The times., 1897-05-02

admirable service to the author in the eX-
preston Of lis ideas and the easy aSsinIi-
lation by the reader. New York, Put
nam; Washington, Brentano.)
s. R. Crockett's new novel, announced
some time ago as finished, was published
In this country last week 1t is called
Lads Love" from the old name of the
Scented Wormwood or Southern-wood, a
sprig OF which Scotch wcoers used To wear
when they went courting and the grand
mothers carried il in their Bibles to church.
1t is this flower, presumably, which is
stamped on the binding of the book.
The last story by the charming Scot
writer returns his reader to the moors
of Galloway Once more he reveis in the
simple virtues and crude vices of a hearty
people he knows well. or course, it is a
love story. The writer, Alec McQuirr, is
the principal lover, and Mr.. Crockett in
vests with all his choicest delights his
pretty love making with the daughter Of
the Neither Neuk. The character of Alec
cannot, In the order OF things, be described
but be reflects himself in his action and
his word, and challenges admiration as
fine, manly chap of the moorland.
But Mr.. Crockett has put into his story,
and in the foreground thereof, a char
hcter which does his skill as character
limner great credit, and it gives freshness
to the story for his like is seldom found
In fiction Il is Nathan Murdock, OF the
Pack an itinerant, usurous smali-mer-
chant His craftiness, his brazenness and
his pride therein withal, denote a truth
ful phase OF Scotch character, which cour-
heretofore omitted But Mr. Crockett has
done him to the life and the lines are
drawn with just the proper emphasis 10
make him recognizable as one of a char
ecteristlc clan.
Whether Max 0'Ren or Ian Maclaran,
one or the other told OF a poor Jew
hearing there were none of his race in,
Scotland, hasiened thither. He left the
train in the morning at Edinburg town.
He had asked so many questions of the
guar un the train that w hen tia
train was leaving on its return trip
in the evening, and the Jew re-embarked,
the guard recognized hiu. He was nat
urally surprised TO see his passenger again,
knowing that he had intended settling in
trade. What's the matter, friend" asked
the guard; were you disappointed in
finding no Jews in Edinburg?' and the
poor man looked up with sad face
"They're all Jews there" He had evil
dently met one of the clan of Nathan
Murdock
In a preliminary letter Co my unan-
ewered cores pondents'' Mr.. Crockett
makes if known that he has many monitors
in many lands But he protests that like
Prof. Kelland's pupils, "he is doing his
best" and hints that in cases where
replies are desired that the STAMPS OF
foreign realms do not frank letters from
his land to theirs, owing to some un-
feeling prejudice on the part of the British
postoffice. But foreign coin sent leads to
results even more disastrous. For the alert
postmaster general can feel between finger
and thumb as the covering letters pass
through his hands. Then forthwith he sends
his satraps TO charge the unoffending author
Tuch sums for excess and non-registration
Of coin as are fitted to shake the founda-
lions of any literary finance whatever
'This, however, he hastens to prompt,
does not apply to cheques or banknotes :"
Lads Love" is book to be rateful
for, exhaling as it does from cover to
bover the pure and purifying perfume of
caste. love and the amusing considera-
fion of frail. but amiable simplicity. 1t
shows no failing of those graceful capa-
blities which are MT. Crockett's, and
leaves the reader under re new ed obliga tions
for new pleasures. (New York, Appleton;
Washington. Woodward s. LothropD
:
Mr. Rnskin is in good health again, but
still abstains from all literary work. Rus
kin and Emerson met at Oxford about
twenty-five years ago, and their first inn
pressions of each other were not compli-
mentary. II found Emerson's mind total
blank" said Ruskin to friend, lin mat
ters of art IL found myself wholly out
Of sympathy With Ruskin's views,' said