The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-10-28
THE CRITICS COLUMN.
DEVOTED TO COMMENT UPON RE
CENT PUBLICATIONS
"A Christmas Rscoliestion" BY Thomas
Nelson Psgs-"Csar aad 8 ttsn"-"ihs
Artificial Msthsr"-Notss.

Inc happy 10 Ahi.
Pages distinctive characteristic as
story-teler especially marks this charm
ing Christmas Recollection" which
Messrs. Scribner have published In vol
ume, Of which the mechanical work Is
faultless. IL Is quality thoroughly ac-
cordant with the winning and essentially
southern personality OF POLY" for watch
the 'Recoiiection' is setting, anu
which, In all that is delightful. is precise
ly that OF beautiful and lovable child.
While not prepared to say whether or
not the story be sufficiently true pic
ture OK Virginia plantation life at the
pehfii9 9 WIN which il deals to prevent
raDld critics from falling upon 1t and
rending II solely, let us hope through
loyal desire to do justice 10 Virginia, We
are lulIy prepared TO say that il is
thoroughly pleasing.
me Colonel is by no means the typi-
cal Virginia gentleman. but then Mr. Page
does not represent him to be that Ger
fanny II not the typical one, he is, in
sPIte Oh qualities or rather manners.
Whch are more vigorous than refined.
uStlnctly Bentleman-one whose photo
types, Juieps and all were numerous in
the Old Dominion and were uncommoniy
satisfactory hosts
Mr.: Page Is here, as usual true to life
In his pictures of the antebelIum negro
ana reproduces. in the conversations of
DrlnkWater Form" and Charity" his
dialect with amusing fidelity.
fhere is what may be called an aro-
matte purity about the story OF PoIly's
and Bob's love affair, and the touches OF
sentiment throughout the book are given
with a real tenderness that has yet no
faInteSt suggestion of the morbid in It,
The Illustrations. by Mr. Castaigue. are
really beautiful and serve as is nor in
Variabiy the case with illustrations, TO
emphasize In the mind Of the reader the
scenes which they present
In my conclusion. as in the outset sim
pltcity may be pronounced the distinct
charm of the book.
THE ARTIFICIAL MOTHER: A mar
ltal fantasy by G. H. p: G. y. Put
mans Sons New York London. 75
cents. For sale by West, Johnston K
Co.
The following paper" says the writer,
written nearly a quarter OF a century
ago when the world seemed Younger,
for the purpose OF promoting the gayety,
not Of notions. but OF very serious
literary society has been though worthy
OF preservation in book form, not ON
the ground OF any literary quality, but
because of its philanthropic purpose and
because, also. the narrative presented
situations which could be taken advan-
tage of by the pencil of a clever drafts
man."
Certainly the public in general. to-
geiher with that very serious literary
society" are indebted to c. II. T., who
of utter absurdity, which is irresisubly
lauGhable precisely because 1t is
thoroughly absurd.
1t is the supposed dream Of
a, husband who, much Cypress,
in maternal cares, resolves upon eX--
treme measures when numbers eight and
nine of the family circle arrive to-
eethcr." and effectually exclude him from
the smallest share of that wlfe's atten-
Watching her as she sits rocking these
two small tyrants, one in each arm, the
impression is borne in upon him that all
the little wretches" want is some
thing soft to touch, a swinging motion
10 addle their brains Gf they have any;
and a monOtonous din In their ears, ana
they would be just as we'll satisfied II
these were. supplied by steam engine
as by their mother"
Proceeding In his dream 10 act I'm ac-
cordance with this impression. and
without the knowledge OF MS
wife. by whom. 1t IS needless
10 saw his impression is not shared, he
manufactures an artificial mother.
81 did not" says he. want TO starte
Polly or TO arouse prematurely the suspi-
cions of the twins, so ] carried the lay
figure (Which | had secured from the
studio of an artist up into a disused gar
ret, and devoted all the spare hours OF
the ensuing week TO experimenting upon
her. She was, fortunately for my purpose
OF the finest Paris make. steel-springcd.
and double extra iOnted, and there was
question merely Of supplying the inward
poWer f'truP inWardHeSS') and the out
ward appurtenanCes After va
rious Intellectual experiments with steam.
compressed air, and electricity. !. at
length. succeeded In placing IN the body OF
my lay woman a clOCkwOrk combination
which, by series of spiral connections
with the head, arms and shoulders, NOV
ed these in a uniform swing timed TO
coincide with that OF the rocking chair
in which had placed her"
a Grooming attachment" with piano,
10. fNUtstg
pleted the artificial mother" which. suf-
flee II TO say, was not quite all the
young husbands fancy painted IL. for on
the occasion OF its first appearance, the
springs, steam. etc. behaved badly.
shooting the two babies TO the opposite
ends of the room"
In conclusion q. H. p. remarks that
the artificial mother was a dream but,
says he. May l not hope also-a pro-
phecyg
The Illustrations by A. W. Van Deusen.
bring out the ludicrous in the book yet
more enjoyable. Altogether IL is
one over whose pure nonsense many Will
laugh loud and long.
CAR AND SULTAN: BY Archibald
Forbes. illustrated by Portraits in the
possession OF the author and by four
special drawings by sydney Il. Han.
Charles Scribner's Sons New York.
r. For sale by West. Johnston & Co.
In the story OF the adventures of a
British lad. named John Carnegie, In
the Russo-rurkish war OF lS7-1S, Mr..
Forbes gives, US the admirable result OF
research and experience, in connection
with that pprio1 ir, he bictnr,, Of a