New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-12
FICTION.
CLEVER VARIATION ON AN OLD
THEME.


THE RAPIN BY Henry De We're Stacpoole
l2mo Do 303. Henry Holt Co
TWO MEN O. MENDIP. BY Walter Raymond.
Emo Do $40 Doubleday & Mcclure Co.
THE AMATEUR CRACKSMAN. BY f. w. Hor-
nung i2mo PIP 80. Charles Scrioher oo"S'
bohemia. French Bohemia the Bohemia OF
Henri Murger. has been done to death. Now
and then. however. some clever novelist IN a
harpv moment gavanzes the mummihed hS-
ures into life for the deectaton Of angud read
ers and if he is very clever he appeals to
readers who are not languid. Mr.. Stacpoole Is
vo,v clever "The Rapin" is captivating
book 1t is an odd production, freahsh IN tone
soasnodc in movement. but its very treakiSh-
ross gfves II charm. Celestn is too much 81 a
child altoeether and makes us suspect the
author all the time OF merely attempting
paradox. as who should say You have heard
Of lilies fourshing in the mud OF Paris! BE
hold 4 lilyr' Nevertheless we like Celestlh'
And Toto. who is incredible quite. is not Tor
that reason without his graces and his COM
panionable points. So too. Gaillan. the mystec,
impecuni0us and bizarre poet, with the poten-
tiaIitics ~ a bourgeois beneath his foppish
aspect is impossible. but delightful. MIR. STAG
poole in fact, has done very wise thing
He knows. we presume. that the bohemia OF
Murger is no longer taken seriously except III
Murger-and not always then-so he lets MINI
self CO. is frankly whimsical. artificial clever
and ends by making a book which 1t would De
folly to attempt to remember but almost folly
to leave unread.
The scene of Mr. Raymonds novel embraces
some pleasant stretches of English landscape
and some gloomy mining tracts. The latter
contribute the tragic note to the plot, which
illustrates effectively the memorable Nemesis
implanted in a good mans conscience when he
secretly goes wrong John Whitehead is an
excellent man. who, according to the rules OF
rosy romance ought to have ended his days in
his comfortable house with Patty. his sweet
daughter happily married. and living with her
chicks under his roof. But a sheep Is stolen.
This lea Is one man to the gallows-the story
is laid in the good old hanging days-and the
murder OF his accuser follows. There is more
blood spilt-we will not tell how-and a gal
lows is erected at the end Of the tale as at the
beginning 1t makes grim reading. But Mr..
Raymond redeems the sombreneSs Of his story
with discreet and light touches. and holds the
attention in skilful fashion throughout 1.-TWO
Men o Mendip" is admirable piece Of work
Mr. Hornung like Mr.. Stacpoole, is temera-
rious person with taste for reviving ancient
motives. At this late hour he composes in
THE Amateur Craftsman" seven or eight tales
setting forth the exploits of an individual
named Rallies, whose social standing is be-
yond reproach. but whose natural gifts are for
the highest flights in the art Of burglary. We
had thought that handsome scoundrels like
Rallies with his athletic frame and impertur
babe demea are always imperturbable
had been releSlted once for all to the penny
dreadfuls Of gloating boyhood Mr.. Hornung
undertakes TO show that we are mistaken
and that We have grounds for disdainng
his man Rallies is amazing; his resource is
perfect: he talks like a gentleman and acts like
one. except when occupied with pressing bust
ness in another mans house, at midnight and
naturally he has a "cool nerve" nerve posi-
lively arctic They all have nerves like that
these Raffleses. But it is only fair to say that
there is some slight distinction between this
particular Rafiles and his predecessors His
adventures are ingeniously devised and they are
well told One may enjoy reading The ANA
teur Cracksman" while speculates as to
how in the world Mr.. Hornung has contriVed
TO De SO belated.