New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-29
FICTION.
A NOVEL. OF FINANCIERINC AND COX
RUPTION IN CHICAGO

GOLDEN SORROW. By Nara ','"i7' 'OO''
1smo PIP Al. Herbert ). stone N "
r,,v,, no Drrry AND OTHER WOMEN. by
octave Thanet. l6mo. PIP. I'll herpert D. '''
Il Co.
7, 4; IN rcnroducing the atmosphere or Dat''e
tina, tho author of the Money captain 10
most successful: not the crash ana Jury anu
romance OF a military fight but the Soruin anu
vct thrilling air Of that contest when goes vi
within the walls Of the Stock Exchange anu III
the priyate Offices OF great hnanciai ieauei D.
The scene Of Mr.. Paynes story Is Chicaso' 'n'
time is the present day, and against t'ie o'Dn
Ground of the militant money market to when
We have alluded he has placed seVerai hsu'c'
Intended TO b.. we glther, typical Of modern ife'
The first among them is the Money Iap'"''
one Archibald Dexter a millionaire and corrup-
ticnist whose coatrol over the gas companies
If CHICAGO has won him the sobriquet OF the
Duke Of Gas" The story turns chiefly OH tne
struggle between Dexter seeking to tighten Ills
hold IN the gas companies, and Hamilton j.
Ieggett. an editor who is trying throush INC
columns Of his paper to expose the Duke dis
honest methods This pair occupy the centre
or the stage most Of the time, and though othel
nersonages are drawn Into the action there
e. nothing in the book more interesting IMAM
inst the sense Of exciting conflict when the
presence OF these men constantly arouses. 10
have kent this tension undiminished throughout
his novel is for Mr.. Payne to have proved MS
capaciiy for amusing the reader But on oticI
counts he is lacking Dexter ~ plausible anu
vet not an absolutely convincing Inquire "iiie
Mr. Payne is describing session oil Inc 'o'
rrpt City Council, or Is sketching Polka Do'
SimDson and his colleagues, the tools OF the
"Nonry Captain" the latter seems credlDe
enough considered n shadowy influence III
the background. But when we are brought Iaoe
To- face with Dexter his aspect is little ihr"a'
and we refuse to take him altogether seriously
The remaining characters are even less sSihpi-
thetir Leggett the reforming editor ought 10
have some gentlemanly qualities to so with MS
zeal for good government, but MS personally
Is somehow repellent. and the love affair in
which he Is involved affects us no more IMAM
81 it were business transaction in Leggetts
Office Maxman the broker, and Polka Dot
slmpson have qualities. but they. too. fall
tribe short OF being quite persuasive PORTRAITS
Yet with all its crudities upon its head this is
n tale worth reading and ore deserving Of praise
as testifyng to an effort toward the faithful
defneation OF American life. Mr.. Payne Is on
the right track His eyes open TO what is
going on around him. and some day he VIII
doubtless put his observations into a strong
book "The Money Captain" has suggestions OF
strength; it Is a novel full Of promise.
Again we are called upon to regret the late
Miss Pools persistent excursions into field IN
which she was never at home. she could not
fiji out with any success the conventional frame
work of the typical novel. She had no formula
nor had she any gift for projecting herself INTO
those many phases OF modern life which have
gone TO make the for1nulGc Of the average nov
elist We might even say that drama i'll the
usual sense was quite beyond her Her most
tragic situations were apt TO fall fiat and evoke
n smile instead Of thrill. Her portrayal or
the tender passion" was Invariably colorless'
inconsequcnt and unintcrestinG She had, IN
short not much imaginative faculty But IN
depictng the life she thoroughly knew and
could see she was a true artist. She eXceiled
in drawing the rustic character OF New-Eng-
land-we know not author who in subtlety
and humor can be ranked with her here. The
sketches in this vein which she contributed
years ago to The Tribune deserve to remain
valued part Of American literature. Those who
most admired her distinct and delicate talent
must deplorc most sincerely the publication Of
"A Golden Sorrow" 1t Is almost grotesque In
its inadoquacy In all directions in which novel
should be strong. It's characters are pale ana
weak the vaguest OF shadows its plot is more
or less absurd: it's conclusion particularly UNI
pleasant We shall be glad to forget this book
and to return with undated enjoyment TO the
charming work of the authors earlier days.
Octave Thanet in dealing with feminine char
acter shows forth with shrewd and incisive
strokes the unreasonable illogical and battling
traits generally attributed to the daughters OF
Eve Yet there is tenderness and pathos in her
sketches and a sympathy which softens satire
no in hpr Las ct
clevery told Though not very important work
81 IL in uqv ciippestfye nd entertaining.