The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-25


the collection Of material. we are assured
that the completed work Will, at any rate
contain the portrait of an individual, anC
not the caricature of type. 1t may erl
on the side of charity. but that is faul
more pardonable than the other extreme.
The positive, vivid. brilliant personality
oil Kate Field inevitably inspired either
strong liking or animosity among those
who had much TO do with her. No one
could deny her talent: many called her
genius, which she was not. Genius implies
creative ability. the patient. seliless. i'm
personal devotion to an ideal, which sac
rihces everything to the necessity of self
expression. Kate Fields brilliancy was
simply the expression of an intense and
versatile nature. She turned from writing
music, and from music to acting never
wholly absorbed In any one art, never
losing herself or the consciousness of her
own individuality. She was a force, not
because OF her talents, but because of her
| character. Those who read her writings
thought Of the woman. not the style, her
| criticisms, her editorials. her books. were
herself, and they impressed the public as
she herself might have impressed it by
| personal contact. She was strongly indi-
| vidual rather than egotstical, but the
general public does not always make this
! distinction, and sometimes sees egotism
in writing which is merely the natural
| result of the combination of marked per-
sonality with facility of expression.
| II was almost inevitable that such a
! woman should be both admired and mis-
understood by the public. Miss Whiting S
| work Will be of value in revealing a side
| OF her nature which was not generally
| known. We find here the real woman as
/ she appeared to her best friends-impul-
/ sive. ardent, energetic, not careless of
! criticism, though she often seemed to be
so. but pursuing the object she happened
| TO have at the moment. with a determina-
ton which outweighed all other considera-
tons. We find here letters and journals
showing what her daily life was, what ker
relations were with her friends, among
! whom were numbered the Browninss,
Walter Savage Landor, and many other
distinguished people both in America and
| abroad.
Miss VIII ting says OF her that her life
was ceaseless conflict with unrelenting
circumstances" and this. perhaps. de-
scribes the record as well as IL can be
summed up in a few words. Such a life
is peculiarly unfortunate for such q ma
ture as hers. 1t was doubly unfortunate
in that she was born in an age of transit
ton for the women of America. and during
the early part of her life some of the OPP
portunities for expression which women
now have were denied them. She had the
retrospective nature and the thorough in
terest in public affairs which, twenty-five
or thirty years ago. were combination
especially unhappy for brilliant woman.
If, with this nature. she is set amid cir
cumstances particularly adverse, she is
likely to grow cynical, bitter and com
bative: and these are qualities which Gil
the world is sure to see. Miss Field had
something of this aspect to the outer
world; it is well. therefore. that this
biography has been written in such a way
that it might easily be called THE Real
Kate Field" Boston; Little, Brown &
Coz
whist: American Leads and Their
History" is a little book by Nicholas
Browse Trist, written in cheerful and
entertaining style, and giving certain
scraps of American whist history which
may be valuable to these who are fond of
the game. The writer describes his de-
light, many years ago, in getting hold of a
copy of ''Cavendish," lfth edition, and
compares the heterodox play common in
America at one time with the more seien-
tific systems now in use. He compares
Hoyle and Cavendsh at some length, and
gives various theories of his own regard
ing certain leads and the reasons for
them. New York: Harper & Bros. 81
Behind the Veil" by an unknown au-
thor, derives its chief interest from the
fact that it is supposed TO be record OF
souls experience after DEATH IL does
not differ materially from Miss Phelps
Beyond the Gates and other works of
like nature. Boston: Little, Brown &c
Coz
Mary Paget." by Mlnna Smith. is ro-
nance Of the time of Queen Elizabeth. and
Shakespeare is introduced as one OF the
characters. Perhaps the most interesting
bit Of the story is the chapter in which
the master of the drama at dinner
where several travellers are gathered lis
tens TO a description of the BerInudas
and afterward conceives the story of THE
Tempest" weaving into its fantastic
scenes and interests various phenomena
&c BE observed in those islands. II will
be remembered that kipling suggested
some three years ago that this was the
probable source of Sbakespesre's concep-
ton OF this play. GNew York: The Mac
milan Company. sl.50)
Mistress Fenwich." by Dutton Payne.
is story written in somewhat archaic
language describing the romance Of a
young girl committed to the care of a
friend of her father who proves to be
dead and 10 have been succeeded by his
son. There is, of course. an immediate
suggestion of love affair between the
young noblenan and his ward. and it is
finally brought TO a successful termipa
ton. (New York: K. +. Fenno & Co.
$500
I,-~