New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-11
SOME RECENT NOVELS.

THE YELLED DOCTOR. By varina Anne Jeffer-
son DAVIS ismo PIP 22o Harper & Brothers
HAaL By Tgsassf Hs son Bal
Moore. limo. PIP 277 J. b. Lppincott Company
WANNA. BY Mark Mcclellan 1smo. PIP. 1871. I'm
ported by G. p Putnams Sons.
The history OF an ill-sorted marriage has fur
nished Miss Varina Anne Jefferson Davis with the
material for a most unsatisfactory novel The
sentiment is false. the style hysterical. and the
incidents are far-fetched. Gordon WEXFORD Is a
physician proud serious philanthropic; Isabel his
wife. is worldly, superficial frivolous She IS dis
appointed in Gordon after short trial OF mar
rage In the old family mansion In the South She
cannot endure Gordons quiet life. and persistently
declines to visit his mothers grave. She shows
her Interpretation OF him in many other ways. and
on one occasion actually caused a fiower-bed to
which Gordon was sentimentally attached to be
dug up as she said, because II ugly, but IN
reality out OF spite against her husband. Later
she becomes involved in Irritation with cap
TAIN sings sentimental duets with him, and refuses
TO kiss him good-by. not because she has any
objection TO it, but because she doubts If she can
explain the matter TO her husband. This Is really
the only creditable thing she does during Gordon's
life As for the husband. after the flower bed
episode he loses all faith N his wife. goes about
doing good, with veil over his face TO conceal
large sore. The dramatic significance Of the sore
with Gordons discovery Of his wfe's love for the
CAPTAIN. Their ways lie apart from that moment
Gordon dies alone and is buried in his veil. Re-
pentence overtakes Isabel toward the end and she
endeavors TO undo the evil she has done by deeds
Of charity.
Pinl-cheeked heroes. and heroines with rud
mentary mustaches, arc among the wonderful per-
sonages In Nh Balfour's trashy story. CHERRY
field Hall" Disagreeabe prominence Is given to
them and they make frantic efforts to converse
after the manner of Henry James. minor OBJ
lection might be made against the names of the
characters. Miss Jorkaway Is cacophonous even
for governess who is also an adventures and
Poppy as a nickname leaves much TO be desired.
In THE Secret Of the Court Mr.. Frankfort
Moore has told the story OF eccentric Egypt
ologst named Seton. who has had trouble with his
wife, and OF young gentleman. commonly spoken
OF as Arthur. whose temper is soured by mis-
understanding with the girl to whom he is engaged
The reader Is presumably expected to be thrilled by
the description of the mysterious court OF life with
It's curious assembly Of Priests Of Hevoth. but the
authors manifest expectation is not fulfilled. The
story. due allowance being made for the class to
which 1t belongs, is crude. confused and ineffective
Wanna" by Mark Mcclellan, is a Scotch story
OF the eighteenth century, told In series OF chap
ters each bearing special date. There Is also
a map OF Inchglas Parish In spite OF these external
aids the author has been unable 10 give his story
definite character. II has neither beginning. mid
die. nor end The incidents arc unrelated. the
sequence Of scenes illogical. The following descrp
ton Of the location Of bees nest Is Indicative Of
Mr. McClellan's vocabulary: 1T 1.-THE nestl was In
the side OF a knowe which rises clear OF the whn-
bushes close TO the edge Of the heugh. Just above
the scaur"