The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-24

Minor Fiction.
A new edition of "Helbeck OF Bannis
dale by Mrs. Humphrey Ward, has ap
peared, with the two volumes in one, as al
books should be printed nowadays. All whit
are interested in psychological religion!
problems should read this book. for it is IL
most ways superior to Robert Elsmere,
and handles a deeper problem-the rela-
tion of the Catholic Church to modern life
1t is, on the whole, more fair toward the
older Church than Robert Elsmere" was
toward Protestant dogma; and the charac-
ter drawing is far finer and more powerful
In some respects 1t is the best book Mrs
Ward has yet written, and perhaps the
best she ever will write. New York: The
Macmillan Company. s1-50)
Bishop Pendle," by Fergus Hume, is a
book with considerable unconscious humor
in 1t, visible only to Americans. The plot
is very ingenious, and somewhat resembles
a Chinese puzzle. But it is the denoue-
ment that is peculiar The Bishop In ques-
ton has been terribly worried for a long
time at the discovery that when he mar
ried his wife her first husband was not
dead but had deceived her with lying
letter purporting to have been written by
a comrade. The husband turns up after
awhile and blackmails the Bishop, but
is killed in fight. The Bishop is still
in great woe because his children are
nameless; but it is finally discovered that
when the villain married Mrs. Pendle he
was already married to another woman,
which clears up matters beautifully. re-
stores peace to the bosom of the episcopal
family, and Inakes 1t perfectly proper for
NJ, i,,,, a. hn Iot,r ~, or
of his mothers first husband, who is thus
proved legitimate. 1t is an extremely
clever solution of difficulty which has
caused unutterabie misery, and the read
er feels almost as relieved as did the
Bishop when matters are finally adjust
ed Chicago; Rand, McNally C Coz
1.-THE Rebel" by II. B. Marriott Watson,
is story of the time Of Charles H., full
of intrigue. adventure, great names, and
queer characters. The hero. Lord Cher
well. Is the most distinct individuality
in the book, and sustains his reputation
as adventurer well and CALAMITY. He is
not the ordinary hero by any means, hav-
ing a personality not in the least con-
ventional, and very interesting. New
York: Harper & Bros. s1.50.)
THE Passing of Thomas, and Other
Stories," is little volume of five lively
and humorous tales. two of which have
to do with Philadelphia life, two with
that of France. and one with a very pecu-
liar adventure which took place in Paris.
and in which Philadelphians We're impli-
Gated. The combination is a piquant one,
and well handled; and, in fact, the whole
book reminds one of those Bohemian meals
in which American and French delicacies
are aruingly combined in 4 seductive
and enticing menu.
THE Passing of Thomas is one of The
funniest stories of its kind that was ever
written; and it is sui generis. unique,
Some people DO not like the
type to which it belongs, for it is dis
tinctly a magazine story, gotten up for
the delectation of the sedate and bour-
geois middle class American public. But
of its kind it is the blossom and crown.
Better in some respects is lie Bon
Oncle d'Amerique,' which describes the
brief and fleeing contact OF Mr. Logan
Rittenhouse and his wife. of Philadelphia.
with some types of the Quartier-Latin.
Mortified and embarrassed nephew of the
couple. who is also Comrade
of the French contingent, acting as the
medium of introduction. Ii is beauti-
fully picturesque incident. and the char
acter- drawing is excellent. Another good
story is In the St. Peters Set" clever
little study of the attempt Of n Pitts
burg lady to enter the most defunct and
exclusive circle Of the Quaker City. All
If the stories are excellent summer read
ing New York: Harper & Bros. zl25.)
In THE Hearts Highway" Miss Mary
E. wilkins has departed from her usual
ground OF New England and
,trayed to the tobacco fields of old Vir-
sinia. selecting for the time Of her story
he months Immediately following Bacon's
'ebellon. 1t is Of no use for critics to try
o prescribe to an author the precise line
o be followed in writing fiction, because, |
n the first place. the author seldom takes
heir advice, and secondly, it might not
De good for him to take it, Sometimes |
IN excursion in a field not his own will |
ave a writer of fiction from getting into
rut The public may demand dialect !
tories, or tales Of adventure, or psyche |
ogical fiction, or character work from |
nyone who has made a success in some |
pecial line of work; it may refuse TO &C |
ept the psychologists adventure story or |
he classical romance of the dialect writer
nut it by no means follows that every /
hoemaker should stick to his last The |
ialect writer may be able to do better |
work. by stretching his imagination. as
{ were, IN daring HiSAt INTO the realm !
# romance, even if his romance is not |
erfect. Thus it would be absurd to say |
beforehand that because Miss wilkins has |
nade her reputation as a writer of New
England tales she cannot or should not |
rite of Old Colony days in Virginia.
The fact is, however, that if this book
ad been written by writer of no repu-
alton It would never have gotten beyond |
he publishers readers, by whom it would
ave been regarded as a pa!pabe attempt /
o repeat Miss Mary JOhn5tOn's success
iiss wilkins has not caught the spirit of
Id Virginia in the least; her people are
,.y Englanders transplanted. or purely
ctitious creatures Of fancy. Mary Caven-
ish the heroine. is a very charming
Ibe!t eomewhat hsrebra.ned and lncon-
iderate maiden; but the hero of the
ooli is utterly Impossible. He is too
hiyalreus and quixotic to be mortal Miss /
ohngtcn went rs far as anybody could
A that lire without be'rg punished for it.
nj Miss Nilins' hero Is roi Z mln ct all;
@ is a lady 10 -'i-t's ,dsI CT Z E-an which
, not necessarily tac "a re thing. New
'ork: DolS.eGeg, faGo I CO. $500 |