The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-24
RECENT FICTION.

1.-THE Zest-Geist" ,or Time-Spirit is
the odd rame of story Of Canadian
life written by Miss Lily Dougall and
published by the Appletons. We borrow
from the buffalo Express this explana-
tion of its motive:
Ii Is more than a mere romance, for n
sermon is woven into it-a sermon which
instils into the reader the desire to do
good to his fellow men. Miss Dougall en-
deavors to show the social difficulties
awaiting those who choose their own
creed, their own thoughts and their own
ways. Her story largely concerns Bar
tholomew Toyner. n social outcast and be-
sotted drunkard: and his wife, murder
ers daughter. who keeps IA drinking sa-
loon. Profess.ng Christians passed them
by: yet Bart slowly found his own way to
God. He came to learn what true tender
ness and brotherliness for fellow creatures
were. Bart's religion. in brief was this:
That the whole of the universe goes to the
developing of character. God might have
made us good machines, but did not. In
stead. He Is saving men by the hell tfey
bring upon themselves. He Is with them
through sin, suffering in their suffering
and agony of spirit. rejoicing In their re-
joicing aDd bringing them by their own
effort and experience into state OF perttc-
ton. Heaven. Bart thought. is inside you
when you grow to be like God and through
all ages and worlds heaven will be to do
a. He does: to suffer with those that are
suffering and to de with those that are dy-
ing. Miss Doucall pictures the long climb
OF Fart Toyner and his wife upward into
peace and happiness. and into CONDITION
where the joys and sorrows of the sur
rounding rfe became a part of their own
life. The chief iuteres, in the story Is
ethical or spiritual; yet II Is charmns'y
told The narrative IS Interrupted occa-
sionally with descriptions of nature, which
are fun of v!sor and freshness.
Three consecutive numbers Of Apple
tons popular Town and Country Libra
~ of choice flction lie before us. The
first is Collection of excellent short
stories of New England Efe by Heze-
kiah Eutterworth. than whom there Is
no more accurate or proficient delinea-
tor of Yankee customs and character.
Husband" by RichardlMarsh, is a study
of an erotomaniacal husband who.
when he discovers that his homicidally
Iraniacal wife has cleverly assassinat-
ed a trusted male friend who sought to
lure her into a liaison, calmly OBJ
serves:
MAY darling. don't think that any eN-
PLANTATION is needed between us, only. II
YOU must explain. understand this: My
love for you has novhing TO do with your
moral qualities: care nothing for moral
qualities. or for the want of them. not one
snap of the firgers. | love you. your
BODY, your ueSh ana blood, yourself. that
of you which can hold between my arms.
Mind you, | would rather, had the choice.
that you as well as myself-should walk
in peace with all men. and with all wo-
men. But. though YOU sank TO the lowest
depth. of what the world calls evil. so long
as you are good to me. what has that TO do
with my love for you' GOOD
and bad are available terms. They mean
different things In different mouths. l have
no arbitrary. immutahle predileet.on Tor
either" one Is not surprised. IN View
of such a declaration Of principles, that
after career of some bloodshed on both
sides. Mrs. Musgrave and her husband,
10 say nothing OF Their baby child, con-
ver.ently kill themselves in the last CHAP,
ter just in time TO avoid arrest. Tne third
volume, Not Counting the Cost. IS by
Tasma and is o readable combination OF
the factors of love. CRIME and expiatlon
..The Miller Of Glanmire" published
BY George w Barker, Ill f. Madison
St. Chicago) Is a brisk Irish story by
Con. T. Murphy, the playwright with
plenty of wit. humor and pathos inter-
spersed through it's 200 pages.
n n \
The bicycle craze is responsible for
satiyical book entitled Betsy Jane on
Wheels" which comes from the pen OF
II. f. Brown and from the press of the
w r. Conkey company. Chicago. 1t
IS an attempt TO be funny which only
partially succeeds; but it will please
those who are not overly fastidious in
bpi Jsy m a for Va Ilir.laSrua