New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-13
NEW NOVELS.
MR.. STOCKTON'S NEW STORIES.

THE GREAT WAR SYNDICATE: ny Frank R. Stock
ton limo 3D. I59. Dodd. Mead & co.
THE STORIES OF TIE THREE BURGLARS, ny
Frank Il. stockton l2mo. PIP. loS Dodd.
Mead & Co.
PACTOLUs PRIME. nv Albion W Tourgec 1emo.
PIP. $50. Casscll Publishing CO.
EyPIAT1oS. BY octave Thanet Illustrated by
A. r. Frost limo PIP. 2l3. Charles scrlbners
Sons.
JACK HoRNER: ny. MARY spear Herman l-mo'
PIP. CAT. Houghton. Mlfin q 20
WAC r,.rp WOMAN IN THIS HUMOR wOOEpi BY
WAC rhsrl"s Gibbon. 1omo, PIP. 1913. Frank +.
Lowell & Co.
In his account Of the notable dolngs OF the great
war syndicate Mr. stockton has achieved an admirable
piece Of what may be termed realistic iooiinr Ihc
widest OF notions are made to appear perfectly
paueibe in this story and when the reader lays down
the book it apt to appear to him AT haSt LOT so"c
minutes entirely reasonable and practicable 70 carry
on war I'm tho wavs so sobcrly described here The
idea Of a corporation undertaking to make war and
guarantee pcacc within given time is In itself so new
as TO be fascinating and the manner In which the
great war syndicate goes about ts business tends to
keep up and strengthen the illnsion There really
IS good deal Of clever invention III the sketch tho
crabs with which the propellers and rnddcrs OF tho
British roncads are twisted out OF the leaving thc
HELPLESS hullr being brilliant II not especially
practical conception OF the syndicate had to
II
Illustrated by Mr.. stockton easily suTpass the most
audaclous excursions Of the scientific Imagination.
Eciorc an explosive capable OF annlhla'ine large
stone fortress utterly by simple SMELL anc blowing
a hole in the sea clear to tie bottom. a hundred
fathoms down. II IS obvious that the naval force OF
Great Britain must bow. war syndicate WIN SUCH
trumps in its hand could not h-t take every trick.
and in fact the one fault Of the story IS that tho
success is altogether too sided. II IS case Of
. FcInsc first and the rest nowhere In short. Tho
precedence Of the syndicate orcsialls every cont-
crncy and It finishes The war without the loss OF
single man in battle. and with but one death by
accident II is a clever and amusing extravaganza.
The stories OF the Three Burglars are much less
sen national and altogether less carefully written than
the Great War syndicate The idea Of cntrappng the
hurclars by leaving drurgcd wine in their way Is IN
ccnous but after the rascals have been caught uo
story seems to drag little. The story Of the first
burglar Is In truth rather tedious. and but for the
evident f,lsencss Of his professions might almost be
Thought dull The second burglar Is more natural
character and what he has to saw Ia said with some
humor With the Introduction % the third burglar
Mr. stockton throws OF all restraint. and gives the
reader capital bit Of thorough romance In tho story
Of the Invisible palpablc dog serpent or f"rpcnt
dog Whichever II IS. OF course the conception OF
creature that can be felt but not seen Is not new
II was used very effectively by the author Of Tho
Diamond Lens" in magazine story many years ago.
and IL can be traced back to the folktae OF caps ard
closks which endowed tho w.arrr with the git OK
fern seed-a popular superstition which can BE- shown
to possess great antiquity. Mr. stockions mysterious
monster. however is certainly original "a 10 MS
make up and reflects much credi, upon the Imaginative
power II the third burglar. who proves TO be moro
unconsclonahlc liar than the first. II Is all good
fun. aid sufficiently characteristic.
Judge Tonrscc has written "pactolus Prime round
a theory and a sentiment "A regards thu story there
is not mach action IN Il. The book is ioroihln
prcscnlon Of the color question. An Illustration ~
the difficulties which confront the man of negro blood
In any degrees who seeks 10 raise himself, In white
community above the level OF his The plot
brings in ante bcllnn and post bellum times: North
and south: and slavery and emancipation. There Is
n great deal too mnch augmentation FOR n novel and
the bootbac,s Of the Best House discourse upon
the wrongs - their NTH fucnct and n dsdain
for the practical which Is impressive than con
vncns Moreover the central idea Of the boo" Is one
which IL seems quite useless 10 e1pa'iae upon. Tho
feeling prejudice whatever ono chooses 10 call IT, de-
nonnccd hy Judge Tourecc the person u Pact"lus
Prime IS Of those realities which cannot hc over
come bv legislation by persuasion. or by logic.
or Nv rhetoric rs rcproachcs. by sarcasm II II
can he overcome n All. by any means, the slow
Incidence Of time hut not necessarily tho influence u
cdurafon NAV effect the change. 50 far all that can
10 said is that It depend upon relations between
the races: that ~ has shown itself in some respects
.,rongcr I'm the North and since Emancipation than
II vas in the south during slavery that IL Is greatly
~ Dc regretted I'm all ia phases but that Il" remedy
for II la. hitherto been found or suggested. The
truth seems 10 be tina, for all boasts 81 advanced
civilization the most forward races In the world arc
sil very hckshnned. very selfish and very tolerant
~ ineouitable conditions which do not affect them
Sevcs In proof the npossibllty OF abolIshng
various forms slavery up 10 the present time
may he cited. Here raoc prejudice can be alleged.
but the calloueness. the cruelty, the nsenslby are
In all respect. the same. What is needed apparently
i. a great hitting Of human nature to higher plane.
and when wo reflect upon the length OF time It has
taken 10 brin: humanity 10 where IL stands e. day.
IL i impossible. to on enthusiast. 20 ante pate
= speedy change great enough To- bring about the ox
tncton 81 the fsults and vdes Of the A. II
exists Judge Tourgecs book is often moving and
tragic but tho sadness Of the situation described IL
not llgiltencd by strong hopes.
"rxpia,ion- is an exceedingly spirited, we'll told
and interesting Southern story. Of tho transitional
front and band, ganes Of bushwackcrs seized the
opportunity 10 practice brleandsgr At tho The
anihor has evidently made study OF the old planter
generation and Of the house servants Of that time
Her darsevs are full II lie and humor and ndivd
nalltv Her bushwackers are extremely grim and
realistic ~ no doubt the models wcrc-scOundrrls
capable Of any crime cruelty given 10 torture their
prisoners 10 extract information. setting value upon
human life The hero Of the story yonng Fairfax Is
an original and carefully wrought psychological study
a youth who has learned 10 suspect his own physical
courage and who. through a misleading coincidence
comes 10 believe that he has shamcfuy failed at the
great crisis Of his ife and at the time has
mttcd capla crime The old planter. Fairs father.
for time believes this too. and II nearly breaks his
heart All this IL described with equal delcacy and
vivdncss and tho personality Of the pretty and loyal
Adele affords charming foil TO the despair and
humiliation Of the too proud Rutherfords The whole
story is brieny told every counts and IT
! Ia impressive and absorbing. Mr.. Frosts excellent
Illustrations add much 10 Its attractveness
"Jack Homer" is a Southern novel OF the war
period Tho scene is laid principally In Richmond
and many interesting and apparently truthful pictures
are presented Of life In the Confederate capital AZ
! that time The straits To which the people were
: reduced for the Injuries comforts and often the
.oeanraris af ne Adam. ..aal n.