New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-19
NOVELS AND SHORT STORIES
BRET HARTE'S PROOF THAT A sro,,r,
CAN BE WELL WRITTEN

Heavy TREE HIIh BY Bret ret h saEskf 10y on
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It is an accepted tradition that all seauels a..
bad. The writing Of a good one now and ,ha.
Is only the exception that proves the rule Rn,
this is no reason why we should look askanca =,
the exception when 1t happens along and tim.
we can delight in Bret Harte's new book. thou,h
In the most barefaced manner it takes I'm ~.
thread Of the narrative" where the author lao,
it I'm "Barker's Luck" volume OF stories NH
lished year or more ago. The present tale il .,
good that 1t almost eclipses its predecessor 7,
Is not only longer and more complicated, rIchs,
In episodes and dramatic surprises. and there.
fore more interesting, but 1t Is In Bret Harts,
best vein. The Pacific Slope has not lost #,
charm for him. or its inspiration He goes bach
to the old scenes and the Old figures withou,
wearying Of them. and he does not weary hIs
reader On the contrary. it is az If the novelist
he'd quietly resolved to show us how firm nj,
grip remained, how little ground for real fea,
there was in those various recent stories Of hi,
which have been below his highest level. Three
Partners" shows US that the old skill is still ac
tive, that the old spirit is still vigorous. and We
welcome the familiar comrades. the familiar
heroine and her foil. the familiar villain and
the thrice familiar gambler. They have trod the
boards before. but the glamour OF the noyellsts
mimic world Is over them yet. Jack Hamln
the gambler of this latest story, Is perhaps the
hest illustration Of Bret Hartes freshness O,
touch. How many times has he not brough.
this parsonage upon the scene with his unerring
aim, his spotless linen. his dissipation and bis
flashes of chivalry? We know him ~ DID, but
Jack Hamlin is none the less loVaDle LOT all that
The hint Of melodrama, too. with which Tie
story Is brought to an end We recognize at once
no one but Bret Harte could have Thought 1t b
in exactly such way. Yet We Ike IL The
whole book, in fact, takes hold or the ilnagina-
tion and holds it fast. SO long as Bret Hara
can do that he will be lish.y blamed for &C.
casional failures.
Tbere "a one masculine type which clever
vomen apparently find it easy to paint. 1t is the
man who is physically attractive. but unstable
az water and as bad as the cowardice which &C.