The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-29
RECENT FICTION.


limo, $l.25. Chicago: Laird 4 Lee.
In many respects this is the most sue
cessful Of Mr.. Reads many efforts to
delineate the personal characteristics
and social customs of the poorer por-
tions of the Old South. 1t is the story
Of a school teachers attempt to spread
the gospel of intelligence among the
denizens Of interior North Carolina,
where it was the amiable custom to
welcome each new pedagogue by put
ting him bodily into the creek. The
hero Of the present narrative escapes
the creek ordeal thanks to vigorous
constitution; but among other Vicissi-
tudes falls head over heels In love with
the daughter of his landlord. who is
engaged to another. offends the tough
element in his school, which signifies Its
dissent by barricading him in his
school room and setting fire To the
building. causing him a narrow escape
from cremation, and finally, by lucky
find of mica. becomes, in the last chap-
ter fabulously rich, as well as essen-
TALLY happy through causes among
which the mica deal Is merely an Incl
dent.
There Is sonSethng of clap trap in the
mechanical adjustment of this movers
wel-w plot. 1t is not in that par
ticular. a work of art but or artince,
and not very clever artifice at that.
But III tnc "i' ~
uncommonly true and strong. the
character of old Linn Jucklln, the man
who has fit more'n fifty times an
never taken "a lickin'," Is drawn with
mastery skill. and that of General
Lundsford, the courtly, cavaher ola
ruined aristocrat, is depicted with al
most equal force. Lin Juckiin OUT
among his game cocks. drowning his
troubles in the excitement of chicken
fighting yet ''believin' the good book
from kiver to kiver. understand, is a
figure to live; and his patient. motherly
wife, whose Christian faith, unobtru-
sive on ordinary occasions, becomes
firm and saving in time of trouble. ior-
tifying the whole household. is another
sketch that will not soon pass from
mind.
A SELF-DENYING ORDINANCE. by
NJ Hamilton. Paper, 80 cents. New
York: d. Appleton 4 CO.
The heroine. of this peculiar story Is
an honest country girl. VINO becomes
engaged to marry concerted young
nobleman who had been compelled 10
resign from the Guards because ne
cheated at cards. Before the wedding
his lordship elopes with a married wo-
man of his own set. They live together:
get beautifully In debt. have a chiid
and finally separate in mutual uiSSuS
Then the honest country girl. VINO Ill
the meantime has suffered IN silence
is brought to the center OF the stage'
where she meets the scapegrace noble
man, and still loving him. marries nm
consenting also to adopt his iiieSiti-
mate child From this brief diagram
one can get as much out of the story US
there Is in It, 1t is a good type or the
modern novels which ought neither TO
be written or read.
RES by Eleanor Stuart.
New York: ID. Appleton Co.
This book is advertised as a domestic
idyl of a Pennsylvania mining town.
IT Is more nearly Il tragedy, for II by the
narrowest of chances that the villain OF
the book, during Il strike OF ms own
connection, does not succeed in his feil
design of blowing up the powder mouse
and sending several scores oi coh1pah!
officials, loyal workmen and detectives
to their death. Even before this grim
escape-to which we are Indebted TO
the faithful barberess of the tale. ffn-
ma Butte--there IL a dash OF Tragedy In
the story, when strong -limDeu August
Jarlsen, on his wedding night, Is struck
by u blast. scorched, paraiy2eu ana
deafened, and brought in on a shutter
to where the prospective bride. the min
lister and the assembled guests are anx-
iously awaiting his coming,
ts fr,ta tn In.
@ 49,. or pannsyIyoni. Tbare
San,S ~. ", ", Coz, s,nh n cnndition of
as , NV" .no,at,, as 20 Jen,cted in it vet
human aoai. &C. It, oo .aS focus The facts
IL, ~ ,ua ;,,a',s,,,ar nommnnitv since
". e's Ii. ,,,;th Tho h,,m drnm ira
my az ,,ns. d,n,duorw incassant
Eeuy ". ,,,,r,o,;t.I toi, that enter
sacri',ec aiI, u ~ III ,rraot in1,,stries
lnto .ne piVpil ,,nraa,sr ~, on or s;ta Miss
WhateNer tne ~. "a .,,,;ri, if not tbo
S,uar. naa as .,,ns,, ond shnus evidences
Ie.,er u, nei IL. ,e,,,n,. ,,,hiot, ,.;th f,r-
oi ueIl,eaI.e p9"e, iam nhsar,,a tinn
ther traihlnt anu ei'n star";ana tho
may ye, puS n,' - .ha Nil and foo.
sreu. uany W "''" VI '''@ '''
tory anu s"op n II
u II IL
THE WEREWOLF. BY Clarence Hous-
man. London: John Lane. the Bodley
Head. Chicago: Way d Williams.
Acoord,nv to III. Scandinavian fo,l,-
lore the ferocin,s snirit of tba wolf
baautifr, woman who. thoupb h,,mon
bv dav beca me at midnight wolf. like
in form, and sembiance The theme of
the nrssent 5a intiIv nrinted hook is WOW
on around this Morse s,,nerstition Tbs
..n,srewolf, annears in tho forn, of n
beaut,ful woman AZ the house of
Swsvn and Christion twin hrntbarS
Thrist;an on his way homeward ono
night fnds In Tho snow The track of a
vreat wolf rbe trail ended at the door
nf h;s honsa and thare Was M siyn Of
Saturn pescre The fire cat n stranoa