The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-08-15
NEW BOOKS RECEIVED.
VOLUME OF POEMS BIZ Mr. sTOCKs
ARD, OF FREDEsIcKsBURG.
.Ihe Choir Invlsible0 by james Lane
AIlen-His Literary Future-fopuIarnS
ofBook Proved by Phenomenal Sales

verse thrust upon the puvAN-
is rather surprising how many men anu
women OF exceptional intelligence in 9TH
or directions will persistently waste Naiu-
ahIe time In preparation and publication
OF vacuous rhyme
The reviewer IS often amused az the
deHcately-bound audacities which win
their way 10 his table through deceptive
labelling, II II may DO so styled.
But Mr.. Stockards volume by no means
belongs TO this class. IL Is not all poet
~. but there IS not vacuous or thought
less line In II, and several OF the sonnets
rise decidedly above the common level.
With the Baltimore Sun, We should apply
the adJectiyes thoughtful and well eX-
pressed as those doing most justice TO
thu verses.
II.
THE CHOIR INVISIBLE; BY James
Lane Allen The Macmillan Company.
$780,
For sale by George NJ. West.
In praise Of this latest or Mr.. Aliens
books. the leading critical authorities Of
the country have exhausted discriminative
rhetoric. The sale OF the book has been
phenomenal, and while this IS not in
itself conclusive proof Of its excellence,
from the critical literary standpoint, II
Internationally is conclusive proof OF its
human interest-of a Quality IN It which
has nothing to do with literary graces or
perfection, but that draws and holds.
The Atlantic Monthly, in very dis
crimlnative review. has the followingl
1T is not altogether easy 10 say wheth-
or a poet and a historian have been de-
aected in Mr.. James Lane Allen, or a
novelist IS in the process Of development,
through the absorption of lyric and his
toric propensities. Certain 1t IS that Mr.
Allen does not show himself great
story-teller. but, so far from disappoint-
ing the reader he arOuses the hvellest
authorizations. and causes one 10 wonder
how he will emerge under the various
influences which seem 10 be impelling
him. We think he viii be a novelist,
perhaps a great novelist-one Of the few
who hold large powers Of divers sorts IN
solution 20 be preciptated in some new,
unexpected form. For, after all his prime
interest. as this book discloses, IS in
character dramatically presented, and
this is the fundamental aim of the great
novelist"
This seems to us an exceeding just esti-
mate OF Mr.. Aliens ability as it has been
thus far shown. and OF 1.-THE Choir In
visible? in its relation TO his develop
ment and his future. but another review
not long published In THE Church,
August number-so exactly and admirably
expresses our opinion Of the book that We
reproduce It verbatim;
After SO much threatening, so much
promising, so much forecasung Of the
outcome OF tho social struggle, this is a
novel that rests us. on June day we
do not plan and prophecy we thank GOD
for bare existence. without any further
thought This story does not describe
a scheme or movement. 1t IS a quiet bit
of eternity.
In these days we are finding that the
New Testament was written for city life.
Its Gospel IS to lead 10 sense OF broth
erhood our most subtle temptation is
in forgetting that the Old Testament was
written for shepherd life, It's Gospel lead
ing to a sense Of reverence. We should
as readily welcome a stOry-teller, who
softens the materialistc hardness OF our
time, as one who relieves ats economic
severity. We need the inspiration OF
the shepherd life Of our own national
history. Mr. Allen tells US OF tho Ken
lucky OF 1875. Of the spiritual tie that
existed between the higher natures and
the wilderness in which their Hives were
passed, Of the hatred OF the East Of the
plots 10 wrcst Kentucky from the Union,
because Of the Indifference OF the national
government TO the frontier appeals for
aid.
"He pictures The old forest street that
connected Lexington and Frankfort,
where history was thicker than along
the Appian Way the footpath OF the
awful mastodon. later Of the bison, where
white lover and red lover had met and
fought.
"He sketches the rector from the sea-
board aristocracy, the Scotch schoolmas-
ter, the jestng lrishman the backwoods
rifle man. the fixed settler, the land-lov-
ing. housebuilding wife-brnging, child
getting stock-breeding yeOman OF the
new field and pasture. the figure Of the
endless future"
Historical characters and situations are
used which are accurate and well-sus-
tanned. The character of Mrs. FalCOncr
is I'm every degree admirable The plot
is singular enough. and IL touches very
deep chord. In the heart Of these pages,
which contain such a fine feeling for ma
ture. there is embedded great truth
that one can never possess an affection
which does not rightfuly belong 10 him;
an apparent ownership will turn TO ashes.
The book is strong in its dialogue, its
spiritual analysis. It's psychological pene-
tidtA'lIf Alo INAiNluA GNU - AhS a NHlNl
twilight
1t is one OF the real books OF the year.
III.
AN ENPECTANT HEIR TO MILLIONSi
A novel. BY Charlie Mcknight Sain.
Robert Lewis Weed Company, 63 Fifth
Avenue. New York.
THE LAND OF THE DOLLAR: BY G.
w. Stevens. Dodd Mead & Company.
New York.
a FREE LANCE IN A FAR LAND: BY
Herbert Compton. The Cassell Pub
fishing Company. New York.
".
The Klondike gold strike imparts pc
culiar value 20 the vivid picture or bonan-
n days on tho COmst0ck. presented In
Mr.. C.. ii. Shinns fascinating book, The
story OF the Mine. which is published by
j. Appleton d Company who also pub
iish Miss Scidmors Guide-Book to Alas
la.
Hail Gaines new romance, The Chris
tan, IS described as a drama Of fran hui
man nature aspiring 10 perfection and
struggling 10 attain tho highest ideal. The
story opens in the Isle Of Man. but the
action takes place for the most part IN
London, and the authors strenuous pre-
paration for this book is shown IN the
succession of moving and dramatic
scenes from strange and unknown lie