hours TO run away with announcer
woman Lady Val may be and probably IS meant
10 be a favorable example Of the modern wording
but BEYOND her fatuods passion for thai very paSe
deliow Huntington, she strikes us as e%mDtins an
snerainei cCarscncss of nature which her hnaI MS
.ionarv labors are not sufficient to cover. Stella
g. interesting though she has no tact and runs
scr head into all manner OF compromising sltua-
tions through sheer confusion of mind. She IS
Indeed very feminine and her weaknesses ana
inconsequcntial G0ings perhaps serve 10 eh ldhrG
her attractiycrcss. The story is SPIRITED ana wen
gold
The story of :" \ Nameless Wrestler is crude
s+,,r,,,t AZ fiction in which the scene is laid in
nrecon. There arc wcarisome lovers, impossible
miners ana mining camps in which latter all the
men are provided with feet horses after the well
known fashion of placer miners. MormonS and
fnaisps ne alss introduced, and mystery which
Is not 100 mysterious is supposed TO perplcX the
,esder until the derouement is reached. The
author has rttlc skill OF invention her style is
,.sG And unpleasant, and her experience appiait-
emily of .hc secondhand kind derlyaole from ht-
g., $50 ~ lie pcnnv-dreadiur order.