The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-03-28
A pfwCHBEcE GODDESS. ~ Mrs. J.
NJ Fleming GAilce II. KlpslBgD. Ne@

A PrNCHBEcE GODDESS. BY Mrs. J.
N Fleming fsgsce 81 ks2h1g1. New
York. y. Appleton & CO.
One takes up this book written b.
sister Of RudysFd EipIiBz and dedicated
10 him. with the idea - comparing II with
4ae work Of the more famous brother.
bur a few pages serve 70 convince ns
that the author mar 4 charm Of style AMI
q captivating manner ali her own And
although ner clever novel deals with the
zane AngI0-Tn6laa hslI station life with
which se have become 80 familiar from
hinder the Deodars" IN plain Tales
From the Hills" and The Phantom Rick
shaw" her characters are distinctly new
creations ard So while the environment
Is the same Il Is as II we had returned
10 SlnIa after an absence. 20 ind an entire
usw set OF people possessing the old TAMIL
far places. Yet II IS The same unconVen-
fionai Anglo-Indian society that Kipiins
has 80 often been accused Of s1aggeEat-
ing still, even in treating scenes prac-
ficaIly the same. there are essential and
interesting differences. We recognize the
womans point Of view In the lighter and
more sympathetic touches and In her keen
insight into and feeling with humanity
ard nature
Mrs. Fleming does not put things quite
ss bluntiy as her brother. but she gives
ss. nene the less. racy and unique person
prototypes OF Mrs Hauksbee. and her ia
snous eoserss OF hiH station life; but they
nre every Dir as well drawn ard equally
Interesting. The psct - very slight. but
al the same time. an original one. which
fhe authors gkiilful treatment rescueS
from absurdlty or exaggeration. Nothing
saOrt ~ genius could win 50 completely
the affection and interest Of the reader for
s'The Plncnoeck Goddess" who mas
auerades FOR one whole season as a SPORT
sve and nlrtatloGs widow. with complexion
and hair Of a bri!llancy that nature never
suew. Notwithstanding her only too ap-
Fefenf ariiGcIahty and occasional risqBe
manners. 20 discrimination nor theatrical
snakes1p can disguise her charming
wamA0iF qualities and one loves her In
spife o. herself. and feels immensely re-
5ieved &hen the denoaement reveals that
kae affection has not been misplaced
Fiction has seldom given US a purer.
Fmceter girl than dainty Nancy Tyey. with
sser sweet flower face" whose grIish IN
genuouaeEs seams Ike the breath OF
aeWy viaiets, fragrant and fresh. con-
s-aete8 With The worldly p.easure-ioy.nx
saHfpany by which she Is surrounded.
ar, BERTHE Vernon. dubbed the I'm
sceassary evil" with a fondness for practi-
"a jokes and baby games that nad out
i.ed her youth. we have all met before
salaer many names and IN many environ
Fis"ftAf- but a CHARACTER VINO tae an ffIi-
|lduahsy all hlE Own Is Col. Ssrath-Ingram
pronounced ss-uthgr4ml. ard while the
eoionei Is far from heiag a hero. he viii
he the best remembered man OF the book.
1fnt II Is impossible 10 indlvldualize among
she many interesting characters OF the
Pinehheck Goddess" and TO fully appre-
Glaze them, one must know them through
the fnimiiabie conception ard witty char
acfefizaiton OF the writer herself
Mrs. FlamInE's stVle f. noffehaa her Ala
logne Is piquant and sparkling. while a
vein or humorous. splErammAtic speech
runs throughout the book. She Is happy
IN conveying sense Of the wondrouS color
and eeaseless movement Of the crowds and
sights AZ a native fair. also ia giving US
something OF the humor Of the rehearsalz
OF an amateur opeTetta. as well as the brill
fsneY and by-piay % fancy dress ball
Neither II the story lacking in that
touch of nature that makes The whole
world kim FOR Il Is infersperged with
charming descriptions and lovely pictures
81 woodland and dale. nor IS the purely
ronanfic wanting and the love episodes
81 the two heroines are told most charm
ingiy. The word deliEhtfui can be most
fiiiinRly applied to this fascinating latest
contribution 70 Appleton's Town and
Country Library"