Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-14
New Rocks.

On Nerf0,md Riger. BY Thomas NELSON
PAGE. New York: CHARLES SCBIBSER's
Sons.
For sale by WEST, JOHNSTON q Co. and by
RANDOLPH & ENGLISH. 81.
When CHARLOTTE BRoSrE learned of the
success of her first novel, Jane Eyre"
the authorship of which had been kept a
secret, she carried q copy of the book 10
her father. He read it in his study and at
tea-time said Girls, do you know CHAR
L,orrE has been writing a book, and il is
much better than hbely." This was strong
praise coming from the Rev. PATRICK, and
we would apply it with an intensifying ad-
verb to DR.. PAGES first novel, The rich
promise of his rarely beautiful short
stories has been fulfilled, and the Old
Dominion has another novelist of whom
she may feel proud.
The scene of this delightful story is laid
in Eastern Yirginia-not very far, we sus-
pect, from the capital clty-and in ante
bellum DAYS. The plot is simplicity itself
but is all the more pleasing on that ac-
count, since il admits of easy, natural
treatment, without any straining after
effect. Major LANDoN is an aristocrat, whose
ancestors have for SIX generations held
the baronial estate over which he presides,
with the exception of a small tract, which
had been lost at cards in years long gone
and which he had inherited a desire to re-
cover. This tract is owned by a mysterious
stranger (who turns out 10 be the Ma
ior's brother who is believed TO be
dead), who refuses TO sell at any price
or TO hold any communication with his
neighbors. He has alovely granddaughter.
MARGARET. The Major has a son, BRUCE,
handsome, high-spirited, courageous, like
his race. The two children meet and
naturally fall in love. Their forest court
ship IS the most beautiful part of the
book and reads like one of BRET HARTE's
woodland idyls. OF course, the Major,
when he learns the state Of affairs,
is furious, and high quarrel
between him and BRUCE occurs. He re-
CARDS the mysterious stranger as his natu-
raj enemy and a nobody. BRUCE refuses
to give up MARGARET.
How this course of true love pro-
crosses through obstacles and perils to
happy termination is tho main thread
Of the story, and the scenes and Incl.
dents pertaining to it are in every
way admirable-idyllic, pathetic, dramatic,
with a strong, swift movement which
keeps the reader thoroughly interested
and sympathetic. A most excellent vii
lain" PoKEBERBY" GREEN by deslgna-
tion-plays no small part in marring tenn
porarily the lovers happiness, and fur.
nishes some of the most dramatic episodes.
He is strongly drawn, and reveals a new
phase of Mr.. PAGES genius. The rest OF
the characters are mostly of the kind with
which the author has made US familiar
and are drawn with his usual skill and in.
sight.
This hasty and imperfect resume gives
but little idea Of the strength and
beauty Of the story, or of the authors
style, which is here seen at its best
and which has charm of its own unlike
that Of any other author of our acquaint
ance. The only fault we feel disposed tc
6pd--except that the story is much toe
SHORTS with the character of Major
LAEDoS, who is an extremely irascible and
disagreeable parsonage. though be makes
amends in the end. His wife is lovabl'
creation, however, and acts as foil to hi
own hArshness, while MARoAREr is simply
angelic.
We congratulate Mr.. PAGE on the dis
tinct success which hs has achieved. AMI