The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-15
SOME NEW BOOKS.
-Four American Novels.


ners). This story is primarily, work OF art from
the esthcuc view point IL leaves but little. II any
thing To be desired. II Is moro than this how
ever II is inspired by patriotic motive. Wedonot
hesitate to say that no other book published since
the close Of the Civil War has done 80 much to
give Northern readers that thorough knowl
eaae Of their Southern brethren which is tho indis
pcnsable condition OF revival Of sympathy and
friendship between the sections With lucidity
and viyidness the author brings out the Inherited
principles and traditions that mpelled the South
TO secession, and, by the singular attractvencss
OF the types that he depicts, he wins respect and
admiration for the fine elements Of the Southern
character. The scene and the time happily
chosen for his purpose. II Is In Virginia rural
community amid tho throes OF the reconstruction
period, that the lot Of the men and women who
live on Mr. Pages canvas IL appropriately;
cast No State but Virginia would suit them;
no date but the year or two Immediately following
the collapse Of the Rebellion. Al that stage OF
the readiustment of society in the Old Dominion
10 strange conditions much Of the past was left
and the future still underlined In the rela-
tons Of the larger landowners to one another.
N their white dependents, to their coored household
servants and TO the black field laborcrs there yet
survived not a little of the freedom. the gayety,
tho courtesy, the kindness, and, we may add,
the improvidence of the ante bellum atmosphere
The generation which had TO solve for Virginia
the grave problems of reconstruction had been
reared before the outbreak OF secession the genera
ton which was to know the Civil War from history
only was as yet unborn Such was the pivotal
epoch which Mr.. Page has selected for
description. and II is plain that he could
have chosen none more essentially ORA
matte or more rcplete with contrasts. Among
the masculine examples OF the twofold effect pro.
~ h,tb atr ,arlin
blithe environment and their recent grievous
experience, there IL Just such a variety az the
difference of Compartments might be expected to
assure Bitterness, nay vindictivcness here;
an uncomfortable optimism there: in one man the
old recklessness persists; in another, we discern
the germs Of new thrift and foresight Diverse
"a WAS the influence of impoverishment upon
the former masters, our author shows that the
conseq ucnces Of emancipation were no less man
fold among the former slaves. Devotion here;
defiance there sometimes an inclination to adhere
to lifelong habits of labor; at other times. dis
position to abandon them; in the beginning. a
tendency to lean as OF old upon the rural aris
tocracy; followed by suspicion. at first of slow
growth but aggravated and sown broadcast by
political emissares of a low grade from the North
ern States A point to which attention is directed
by Mr. Page Is the marked dissmarity on the
part OF the Northern men who were temporarily
brouRh into close contact with the ex Shareholders
on the one hand and the ex slaves on the other
We are told that as a rule nothing could be moro
ragnanmous, more sympathetic, more discreetly
DESTROYS of alternating hardship than the conduct
Of Northern officers belonging to the regular army
Very different was the attitude of the suffers,
transformed into village storckeepers, and OF
the horde of Spectators who settled like vultures
upon morigaged estates, whose owners were too
m all in md m harm nj
STILL because tainted with ingrattude and en-
yenomed with long hidden envy. was the course
pursued by many a native poor white who before
the war, had been only too glad to secure the post
of oversecr.
All of these products Of the tragica contrast be-
tween antecedent and actual circumstances,
products each of which had its part to play in the
drama OF Reconstruction, stand forth sharp and
clear upon Mr.. Pages canvas and contribute
their several shares to the evolution of the tale
Considered merely as a narrative, the exposition
OF plot amid the unravclling of which we watch
the development of character under the impact Of
incident this story Red Rock deserves 10 have
as II already has had. multitude OF readers II
we were asked. however, to single out its capital
merit we should say that it lies in the author 8
dclineaton Of the purity, the truthfulhess, the
loyalty, the exquisite refinement the gracious
ness, the charm OF the Virginia gentewoman Of
the generation born before the war Were her
manners antiquated? We're they provincial?
Mr.. Page shall answer. do you. young lady,
observe Miss Thomasia the next time she enters
the room or addresses servant and do you,
good sir polished by travel and contact with the
most fashionabl e-second class society of two
continents, watch Gen. Legaic and DR.. Cary
when they meet Miss Thomasia, or greet the
applewoman on the corner or the waggoner on
the road. What an air suddenly comes in with
them of old Courts and polished halls, when all
gentlemen bowed low before ladies' and wore
swords to defend their honor What an odor as
Il were Of those gardens which Vatican painted
floats in as they enter! Does the young man OF
to-day imagine that the Virginia gentleman OF
forty years ago might be easily initiated or sur
passed? That is not Mr.. Pages opinion dc
not you attempt it," he tells us. You cannot dc
IT, You are thinking of yourself; they were
linking Of others and the devoirs they owed
them. You are republican, and brought up tc
consider yourself as good as any and better thar
most Sound doctrine for the citizen, no doubt
but 1t spoils the bow. Even you, Miss or Madam
for all your silks OF satins cannot do it like Mis-.