New-York tribune., 1895-10-31
WILLIAM MORRIgs NEW BOOK.

THE WOOD BEYOND THE WORLD. BY William
Morris. PIP. VIII. 273. Published by the Roberts
House. No. Somerset-st., Boston.
Mr. Morris has in his new book devoted his
mastery Of the antique to working out th' -
which barely escapes being trivial. In the most
prosaic form the story is briefly that OF youth
who goes away from home and is rewarded with
wife and kingdom without any serious effort en-
his part. His only merit appears to be physical
perfection. The tale belongs to a time when meI
armor and fought and hunted with bows and
arrows. and there is certain skill IN leaving loose
ends OF legend that make the book read like the
record old-time tradition. Briefly, Walter.
son OF Bartholomew Golding. had to wife woman
Of the Readings who loved him not To be rid OF
her. Walter sailed away In a trading ship of his
fathers. and the woman packed off TO her
relatives with q lack of ceremony that provoked
first quarrel and then battle In which Barthol-
omew Goldng was killed Water heard all this In
that far country 10 which he went. and would have
returned to take vengeance but the wind blew him
OF his that he never saw his native
city again. ard the Reddings not punished.
There is one OF the loose ends Of the legend. Mean
while Walter has three times had the same vision.
that of dwarf. dark and hideous. maiden In a
green gown with the iron ring of a thrall on her
right ankle, and a lady richly clad and beautfu.
One could guess the rest Of the story were It no:
that the conclusion is quite foreign to the be
ginning. Walters vessel is carried by the wind Il
ar unknown land where he finds old man talka
tive enough most TOPICS but glo0m.ly silent as
10 a certain pass through the mountains which can
be in the distance. Walter deserts his ship
mates. and neither OF them OF the old man does
the story take any further heed There is an
other Of the loose ends OF legend But as 10
Walter. the story tells how he went through the
pass how he met with the hideous dwarf, who
seemed to expect him and gave him food. then with
the girl OF the green gown and the iron anket and
finally with the lady OF his vision who lived in
golden house and queen Of the Wood beyond
the World. This Wood Is apparently that of which
Morse rovers knew. At least 1t is realm OF
magic and illusion In which 1t is surprising 10
find that everybody is human after all
II is needless to tell how everybody except Walter
and the slave girl killed. The tragedy
unavoidable Mr.. Morris had also anticipated
visit to certain savages, for he had put descrp-
ton OF them into the mouth Of the Old man at the
seaside. But after the slave girl has convinced the
wild men that she is their goddess come 10 bring
them rain, and has released herself and her loveT
from their hands, there is final adventure. In.
exact counterpart OF those in Eastern tales where
the people of a city go forth and choose as their
king the first conner. Only the people Of this un
known land wise enough to see to 1t that their
king Is strong and healthy. and either cunning In
statecraft or masterfu In The slave girl Is
also put TO the test TO II she be fit wife for
the new king though this is the new kings own
device. And thereafter the kingdom becomes heredi-
tary, for Waiter and his queen are the ancestors
Of vigorous race.
1t is easy to view the tale allegory. and
then the care with which It's slender threads have
been woven into a tapestry OF antique verhiage Is
explainable From the allegorical point Of view,
one might enlarge upon the meaning of the mar
ratve Its trvialty lends Itself TO such treatment
The final lesson. that hereditary monarchy Is
good thing. when 1t starts In a sort OF social COM
pact Is amusing than impressive.
sHAKEsPEARE'S HEROINES ON THE STAGE.
BY Charles +. l.. Wingate. Pp., ix S55 Thomas
Y. Crowel Co.
Mr. Wingate has arranged his work in such a
way to suggest It's especial usefulness as book
Of reference though 1t Is the less interesting
book to read straight through from cover 10 cover.
He groups his dramatis personae under the parts
that they have played IN thirteen chapters dealing
with fourteen characters Hermione and Perdta
being treated together Thus. of course. only a
little than a third of the plays represented
but for the either the plays themselves are so
seldom acted. or the women In them are so COM