New-York tribune., 1901-10-26

Page & 60.
A LIGHTHOUSE VILLAGE By Louise Lyndon
sihley. Emo PIP 1872 Houghton' Miiiiin q o.
limo, pp. 224. Mcclure. Phillips 81 Co.
YoRKE THE ADvENTURER AND OTHER
STORIES. BY Louis Becke limo, PIP 90
Philadelphia: J. b. Lippincott Company
THE P1-,1sHNEnr OF THE srINGY. AND
OTHER INDIAN STORIES BY George Blra
Grinnen. Illustrated. Rmo. pp- 20 harpef
& Bros
The three books in which the wise and witty
Elizabeth unused, laughed and moraiized over
her garden her husband. her babies and her
acQuaintances were so engaging that her hrsl
novel has been looked for with real eagerness.
Is # as clever as the reader hoped it would be?
Truth 10 tell It is a little triumph in its way
that peculiarly feminine way OF Elzabeths,
which is a blending OF humor, simplicity
shrewdness warmheartedness and philosophy
In manner the book is delightfully."- fresh ana
crisp and as delightfully."- easy, polished, perspl-
cacious This charming style combines with Jus
penetrating studies OF character, both German
and English to make It a piece of genuine
uterature-one which VIII survive, we believe
when more ambitious efforts are forgotten.
Its scene is set chiefly in Pomerania, the low
lying land Of pine and birch forests beside the
North Sea. Hither comes Anna Estcourt an
h,rhminded as she is well bred; and she comes
,o take a new departure in life the ruler Of a
coYnforta BILE estate left TO her by German
uncle Years Of grinding dependence upon
sordid sister-in-law have nurtured IN Anna
tender sympathy for all other lonely ana help-
less souls and she no sooner finds herseI IN d
home of her own than she resolves TO shtre IL
on sisterly terms with a group of German women
who have seen better days" The reader VIII
polDl eNDeTl-
nent comes little but cruel disilusion Abuse
lies dislovalty and insolence requite her; and one
of her guests even tries 10 entrap her into mar
,1age with a worthless son. Annals generosity
inspires contempt through the countryside "hefe
the EngIanderin is considered crazy by every
body but the good Herr Pastor ano-en'er
Romance!-a neighboring landowner Axel Won
Lohm Here We pause reluctant TO give me
reader too definite a foretaste of this fascinat-
ing little novel.
Its people are drawn with surprising Skill
The vulgar sister-in-law. with her money love
and money greed; the ashy eyed German farm
manager with his restless conceit and his low
class scorn Of everything not practical'; the
dissipated selfish young lieutenant; the sruin-
bling women OF high degree, who take Anllas
benefactions and sneer at her behind her oach'
the thoughtful and generous Won Lonlh-
whom we see something OF the Man OF Wrath-
all these seem 10 move in flesh and blood peiore
us To the least important parsonage OF the
book all are vividly alive and true TO their own
strain: and when satire plays its part IL is WIN
such deftness such good nature. mat even
me least engaging aspect Of a type is made
really amusing. Witness the scene IN whieh poor
Dellwig and his swine are thus held I'D for our
enjoyment:
.I have no children" he said, with a resigned
and pious upward glance ''and my wires ma
ternal instincts find their satisfaction IN teholhs
and fattening these fine animals She cannot
listen TO their cries the day they are killed. ana
withdraws into the cellar, where she prepares
the stufing. The gracious miss ate the cutIeIs :
OF one this very day. II was killed on purpose
WAS il? I wish il hadn't been, said anna,
frowning at the remembrance Of that meal. u
I don't want things killed on my account /
don't like pig" MOT like pig?" echoed Denwlg,
dropping his lower jaw in his arnazernent Old
/ understand Alright that the gracious one Goes
not eat pigs flesh gladly? AND my wlfe ehG
who thought to prepare Joy for heri" He
clasped his hands together and stared at her IN
disnay Indeed, he was so much overcome 10y
tbis sItraordinary and wilful spurning OF
Natures best gifts that for moment he vas
silent and knew not how he should proceed
Were there not concentrated In the body OF a
single pig greater diversity OF joys than IN any
other form OF pleasure that he could call 10
mind? DID il not include, besides the profonnoer
delights of its roasted ribs, such solid satisfac-
tions as hams, sausages and bacon? DID not ITS
liver, discreetly manipulated, rival the NVers OF
Strasburg geese IN delicacy? Were not Its brains
q source OF mutual congratulation 10 an entire
family at supper? Did not its very snout, polleo
with peas make an otherwise inferior soup de-
ncious? The ribs OF this particular pig were re-
posing at that moment in a cool place, carefully
shielded from harm by his Wife reserved for the
Easter Sunday dinner OF their new mistress
who having begun at her first meal with the
lesser Joys OF outlets, was TO be fed with olner-
eut parts in the order Of their excellence TIL the
climax of rejoicing was reached on Easter Day
in the dish OF Schweinebraten, and VINO was now
declaring in q die-away, affected sort OF voice.
that she did want TO eat pig at all. Mhere.
then was her vulnerable point? How would he
ever be able touch her, TO influence her, II
she was Indifferent TO the chief means Of happi-
ness known TO the dWelers in those partsg That
was the real aim and end OF his labors, or the
labors, far as he could see, or every one else
to make much money as possible IN order
10 live as well a possible; and what did living
well mean II II did not mean the best foodE
And what was the best Of food II not pig?
Not 70 be killed on her account On whose
account, then, could they be killed? with
an owner always about the place. and re-
fusing TO have pigs killed, how would he ana his
Wife be able 10 indulge, with satisfactory ire
ouency in their favorite food or offer il to their
expectant friends on Sundays? He mourned old
Joachim who so seldom came down, and when
he did ate his share Of pork like a man, more
sincerely that moment than he would nave
thought possible. ''Mein seliser Herr" he burst
out brokenly, completely upset by the olnerence
between unclee and niece meln seliger
Herr And then, unable to go on fell TO
blowing his nose with violence, for there were
real tears In his eyes.
Elizabetfl's countrymen may complain that she
has given 10 the world an unpleasant idea of
German life and character--at the same time, no
doubt, conceding the truth Of her picture. But
apart from a few tricks OF manner and habit
she has shown us only what might be observed
in any country. where given situation calls
forth the meaner traits Of human knd-where
as happens so often, love and unselfishness
strangely stir the springs OF hatred. envy and
1Ia As for Nyha he Oilra he