The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-21
Minor Fiction.

.'Ballantyne," by Helen Campbell, is a
novei by an author whose reputation has
been won mainly in other lines of work,
and it has certain interest on that ac-
count. In Prisoners of Poverty and
Women Wage-Earners," both valuable
books in their way, she has gathered ma
tariaI which is TO some extent useful in
the present story, although the latter is
not a purpose novel or a problem novel,
but rather a study of character and of
American conditions. II is original, and
well worked out, and, as one might ex-
pect in the creation of an author so ear
nest and thoughtful in other work. there
is no borrowing of the methods or char
acters of other writer's. The book is de-
cidedly unexpected in it's developments.
The plot what there is Of it, is made
up of the conflict between the ideals of
the hero and the heroine. The former is
an American. brought up in EnglalN, and
held there by devotion to his mother. who
is strongly opposed to his crossing the
ocean; the heroine. an American girl of
the same antecedents-Boston and the ISL
ands of the Massachusetts coast-be-
comes thoroughly dissatisfied with Amer
lean conditions and goes to England,
where the two are thrown together by
succession of curious happenings. There
is a poetic, almost idyllic, element in the
earlier part of the book, and the author
seeems frankly TO recognize the fact that
things sometimes happen in real life as If
they had been planned for like the moves
on a chessboard. At any rate, odd as the
condolences of the story are. they do not
impress one as being unnatural or forced.
The hero, in the course of his American
experiences. visits Brotherhood founded
in New Jersey by a Scotch enthusiast,
whose character is all in ALL the most
startlingly original thing in the book.
Nobody like Jean Pendleton Morris has
before been put into literature. and if
less skillfully handled. the character and
the series of episodes attending its de-
velopment might seem morbidly sensa-
tional AS it is, however, no such impress
sion is given, and the acts and sayings
of this strange being are shown to be
the logical result-of causes which. If they
do not operate often in human affairs. are
yet perfectly natural In a word. Morris
is singular without being absolutely i'm
possible.
The prettiest chapters in the story are
perhaps the earlier ones. in which there
are pictures of the staid simple life of
IiymOutn ana NantdSkct, ana the child
hood Of the heroine is described In a way
which is rather fascinating. The book
ought to have a success, especially in
Boston and New England generally.
where the scene is partly laid. (Boston.
Little, Brown q co. Sl5O)
Truth Dexter" by Sidney Mccall. is
q story Of a somewhat novel type, with a
plot which Is a little strained. and one
or two very charming characters and
chapters Truth Dexter is a perfectly un-
trained Southern girl OF good family,
brought up on n ruined plantation by her
grandfather and her grandmother. South
ern people Of the old school. Tho grand
mother is a most delightful old lady, and
must rank with other fast-disappearin
types which have been pictured IN the
fiction Of Southern writers. The hero is
a Boston lawy or, who in a ~ OF pique
over the coquetries of a society woman.
marries Truth and takes her to Boston:
and the piquancy of the tale lies mainly
In the unique contrast between her
thoughts and ways and those Of the So
ciety TO which she Is thus suddenly in
PRODUCED. The hero Is not much but a
fgurehead. but the girl is captivating
One OF the happiest bits Of description in
the book Is TO DC found " lie chapter III