New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-17

. newer conditions Of American life 1t could not
/ have been written a dozen years ago. because
/ the particular conditions it describes did not
then exist The heroine a young graduate Of
/ Wellesley, chooses to turn from the conventional
/ routine of social lie to a career of service So
/ she goes to the Settlement House in Chicago
/ which we may easily identify with Hull House
and she performs such tasks as come to hand.
they bring her into association with work
man. widower with children, who has fallen
into misfortune. Sh. helps him, she even secures
a position for him, and finally she marries him.
The story carefully told, and it certainly
gives material for serious thoueht Whatever
! one may think of the probable outcome of such
a marriage as the heroine makes, it is impos-
sible not to admire her lofty purpose and cour-
age. 1t would be interesting to know if this kind
of marriage has resulted from Settlement
work. In spite Of the authors deftness in max
ing the outcome seem natural, we are inclined
to think it exceptional.
! In 'The Pursuit of Camilla CIementina
Black has written a book hardly worthy Of an
! author usually clever and skilful with her pen
An impossible young English girl is kidnapped,
| so that she may be forced into marriage with an
impossible young Italian nObleman, his family
aiding and abettng. Two courses might he fol-
lowed here, according to the conventions Of the
ultra-romantic novelist. Camilla might learn to
love the nobleman, she might escape from
his clutches and marry some one else. The au-
thor chooses the second course, consoling the
heroine by uniting her to an extremely senti-
mental and undressing adorer with whom
she could not possibly be happy. So far as one
may judge, the author is unaware of the
tragedy she has left hands The story is
told in good, terse English, but it bears no re-
lation to life or reason.
Hearts Importunate" is the somewhat mis-
! leading title of novel with much more than
average merit by Evelyn Dickinson. The scene
is laid chiefly in the Australian bush, with
which the author evidently has thorough ac-
quatntance; at any rate she keeps the back
ground vivid and interesting The materials Of
the story have been used often enough before;
but Miss Dickinson handles them with freshness
and skill. Her characterizations are IifeIike
and her conversations have plenty of spirit and
humOr. Moreover the book has agreeable
flavor of it's own The feminine touch is every
where visible.
In The Burden of Christopher" Miss Flor
ence Converse has chosen large subject which
she has treated with considerable vigor and self
restraint. An enthusiastic young philanthropist
nherts a shoe factory from his father, and
dertakes to manage it on cooperative principles.
He marries fine creature, who sustains him in
| his ambitions and ideals. But his experiment
! fans, and, TO keep ms men from -DelnS thrown
out cf work. he uses money intrusted to his
care for other purposes The story closes with
his suicide In outline the book may seem to be
morbid, but it is kept wholesome by the au-
thor's sound sense. 1t does not always sustain
the readers interest, but it is well written, and
it contains some good studies in character
Red Blood and Blue by Harrison Robertson,
takes for its theme the social distinction be-
tween the old families of the South and the poor
whites. The hero, a noble hearted young fell
low, loves a girl who, together with much that IS
fine has inherited some strong prejudices. The
girl does not realize that she herself returns
the affection until her lover has had many
chances to prove his quality, the most conspicu-
Gus being provided by the battle of san Juan
Hill The narrative lacks a strong central inter
est and runs rather thin at times; but it has the
merit of being told without eXaggeration and in
a simple, unaffected style.