The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-12-14
CONCERNING BOOKS.
BY E. cAvAzZA.

BY E. CAyAZZA.
Jupiter Lights. By Constance Fenimore
Woolson. Clever and interesting as is Miss
Woolsou's work in fiction, it cannot be
judged as wholly satisfactory. 1t is effec-
tive, vivid, original and product of inn ate
talent; but it is not solid.y based upon ma
ture, and hence lacks artistic truth. The
impression left by her stories is that she has
observed the world keenly and curiously.
but specifically; that she has seized upon
certain traits, or even upon tricks of manner
presented casually to her notice, and from
these slight indications has constructed her
characters. To great human naturalist
AMI novelist such hints may suffice for the
synthesis of a personality. precisely as
Agassiz was able to reconstruct an extinct
animal. entire, from the testimony of single
bone. But in order to be capable of this
verify of synthesis, novelist must be not
on'y imaginative, but also deeply versed In
human nature and, above all, austerely de-
voted to truth. Now, ON the contrary, Miss
Woolson appears to begin by deluding her.
self. Her fancy is exceedingly vivid and
conjures into existence personages who soon
impose themselves upon her own belief;
these, portrayed in her vivacious and effec-
tive manner, gain also credence with her
readers. She gives an air of reality-by
foree of literary aptness and an enviable
gift OF Undertaking. her fancies-to that
which Is not genuine. For instance, not long
since there appeared in one of the magazines
story by Miss Woolson 1t was a story of
Italian peasant life, with a New England
woman as its central figure. This sad old
creature herself was, ON the whole, very well
sketched; but the Tuscan peasants were
made to act, to think, even to speak in the
idiom of rustic New England, like natives of
village in Vermont or New Hampshire.
They were odd, striking, effectively grouped
anything one may please-but they simply
were not Italian. A few exterior outlines Of
local color were cleverly caught-and all the
rest was developed from purely cis.Atlan-
tic mind. The plain truth is that Miss Wool
sons fancy far outruns her actual knowl-
edge OF life; she plays with types and situa-
lions with such energy and attractiveness
that 1t is not easy to define the precise de-
gree of her transgressions of the law of
truth in fiction. Perhaps Jupiter Lights
VIII not be considered so strong a romance
as the authors Anne, but it is readable
and rather fascinating story. The scene
changes from tie State of Georgia to the
northern lake region, and gives occasion for
some sympathetic painting OF nature. Eve
Bruce is one of the impassioned, self con-
tanned and slightly Quixotic heroiues that
Miss WoOlson likes to depict. Cicely, quaint
and somewhat bewitchng at first, becomes
too incoherent later. The men are not amiss.
for feminine novel. Miss W0olson adds to
her gallery of portraits of elderly gentlemen
an uncounted variety, sketched, one would
suppose. from chance acquaintance of travel
ana sojonrn at hotels-not without sympa-
thy Tor the prim and timorous manners that
conceal the experience, or sadder lack of ex-
perience, of life. Perhaps it is not safe
habit for novelist to acquire, that of look
Ing out too curiously for types; it would be
likely to lead to a reliance on curious traits
too much emphasized and to superficialty, in
place of the sympathy which comes from
within to animate the work of an artist. At
all events, Miss Woolson's talent is so ener.
getic and capable of production, that it will
greatly repay her to think seriously upon
the best means for its further development.
New York: Harper Brothers,; Portland;
Stevens & Jones, and Loring, Short & Har-
mon.)
Would you Kill Him. By George Parsons
LathrUp. Like many novels of the present
day, this by Mr.. Lathrop is aimed at an
especial point of purpose. 1t is plea; under
rather sensational title, against capital
punishment. And it is at the same time
novel of much interest and fully in touch
with modern life. The fluctuations of the
grain market ore scored fancifully by
MIR. Lathrop as movements of a symphony
Thy the way, he means Andante mdestOso,
not mojestnoso) and to this exciting music
the ltain rises upon drama of American
society. The character of Alice Raymond, a
graduate Of college for girls and vaguely
devout believer in the lofty mission of wo-
man, is thoroughly well drawn. She is so
extremely pretty and charming that various
young men are more than willing to read the
works of Herbert Spencer with her while
she mistakes the inclinstions of her feminine
heart for intellectual convictions. The YAM
pire-ike Lily Britton is a new character in
fiction, very well ascertained the author
need have given her no certificate of exis-
tence beyond the clever portrayal. The
narrowminded revenge of Frank Vail is
another strongly noted factor of the story.
Roger Holsclaw's mistakes and misfortunes
are depicted naturally and with dramatic
power. The story cannot be said to be
thoroughly agreeable; but it is both vigorous
and thoughtful. New York: Harper g.
Brothers; Portland; Ioring, Short & Har-
mon)
The Magdalen and Other Poems. By
Clara Marcelle Green. Mrs. Green's verse is
characterized by strong dramatic feeling and
ready and tuneful expression. 1t has variety
and delicacy of cadence; and is capable also
of compact and picturesque delineation as In
the narrative Curse of Conemaugh. The
Magdalen has wandering mu sic which is
very sympathetic. Other poems which may
be especially noted for strength of magma
tion and fortunate lyric quality are Posses
sion; Covenants, of which the curiously
beaten out accents are in the rein of Miss
lngelow; A La Mode, picturesquely cynical !;
To the End, with its large imagery and
Lost Art, delicately wistful. 1t is pleasure
to praise the verse of Portland woman,
and to commend the tastefuly bound volume
to buyers of holiday gifts. portland: Brown
Thurston q Co..
Osborne of Arrochar. By Amanda NJ.
Douglas. A large and cordial circle of
readers is always ready to welcome new
book by Miss Douglas, and this novel is in
the line of fiction by which she has already
rendered her work so popular. A house
hold OF beautiful girls, with their respective
lovers, contrasts of happiness and trouble,
mistakes, generosities, fears and hopes, are
material enough to fill very Interestingly
and agreeably the volume of $50 pages.
Boston: Lee & Shepard; Portland: Stevens
& Jones.)
A Knight of Faith. By Lydia Hoyt Far
mer. This religious and romantic story is
one of the last feeble rpples in the literary
pond so disturbed by the sudden casting into
it of that heavy pebble, Robert Elsmere.
The publisher who announces that the
Knight of Faith is considered to be q very
nowarful story and q onmnlatn refutaton of