The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-01
FICTION.

THE LITTLE ROOM and Other Stories.
BY Madeleine Yale Wynne. Cloth. II mo.
$l25 Chicago-Way a. Williams.
The story which gives its title to this
pretty book of q half-dozen tales ap-
peared in the first place in Harper's
Magazine for last August. where by its
delicate queerness as we'll asyby reason
of Its fine command over the New Eng
land character. It attracted general at
tention. Now that II Is singled out
from Irrelevant surroundings and pre-
scented In becoming dress. its charm
augments. The theme of Mrs. Wynne's
story is gossamer-like in texture.
bride tells her husband on their wedding
trip of an odd circumstance concerning
the Vermont home of her two maiden
aunts, whom they are going to visit. In
this home Is little room. which part
of the time presents the aspect Of mere
~ q china closet. and the remainder or
the time. by what means the reader is
left to guess. reveals itself to the per-
picked observer as room with blue
India -chintz covered couch in II. hang
ing book shelves and beautiful pink
seashell which. when nut to the ear.
gives one in miniature the roar OF the
ocean. The most peculiar fact about
this peculiar apartment is that. though
several of these changes are witnessed
by the personages Of the story, to their
own great surprise and perpleXity,
neither of the maiden aunts Will ac-
knowledge that the room. at any time,
has ever been different in its appear
ance from its appearance at any other
time. 1t is not until one reads the Sc
quel, which forms the first OF the
"other stories in this book, that the
mystery is dispelled. by what solution
we shall not tell Around this quaint
nucleus Mrs. Wynne has built most
delicate and charming picture OF New
Engla..l folk and manners. all done so
)simply, easily and naturally as fairly
to hide the splendid art of 1t. She Is
eyidcntly a writer of whom much Is to
be expected.
THE PAYING GUEST. by George Gis-
sing Cloth. IS mo. New York;, rpodc'
Mead & Co.
1t will probably occur to the reader
Of this book to inquire. as he lays 1t
down, wherein he has been compen-
sated for the time passed in It's per-
yusal; and If such inquiry be made, 1t
Will uOuDtlcSS itCtlNt Ho sdtisia'''is
response. This does not say that Mr.
tiissing has wristen badly for he has
not. The six or seven persons who
form the characters of his story are
persons accurately delineated---too ac-
\curately, If anything. Had the author
substituted a kodak for his pen, he
could not have been more realistic.
His creations are irreproachable as
faithful reproductions of the dull ac-
tuality of commonplace existence An
economical husband ready to let his
home out for hire In order to facilitate
3the accumulation of an account at the
bank; an acCuiescent wife who soon
Exhibits symptoms of ridiculously un-
Founded jealousy and betrays the femi-
hine characteristic of a narrow spirit
n paying guest" or young girl boarder,
as Americans would say. who Is selfish,
self -willed. vain and wholly unlikable
for any except physical qualities:
sOrdid mother, pig-headed step
father. and a lover who Is so irratiOn-
ally obstreperous that in one of his
surges Of animal passion he upsets the
lamp and all but burns the house
down,-these are the human figures In
Mr.. Gissing's little comedy, and while
\they are realistic figures. neither over
nor underdrawn, we question, when we
come to take our leave of them,
whether it was really worth our while
10 make their disagreeable acquaint-
|ance. mWli