New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-01
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES.


EIGHT DAYS. BY R. E. Forrest. 12mo PIP 3sA
United States Book Co.
THERE is NO DEVIL. BY Maurus yokai. Translated
3o7. Cassen Publishing Co.
COLONEL CARTER OF CARTERsvILLE: BY F. HOP isp
klnson smith. i2mo, PIP. 2os Hougn'on' MIL
fin Co.
DOWN THE OHIO BY Charles Humphrey Roberts Z Se
12mo, PIP. 313. Chicago: A. C. mcclure 70.
THE RUDDER CHANGERS ABROAD. BY Frank x.
stockton. 12mo, PIP. 195. Charles scronerS
Sons.
EoURTEEN TO ONE By El, ssh stuart rS Phelps
VIOLIN OBLIGATO, AND OTHER STORIES. BY
Margaret Crosby. 16mo, PIP. 3el. Boston
BALKAN AND HIS MASTER, AND OTHER sKEICHEs
AND STORIES BY Joel Chandler harrls'
12mo. PIP. eos. Houghton, Mfiin q Co.
OTTO THE KNIGHT AND OTHER TRANSMlSsls-
sIPPI STORIES. BY Octave Thanet l2mo' PIP
34s Houghton, Mifiin d Co.
The model of Eric Brigheyeso is the old Icelandsh
Sagas and the tale is attempt to reproduce both
the style and the spirit Of those grim Morse stores
Mr. Haggards literary prepossessions render such an
experiment much less dangerous In his hands than IL
would be with author less perneated by the VIKING
spirit He is indeed peculiarly well qualified TO treat
period in which fighting and feasting were the chief
occupations of the Scandinavian people 1t would not
be possible TO exaggerate the Importance OF war IN
the life of that tme for it literally the dominant
element. When public did not prevail its place
was taken by private and when internecine ste
sackened there always the cheerful and prontabe
recourse of piracy to fall back upon III is neeoiess
to say that Mr.. Haggard finds himself thoroughly
ut home in such "mileu"; and the
navoring of supernaturallsm which seems nee
essary to him is well supplied by the famous
Finnish witchcraft, Of which the Sagas furnish so
many illustrations 1t must be admitted that there
is @ decidedly suggestive resemblance TO the re-
6oubtable Zulu Umslopogaas in the Baresark Skala-
grim but then 1t may be said that the former is really
a kind Of African Viking OF course, the novel is full
of fighting which is heroic in its situations and the
rombats are supplemented by sorcery OF the bodest
and most expansive character for your Finnish witch
never occupied herself with petty affairs, but handled
the elemental forces with free hand producing storms
and foes and other imposing phenomena the smallest
provocaton Eric Brghteyes the hero, is the strong
est bravest and best of men, according TO the sadarus
of his age but also of the most unlucky HIS court
shp of Gudruda the Fair is succession OF disasters, In
which Eric usually kills all his open enemies, only TO
be put to confusion by his secret adversaries hrst
among whom is Swanhild witchdaughter of a witch
mother She Is in love with the hero and bent upon
preventing his marriage with Gudruda. Here Is
matter for romance enough and the author makes li
use of IT, Occasionally he finds himself unduy re
strained by the archasm Of the style he has assumed
and then he revers to his own, sometimes with rather
odd effects Bu the tale told with great spirit, the
local color is on the whole skully applied the move
ment is brisk and continuous, and the employment Vi
the Morse superstitions Of the Norns gives 10
the whole that impressive aspect OF the march Vi III
destiny which was no uOuDl d
with the old scandinavians. 1t Is tragedy, and the
eliminating scenes are among the best in the 0ooK
The phantom review Of all the men whom ETC anu
ekallagrim had sain the night preceding thelr own
last fight is very well done indeed. % Is tnaV grim
and great slaughter in which the two giants go
down; while the closing touch is mastery Oh 's HIM.
eight Days" Is almost more chronicle than
novel; so evidently from the life IS the stins
and graphic narrative of episode in the great ndah
IA &c
nower and the reader follows the fortunes OF inc
English men and women upon whom the disaster 1en
unheralded like bolt from the blue win sus'lieu
and eager interest The picture OF the staoe Oh aiaS
nj Khizrabad Just before the outbreak "hen 'iio
routine life was being calmly pursued and there
WAS marrying and giving in marriage, iornis an az
mirable background to the CHASTITY sequence. nhero
q No Mot to the book, which reads precisely IKE
Main but detailed account Of actual events ana which,
allowing for substituted names, may indeed DC IusU
what it seems. In any case however, IL Is sin
realistic and fascinating story.
Maurus Jokai is distinguished Hungarian man OF
letters and the novel now offered IN tfahsiaVou' gu
utIod @Tbere Is No Devil" is said to present a 1ar
example Of his powers in fiction. lie IS no ieansS
hrt a mdn of strong imagination, great descrip- |
live facility and rather an undue CRAVING
after originality. Many OF the scenes \, ' m
book are striking, such as tha' VI nv
rauroad disaster at the very opening. Ihe heros
choice of wife from tnree NOHiOh' oA VA
MUSICIAN an aienist suspects Of being more Ut 0S
mad can hardly be thought felicitous. and IN ehec'
his bride turns out to be good deal worse Ilai INSANE
The hero himself however, appears 20 DC n'
atouchedp as witness his remarkable specia.ioi'' W
The Bourse whereby while doing his best to lose one
million he wins eight. The freshness OF TINS STORY 10
more apparent than its art 1t is however, eHnnenuS
readable anc should crafty the demand of the modern
Athenians for "some new thing"
Mr. Hopkinson Smiths Colonel Carter of Carriers
VILE Is an amusing and sympathetic study Oh the
old fashioned Southern planter ruined by 'he war
rpon this well-known type the author mas erdlou
come of the attributes of Colonel Mulberry Sellers "t
singular results. 1t is very light work. done WIFI
tacile touch and the necessary humor The central
oortion has been much overworked and moreover |
~ has been degraded into burlesque often that IL Is
no longer an easy matter TO handle 1T so that deseera
ton into farce is avoided. Mr.. Smith has not always
succeeded in keeping to the ne but he has done well
considering all the difficulties Of the case ana MS
little novel is amusing
4Down the Ohio" has good deal OF merit ~
soabes the fortunes of Pttsburg waif, little g1r
who while seeking relative in Ohio, IS taken IN ana
cared for by Quaker farmer living in settlement OF
Ar Friends The study of the rural Quakers SHOWS
close and careful observation and an uncommon ap
nreciation of character There is not much po1 10 ue
story but much really clever description ana many
highly interesting tabeaus illustrative OF ONO country
life.
Mr.. stockton has taken the Rudder Grangers 70
Europe, and given them some strange anu
rather trying experiences. The vleissituueS
through which Pomona's baby passes are
harroEinc-after the Rudder Grange standafu
- siction-but all's well that ends we'll. "Euphemla
among the Pelicans" Is funny, but not too ilnny'
aDerelicts is good story but hardly funny at all.
The same may be said of The Baker of Barnbury'
sTbe Water Devf"-a tale told by instead OF TO-
a marine. IS we inclined to THINK the most
thoroughly stocktonian OF the COLLECTION.
Mrs. Phelps has brought together, under the title
Fourteen to one" number of uncommoniy strong
.hnrt stories. Every one of the fourteen really
deserves separate treatment several as ior instant