New-York tribune., 1896-06-06
sOND NEW NOVELS.


,,,,,c ,vD FEW DUKES. BY Robert W.
Hbonharc Hb:,m 1orno pp 3G3 G.. p Putnams Sons
rt,r >-ry WRITE By Mrs Oscar Befnhser'
i6mo. 3D. Sl2 Edwin Arnold. 49,,
QUAINT cH1PPET Fly Alwyn y6 NJ Tn"'0''' ''''''
THE WHITE ROCKS BY Eduari Rod l2mo' pp'
ssn r Y Grove, e co.
GENTLEMAN's GhNTHaMAN =; a355T BTyo,hers By Mas e
,,1RATB GOLD. BY r. J. Stmson. l6mo' PIP. -o
Houghton. M!flin & Co
"a King and Few Dukes" by Mr Robert W.
Chambers is as frankly romantic as the "u'"o'
nr.vious novel THE Red Republic, was rea''''''
W. question il the public will approve the change
a,thougb i, must be admitted that the ease Win
which Mr. Chambers has managed TO pass from one
kind ~ fiction TO another proves him 10 be "I'le'
O. envable versatility. King Tneoooin Vi noA"o'A'
having been oustei from his ancestra! realm py d"
intrigue of the Powers. is vending his way 10 AUS
tr.a. accompanied by the Duke OF Tax' ana ,"s
Duke Of Rabu when he arrives at shooting io'se
in the Caspian Mountains, owned or leaee' py
siephen Steen, New-York gentleman o. le's"'e'
Here the royal party arrange TO spehi 'ns r~'s"'' ~
ard end by staying many days. while the King
xho .Js tired OF beng showed and pushed ana
cufted and duped by every one OF the fo"erS IN
turn " makes the acquaintance OF Mr Sieens crust
ss RureunGy and hiccoughs amicaOly with 'Ne
t;psv Duke Of rabu Meanwhile the unexpected Al
rival OF the Duchess Won Schwissle and hor suite
leads 10 romance which is none the lcss entertain
Ing OF its extreme lnlpTObapi4'H' ''''4' -
q humorous account OF the Kings efforts 70 regain
his ancient capital; some Qulxo;c fighting notably
an heroic charge ON sham breastworKs-ahd ''"a'-
IS a happy marriage between queen ana 'he
vounC American. The story. without being an mi
ta;jon reminds one consanty-cspecially IN the Key
O. style-of THE Prisoner OF Ienda lhe epsol'"
are humorousy conceived; the in'ermAture OF cA-
,ravagance and realism is nicely sustained and the
pictures OF woods and stream arc dono with an
artists eye for color effect
There IS not much to choose between Mr. Grant
Aliens our British Barbar!sns." which Was r.
viewed IN these columns ii few months ago ann
Mrs oscar Berringer's The New virtue II a
choice must be made. then the preference must be
accorded the lady-not because .ho has succeeded In
doing q better thing In the same nasty kind but be-
cause she Is less frank than her notorious mesier
and does not know how TO write as "eI-"hlch -
also a mercy. In view OF this last quality, We are
stu IN doubt to the precise nature oi MIS- i'T-
ringers new virtue" although. We strongly sns-
pec' that 1t consists In keeping those about us IN
cheerful ignorance OF the disagreeable facts ~ lfe
30 far as tha, ie IN power. Tho coordinate
proposition Of tho new morality Is probably eH-
pressed by Cunningham. when he reminds his
friend Berthun that there is "ony one purity. that
! OF intention. the rest Is accident.
QUAINT Chippon" by Alwyn VI. Thurber. Is 'he
story OF a commercial traveller who went up and
down the world doing good carrying lonely womens
cal assistance in private hospl;ale talking Tostoi-
ism TO German editors OF anarchsiic papers. and
worrying his wits 10 know II his consumpve friend
Foxy will get into heaven. Quaint Is compact OF all
the active virtues, and. from the authors stand
point at last IS a thoroughly exemplary person.
As for tho reader. think We are quite safe in
saying that Quaint would be more lkablo were he n
little less sentimental and did not shed 50 many
tears Drummers are prepared TO admit. in
most cases men OF heart; they enough OF the
world to mako them tolerant; but question II
they quite 80 simple as Quaint.
The White Rocks" is not an agreeable story. al
though II was undoubtedly written with lsudablc
Intentions for know sufficient OF Eduard Rod
to know that ne has not. during the years OF his
Industrious literary activity deliberately followed in
7 tho steps Of his associates. and enrolled himself
among the devotccs Of the Goddess OF Lubricity.
However. MIR. Rod, with all his good Intentions of
purifying the moral atmosphere. is not above stoop-
ing to the modish tone. and while struggling TO be
otherwise. falls TO upholdng the Decalogue. in DIS
tasteful language BY this We do not wish TO in
sinuate that THE White Rocks" is a work OF un-
! relieved sensuaty; II Is story rich in pleasing
episodes. in sketches Of natural scenery which re-
veal the unInis akable touch OF the artist and poet
the only difficulty that the OF the tale IL
unpleasantif not in Itself then certainly from the
American point OF view. The problem which this
author attempts 10 define and solve Is scarcely in
touch with the social conditions with which we are
surrounded. 1t has strange. exotic sound Ike the
accents OF a foreign tongue The defect is rem
dered more conspicuous by the translator's imper-
feet knowledge OF French. and a bungng use OF
the English diom.
The same fertility Of invention and fIrmness o
touch which Mr. Max Pemberton revealed in hi.
earlier stories and sketches are conspicuouslv pres
ent in his latest effort. "A Gentleman's Gentleman
which will please readers who are not above lkinc
good story for It's sake. and who arc still old
fashioned enough be thrilled by eraphlc dcscrip
ton OF scenes from whose probability reason anc
common-sense rebel The hero OF "a Gentlemani
Gentleman is Sir Nicolas Steele. Bart.-a highl,
accomplished villain and rogue. the list OF who's.
misdeeds either actually committed or impute,
would far exceed in the telling the pages Mr. Penn
berton has it TO devote 10 their history How.
ever, enough Is set down-ostensbly by Sir Nicolas
valet. who is after manner dear to writer's OF fc
tion. the unimpassoned. cynically naive scrbe-t,
give the reader fair notion OF the baronct's ai
venturous life. and 10 enable him to Judge II th
valet right In supposing that the chronicle o.
his masters exploits destined 10 serve hin
against "the calumnies which have been put upor
! him by lying tongues" To divuge the nature n
these calumples would be 10 prejudice the success
OF Mr.. Pemberton's story. We may hint. however
without indiscretion. that II the reader does no
shudder at the vanishing stairway and shrink will
horror from the cold blooeed brutality of In. Rus
sian duel his for the pure fiction OF adventur
has been irrctrievably vitisted by modern senti
| mentaism and realism.
| In the beginning of the century O package o
specie, consisting Of American eagles and Spanish