The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-21
A TALE OF BOSTON.
Examined and Abridged by Distin-
guished English Critic.

OdluIOdf ANoNiSWs
Anything about Boston Is more or less
interesting. and so are fashionable people
anywhere. How exciting. then. is an au-
thentic description Of life in the most re-
fined and select social circle of that remark
able city. Such a description is to be found
in thrilling volume of fiction, bound in
white samite, or something of that sort, and
called "A Realistic Novel OF Boston Fash
ionable Life" The copy before us bears
upon the title page the pink and
ohliQue impress of an India rubber stamp,
declaring 1t TO be, or to be part of, the
sixth edition" and ithas preface which is
quite new, inasmuch as when Mr.. Robert
Appleton, the author, wrote it five
editions" had already been exhausted
and distributed all over the country, and
they had taken only three weeks to exhaust
and distribute. 1t is partly on account of
this preface that we rescue this book from
the common doom OF criticism. For we
learn therein that ''the duty of the critic is
to pronounce whether the presentation"
of embodied Ideas sis in accord with their
abstract conception; also that "the labor
of criticism" is Largely confined" 10 some
thing: that glib or verbose lueubratiOns,
with dash Of sentiment and an appeal to
explosives, are frequently passed for the
dicIi of critics." and the Judgment" OF
such persons is hazardous" MIR. Apple
ton wisely becomes his own critic, and not
without references to Becky Sharp of
Lord Stein," and to George Elliott" IAN
author, lucubrates to the effect that his
heroine possesses those salient features
which constitute the woman OF the world,
and who is as universal as she is brilliant
In talent and fascinating in person." She
is moreover. 1.-THE logical outcome of her
environment" Under these circumstances
we decline the task OF criticism. preferring
merely TO give some slight Indication of how
fashionable Boston lives.
The heroine. Mrs. Harry st. John, Is in
trodueed 10 the reader in ''decolete
dress with a suggestive charm that was
augmented by the vOIuptuous expression of
her bare shoulders" She had very'"light
hair. with an admixture of red" She was
becoming somewhat lacksdaisical' when
Mr.. Burwell, fellow-citiZen OF the United
| States Of America and an ornament OF Bos-
| toms most exclusive society, came in aud
| kissed her twice and took her TO ball. At
| the bal! she was introduced TO Mr.. Trench,
an English visitor, a member Of Parlia-
ment and Liberal. "The back Of mis- lead
was handsomely shaped" and Mrs. ST.
| John danced with him, and as she
did so could distinctly overhear loud
ordinations of surprise or admir-
| ing calculations at her shapeliness,
nimbieness and Trench's bearing and
appearance" Shortly after this "a vague,
| strange feeling agitated all his Trench's)
/
Mrs ST. John. and as soon as they were in
| the carriage Impressed his lips on hers in
| long and passionate kiss" When they
| got home she asked him TO stay to break
fast, because ''it would look better If he
| did" She lamented having to breakfast in
| her ball dress. and Mr.. Burwell suggested
| that she might go and change it. "'Demni-
| ton grindp she said, rising from her chair
with an effort. 'Pll be right down; it
won't take me minute she added as she
started to leave the room" but Mr.. Burwell
| called her back and kissed her repeatedly"
Mr. Trench came TO cali on Mrs. st. John
after the ball, and at the end of his second
| visit, when she was holding his hands,
| she said, Come, kiss me quick; not
| this. but and she drew him her hands
to her lips and kissed feryentIy and passion;
| ately." Therefore, Nj. Trench OF England
| cut out Mr.. Burwell Of America. which
made the latter very angry. After taking
| Mrs. st. John home from a picnic Mr..
| Trench escorted her to her dressing room,
where he kissed her shoulders, and then.
'unfastening her Shoes" he kissed her
| ankles, they were so beautiful! they were
| so shapeyi" Then she kissed him silently
! and clung to him with passionate tenacity."
| He observed, Good God! what are we do
log" and went away.
We have been at the pains TO count the
number of kisses and collections of kisses
bestowed by Mrs. St John on her admirers
during the fortnight or so occupied by the
action of the story. which her chronicler
considers important enough to be separately
specified. and IL is exactly fifty. Then Mr..
Trench, who had asked her to run away
with him, changed his mind, and refused.
upon written application being duly made.
to run away with her. So. Mr.. Burwell,
having taken himself off in a fury at having
been supplanted, she made ii up with Mr.
st. John Whose kisses are not included in
the fifty. For further light on select social
life in Boston 1t may be mentioned that at
an evening party, open only to the flour
hundred" the hostess said: do sit down
and make yourself at home, all! And do
you drink beer, Mr.. Trencb?"