New-York tribune., 1899-06-11

ances the houses the flying machines ana o''e'
modes Of transportation. the methods Oh Puo"N
administration, the amusements' utesS anu ''''
ployments Of his supposititious Londohers' d'
plausible in a high degree. "When the "''oPt'
Wakes" is a book OF sheer fooling, but it Is
thoroughly readable. and at times the ioo"e
takes hold Of the Imagination with the serious
grin of a scientific demonstration We cannot
withhold a word Of admiration from the ce'er
5;ush,ations but we must confess that the prHl-
liant Cravings made by Mr.. F.. }. sullivan io'
a similar story of Mr.. Wels's in recent nun"
Der OF The Pail Mall Magazine have spoiieu
us for the work of the artist who has emDeiIisheu
this book Mr. Sullivan should have had the
task.
Mr.. Max Pemberton is improving, and we note
the fact with some surprise, for the excessive
activity of his pen had lately caused US 10
suspect that he was overwriting hmsel' Inc
Garden Of Swords is capital novel, oriei.
compact and as original as could be expected
of a work based on hackneyed theme aS
the Franco Prussian War, and net written py
a man of exceptional ability. The Improvement
in Mr. Pembertons work is along the line OF
dramatic probability. He is still weak IN char-
acterization. and his dialogue has the super
fciaity Of the conventional novelist, but he mas
thrown his lovers into some thrilling situations,
,eino the hattie of Worth and the siege of
Strasburg in an effective manner to compiicate
their adventures. The tragedy with when the
book concludes IS approached in a natural and
at the same time very dramatic fashion. we
believe "The Garden Of Swords is to De put
upon the stage. 1t is well adapted to the pur-
pose, though we hasten to add that in reahing
the book we are conscious Of nothing forced or
theatrical.
The collaborating authors Of The Short Line
War have managed to get out Of a very prosaic
subject some thrilling situations and romantic
episodes. The fight between two capitalists for
the possession of railroad is, it appears as
much adapted to the purposes Of fiction as was
the stereotyped struggle for lands and lady III
the old-fashoned novel. The railroad president
is as courageous and resourcefu as the hero or
the older book the villain villanous. the lady
as lovely, the hero as daring. and the course Of
the tale as full of suspense, bloodshed and
rightful retributOn. Altogether the short Line
War" is an entertaining little story. containing
several picturesque scenes and some slight but
truthful glimpses Of American character. 1t
may be read and heartily enjoyed in the space
Of an hour or two--and it may then BE- easily
dismissed into the limbo Of things to be for
gotten.
There is a good deal OF the glorifed guidebook
about Mrs. Campbell-Praed's story Of an English
wife and Japanese husband. There is also
sufficient sentimental interest to hold absorbed
to the end the confirmed novel reader. The
average traveller will grin sardonically over the
picture of the japanese hero gifted with all the
manly virtues generally ascribed to the Anglo
Saxon-the unseishness the tenderness the
poetic devotion the noble self-restraint. the
lofty ideality that beautfy Edwin in the eyes
OF Angelina These not qualities which the
glObe-trot sees in the man Of the East. We,
however will not quarrel with the author OF
this novel over her rosy vision Niscount Shira-
gaka she presents as a very agreeable person =
age. and she makes ner reader feel keen in
terest in his struggle to win his English wife %
love. His rival the bluff Australian, who has a
burning contempt for Orientals is remarkably
well drawn His boorishness and his common