The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-02
The Grace ofOrders.
By N. E. WINSTON.
Published by The Abbey Press. New York.

Miss Mamie Winston's latest book has
been received in the city Of her birth
with that wide variety of opinion which
heralds TO the seasoned and critical read
er the presence of something in it. 1t
also endorses the observations made in
certain paragraphs, on page 24,
which relate that About this
time some one in Plantcrsville had been
indiscrcet enough 10 publish a rather
daring book" lis that apology. or irony?)
which Miss Fitzgerald and other viz
tuous souls felt it their duty 10 attack.
One evening this subject came up i'll
conversation at Mrs. Wcbb's.
why discuss it sc,' asked Mrs. Webb,
when we all acknowledge that Il choice
IN novel reading is a, matter OF tcmpera-
lncnt more than of taste or discri:ulna-
tion?"
.'of course It it, said the Doctor; lone
person may be put TO sleep by the very
book which another finds Delightfully."-
amusing"
There is one thing which answers the
first question about il; the book con-
tains nothing of the sort which nr 'ugat
universal disapproval upon her first pro-
duc,ion. There is just as ln;icl, if Dot
more, OF searching thought ana Of Pre-
test against traditional conditions III
THE Grace of Orders but it is more
sensibly selected and IN re iiscrcctly CO.
pressed Indeed the book. once o:2e
has patiently, sometimes dogge%:y, read
II to the end is revelation of the
authors deeply sympathetic insight into
the struggles of character; CT iiei 'isiStef-
~ analysis Of vital, men:al ana spiritual
issues. and Of her studio is and pains
taking efforts 10 give Ter thought ir1e
literary form. The authors inability Ia
express herself cnterea.ntlSiE IS lit al
most fatal defect in her WORK. LAer
is internal evidence, however, that she
will in time overcome this paramount
Gifhculty.
This means hard study and hard work,
but Miss Winstou's books are proof oil
her large capacity for patient effort and
exacting labor. il a woman OF her
subtle understanding Of love, her str
ring ideal OF its preliminary manifesto
lions and her delicate anticipation OF
its fulfiIment. can restrain herself from
marriage and its absorbing consequences,
she ought TO be able TO distinguish
herself in letters. But to do good work
OF genuine artistic merit, Miss Winston
must reform her methods rigldly. NO
more Photographic studies OF places ana
people as in THE Grace of Orders. Inc
of Plantcrsvilie; and everyone recog-
nizes who might have been posed for
nearly everybody in the boon, particularly
3he rector of st. Stephen S. Alexander
and Gordon, and The heroine herseli-
There are possibilities Of tasteful selection
in photography, but of true art, never.
And no more pages and pages or soma
prose given over TO minute analysis oI
a situation, or of a purpose, or TO the
Of M
and wearlsome monologue. either. The
frequency of This fault would Indicate
that despite her apparently deeply afrn-
pathetic nature. the author iiNes very
much alone in the world OF fe" thc'Gt'
and labor. This seems the only way TO
account for the solid h!o0ks q a'Su-
mont and Inoralization and often s;lf
or stilted conversation IN her book. The
a,ltl,or chary of dialogue That one
sIspects that she is not acchsl2nlei 20
ccmpanionable conversation, 1T would
he as fatal for her TO 30 &c The cihor
extreme and food us with dialogue of
the .'DoiIy'variety; but something must
be done to illuminate her work, ana IN
.-faw of her excellent equipment in both
cxnerience and imaginalsrn, ] should
think that the best thing would be more
contact with bright minds Of her own
,,ersna sion. TO practice her in qulckenlnS
conversation and thus too, 10 school
her in that .'brevity which is the soul
OF wit"
This book is not one TO set the river
on fire. but it has much more in it than
the casual reader Will discover; ana
IT is my deliberate judgment from read
ing tho book that the writer OF The
Grace of orders" has ability of no mean
order which should sooner or later re-
feet great credit upon herself and upon
tho rising Virginia school Of author
ship. ~
Schiey and Santiago.