The Newtown bee., 1899-03-17

with the artistic power of the novel
As soon as he had read it, he wrote
to Miss Robins, asking that he be per
mitted to translate is into German. With
such European record behind this
book, it Is interesting to note its reception
in the authors native country. New
York critics are very much divided in
their opinions, but all agree that it is q
novel of unusual power, and one that lie
destined to be talked about through the
length and breadth Of the land. One
critic said that 1t was one of the great
American novels. Another was certain
that it was anything but that, an while
admitting the genius of the writer, con-
demned the book severely. The opinions
of other critics have varied between these
extremes, but they have all given the
b2ok the full discussion which it merited.
The novel which has created such liter
airy sensation on both sides of the Allan
tic is called "a Tale of Two Tempera-
ments," aud is a study of an American
family that has degenersted through
ong-continued intermarriage and inherit
ed disease. This family-the Ganos-
were prominent Southern people and
were reduced to poverty by the war, af-
ter which they removed to a email town
somewhere in the Middle States, where
the greater part Eof the scene is laid.
Ethan Gsno, the hero of the story, WAS
brought up by his maternal grandfather
IN Boston, and Val Gano, the heroine,
with Mrs. Gano in the couatry town in
the Middle States. The first half of the
book describes the youth of each. Ethan
has Inherited a great fortune from his
grandfather, while Val, his first cousin,
is almost in poverty. Matters are at
such stage when Ethan after years of
European life, comes back TO Mrs Gano
and Val. 1t ia the first time Val has
seen him. She has heard much about
him, has written to him, and has dreamed
Of seeing him. She falls in love with
him at first sight, and he returns her
love. Outlined briefly the points of the
tragedy that follow are these: They
have decided to marry, when Eshen has
long conversation with Vsls father,
who knows nothing of his daughters
love for Ethan. Val overbears this con-
Yersatiop, in which John Gano points
out the curse that intermarrying has
brought upon the Gano family, the fact
that consumption is hereditary on both
sides of sthe house, and expresses the
opinion that it would be criminal for a
Gano to perpetuate the race. a spite of
all that. Val and Ethan make their COM
pact to marry, and determine to have
one year of perfect happiness; and they
decide IL new life announces its COM
ing to commit suicide together. They
enjoy their year of perfect happiness,
and then as child is about to be born,
they fulfil their compact. La small
they sailed awav Unto the sun
set out through the Golden Gate, and
there the story ends. There are in re-
Atty swo open questions: One is whether
1t is right for physically unit men and
to perpetuate their race, and the
other whethnr suffering men and women
are justified in opening for themselves
the gates of death The book is sugges-
i've merely. It simply states 1.-THE ques-
lions and makes no attempt to answer
hem. The tragedy is made more power
'ul by the fact that Val and Ethan COM
oine in themselves the very highest in
'ellectual powers and are both In the best
II physical health when the compact Is
carried out. It is the fear of what may
,ome what Is almost cure to come
hat makes it wrong for them to do
otherwise.