The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-10-19

n,9oo j., ,ha, The Author of "Hush wynns
somewhat indefnable collection which we
have in mind when we think of permanent
literature"
Quick upon the completion of Hugh
wynne" in the Century Magazine, IL appears
IN two neat volumes, most handy aud
fetching form for really good novel. Indeed,
ITS publication IN book form was originally
planned for year ago, but was delayed, as
we are told, because its value and import
ance made 1t desirable for the Century Maga'
zines pages The success OF the serial with
Century readers Is unquestionsd. I'm book
form IL Is treasure 10 tho library OF import
ant fiction.
The story Of Hugh Wynne' has all the
dramatic elements. There is the hero, the
heroine. tho faithful friend. the elegant viii
lain. The stage is set with picturesque seen
cry and the action proceeds backed and
hanked by heroic and stimulating accessories.
Indeed. n mighty strong romantic drama
could be drawn from this book without de-
parting frorl tho text 10 create effective
situations and strong climaxos. The love
story is sweet and wholesome. The machins-
tions Of the elegant villain seek the capture
Of an estate AS " ell as the heart OF woman
and nothing more could be asked for in
plot. Apart from all that, the author furn-
ishes pictures of scenes and life that are dis
tinct contributions TO our acquaintance with
history as we'll delightful to read. The
portrayal is vivid, wholly devoid OF weaken
ing elaboration. evidently faithful and always
as entertaining as instructive. Indeed, no
author of fiction has more successfully blend
ed his story with his scenery and ''atmos'
phero" without obtruding the results OF his
careful historical and geographical study
than has Dr. Mitchell in Hugh wynne.
One can but be thankful TO the art that
secures only greater interest for the ro-
nance by the settings given 10, the details of
the picture so elaborately yet SO unobtrusive-
ly drawn, with the story always N view IA
"the tbing"-as Hamlet insisted the play
should ever he. Contributory 90 this pur-
pose. are introduced many historic charac.
ters. Washington. Franklin Benedict Arnold,
Andree, Lafayette, Lee of Monmouth notor.
ETY. and a dozen others, introduced naturally
and effectively, and every one, with the
finest art. made to bear on the spirited story
that is telling.
The Century Company, publishers. Price 81
For n novelist tDeTe are TWO ways OF ptng
moral-either to avoid the mention of evil,
or to bring IT into play in order to show its
baleful consequences. The author of 'Ameri-
can Nobility has chosen the latter"
Such Is. the preliminary statement of Pierre
dc Coulevain in his book entitled 'Ameri-
can Nobility" (Charles Scrihner's = Sons. For
sale 10y Preston a Rounds Price si,50l de-
cidodly attractive book that treats of the
problem of the international marriage in
far from pessmistic spirit.
Annie Villars IL an American heiress. She
is as real a type OF American womanhood as
any reader could ask for--sweet, refined, ed
ucated and without either the frills or the dis
abilities that the American woman in fiction
Is so often encumbored with The Marquis
d'Anguillon is also, very likely, a type Of the
foreigner OF title, but without funds though
not the type that the average democrat con.
ceives, in that he Is not Mt heart an adven-
turer Hs is young and attractive, and he
accepts the destiny Of marrying American
gold rather against his scruples though it is
made clear that rs the heiress loves him with
out his money he loves her INDEPENDENTLY of
her fortune, the matter Of the millions only
serving to bring the two young people to-
ecther. To be sure, something of the readers
faith in the sincerity of the marquis is
shaken upon the discovery that he is in love
with another woman, one OF his country wo-
men. but as this discovery comes TO him as it
does 10 the reader, only after he IL married
that seems to be fairly satisfactory explana'
tion. And, as matter of fact, the other
woman is rich. too, and might well have sat
isfed his ambition in this direction had he
known his heart before II was devoted To the
American heiress. A. for the latter, she, too,
had probably loved young and rich Ameri-
c,,n and 1t does not appear that she sought
title for It's own sake any more than shat the
marquis was after riches alone.
Perhaps, with all this in view, the author
may seem 10 miss the question he originally
appears to have started out to discuss. For
the book resolves itself into simply romance
with another woman IN the case quite apart
n ON the international marriage complica-
t!on. At any rate, it Is good story, even
though II does seem 10 be uncertain ss to
it, moral" and 10 is told in singularly
frank and unconventional manner with an
attractive, unencumbered style. that com
monds IL as something new in story telling.
None Of the "Stories of the West" vet issued
lH Ni' hAAiHAlN' ilbtti1 'uiN'h Wy hTs hpl"f
Hitchcock and in course OF publication by
the Appletons, will prove more attractive To-
the general reader than the recently pub.
lishod third volume, The Story of the Cow
boy" 10y +. Hough The cowboy is passing
10 he II not already past. lie has been as
marked n figure In our Kaleidoscope history
was tho ptoneor, the trapper, or the Indi-
an hir self. His mission was foil of romance
and pictufesqucness. He was thoroughly an
American product and represented i'm his per.
son and his exploits the vital elements that
have contributed IN one phase or another 90
tho building of the nation. And all the fic-
ton Of the story hook and the stage pales bc.
side the splendid showing made hy the actual
life that he lived.
That actunl life the "Story ~ the Cowboy"
tolls Ills il fascinating tale, and this spirit.
od look tells ~ feichinply. His biographor