New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-13
GRANIA.
A STRONG AND ORIGINAL STORY.

tIHANIA. the story or lhlnn0. NV the hOn Emily
Lawlcss. l2mo. PIP. 35o. Macmillan & co.
Tho scene OF this story Is the little rocky welnlgh
barren island OF Inishmaan the second IN size Of the
three Islands OF Ann situated In Galway Bay
Inlshmnan IL Mt first sight unpromslng field for
fiction that Il might be thought impossible. Ii Is
little more than collection OF heapedup rocks. with
out soil. without trees, without living springs. The
inhabitants have painfully brought soil from the
mainland and have thus made possible the raising OF
potatoes and some other vegetables. Even the turf
fuel hos to be imported. The maln--almOst the sole
industry Of the bleak and bare iset Is fishing and
that IS uncertain. The people OF Inishmaan speak
only Gnclic, rule. Galway forms the boundary
OF their world. They ignorant. poor and &C
customed to discomfort OF every kind But out OF
such materials the author OF "Hurrish" has evolved
story the power, charm and Imprcsslvcncss OF which
must be Instantly felt and recognized There Is but
little action In the tale: the life described Is always
humble and often sorld: but the artist. applying TO
these owly folks the play Of those passions which
move rcnd bless all members OF the race whether
In palace hovel. and investing their thoughts.
motives and acts with that naturaness which compels
our sympathy. has created Interest which takes
hold upon at the outset aud Increases steadily 10
the end.
Avoiding dialects useless In a place where no
English Is spoken. she has nevertheless succeeded In
conveying distinct impression of the pecuarities OF
the local talk. The story is Of girl named Grania
Spanish blood. derived from her mother. Left an
orphan early her elder half sister Honor takes charge
OF and brings her up 10 the best OF her poor ability
The characters and differences Of these Two girls dre
shown with admirable skill and precision. Honor is
very rious and bears the reputation OF a saint among
the Islanders. To her the priest Is not a man, but
demi god and the voice OF the Church IL lnapeIabc
and supreme. Grana is the other hand no saint
but something Of sceptc. Endowed with a pas
sonate and strongly imaginative temperament she is
self-willed. Independent and proud. She and Muir
dough Blake had been paymates as children. had
grown mp side by side. and IL an understood thing
that they were TO marry. Murough Is q fine study
Physically handsome and prepossessng he possessed
no qualities 10 make a woman happy. Thoroughly
selfish nttcrly lacking In that considerable regard for
women which Call cbivalry, ready at all times to
sit With his hands In his pockets while his sweet
heart was toiling under heavy burden too
lazy TO work for living, but not ashamed TO beQ
money for his uses from the he protested TO
love; developing every year a stronger love of
drink; lnfrm OF purpose In all things, and forever
INDUCING In dreams OF impractical ambiton-it would
be difficult to find moro complete example OF the kind
OF man who seems born to make women unhappy
The worst OF II was that Murdough never doubted
his superiority ana accepabty. so poor that he had
no home to offer his bride, II seemed to him quite
natural that he should marry the richest girl on the
island. In truth 1t for her possessions That no
~ III,
entity came 10 realize this. Once, In q Galway cabin
she came upon family whose condition arrested her
attention The husband was lying dead drunk on the
pallet. The wife. evidently once handsome girl
haggnrd, worn. sick and feeble: and the children
ragged and hnlfstarved. 1t flashed upon Grania
that She was looking upon picture of what her own
future would be il she married Mudough He already
drank heavily He already neglected her. IIe
already showed his Indifference and selhshness I'm a
score OF ways. Did she any the more for these
prescntiments, for this notwithstanding knowledge re-
solve to break her engagement Who that knows
anything Of woman hesitate in answering that
question. She broke with him indeed. but IL was but
fresh Illustration OF Ovids maxim that the quarrel
ling OF lovers Is the renewal Of love. Nudough
was worthless md she knew IL. But she
loved him, aud this to her heart, conclusive
answer 10 every objection. There Is capital con
vcrsauon between Grania and her sister Honor, who
had onged TO be n nun, and who innoccnty explains
her Wow OF matrimony. According to her ideas hap
piness nnaanable In this world and particularly
for women. Thclr lot to bear everything. She
could not understand Granias fierce protest against
the ways Of men and husbands In her eyes all men
were alike. They all got drunk. They oil starved
their wives and chdron They we've made that way
This was why she had desired 10 be u nun.
Honor fell H. became chronic invalid. and at last
lay dying OF consumption. Grana nursed and tended
her lovingly, but her heart divided between her
and the self-sbsorbed Murdough. The story Of this
strange, primitive but incontestably lifclike courtshp
is full OF subtle touches which Illuminate tho Celtic
nature. There aro ako delightful kts Of island Ee.