The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-14
BOOKS OF THE TIME.
The Red Bridge NeighbOrhood, Maria
Louise PoOlc's New Novel.

AS a story writer Maria Louise Poole has
grown distinctly since she began to write,
and yet there seem to be limitations to her
growth. Every one of her stories is inter-
esting, she is always bright and original,
never commonplace, yet she falls little
short Of being thoroughly satisfactory. Per-
haps it is that she has not studied human
nature enough in it's large and broad as
poets. She has made thorough study of
a particular phase of New England human
ity, yet even there her Characters some
times appear to be out of line with nature.
Yet it must be added they are consistent
with themselves and with the authors con-
cepticn of the life they represent, and if
there is any foundation for the criticism
suggested it does not detract in the slight
est degree from the interest of her stories.
The phase of New England humanity with
which she seems most familiar, at least the
one she mostly delineates, is the hard, mar
row, uncultured and almost unlovely phase,
or that would be unlovely but for redeeming
traits of honesty, sincerity, truthfulness, de-
votion to duty and kindred traits that made
even the narrowest Puritan admirable If not
lovely. Some of her characters, however,
who seem to be devoid of these redeeming
qualities, are despicable. There are some
such in her latest novel, 1.-THE Red Bridge
Neighborhood" (Harper & Brothers.) The
story has a New England setting and flavor
yet it has something more than New
England scope and takes a larger view of
human nature than some of the authors
land and yet types of human nature. 1t is
q story of everyday life among plain people,
the people of New England neighborhood
with its wooden red bridge, yet it deals
with emotions and passions which are OF
universal application. Robert Nawn, who
works in shoe factory, is about to marry
Olive NeWcombe, girl in humble clrcum-
stances. He might have chosen Isabel keat-
ing, who is rich and his father, close
listed man OF the New England ciose-fsted
kind, thinks him a fool for not doing so.
Attracted, however, by olives domestic
qualities, the father proposes that the son
shall give up the cottage he is preparing
for his bride and bring her to the home
stead He wanted her services Robert
consents, fearing to oppose his father
whose money he hopes to lnherlt; put O nve
refuses, and a breach ensues Robert drifts
back to his other love, Isabel, and AFTER
some time proposes marriage and Is ac-
cepted olives mother tells him that ner
daughter is dying of grief, and in sudden
tumult of conjunction and returning love
the young man marries her at an hour
band to the Nawn homestead and becomes
it's drudge The father is mlser, ana the
young man gradually exhibits the same
traits. Hard work and poor food undermine
his Wife's health and beauty, and his love
wanes One day the father and son both
urge her to commit a petty fraud, but,
though usually submissive, on question or
principle she refuses to yield. The breach
widens Robert neglects his wife and does
bad things. A divorce follows, the old man
dies, leaving his property to Olive, Robert
tries to marry Isabel, fails and goes to the
bad Out of these common people and ma
terials the author has woven very inter-
esting story. 1t opens with a pretty bit or
romantic love and closes with sunset
CLEAN, but the body of it is full of unat-
tractive and unlovely PASSIONS. Olive is the
redeeming feature. The outline sketch or
the plot here given should not deter any
person from reading the story, for it's de-
velopment and details are very interesting
Like all of Miss Poole's stories, its merit
her fine gift Of narration and the skillful
touches by which her characters are por-
trayed. The action of the story, without
being dramatic or sensational is con.
tinuous and sufficiently varied to prevent
any Tagging of interest.