New-York tribune., 1900-10-28

Emo PIP AIS Doubleday. Page & Co
THE LBgsTER BS 63 @ rTsGa%E Ff6c Ry cgee Gm
pany.
Mr.. Anstey is a public benefactor for when
he writes a book he is fairly certain to
make il source of unmixed joy. THE Brass
Bottle is worthy of the author of "The Tinted
Venus" which is To say much. But it is to say
only half of what should be said This book is
one ineffabe tange of prodigious impossibilities.
set forth with the most engaging aplomb with
the bandest humor At the outset one is dubi-
Gus as to what Mr. Anstey is going to make of
his wonderful theme. How is a respectable
novelist to deal with altogether disreputabe
jnnee who energies from brass bottle in which
he has for centuries been confined. and straight
way proceeds to meddle with the affairs of
every day people in modern London? Mr. An
stey knows just how his redoubtable Fakrash
is to be managed. He turns him loose with a
light heart he permits him to transform a grave
professor into a mule, TO carry harmless young
architect over the roofs of the metropolis with
out the aid of confederates or traps. airship
or balloon. and in the midst of these goings-on
he gives the reader perfect confidence in the
ultimate settlement of the whole c~azy business
on absolutely sound and plausible lines How
he winds up his story decline TO tell. The
reader must find that out for himself All that
we care to state is that The Brass Bottle" is
one of the most amusing extravaganzas it has
been our fortune to read in a long time. The
only criticism we have to make is that the
story III book form is minus all save one of the
capital illustrations by Mr.. Nar which ac-
companled 1t as it came out from month to
month in the pages of popular magazine The
expense of reproducing these would surely not
have been very great AS it is The Brass
Bottle will be taken to the hearts of those
who love good piece of fooling. illustrations
or no illustrations. Mr. Horace Ventimore the
young architect upon whom the benefactions of
the jinnee are showered. comes TO regard them
all as so many fendish nightmares; but we who
are in the secret know that they are really
calculated TO add to the gayety of nations
Miss Silberrad's first book The Enchanter"
was as good in some respects as it was bad in
others In reviewing it. some eight or ten
months ago, we were constrained to say that no
matter how many immaturities its successor
might contain it was pretty certain to be worth
reading The hope was also expressed that the
author would nevertheless study her craft and
learn to put good workmanship as well as good
invention into her work. The Lady of
Dreams" is gratifying and it is disappointing
like "'She Enchanter," but in different ways
This story is well planned, it hangs together
the workmanship from beginning to end shows
vast Improvement She wishes 10 exhibit the
love Of an estimable man for a woman of edu-
ally admirable character but much more pc
culiar temperament She would have the here
ditary mischievousness of a man who is their
friend mpinge upon their romance with tragic
results. The scheme will do. But something is
wanting. Doctor Jim Tancreed. the patient
lover, is intended to be type of native nobility
but he barely escapes being prig. Dick the
tnterioper, promises to Illustrate for us the in
evitable payment by the for the sins of the
father, and he fufs the authors purpose to a
certain extent: but he spoils the happiness of
the Tancreeds without persuading US that his
moral Inheritance has had much to do with if
after all. Mrs. Tancreed herself The Lady of
Dreams, is one of those numerous figures in
fiction that we have take on faith; Miss Sill
berrad is constantly describing her wan dream
ike charm. but never succeeds in making us
feel 1t for ourselves. The trouble is in short
that this novel lacks reality. The sketches of
sIum life are no doubt accurate enough but
none OF the characters steps with frmness and
unmlstakable actuality upon the scene We
are confirmed in belief that Miss SiIberrad
could not help but be interesting She rouses
our curiosity as to how the play will be pIayed
out and she holds our attention IareeIy
through her strengthened grasp on the ma
chinery Of fiction. There is only one place
wherein she causes Tancreed quite unnaces
saTuy to reveal a secret to the very person from,
whom l. should be concealed, in which she sinks