New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-02
CURRENT FICTION.
4 STORY OF INDIA.

THE pOTTERs THUMB. Ey Flora Annie Steel.
Harper d BROTHERS
CLAUDIA HYDE. by Frances Courtenay Baylor.
Houghton, Miiiiln 60.
a Ct'MBERER OF THE GROUND. by Constance
Smith. Harper Brothers.
THE HUSBAND or ONE WIFE BY Mrs vonn.
Harper Brothers
a MODERN BrCCANEER. by Rolf Bollcrwood.
Macmillan & 60.
THE TREsPAssER. by Giber, Parker. D. Ap-
plcton * co.
HARTMANN THE ANARCHIST. or The Doom Of
Illustrated. Macmillan 4 90.
There Is but little pot In Mr.. Steers book The
Potters Thumb. but thin AK Il -. It serves a. de-
veloping medium FOR some remarkable studies Il
Oriental character. No other author OF her
cept Kiping has ever shown sucA intimate AMI
subtle comprehension OF the tortuous complexities
Of that character unlike ali that the Anglo
Saxon knows In human nature. The strange figures
IN the dcwans pa.ace stand 0ui With csirh"rin-
airy viyidness against the ~onbre background OF
squalor and time-worn spl"ndor. The old dewan
himscf bis body bowed under his ninety odd years.
his brain wickcdly alive for intrigue Ia his
cruel youth. and that mountain OF swinsh flesh.
his son. are drawn with striking power with the
slightest touches Even more impressive is that
revc alton o. basencss IN the person OF Da.e! the
grandson. n creature more monkey than man.
blending European vices with the hoary bnincss of
the orient. /AlLgD the Oh duenni, ana llttr AZl-
ian. with her Jett, ourls and eyes Of light" live
before US. and the potter singing at his vince.
Will haunt the reader'- Imagination for many day.
Some OF the European characters are equally well
drawn-witncss the intensely feminine widow. a
woman whom oniy intultive woman could
truly portray. But the chief value Of the book Hes
in It's wonderful Interpretation Of native character.
1t has irresistible atmosphere OF truth-we can
not doubt the kcenncss OF the authors observa-
lions and the sincerity with which she has pre-
scented them. The thread Of melancholy Eastern
mysticsm which appears now and again In the
web OF the story. adds much Of poetry to It's pict
urcsque prose.
Miss Bayors novel Is delightful IN it's gay and
kindly humor and clever In It's expllcation OF
Virginia character. These are its distinguishing
and most estimable qualities. Otherwise 1t IL a
simple little story carried through moderate
complications to the happy ending which women
love. II IL emIncntly entertaining ard sprIght-
ly. II somewhat old-fashioned. book.
The man Of tender hear, which is hidden under
coax Of cync!sm IS the recurring hero % the
womans novel In "A Cumberer OF the Ground" he
is pictured with good deal Of imaginative power
and with undue amount OF sen,lmenta.ity which
usually accompanies the feminine representation OF
this noble being. Lyon is not faultless. he comes
down from his pedestal often enough to prove that
he s not "A mllner's lay figure: and his pathetic /
DEATH If II does not leave the reader teary round
the sshos does not evoke smile OF derlslon. /
The heroine IL rather silly and her husband. too /
weak 10 be wholly good or bad. is described Win
force and decacy OF apprehension. In the next .
novel on our list THE Husband OF one Wife" the I
heroine is the chief parsonage. and one not easily /
forgotten in her triumphant beauty her hayward |
charm, her queer hardness OF heart She Is not /
wholly creature OF life; but scattered through the
book are such truthful glimpses Of the inner So
crets OF such temperament that she offers ex-
In thc of
ter The ecclesiastical hero Of the story is more or
less absurd and impossible.
Rolf BoIderwood's novel. "a Modern Buccaneer"
is a story OF the "Typee" sort, but even more |
dashing and vigorous than that beloved book OF
ones youth. 1t is founded on truth for Hayston
was a pratical trader once we'll known and heartily
feared In the South Seas. The tale Is told with /
masculine strength and frsnkness. and In its remi-
nlscenccs Of life in the islands IL undoubtedly OF
historical interest As a narrative OF adventure II
IL often thrilling; and It's style Is pleasantly unstud
led and easy.
The hero OF Mr.. Gilbert Parker's novel. THE
Tresuasser Is an extremely lsagreeable individual.
Veneering is no admirable men than
furniture. and 1t IL much more liable to crack.
That IL just what happens in the case OF this We
neered barbarian. and the only cause for wonder Is
that on such backing the author should have by
any ingenuity and in defiance OF all probability
made the polished surface stick long. CASTOR
Eelward Is the son Of the runaway scion OF noble
English family and Canadian half-breed. He
grows up a hunter. a fighter. manager OF men.
nan OF se.f-control. but only Of a sefconro obeli-
mt % his own viii and passions. Going to England
after his fathers death. ne seeks his grandfather
establishes himself the heir and exhibits for the
most part astonishing polish. creditabls to the
,ourter OF a lifetime. He becomes engaged to II
rather colorless young English woman for no very
apparent reason, except to show how easily he can
lesert her. and how little his unexceptionable show
IF civilization Is really a part Of him. Going to
Paris on a vacation. he meets a gypsy animal
raner. and elopes with her. At an opportune mo-
nent she Is removed. and he is left to 60 back to
England and presumably reestablish himself In his
amily's affections. this time we'll broker 70 the