The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-10

rurality is so insisted uponsthat they talks
nothing but the tamest platftudes that
ever issued from the NOUNS OF men
and women in full possession of their
thus; but why write OF them? Why
reproduce IN words a life which has no
salient points, which is commonplace In
every way? We can find no reason for
such performance.
THE HERB OF, GRACE. BY Rosa
Nouchette Garex.J. B. ippincott
Company. Philadelphia.
.:I4erb of Grace. Miss Careys latest
work. is neither better nor worse than
the usual run of her books. 1t has no
especial plot; the main facts OF the story
can be summed up in a few words Eliza
beth Templeton has two lovers, David
Carlyon and Malcolm Herrick. She be-
comes engaged to the former, who soon
dies, and then she narries the latter.
There are no particular complications;
there are very few side issues. Yet out
of this material Miss Carey has written
a novel of 40 duodecimo pages. Her.
characters are, OF course. entirely con-
ventional, otherwise they would not ap-s
peal to the audience whose applause she
seeks; but they are very good people ana ars
of those whose company is beneficial either
not weary us. This however. they do.
as they are portrayed by Miss Carey;
but they will not weary all to whom they
are introduced. And assureuty they can
harm no one; which virtue, If only mega.
tive is yet not to be despised in these
days Even the few unpleasant person.
ages will not hurt US TO know; they are
entirely innocuous in influence as in the
story. They are not attractive in any
oud r.a hcfo1l their failures with
distinct pleasure as being the righteous
fruit of their acts. All of which is good
morality, ii not especially admirable art.
r. Z. N.
CLEMENT1NA. BY A. E: W. Mason.
The Frederick a. Stokes Company, New
York.
"Clementina'' is curious blending OF
| fact with fiction, in which respect Mr..
| Mason's courage at least equals his dis
cretion The story deals with the cir
| cumstances attending the marriage OF
CIementina of Poland to James Stuart,
generally known as the Old Pretender.
! The hero of the romance is Charles Wo-
| gan. and he is a very interesting zero
| indeed. He sets out to- do the. lmpos-
I sible by rescuing the Princess from the
] clutches Of the Emperor. who has caus-
| ed her to be detained on ner way to be
] married. This impossible deed is Just
to Wogan's liking. his Irish blood making
| him peculiarly adapted to the task, ana
| he accomplishes it. Not only so, but ne
wins the heart of CIementina. whom he
| has long loved in secret; and now he has
i TO choose between love and loyalty. Or
| course. he chooses the latter. since other
wise he would be compelled to falsity
past history, and Clementina is duly
married to the exiIed Prince. Thus the
i storN.
| But all the interest centres in Charles
| Wogan. ant. his portrait and adventures
are entirely satisfactory Wosan's dash,
resource, courage and humor make him
! an ideal hero of romance, as we'll as IL
many respects an original one Every
one who enjoys i story wherein are COM
bined all the best qualities of true ro-
nance should read "Clementina, and II
! they are disappointed it will be because
(! they cannot appreciate the charm OF
| new style of the telling of old tales. For
ourselves, we enjoyed "Clenlentina' more
than any romance which we have read
| for many days-or months. S. X.
|