Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-06
Notices or New Books.

THE CARSTAIRS OF CASTLE
CRAIG" By Hartley Carmichael,
NJ A., author of Rooted in Dishonor."
London: Sampson Low, Marston &
Co.
The same strength Of purpose, the
same ingenuity of plot, the same clear
perception of the end from the beginning,
which characterized this authors first
novel, shows his handiwork also in 1.-THE
Carstairs." The story is told with a
rush; there is no lettering by the way.
ut stays not for brake. and it stops
not for stone"
The characters are drawn in clear
black and white; there is no preliminary
discussion of complex or doubtful mo-
tives; the result proves the action. a
direct and forceful style adds to this eff
feet of movement and carries the reader
from page to page without pause and
without effort
The author introduces himself as the
editor Of family chronicle; but this
thin disguise is soon dropped-or, rather
it disappears as he describes scenes and
people with the familiarity which can
The scene is laid partly in Dublin and
its vicinity and partly at Castle Craig,
in Scotland. The period is in the early
part of this century, in the days when
swearing was the native breath of a
free and Independent Briton, and when
duelling was an accident likely to hap
pen at any time to any man. The per-
sonages OF this history seem in like man
ner portraits from life. The stupid
solemnity Of Rulteel, the vagaries of
the little mad woman, and the whimsi-
calties of Major Carstairs are evidently
founded in fact; and surely no one would
dare to invent the eccentricities of the
Earl Somewhere the originals of these
impersonations have caught the keen,
observant eye of the writer, and live
again in his pages.
In the course Of the story three most
original homes have their roofs taken
off for our inspection, and the peculi-
arities OF their inmates are described
with that kind, indulgent amusement
which constitutes true humor. The
laughable seriousness Of the Major in
his intercourse with "the bird" and the
quaint earnestness of Miss Pawker in
her crazy fancies, show a faculty for
humor which will doubtless find a large
development in DR.. CarmichaePs future
writings. Bulteel is the strongest and
most consistent character in the book.
The hypocrite who is so true to his role
that he deceives even himself, leaves the
stage with a piece of pious humbuggery
and disappears in n pose of qualification
and injured innocence.
AS the two young persons who love
each other in novel are supposed to
Carstairs and Mary may perform that
part in this story. II, however, q hero
is one who, by inherent force. deter
mines or alters the course OF events, then
1.-The Carstsirs" has no hero, and is
simply what II calls itself-a chronicle of
family affairs. >,
unsettled In the story. which seem TO
indicate a possible sequel. and heartily
the book to the world Of fic-
ton readers.
STORY. BY Hawaifs Queen.
Liiuokalani. Illustrated. Boston: Lee
SnSheppard. Pages, 4O7. Price. 81.
Is is really more OF an autobiography
} leen LII, as she is called, than
histVfy of Hawaii as its title would seem
10 indicate. 1t deals with the authors !
life from childhood up. presents her
grievances, gives an insight into Honolulu |
politics and jobbery, and makes a plea |
or justice. She fixes her own status as
hat Of woman betrayed by those who |
should have befriended her. robbed OF po- |
'ition and fortune. and then cast upon |
Ter resources to struggle along as best |
he might.
The story Of the Hawaiian revolution
md the events leading UP TO II consti-
ute strong argument against the Ha-
saiian annexation treaty, that argument