New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-16
CURRENT FICTION.

MRS. FENTON. By W. E. Norris. 16mo, pp. o44.
Henry Holt & CO.
ROLAND OLIVER. BY Justin Mccarthy. NJ p 1emo,
OPENING THE OYSTER. BY Charles T. Marsh.
illustrated. i2mo, PIP. SCI. Chicago; A. c.
McIlmg a Co.
THE LOST INCA. BY the Inca-Pancho ozolo. 12mo'
SERGEANT Won. From the Diary of Inspector
Byrnes. BY Unknown" 12mo PIP. 2s7. Cas-
WHITE MARIE. BY Will N. Harden. 12mo pp. $50.
Cassell & Co.
BY WHOSE HAND. By Edith Sessions Upper. 12mo,
PIP. 1877 WEIGH, Tracker Co.
THE ADMINISTRATIVE. By Emma Client Curtis.
limo. PIP. 1913. john B. Alden.
THE BURSTING OF BOON. BY F. Il. Sanford.
12mo, PIP. $50. Philadelphia J. L. Uppncott Co.
Mr. Norris has not maintained the literary level OF
"The Rogue in Mrs Fenton' but the latter is not
bad story 1t is rather slight IN structure the action
being narrowly limited and the characters few in
number and not very strongly indivIduallzed. Mrs.
Fenton is a kind of feminine rogue who obtains
possession of large fortune by personatng another
woman She falls in love with the rightfu heir. whom
she has dspossessed but somebody who had known her
In Australia where she had lived many years, turns
m and recognizes her at the critical moment and so
she throws up her hand, takes flight, and kills her
self Why novelists seem bound 10 make all their
detected or bafed female rogues commit suicide is
rather puzzling. AS matter Of fact
women very rarely attain to such pitch Of despcr-
alton. Mrs. rcnton, too. is much better creature
than that masculine rogue whom Mr.. Norris ex-
plotted. and deserves to be spared. After all she
did not to rob anybody, and deceit was her worst
fault.
Roland oliver Is poor novel that we are
surprised to see Justin McCarthys name its title
page Possibly is OF his early experiments. but
in any II is worthy OF his reputation. II IS
very Interesting tale of a bad and woman and
a good man and woman the bad man being married to
tho good wolaan ami the bad woman being bent upon
marrying tho good man. What becomes Of the bad
woman, who fall Of her purpose the reader is not
informed The complications Of the story grow out Of
the absurd Jealousy Of the bad man, who is a selfish
invalid. There is much shadowiness about tie whole
affair, nobody stands distinctly, the hero is some.
thns Of goose. and the heroine is exasperatingy
patient and enduring.
Opening TIE Oyster" is frank story OF adventure
meant only 70 anuse and having no connection with
art ethics. Perhaps Jules Verne's Around the
World In Eighty DAYS" may have suggested the frame
work, which il simple enough. Two young Americans
make sort OF bet win two newspapers that they
Will leave New-Yorl psnniless. travel for five years
visit forty of the principal cities Of :hc globe ana d.
various other things which, If ihel succeed are &c be
rewarded By the payment OF SlG.o1n as!ece. 81
course such programme affords Unlimited opportnS.ty
for adventures Of every description. aid for sieche,
Of scenery and locality and mysterious Spanish
villain who is head of a cosmopolitan company Of
criminals and an equally mysterious detective. who
camps OH The trail of the AFORESAID Spanish villain