New-York tribune., 1894-04-29

MIR. CROCKETT's STORIES.

!
Of John Faa LORD an1 Earl Of Little Egypt
BY $. II. Crockett rp. xli. ~ Macmillan &
| THE STICKIT MINISTER. And Some Common
Men. BY s. r Crockett rp. 2Ss. Macmillan &
co. (Secon1 Edltion)
THE RUBICoN. By f. F. Benson. D. Appleton
IRISH IRIS T. IDYIA-s By Jane Barlow. Doaa. Mead
THE STORY OF MARGREDEL. C. Z. Pu,nam's
Sons
There Is more than hint Of blood relationship
between "Thc Raiders" and novels Ike KID
mapped" and 1.-THE Master OF Ballantrae" II Mr..
Crocketrs new story had been published anony-
mousy. Mr. Stevenson probably would have had
the credit OF IL the world over til the truth hap
pcncd be found out. The admirable short tales
bundled up with THE Stckit Minister hardly FORE
shadowed this later excursion into the realm oc a
not very remote antiquity. though they indicated
all the elements OF individuality which are 10
be found in the more elaborate work. Mr
Crockett studies his characters with the utmos,
minuteness. ard one who thinks he knows them n,
first finds al the last that he has made their ac-
duaintancc gradually. and that they have developed
under his gaze Into very complicated creatures II
IS not easy task to take boy and girl just
growing to maturity. and turn them into man and
woman before the readers eyes without disturbing
his impression Of their Identity. In most this
literary feat is attended with the same risks that
cmbarrass the transformation OF n child into
grown person between acts in n drama. The device
IS startling and II is accepted only makcshift
In view OF the purpose to be attained. But Mr.
Crockett acts the magician at this point He max -
the mature look back and tell the story OF his
own boyhoOd from the hobbedehoy stage onward
gradually becoming more conscious OF himself and
OF his relations to others The youngser sees that
he is very boyish TO others. and yet he feels him
self TO be n man. New thoughts dawn upon him
slowly, II takes almost n surgical operation to get
some ideas into his head; yet he takes the process
quite as matter OF course. lie resents Ike n boy
the wisdom OF his elders. drawn from experience
for his benefit but his resentment gradually gives
way TO shameface1 regard for the opinion Of
others which he had never felt in former days Tho
reader. no doubt. must wonder how an ordinary
man like the young Laird OF Rattan found time to
study himself One would have expected him 10
forget II he had observed. the pecuaritics OF
his own conduct in the transition between boyhood
and manhood.
There is not much plot in the story. Historically
II illustrates the old antagonlsm Of Highlands and
Iowands, complicated with the rufiianism OF smug-
gIers and outlaws. and the more cunning wicked
ness OF the Gypsics: and as Galloway people know
the leading Incidents true and several OF the
characters real The author Is friendly to the dark
hued nomads II was not they who the worst
wrongdocrs In the days Of George !. and OF tho
new laws against trade across the North Sea and
against private stills The most attractive charac
ter I'm the book Is the Gypsy King who wanders In
disguise through It's pages, and who Is "A traditional
hero lie resembles in many familiar traits the Spy
In Coopers famous novel: but he Is even more
sourcefu than that strange parsonage. lie knows
all GYPSY lore. and also whatever can be taught
him by observation OF the tangled network OF half
savage tribal lifo which he has TO deal with. AS
belted earl he has moved among the proudest repre-
sentatives Of another race while In his manner OF
life he is oauai with the humblcst. His career