New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-10

.rv AND MOST DELIGHTFUL
HEROINE.

MApGTT BY /. t. NdIlo'u. DuoOecI-
LEn mo DID, sS3. Longmans Green a Co.
rur MIDST OF LIFE Tales Of Soldiers and
IN TfE M ~ Ambrose Borce Duodecimo. PIP.
Sse g. p. Putnams sons
TIN uuIIoNAIREs. A Novel BY, F. Frank
Tort Moore Duodeciiho' PIP 49, - APp'''0''
d Co.
c,,nsTs HAVE MET AND SOME OTHERS.
By John Kendrk BSngs M w TSIatigms
by by N iSi. Harper & Brothers.
CORNELL STORIES. BY James Gardner sander
SON Duodecimo. pp 20. Charles Scribh'f :
sons
II is doubtful if any modern romancer other
Nm Mrs Walford would seriously undertake to
make dame Of eighty years the heroine OF a
novel l, must be admitted that the author had
excellent warrant for the attempt in the i'm
nressjon made upon her readers by the charm
Inc Matilda in The Baby's Grandmother" The
heroine Of eighty is as charming in her way.
As cav. as sweet and mirthful as girl. as full
n. love for nature an as interested in the joys
o. rural lie as any girl could be, she is wise,
too with the wisdom Of this world, and with
that eentler wisdom shining upon her from the
world She is approaching. one does not expect
70 find a venerable woman Of society, even IN
novel climbing apple trees or stretched on
the sands fishing strange "beastesses from
pools Of sea water yet these things Lady
Margaret 81 Adams does in most delightful
and even probable fashion. Would that women
In real life might grow old In her way. Inc
character is fascinating and slight as me s'ory
is II breaches more than one powerful Sermon
And the chief OF these is on the text OF the
clever brain and the chldlike heart. Leddy
Marget" is a pathetic, graceful amusing and
winning little book and ii will linger In the
memory when much Of the more pretentious
fiction Of its day is forgotten.
7, Is surprisinc that MI Bierce's stories have
not been reprinted oftener The edition OF
them Just published will have for most readers,
re imagine, the quality Of an entirely new
book yet they should have been recognized and
republished again and again almost classi-
cal productions. They cannot be acclaimed
as quite perfect Mr. Berce occasionally re-
sorts TO artifce that seems purely mechanical.
and ends a story with a snap that has even an
atmosphere Of claptrap about it. He has re-
peated himself. too In several instances, and
the idea which impresses In the first story is
bound to fail Of It's effect TO a certain extent, in
the second Yet when one has cleared the
ground by noting these defects there is nothing
left to do but TO praise, and praise heartily.
Here is drama in the very essence, concentrated
into the fewest possible pages and closing In
each case on a note of tragedy or mystery which
Is wonderfully natural and thrilling. Mr.. Bierce
recalls both Poe and Maupassant the former
by his handling Of the horrible and fantastic,
the latter by his artistic workmanship. The
ghastliness Of many Of the tales Is often re-
pellent but, all things considered this remains
one OF the strongest collections Of short stories
70 be found in contemporary literature.
Nj T Frankfort Moore has had moments in
which fairly credtable work has been within
his reach but in The Millionaires" he com
pels US to regard him az novelist Of amateurish
and dull proclivitios 1t is a melancholy volume,
through which nu' Der Of impossible men and
women move like puppets badly manipulated.
The author would do well TO study human
nature Then, possibly, his personages would
not seem so hagranty unreal
Mr. Bangs, dscoursing Of characters thor
oughly unsubstantial, nevertheless contrives to
make them plausible His ghosts are droll
creatures They are not perfect ghosts. MI.
Bangs is TOO fond Of fun, and each one Of his
wraiths he regards as more or less Of joke.
The truth is that a ghost to be appreciated
must be taken very seriously. But perhaps MI.
Bangs is justified in his nippancy, for he raises
q laugh and that is worth something
In his volume Of Cornell Stories" Mr.. Sander
son appeals chiefly 70 a collegiate audience, yet
he may find some other readers who Will be
amused by his slangy but spirited sketches.
They are Of the thinnest possible texture.