New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-21
SOME NEW NOVELS.
A TRAGEDY OF ENGLISH LIFE.

THE STORY OF BESSIE COsTREi.l" ny Mrs,
Humphry Ward. octave. PIP no Macn'"h
EYES RANSOM ny George Gisslng Octave. pp.
80 u Appleton a Co ,
THE JUDGMENT. BOOKS by T.. +. BENSON; II
iusirated octave. pp. i7s. Harper q Brothers.
EXAMINATIONS ny Henry James. octave PIP
242 Harper a Brothers
Mrs Ward does not please in the largest sense
OF that term: she does not add TO the sum OF
novel reading happiness. but somehow II Is lhpoS-
sble TO blame her. He who comes 10 her pages
looking for beauty and finding only truth is won
nv her writer's gift abjure for the moment his
belief that truth and beauty In WORK OF ART
should be interchangeable. Mrs. ward does no,
feel that way. apparently. Possibly IL ~ pec'"s'
she Is so appalllngiy deficient In humor There Is
ro, q grain Of that sal, OF human lie to slacken
the tension OF her narrative But she might answer
that criticism with the statement that she dldnt
wish the tension 10 let go; she wished wholly she
might add to present an Image or weak character
snrrendering to what might be called the cuinuia-
tive force OF an inert temptations temptation
that is which lies mute In Bessie Costrells cup
hoard but daily grows more imperative In the
possibilities which II holds out 10 her shallow soul
In presenting that image with It's sordid Amos
phere and trappings. In whelming 1t finally IN
gloom Of poignant horror. the author accomphshes
ALL possibly that lies within her intention' she
purges the emotions through the Indictment OF pity
and terror That is the business OF tragedy. b"t
s II all that the great tragic writer's Keep In Vie"
They give you peace In the reaction they nave
strange hints OF beauty which Is none the less
beautiful because II is OF n moral sort. ana you
rise from an experience OF their scenes narrowed
h,t strengthened, II the paradox may be per-
mitted Mrs. Ward seems to have forgotten her-
self In this latest product OF her brilliant pen
She is st brilliant: there Is concentration ABOUT
her picture OF English peasant life there ~
iucidity I'm her composition and n severe Impartial
ity in the handling OF its dramatic motive. which
.hou her mastery very nearly at Its nneSt but
an. narrowed her canvas Mt the start. she wanted
10 block out "A drama In five pregnant scenes ana
for this she sacrificed all the urbane tonches which
tho Partisan episodes at least In 'paVih 'rie'e
and some OF the lighter passages In Marcelia
.howed she was capable OF giving to her work
..r,o Story Of Bessie Costrell." then. Is gloomy.
,,.c,be and calculated to wrench the heart We
100. aeon that IL does not attend at the same time
~ tho more cheerful functions OF the novelist Does
I, IN the other hand really interest the reader'
7, does and 1t holds the interest AT hgh pitch
from beginning to end. Therein lies. In all proba-
bilty the vogue which II Is likely 10 ENJOY ~ IL
interesting partly is eagcr to see just
what the result will be when penurious old farm
,aborer hands over the hoard OF lifetime to the
safckeepng Of a highty niece with no sp'rtuui
.,am.na and to a husband with plenty of that In
the misty minded peasants reading OF the phrase
but with faculty at all for being stay anu
resource to his erring life. The book Is absorbing.
Also because It illustrates so we'll the authors skill
In detaching a few figures. a few scenes from the
auietude OF rural England and making them TYPICAL
the actors and the setting for episode In moral or
immoral evolution which Is impressive because u IS
OF universal import She does this with no creaking OF
the wheels. with no implication OF sophisticated
habit John Bolderfeld II something more than the
god from the machine. stepping IN with his tempting
box OF gold just at time when something Is need
ed to excite the reckless impulses latent IN Bessie
lie IL really an essential part OF the little village
OF Clinton Magma: he stands for the Grass material
ism Of English peasant life a. Bessies husband
stands for the side on which the Church has laid
its benencent yet still unlovely hand. as Bessie
herself stands for the spiritually starved woman