The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-02

are from photographs taken on the ground.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
s1.o0.)
Recent Fiction.
Tommy and Grizel'' which has been
dragging its weary length along as scri-
al. has at length appeared in book form.
and, on the whole, it was more endurable
in homeopathic doses. There may be peo-
pie who have a genuine and passionate
liking for this sort of literature, because,
as Mr.. Lincoln would say. that is just the
sort OF thing they like. But it is of no
earthly use to the average novel reader
except as a sopo-iflc. in which capacity it
may prove excellent
Sentimental Tommy" was fairly inter
esting when Mr.. J. NJ. Barrie, his next
friend. introduced him to the public in
the callow days of boyhood. But many
things which are pleasing in a boy are
unpleasing in a man who has not left on
being boy A squash blossom is pref
ty thing in its way, but squash which
should try to be both squash and flower
would not be SO pretty, nor would 1t be
Of any use except a curiosity. Tommy,
as presented to us in the present novel,
appears to be a young man who has an
idea that his moods are of more conse-
quence than anything else on earth: and
throughout the book seems TO be bent
upon impressing the public that, as we are
assured in one passage. The artistic tenn
permanent is an odd sort of thing" In
short he is character whom sentimental
young ladies of a past generation would be
apt to call Byronie.
1t may be that this present age is too
, much given to utilitarianism to see the
| beauty OF Byronic moods and melancholia.
but whether that or something else is the
| matter, the hero of the modern young
| woman is apt TO be square-shouldered,
| business-like youth, VINO does things, and
| who. though he may have plenty of senti-
ment proves II rather by delicate practi-
| cal consideration for the wishes of his
| inamorata than by having unaccountable
moods over her most innocent actions. Mr..
| Tommy Sandys is fond rather of looking
at his own thoughts and his own charac-
| teiistics. dissecting them, considering
| them as of vast Importance in every de-
| tail. than of studying or considering 9th
err people, especially the woman to whom
he happens TO be all in all. The liking or
| dis,illipg of the character may be matter
of temperament: but upon it depends ones
opinion of the book. since 1t is utterly i'm
| possible to hold a neutral opinion regard
| ing the hero. Either he is wholly fasci-
natIng or entirely wearsome and tedious:
| and il is for the public to decide which he
| is, in the opinion of the majority. New
York: Charles Scribners Sons. si.50.)
In Eleanor Mrs. Humphrey Wards
latest novel. We have another of the sea-
sons tedious books. though its weari-
, someness is Of a sort rather different
from that of Mr.. Barrie. The plot is of
ha IL, hat r;s
situation which is almost melodramatic
the author has cOntrived to make her
story so unexciting. We have here three
chief characters; a moody, self-centred
politician turned author: his cousin and
friend, Eleanor, who has fallen in love
with him, and Lucy Foster, the young
American girl. with whom he has fallen
in love. The interest of the story con-
sists in cleaners struggle to reconcile
herself TO the situation and that is all
there is to IT. Any woman Of experience
knows that when man falls in love with a
girl. no mere friendship is going to stand
in his way. and that anyone who attempts
to turn his fancy from the choice he lap
pens TO have made Will merely get her
self disliked. This is a rule almost axio-
matte in its commences. So is that otn-
er, which says that jealous woman will
stop at nothing. in the present story
Mrs. Ward has presented delicate, in
telligent, and, in the main, unselfsh and
generous woman of the world, who, while
she is not unacquainted with these two
common laws of human nature, tries,
through many chapters, to make herself
and other people believe that there will
be an exception in her case. 1t is not a
very agreeable spectacle, and so subtly
and skillfully is the study of this wo-
mans emotions made. that one has the
feeling of having read private correspond
ence. OF course, people of delicacy and
refinement do sometimes allow them
selves to be mastered by the primitive
emotions, and then they do things which
are out of character; but the record OF
such an escapade is hardly more pleas
ant to read than the contents of medical
journals. (New York: Harper G. Bros
S1.50)
Richard Yea and Nay" the latest book
Of Maurice Hewlett. is written in much the
same style which made THE Forest Low
ers" SO popular. and is in some ways a
stronger book. 1t is reported that dra-
matization OF II is under way, and a. a
play it should be very successful. for there
is unlimited opportunity for strong ac-
tion. character work and picture effects
good though to some readers the quaint,
old fashioned style will be an obstacle. 1t
is one of those books in which color seems
to predominate over form. Vivid deep,
or delicate hues are constantly mentioned
There is nothing In the whole story with
GU; its characteristic color. This glimpse
of the heroine, Jehane Saint-Pol is the
first which We get:
So at last they crossed the pebbly ford and
found the pines, then cantercd up the path OF
light WHICH strcamcd from the dark tower. As
core of this they the lady stand with a
torch above her head when they drew rein she
did not move. Her face. mDon-slIapcd, was pale
moon; her loose hair catching light framed
it with gold. She was all white against the
dark, seemed TO loom in it taller than she was
or could have been.
This is what one may call literary i'm
pressionism. There are comparatively
few among the writer's of today who have
this penchant for conveying color effects
by language. and MIR. Hewlett is one OF
them. Lafcadio Hearn is another. These |
two men know how TO handle words as If |
they we're tubes of paint. Others try 70 |
do it, and the effect is as dismal as tina. |
produced by certain wouldbe imitators of |
Turner generation ago. |
Mr.. Hewlett shares with Hearn more |
over, as is common with color-loying |
souls. an intuitive perception of the c.
sential qualities of character; and he de- |
scribes spiritual lights and shadows as |
as those of the material |
world. 1t was an unerring and fortunate |
instinct which led him, in choosing the |
theme for this book, to select Richard |
Count of Anjou, afterward Richard Occur
de Lion OF England. as the hero Of 1t. |
q W "a hQ nj