The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-29
BOOK REv|EW VS.

| on account OF the very superior excel
lence of his work and on account
OF the great popularity his books
now enjoy. His work is, then, not
only to be considered as literary
performance challenging careful and ex-
| pert examination, but as indicative OF the
public taste and the capacity of the read
ing people TO grasp and appreciate work
of the highest quality. BY this 1t is not
meant 10 at once concede that this Laud-
erdale- Ralston novel Is work of sur
| passing merit, but that the works by
which Mr.. Crawford has won his place
are assuredly Of SURPRISING merit, and
that they are responsible for his presen I
| great popularity. 1t is claimed that
Mr.. Crawford enjoys the unique dis
| tinction OF being one OF two Americans
whose 1891 books reached sale OF 10000
| or more copies, which is q distinction TO
warrant pride and assumption of actual
merit. Yet such verdict would scarcely
| influence competent critics to award a
like one; 1t might even excite prejudice
against the lucky book, as it has been
since time immemorial q canon of critics
that what the public so lavishly approves
must of necessity be cheap and common.
| think observation of Mr.. Crawford
and his progression to the popularity he
now enjoys far moro interesting than a
consideration of his latest book. found
the book only moderately interesting, as
/ found "Katherine Lauderdsle" quite
below the standard established by previ-
Gus books. But Mr.. Crawford has been
too much written about of late TO leave
him topic OF very great in
terest. He is reaping liberal
and deserved reward for series of novels
that were recognized as remarkable when
they appeared and which certainly entitle
the author TO very liberal compensation
and very generous consideration. Y ears
ago when the famous "Sarasinesca" series
| was coming out it appeared that novel;
| ist had arisen who was content TO sit Sc
cureiy upon the dais of his performance
and let the world wag its way. He
| seems to have. TO some extent, lost
| that independence. He has latterly
been made much of by society, and while
that circumstance may not permanently
color his work, it really seems that this
| novel of New York, and the slight Bar
Harbor sketch sandwiched between, has
been affected. 1t may also be that his
point of Wow has swerved somewhat.
do not think it unwarranted to quote a
paragraph from a private letter of Mr..
Crawfords aren't his own view OF his
| work:
II is very far from easy for an author to
| Judge of his own work, but have always
believed that the public is n good judge of
what 1t wants, and the public has apparently
/ preferred katherine Lauderdale- TO any
| book have over written. The conclusion Is
thrust upon me that the story must be inter-
| esting, as story, and not as mere study of
| character.
Katherine was certainly interesting.
II was story OF the events OF five days told
in two volumes, and IL advanced only as
far as the first chapter OF a novel should
go-to point whore the plot is suggested,
and interest begins to be aroused. 1t
aroused certain expectations that have
not been satisfied by the latest two
| volume instelment-" rho Ralstons."
But "The Ralstons" is better
in every way than Katherine" Its two
| volumes carries the tale along another
and longer stage-apout to the middle,
should say, of an ordinary 400 or 500 page
novel, with an expenditure of 1874 pages
already. The Ralstons " abounds in
dramatic scenes. 1t is highly wrought in
all respects. The plot includes several in
tense quarrels, vivid suggestion of
weird hypnotic influence, a miserly pas
sion equal to almost any unnatural deed,
a girl who inspires most of the
| young men of her circle with the grand
| passion. Yet there is lot of padding"
all of which is good reading, and would
have been as good and inappropriate pub
lished In any other connection. "Kather-
Inc Lauderdale" got the heroine secretly
married, and The Ralstons" gets the
marriage revealed, the rich old uncle dead
| and his will contested and broken RATHER
inc is ready to begin life with the secound
cousin she whcedled into marrying her.
This is favorite point of departure for
Mr.. Crawford, and the book that he pro-
misses to complete the story will be likely
| to be better than either of these. He will
take Katherine through many vicissitudes
| OF her early connubial life and will bring
| her to ultimate happiness-psrhaps with
this husband and perhaps with another
better suited TO her mettle. His CHAR
| acter has been left in q mobile con-
| dition, conveniently adapted to either
destruction or hardening into worthinoss
and strength. What Katherine grievously
| needs is n lord and master, but the house,
| hold she has begun seems destined to be
| quite completely under her rule. Mr..
Crawford has left many things unfinished
to goad us into buying the book he
| promises.
While most things pertaining to the
| justification OF good novel may be said
ofthis instalment story, and said heartily
and without reservation, il remains to be
charged against Mr.. Crawford and his
publishers that they are to-
gother engaged in an enterprise
wholly incompatible with their high
standing in the world of letters. There
can scarcely be any plea in Justification OF
the dividing Of an ordinary novel into six
volumes and extending the period OF its
publication over Is months, more or less,
except the plea that by such means the
| reputation OF the author can be made to
yield greater revenue. The whole story
ought TO have been issued as a g
novel. II is spinning out TO six
volumes at 81 each-costjng the
reader, IL he fortunately lives where
books are sold at 40 off," $3.50. This is
three times what he ought TO pay, and
| the s3 extorted from peonle "a ho nd ~, iro