New-York tribune., 1901-07-14
FICTION.
THE PORTRAIT OF \ MAN "E-XCELLING
IN SPECIOUSNESS"

OUR FRIEND THE CHARLATAN. A Novel,
BY George Gissing. l2mo' PIP. $50. Henry Holt
The title of a novel is seldom so well invented
and 50 concusivcy justified by the book it intro
duoes as in the case OF Mr.. Gissins's latest
story. 1t is not simply that Dyee Lashmar is
most accurately described 10y the word 'charla-
tan" II is that he is emphatically our friend
a type familiar in modern life that this book
seems no less a work of portraiture than a work
OF fiction. 1t does not give us. We hasten to add,
in the faintest sense Photographic portrait
Readers Of Mr.. Gissing's sometimes depressing
but always powerful studies of lower middle
class society in England-and We like 10 believe
that he has the wide public that ne deserves
are well aware Of the fact that with him real
ism means much more than the slavish repro
duction OF exactly what he sees before him. 1t
has always meant-and never more thoroughly
than in our Friend the Charlatan'-a remark
ably clear vision Of the things that lie below the
surface OF existing conditions. and a mercessly
truthful Interpretation of them. No matter how
much energy he may eXpend on the correct
description of material facts. it is plain that
What he is chiefly driving at is the discovery of
, the spiritual elements they symbolic or con
ccal. Dyce Lashmar has the touch of univer-
salty upon him Probing into the innermost
recessos Of his character and exposing all that
they contain of dross and weakness with a skill
that is all the more effective because it is ex-
ercis,d neither compassionately coidy, but
/ with kind of robust impartiality, Mr. Gissins
funs in the most wholesome manner the duty
! Of the novelist To hold the mirror up 10 nat
ure." He knows how numerous are the men
who looking with sincerity into that mirror of
his could help but recognize some at least
Of their own traits; but never for 4 moment
does hc take sides never does ne seem glad or
/ sad u grow nournfu with regret or to chu"Nle
/ with the amusement Of the cyEiC. Simply the
truth because he loves it. Is, we imagine, ms
goal.
! His way of exhibiting it in this book is to take
his hero through series of experiences. cover
ing but a short period of time. yet amply sur
hcicnt to test the mans character at every
/ point and To disclose its every ingredient. IEce
Lashmar is a young EnSlishman, the son OF
. country clergyman. whose egotism joined To Il
! light headed enthusiasm for the shallower po-
litical nostrums of his time leads him far from
his fathers straight and narrow path INTO the
facf. highway Of a glib materialism. Mr.. Gis-
sing, who is well abreast of contemporary
thought is not Indifferent to the weight of hered-
ity. He indicates in those comparatively few
pages which he devotes to the elder Lashmdr
and his wife a morbidIy critical disposition on
the part of the vicar. and almost vulgar
trivalty in his helpmcet that may fairly he
| taken to explain some Of the defects in their
son. But this acute student of human nature
knows better than 10 seek in the sins of the
! forefathers for a mawkshly charitable abs'-
luton of The sins Of tho living generation. The
vicar and his Wife, after all. abide by the better
rule. Dyce lets things 60. His ideal was
honesty. even as he had strong prejudice IN
favor of personal cleanliness Hut occasionally
he shirked the cold tub; and in the same way
4 ut IL.
/ He had elimpses Of the light, but it is always
| easier to gaze toward it, talk about it, make
plans for reaching it, than to Gird up one ;