Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-12


figure. Rush Hurlstone, a young Journal
let, Is kept we'll to the front throughou
the book. and the other characters ar,
grouped about him In q manner which
proves that the author possesses In q
marked degree the sense OF proportion
The readers interest is not side-tracket
by Irrelevant accessories, but the mair
line OF the story is clear from beginning
TO end. The men and women, Miss Glider
depicts. are wholesome creatures fall OF
life and good spirits. and the book Is en-
tirely free from morbid impulses. On the
other hand. her weakness is q careless
slip-shod style, and general disregard
or form. Endowed with power OF imagi-
nation ana observation which might place
her level with the best. she is content Ia
write like schoolgirl, TO blunder In
syntax. to rattle Of colloquialisms, where
dignity OF prose is imperatively called
for, TO show profound ignorance OF the
value OF words, and the effect OF order IN
n sentence. to huddle short paragraphs
together in a higgledy piggiedy Of dis
tointed confusion; In short. TO offend a
sensitive ear by all the errors for which
the composition master of any academy
for young ladies' would give bad marks.
| Judged by the common standard. the
character of John Hurlstone, the weak
| minded man who allows himself to be
used as the tool OF a swindIer. and who
ruins his existence. Is an unpleasant piece
| OF work. and that Of Bessie Archer, a
young lady in the leading social set Of
| New York, who affects socialism, and the
| occult sciences. not less so.
THE ToRMENToR. BY Benjamin Swift
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons. 1897.
limo. pages 81. For sale by George NJ.
West. Price, s15o.
This novel is from the first a novel OF
the inner life. 1t subordinates descrip-
lions TO persons; IL describes nature and
society, only TO become better acquainted
with the soul. But It is the inner life,
and not the higher life that Is its sub
ject. 1t has no hero. The tragedies, Of
the passions, the height and loneliness Of
thought are its theme. AS there are Two
kinds of truth for men-that of expe-
rlence and that Of intultion-is 1t not
necessary that there be two distinct
classes of novels-the novel of analytical
experience and the novel Of synthetic
examination? II is good thing to set
man down and show him his weaknesses-
1t is bettsr to raise him and quicken his
powers.
This book suggests the question whether
already lacking in originality, in pro-
found vitality. and beginning to fall in
the estimate Of artists and historians of
literature. A mass OF impersonal do
ings, and of pretended science, cata-
logue, an analysis, and classification of
man and nature. 1t Is barking back
to the condition Of the art towards 1870,
when the novel was in the hands Of tho
materialists and psychologists. The use
OF the word psychological did not by
any means denote a recognition or the
soul, as we might suppose. 1t meant
only an endeavor to apply the process OF
the laboratory to the study Of tho soul
a mode Of experimental psychology.
THE LIVING CHRIST: AN EXPOSE
TION OF THE IMMORTALITY OF
MAN IN SOUL AND BODY. BY Paul
Tyner. Denver, Col: The Temple Pub
fishing Company. 1881. Cloth and Gilt.
Pages, 33i.
The claims and pretensions of this very
neat work from the far West are tran
scendent and transcendental. Its author
declares that he has made the grand dis |
covery Of the age, and that in the next |
fifty to one hundred years the world will |
derive from 1t inestimable and i'm |
measurable benefits.
He asserts that Jesus Christ IL still |
living In the flesh upon earth and that |
he has seen him presiding, rather than |
over millions OF happy and |
adoring followers, in a city as large as
London Paris, Berlin, Brussels, Florence,
Rome, Boston, New York, and Chicago,
all put together, and even spread out.
He says that at the approaching adj
vent Of Christ, he will come to America,
where will be the central seat OF His
rule, ard that His headquarters will be
the city Of Denver, which will be the
worlds capital in a larger sense than
was or Is true of Athens, or Rome, or
Paris, or London.
Mr.. Tyner is so confident OF his new
views that he is founding churches upon
them. one is called "the Civic Church
Of Denver" 1t Is a good thing for his
domestic peace that his wife goes with
him. He dedicates his book to her, and
hey have spiritual frances and vista
ions together.
IARPER'S MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
December No. Harper Brothers New
York.
The Christmas number Of this popu-
lr periodical appears in holiday garb
nd with Illustrations, stories, and mis- ,
ellaneous matter Of the most attractive
AZURE. Richard Harding Davis tells ,
( the Queens jubilee in his most in {
eresting style, and Ernest Ingersoll l
ontributes a valuable article called "a {
'ird's Egg" which is greatly embellish-
d by colored pictures.
w. L. Sheppard, the well-known Rich
lond artist and illustrator, appears in
ne magazine as tho author of a unique
tile story entitled my Fifth in Nam
~" The leading figure in the foreground
{ this charming sketch is a respectable
Id colored dame, who proved true and
iithful friend TO young southern
rtist in time Of need. In this story,
hitch apparently has a substratum or
ruth, the writer has accurately de- 9
heated a pompous but good-hearted
arky who figured in first-class Virginia G
efore, "endurin' Of" and after the war.
10 has not overdone the negro, nor has J
q made her a saint, as so many OF the L
alect writer's do when they seek the c
audits of northern readers. The scenes 4
re- chiefly laid in Richmond, and the Viz n
nian is pleased TO sight many land q
arks Of the old Commonwealth In the r
xt. Z
Mr.. Sheppard proves by MY Fifth In
ammy" that his pen, as well as his
-ush, is an accurate painter OF the
gro type.
AVA. THE GARDEN OF THE EAST.
BY Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, Author OF
"Jinriksha Days in Japan" With 80 a
and Index. Svo. $50 Pages. d
New York: The Century Company. II
Price, $150. I,
The name OF Java IL at least as familiar %
rsughout the world as the use Of coffee, 3
q TgnOliah literaf1ra IA sipprIilariv lack | :.