The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-11-26
LITERARY vIEwSfROMBosI

LITERARY VIEWS FROM BOSTON
session, Mass. November a2--The novel =,
the season is Marion Crawford,s ..v,s
otueis a romance that Is In some respec,s
unquestionably the greatest Mr., Crawford
mas yet produced. One may say this. Too.
win vivid remembrance OF the "saracipe,.
ca ullogy, sequence OF novels that are ns
indispensable as those OF George Elio, or
ihackeray to ones daily comfort
In his Italian romanccs Mr.. Crawford has
given us most vivid, sympathetic, and faith.
ful picture of social life in Italy. "ons
who has read Marion Crawford's novels know.
Rome, said Miss Katherine Conway To mo
tne otner day as we were talking over our
own nrst visits to the Eternal city year
or so ago 1t Is true that Mr.. Crawford has
iairiy interpreted Its daily lfe both of the
noble classes and the peasant. the ecclesiastlc
oisnines' the trend OF ceremonial society.
the strange, intense drama OF lifc thu, goes
on amid the common people--ail these ara in
MT. Crawford's novels. For color. emotional
intensity vitality of individual, action. and
charm OF style, Mr.. Crawford unouestionabiy
exceeds every other living writer of prose
romance
Ills characters live and move from Inner
qualities. They are not the mere marion.
cues OF the initiation novel. which is all ex-
ternal description. Take the character. for
instance. OF Corona the Princess SAINT
ilario. and given such a woman such a life
as hers would develop. What wonderful
character drawing is that Of the old Prince
Snrurippernf Nd
forging Of the title deeds and the murder of
me master OF the house In his own library
IN one OF the Saraeinesca trilogy-why. there
is nothing In Gaboreau more thrilling. and
yet 1t never degenerntes into the sensational
~
The elimination, to date, at least, OF Mr.
Crawford's fame seems TO be reached In HIS
new Via Crucis,' which has been through
four large editions within the three weeks
since it appeared from the press. In it the
tragedy and the romance OF the middle ages
have found tongue. BY some spiritual
recromancy Mr.. Crawford seemed to trans
port himself into medieval life and enter into
Its poetry. its emntion. its grim tragedy, its
cropping darkness. It's intense aspiring, its
unrelenting limitations, Yet how human
The scenery and setting of the story are pic
turesque in the extreme, and the story told
is enthralling IN its power and interest.
No writer could have produced this work
who had not been born and bred In the en-
vircnment of the past. AS is well known,
Mr.. Crawford is the son OF the sculptor
Crawford, whose wife was sister of Mrs.
Julia Ward Howe. After the sculptors death
Mrs Crawford married again. and during
the remainder OF her life she was Mrs. Terry
The very atmosphere of Rome, the very
heart OF the middle ages. were the native air
of Mr. Crawford, and on the vast store OF the
unconscious impressions of all his boyhood
and youth he draws for his voluminous nc
ton. The "via Crucis" will be a favoritc
holiday gift
\ \
An exceedingly interesting romance, which
depicts, with marvellous fidelity. the unrest
and turmoil IN the air preceding the French
revolution. is 1.-THE Favor of Princes" by
Mark Lee Luther, which the Macmillans
bring out All who are curious In knowing
Of the personality of Nine. de PompadouI
will enjoy this story, as her dominating power
Is ABLY portrayed, and the absolute influence
Of philosophy on life the decline of the
Jesuitica power, the rise OF the bourseoise,
the frivolous nature OF the court, and the
EQUALIZATION of the peasantry. are all re-
vealed In this tale, whose rather striking
plot turns upon the attempt OF Louis XIV. to
win the wife of an impoverished nobleman
rom her husband. very Interesting thing
n the story is the introduction, in its char
7, Nd tha do rhniseitl
The disciples of fiction as 1t is In Mr.. Ham
In Garland will enjoy the new and revised
edition OF his vigorous Main Travelled
Roads" which the Macmllans bring out with
several new stories added, and further EN-
pellshed with the acclaim of Mr.. Howells
Originally appearing in the Editors Study
n Harper's) decorating this volume rs al
introduction. Mr.. Gar'Gnds dedication OF the
work TO his parents, with the assurance thai
main Travelled roads" however faithfully
md sspiringly trod, lead only to deprivation
and despair, or something OF that sort. is not
particularly encouraging, nor is 1t true.
+ ~
Mr.. Garland's parents are apparently estim
able PEOPLE, living in the agricultural regions
II the West under circumstances not unlike
here is nothing in the fact OF living on
arm, away from the large centers, and living
n limited circumstances. so far as money
yoes--there Is nothing in that situation to in
pire lament Some of the noblest. the most
-efned the most delightful life in the world
S to be found under sprecisely these cir
.umstanees.
Let us get over the idea that success In
life lies in making million dollars. and hav
ng steam yacht, and gowns from Worth.
Dr. even the idea that business, professional,
Or artistic life in great city is necessarily
n any wise superior to the life OF the man
With the hoe" or whatever is typi1ed by
hat. When one knows the simple sweetness
II life on many Western farm. the happ,
ingerings in woods where the entertainment
s to watch the golden glory of sunset
through the trees; the happy. quiet evenings
With
world Of care shut out,
A world OF love shut I'M
Ina keen zest with w..-ch the daily paper, not
received perhaps till nightfall, Is enjoyed. and
m. way in which the current periodicals