New-York tribune., 1898-11-27

y
the Year Of our Lord Eighteen Hundred am!
Twenty. Ecinc Faithful Acooun; and True Of
no's'n, the smith: the Mate; ana cynthia; BY
Mr. Schuyler Crownnsheid 7 HTs'TAa,TG anoo,og og
George Gibbs Octave. pp. Al u Appc'o"
& Co.
The novel in which Mrs. Deland described the
spiritual experiences Of John Ward was good Of
its kind and served we'll its purpose. but it was
OF the &uff that passes into the limbo OK the
Left Behind with much else that is thoughtiul
and pleasing. Her new book has far more
promising chance Of Immortality. Here Is n
series Of short stories related in so far as their
scene is the same venerable provincial town.
and some Of the characters appear in more than
one Of them; but each sketch is cleverly made
complete in itself each dwelling on traits ana
phases cf human nature which are the same in
the provinces and out in the great world. The
tragedy and comedy Of the domestic sort.
and most Of the characters are quite unconscious
that there Is anything tragic or comic in their
lot Their complications are set forth with at
tractivc sympathy o. satirc-a satire which Is
as wholesome as it Is shrewd. We do not find
the authors themes or her treatment Of them
notably original-but we were long ago re-
minded that the stories have all been told she
Is especially interesting in her dclneation OF
women: she really has genius for portraylnG
old maids; but her men. we are bound to say
arc less vivid characterizauons. We must ex-
cept the clergyman Or. Lavendar. fine ola
fellow. in whom an occasional glimpse OF 'he
feminine is excusable considering his age and
his profession. The book Is heartily welcome.
1t is pleasure to acknowledge its humor. its
tender feeling-which does not often drop INTO
the northumberland its style Of polished sim
piicity We must add word also In cordlal
praise of Mr.. Pye's illustrations which are full
OF character and artistic charm. In fact this
artist has never produced more admirable work
than in his establishment of these pages.
"Thc Intruders" are brother and sister who
after many pleasant wandering years settle
down together in luxurious country house
with the intent to grow old in all the CHEEKY
occupa Ions OF English rural life. They are rlch
and well born aud reasonably wise. and the
reader turns the page expecting chapters oi
placid humor and gentle sentiment But des-
peratc misery assas the middle-aged hero, and
the most romantic upheavals Of the soul are
made 10 prepare him for final happiness with
the beautiful woman who has Tilted him In their
youth For happiness comes, OF course, in the
last chapter-Mrs. Walford Is old fashioned
enough to cling to that conclusion. II may not
be artistic. but how agreeable it is! The book
is full Of neat little silhouetteS of character; it
is.of a sweet honest and unworldly spirit. and
in mild way It is entertaining. But il is so far
below the standard Of THE Baby's Grand
mother that We find 1t difficult TO believe that
the same hand wrote the two The plot OF the
later book is hackneyed to the last degree. some
OF the characters are repctitlOns OF others met
in the authors former novels. and many incl
dents show 4 waning invention
There is missed from Mrs. CrOwnnshields
romance of shipwreck, voodooism and wild ad-
venture that ease and rapidity OF movement
which seem inseparable from the best fiction
of the sort. But after a while the reader begins
to like the artless way in which the story
rambles on. At any rate it Is unconventional.
and that is something to be grateful for. Mrs.
Crowninshield has In this story set forth the
rnishaps of four or five Americans. including
one woman in the bizarre domain Of King
Christophe that extraordinary monarch who
ruled Haytl with q minglng Of civilized luxury
md prlmeval savagery. The Yankee Blade falls
In with pirates. who burn her. The skipper and
crew make for the shore. where however, most
of the latter mutiny and disappear. only to re
turn and meet tragic end through their own
folly. The survivors pass through one dramatic
crisis after another TWO Of them witness the
horrible ceremonies of the Voodoos. Finally
they all fall into the hands Of ChristOphe, but
by and by gain their freedom through the fall
OF that astounding creature. There are shud-
ders in the book and there Is pretty vein Of
sentiment Everything is more less jumbed.
The author has not absolute control of her ma
tcrial and frequently steps over the line which
divides the natural from the incredible. Yet
she has written an absorbing tale. and has made
some Of her characters lovable. The old skipper,