New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-19

LdlUd . . Ddlud Ddlud.
We sketch the initial story and quote the
poem because both signally illustrative OF
the spirit peryading the book. Daua seems 10
pipe his shadow into every page. Men and
women come upon the scene, things happen, the
landscape is revealed to US in all its color and
freshness. but the charm Of this volume is TO
be attributed first and last to the vague atmos-
phere Of faery with which the author fills it,
TO the curious strain which is heard more subtly
but with no less reality in all the prose az in
the single song Of Dalua. We do not praise
Fiona Macleod for her narratives interesting as
these often are. We praise her rather for her
indefnable poetic magic. for her note 40 Of some
yelled prophecies grooming strange dreams,
sometimes incomprehe nsbe, but always, in
some inexplicabe way beautiful and haunting.
Mrs Crowninsheld's new novel is a study Of
relentless destiny working its cruel way through
circumstances expressive on the surface OF moth
ing but peace and happiness. Between the white
planters and the women Of mixed blood on her
West Indian island there is amity, there Is even
love, until some woman OF unmpeachable
descent comes 10 sweep the easy going lover
off his feet and turn her predecessor into
rejected and dcsparing creature. one gathers
from san Isidro" that all this is common
her Agueda the heroine Of the book. woman
who lifts the usually squalid experience to the
plane Of romantic tragedy. Don Beltran is a
weak man one sees at the outset. yet the girls
devotion to him seems justified. The appear
ance Of Fcsa. who robs Agueda Of her love.
quiokens the movement Of the drama greatly,
but there is nothing forced about the climax.
it flows with genuine pathos from a succession
ttbf no IN Va
shows clear insight into human nature. There
are two crises in the story. one affecting Gil
SHencio ana his bride Raquel the other impli-
eating Betran. Agueda and Felisa. The former
is rounded out less fecitously than is the latter.
But in both cases the author is Individually
clever and diverting. san Isidro" is a capital
romance fun Of southern color and emotion,
and Of certain exotic attraction.
"A Son Of the state is a kind Of pendant TO
the authors novel entitled by order Of the
Magistrate" The Mordemy Of the earlier book
finds her masculine counterpart in the orphan
who is carried in the present volume all the
way from his presence as mere child at the
inquest over his mothers body TO his arrival
AZ an honorable pos; in Her Majesty's service.
The workhouse lad Bobhie Lancaster after
divers humble adventures becomes a sailor Of
the Queen and a credit to the STATE that has
been as father to him. Mr.. PETIT Ridge IS
plausible and amusing. Also he is little sen
timentaI and at times gets his effects in sadly
conventional manner.
The smell Of the forest is in Mrs. Gather
woods volume Of short stories, and with her
wildwood glamour she has blended delightful
vein q romance. "Macianson,' which heads the
collection. is a beautiful and touching little
idyIl. \ fash of humor enters The Black
Feather and a more poignant note Is struck
in The King Of Beaver All the stories are
swiftly told. with We are glad TO say not too
much dialect Mrs Catherwood has never been
more readable than in this pleasant volume.