New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-07
FICTION.
A TRIO OF FRENCH WRITER'S.

MIoUETTE. Par Gyp. Duodccimo, pn 2S ,,f KITE;
Calmann Levy Now-York: Dyfssen fici"e''
THE TERROR. Romance OF he Frcnch n, E EeiiS
Gras by Catherine A. Janver. Duodecimo' PIP.
5l2. ID. Appleton q CO.
THE RED LILY. by Anatole France Tpan S,ano
from the French Duodecimo, PIP $40 p'e"'
The heroine Of Gyps new volume is an ei''Sn
child of eight or theroabouts, with faculty lo'
making observations such as MIS- Maiap'op
might have cnvied. Her adventures arc slight
in character In fact. they are hardly TO be caI1so
adventures at all. Gyp's aim was simply 90
portray the quaintness Of her little pcrsohaeS
to bring cut her traits in picturesque RELIEF
against the simple background OF farisian
child's daily hce Tn, book is captivating part
" because Miauette herself is original and low
able partly because the author is In full SYM
pathy with her theme ard treats 1t with just the
requisite lishtncss ard humor. She reproduces
the dialect of her small friends and though
some wise reflections fall from MQuette's lips
they are spontaneously uttered The older fg-
ures that cross the stage are clearly drawn, Dut
never obtrudc The various episodes follow one
another like a series Of sparkling water coors.
full of dancing sunshine. They cxpress one side
OF the spiri, Of childhood and express 1t with
an artlessnoss and sweetness Of mood not always
characteristic Of Gyp.
NJ Gras. too, is artless in his rovel OF the
| Revolution. The raIvete Of the Midi has entered
into his pages, which are heavily hurdened WIN
tragedy. but never too soElpre. vi th'
contrary the atmosphere Of this look Is al tlino'
almost idyllic the domestic qualities OF some
Of the Revolutionists being painted with ful
realization Of the fact that terror and excess
could not altogether warp them Inc style ~
vivid NJ Gras has crowded many effective
pictures into his work His characterization
hats a little Not one Of his figures is wholly
fcko and convincing But the dramatic ho'e
always rings true: the romance is attractive
| throughout. and one can forgive an occasional
Gav in por,rature for the sake Of the human
warmth and energy per' aiding the story. Mrs.
Jaryicr has handled her text with feeling. Her
translation is lively and idiomatc, and one reads
it without realizing that a second person has
/ come between him and the exciting inspiration
Of The author.
Tn. translator Of " Auatolc Frarcc's curious
ESSAY in psychological fiction. THE Red LILY,
has missed the fluent movement Of his author,
The touch Of suaNlty which constitutes part or
the lattcr's charm. These pages are sun ana
without color. where feasibility and color are
above al things needed. The story Is dlS'aS'e-
ful Nine MARITIME B,cmc is woman OF small
mind and smaller soul. whom the author treats
as though she Wcr" rally capable Of passion
But amcur thc subsidiary personagcs NJ Franco
has done some clever sketchng. There - ono
portrait Of a vagabonGish poet, obviously IN
tended for IA study II N"riainc which Is admir-
ally drawn and the mixed society of the nero
Inc's draWing-room is always dcf,ly managed.
If tho intrigue around which "The Red Lii" IS
written were interesting the conversation would
seem excessive. As it is, it makes the lest part
of the book