New-York tribune., 1900-07-01

belongs TO the English department of Columbia
College. and has frequently lectured and writ
ten on the subject Of the novel, We might at
least expect him to employ good English Here
are few examples of his style:
The most of the articles were highly COM
plimentary, not TO call them fuIsome" Tt
seemed TO Evert that the actor was playing the
part Of gentleman, whereas Miss Archibald
had struck him as quite IadyIike' He asked
himself whether there was anything in the
actors calling which forced a man to be think
ing always Of himself, and he wondered whether
Carla might be infected by this He had not
time TO analyze this novel suggestion when she
came toward him 'Evert did as he was hid
and in a minute the curtain rose on the third
act, which for Frou Frou is the most exciting
in the play, since she never leaves the stage.
and since the emotions she has to express must
be kept in hand carefully so that they swell
slowly in intensity until they break forth al
most unrestrained in the final scene between the
two sisters" Erert wanted air; he wanted 4
long walk; he wished he was on horseback on
the seashore, with the ocean breeze blowing full
on him and sweeping away all sickIy Odors Of
the theatre"
Before undertaking another novel Professor
Matthews would do well TO make a careful
study Of the subjunctive mood He might also
find it profitable TO curb what he would prob
ably call his satire" There is no hurnor in
satire" that consists in gross distortions Of
human nature and Of facts
Jennie Baxter. Journalist" by Robert Barr.
is a curiousIy congIomerate tale. It might be
the work Of the combined talents Of Anthony
Hope, Conan Doyle and Mr.. Barr himself Mr
Hope might have supplied the plot, DR.. Doyle
might have furnished the detective elements.
and M Barr might have given the distinctive,y
American spirit. The heroine from whom The
book takes its title is extremely modern.
vivacious and amusing young woman but. q
course, MI Barr would be the first TO admit
that she belongs TO comic opera. So, too, do
the romantic adventures through which she
passes. The book is none the less readable or.
this account, however, Mr Barrs detective IS
so like an old literary favorite, now deceased,
that one speech viii suffice 10 show where Air.
Barr draws his insriration My dear fellow"
said the detective, wearIy. no one travels With
| q tyDewritins machine unless that person is
! typewriter The girl, If YOU Will notice, is no"
| engaged in filing the leaves Of her book with
shorthand: therefore that proves her occupation.
| That she is secretary 20 rich man IS evidenced
| by The fact that she crossed in the Servia first
/ cabin as you may see by gIancing at the Iale
on the case; that she came alone, which is -c
/ say her employer was not with her is Indicate
I bE iL- y AirfN ILl-L L-l L!iLIhrL -HtL " G---l
so it was put down into the hold IF Chtcag,
/ business man had been travelling with his se--
.-etary the typewriter case would have been
+ labelled instead Cabin, Wanted for a Chicago
| man q business would have TO write some hun
dr=ds Of letters. even on the ocean. TO be ready
/ for posting the moment he came ashore. Th1
/ typewriter case is evidently new and is STAMPED
/ with the name and address Of its sellers III
/ Chicago. That she came by the Great Westerr
/ is shown by the fact that Chester appears or
! still another label That she has special bust
| ness in England we may well believe; otherwise
she would have crossed on the French line direct
; from New-YorK 50 YOU see, my dear boy
/ these are all matters of observation ana qgirs
/ patent to any one who cares TO use his eyes
J And II is only short time aSo that We con
s-der-d writing OF this sort monstr5usly clever
+ in fact. almost marvellous.
Though modern in theme. The Prelude anl
th- Play" tv Rufus Mann. is decidedly Cd
fashi- red in treatment. So far as the author:
. uetE,d is concerned it might have been v,ri--er
fifty years ago. bef-r r- the art Of fiction. IS NJ
How5-s likes o. INSIST. had become the superb.
ait that it is now. II develops the old s-ory o.
the two young people who marry, misunLer-
stand each other drift apart only To come TO-
eetaer again with q deeper appreciation anc
. Sympathy. 1t is altogether too long drawn ouL
hut it is very carefully written and it has
nice flavor OF lis own.