The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-28

New Books
Received
Brief Comment Upon Current
Publications.
THE DESCENDANT: A Novel Harper


For Sale BY George NJ. West.
Again has Southern talent been re-
cognized. this time In an anonymous
novel, understood TO emanate from VIZ
ginia, but with two little SAVIOR OF the
soil TO be Identified with any section. II
is rather an expression OF atmosphere.
than figure painting. and the background
might as well be any capital OF Europe.
as New York. Turning over the leaves
is like catching vague glmpses OF the
Green Carnation-the Yellow Aster OF
John Oliver Hobbies work. and a swarm
OF minor acerbbities belonging to &c
same school. Though it is only fair 10 add
that the present example possesses more
OF pth and sequence than usually fol-
lows in its make with as much Of fip-
pant brilliancy. and the same obtuseness
as to the value of half-tones and sha-
dows. is il because the key Is pitched too
high that all these voices appear so
strained2 or IS IL that the jarring as
cord OF environment has put the whole
chorus out OF tune? This is revolt. they
tell us but do not some strong natures
create there own environment and so en-
tail revolt? The initial motto from
Hoeckel Man IS not above Nature. but
in Nature" is misleading. since II we
learn anything. it is not what nature in
man has done. but how society has
warped him from nature.
Thus the motto seems to be that the
fathers have eaten scme grapes. ana
and the children's teeth arc set on
edge" but even that is an adjusuble
view soon lost to sight. The right clue is
not easily found. There must be some
thing serious-even more serious that
heredity for that sits loosely here. and
passion. and sin, and crime arc as old as
the world, indeed. quite old-fashioned
Perhaps il is the story. only it seems dis
respectful to allude 10 the existence OF
such a thing in a modern novel OF pur-
pose, and even 10 inquire what that pur-
pose Is. implies stupidity. lbsen and the
Symbolsts have set the pace for US, ana
served up morbid material that each
must digest as he can. without asking
"Why must we swallow it whole2' SO
the story here is very properly, put In
by few bold strokes done in heavy
black and white. and filed In with curse
ry theorzing.
The central figure IS man-"born un-
der an evil star young bhghted, bitter
brilliant-a Descendant rs pendant. an
other man-talented. self-suiilcient, IN
enectual-a Degenerate. All letween
them a woman, young. blythe gifted, hui
a
general metallic ring and polish and tie
Suggesting Is not worth mentioning
while these types are acted or b. destiny
IL Is rather curious m vi'N of the title.
that the descendant offers 10 defined trace
of descent from the only TWO ancestors
indicated. 4 man stamped with the 'oli
profanum." fasidiOus or eye and ear,
could hardly have brought such keen
sensibnity from his dull peasant mother
"a woman of the fields" Ills father IS
lurdly outlined in the one word "scoun-
drel"-yet the son. IS driven nearly mad
10 find that while clutching AT cOnvcn-
tiOnal honor. he has been untrue 20 a
lost love, and an out-grown political
faith. DO We az last lind that instead OF
herodlty, commonplace circumstance has
shaped these ends? Not too tame god
dess after all TO guide this drama, fer. as
has been pungently remarked, "circum-
stances Is the devll.'
For style and character. drawing at its
best see the evolution of Irish Fenian-
ism into American socialism, as given
In the person OF Mr.. Daniel OConnell
Kyle. It's cleyerness. vigor and sureness
Of touch leave nothing 10 be- desired. The
hand that can do such work has surely
strength enough 10 push aside this la
bratory study OF the abnormal and escape
into the larger. higher outer-air Of hui
mainly. 1t Is talent bound by a school.
and the greatest OF critics has declared
"art IS free production"
II this is not nature next comes the
question SIS II art2" Perhaps il may be
when the breathing men and women Of
Fielding, Thackcray and George Elliot
have stepped from our stage into the
shadow waiting for an things and these
dlsjointed studies have taken their place
to which We are now busy adjusting
names.