New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-24
4 UOM1N'S BOON.

Mr. Gladstone has INC circuit oi "''' -
the most widely read novelist OF the d'|' nv
directed attention to Mrs. Wards prs' Dooh III
n ponderouSy written magazine review 'e"'-
ing II with such dignity and seroiSiosS 'p"I
everybody mt once considered II an inteiicc'uii
duty to read IT, An unknown author Win h''
assistance m once acquired an enduring repu''.
tion BIT even without this adventurous III"
Mrs Wards books would inevitably nave '"iH
mandcd recognition. Her writings Dear inc III
nrcss not merely Of genius Of an orginal s'r'''''
but also Of profound thoughtfulness' ih'cnSe
svmpathy with whatever Is lnnueh'lhS u"
minds and stirring the hearts or me men az"
women Of today and a roinemeht Oh ar"N"O
sense which perhaps is almost unique auohE
modern nOvests. Having gained her pE''c Nv
fore n worldwide and sympathetic AUDIENCE Sn'
wisely refrains from exhibiting her nterar! ar
too often. She does not frittcr away h'r talent
In pot-boilers and fragmcniary sketches p''
husbands her resources for great WORKS Hporl'
ousIv MANNED and artistically wrought OUT III
detail -
All these qualities are revealed i'll MIS- war"
latest book "Marcclla.' which whli' Ech'ns
the controversial interest OF "Koberi hish'prc
and the dramatic force Of David 'rrPV'' l.
norhops the most mature and symmetrical pr""-
net Of her art. Controversy 1t contains pu' n".
of -, religions order the Socialist agitation anu
labor movement in England furhlshlhg Inv
groundwork Of the story and bringing me a''"rS
INTO rclations either Of sympathy or OF hoStii'!'
but the real interest Of the book turns upon Tue
dcvelopmcnt OF character under varying coh''.
tions OF hcrellty. education, enyirohih'h' anu
cxpcrcncc. The finest and most lliuil'''"''"E
orects are produced 10y analogous and contrast
oil tvprs Robert BOyce. the tainted III" us
crclItcd aristocrat and landowner. ana Harry
Wharton. the brilliant labor agitaior ana r''i
conarv Member Of Parliament are SupJ'''U
=, .,r,i,or nroccsscs Of moral deterioration, ana
are mutually drawn 10 cach DINER h"'""'"
and Hallcn are slngularly nohI" types " ~,
HIGH minded Lord and the disini'rcS''h S"''''
rcformcr and they too attract cAch "'h'r anu
hiring out what Is best I'm each. Inc N'h'"r'S.
Cravcns and the striking group OF LABOR ANU
Radical Members Of Parliament are Sr'"-''
contrastcd types Of Socialist dr'aii'rS anu
working class champions. by analogy au" ~
contrast the tenants, laborerS ana poachc'S y"
nm English country estate are 'ohp'r'u VIZ"
and 90, oT against thc poor outcaS'S OF I"iuo"'
among whom Marcrlla labors and readjuN'S anu
perfccts her own ideas Of life and duty
I, * in Marccla herself ihat the story hndS
tie main motive and vital Interest II is NV
nroblcm Of Doroihcas struggle In Mlddi'ih1''"
to ombody high ideals in life. but worker o''
in n more sympathetic spirit and III more pray
,lcal womauly way. Instead "l P''>'''"-
ceor,c Tllot's cross section Of liz" III al f'nH
Ilsh county MIN characters aSS"cia''u i'll UNIV
and place but not necessarily IN homogeneous
relations Mrs Ward places MarcehA ~ me
central figure ~ an artiSticaly concelVN anu
c,nfrastcd group. every member of WIFI" j"
an. ,rav ar another throws n sldcliGht upon n'i
norsonollty II Is a literary ART That reprodu''S
,hc effect Of the Greek chorus In emphasizing
ia. main motive OF the chief actor. without
hc,nr dramatic In incident. nor analyucal III
me,hod n complete. harmonious ana hiehis
artistic picture il produced. vl'ailzed WIN
human weakness caprice. dIstrusi, passion anu
aspirations. ,.,,,,
The book is perhaps the stronger Tor p''h|
IN artistic study of the social relations OF inc
rich educated and working classes. without nav
ing ouy distinct ethical purpose d'hn'd OF Sus'
,.stcd But In m least one respect th're j. III
,.r,nt,llv a moral 10 bc drawn from what j.
nccullarly a womans book, Mrs. Nard : pr'''
ana voIumcs having been written for men ra'her
,hor for her own sex Marcelln, by her neg
,.c,cd childhood bv the inherited force OF h'r
,,o,her's character and bv the range or h"r own
perceptions and sympaihics, was iihP'"'u ~
,Lo a, octIv. interest in the social ana polltlcai
problcms ~ the day. Crude ana iI-ois'S'" ~
was her knowledge. she brought 10 pear uPon
all around her. and even upon those IKE "'''
burn and Hacn. better Informed ana iho''
studious than herself the charm ana ir'Si'n'sS
~ a womnns way Of looking M Soclai conu''
lions and economic problems There was io''r
and there was inspiration in her COMPROMISING
and while she required for sclfdevelopmehl the
Soldering experiences which r"adjust'd h'r nn''S
10 practical work. her cXn.Lple shows now Mp
mi n woman can be- II she interests herS'h p'''
foundlv In what il going on all about hcr III
this world Of social unrest and discomfort