New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-16
FICTION
IN cRoMwELL's DAY AND IN OUR OWN.

CAPTAIN MAcKM His Memoj5s s,t BY A RiShfGa
Hlark l2mo, PIP 329
THe REFLECTIONS OF AMBROSINE. A Novel.
BY Elinor Glyn. Emo, PIP. 80 harper q Dio''
THE DRAGON OF wANTLEY; His His Tale ale By,
12mO PIP 2OS Philadelphia; j. g. Lppih-
colt Company
DREAM DAYS. BY Kenneth Grahame. ILLUS us
trated by MaXtieId Parrish. Octave, PIP. 20
John Lane.
The title of Mr.. Levett-Yeatss new book Is not
calculated to inspire confidence. We have heard
too much of Cromwell in the fiction of the last
few years. so much that the prospect OF meeting
him again wakes something like dread But on
the other hand, the author of this latest novel
of the Lord Protectors time has, in one or two
previous books, given a good deal OF pleasure
Of the right sort, and on persevering through
the first pages of the present story we find that
he is able to justify our belief in him. This is
an interesting tale. We are asked, fortunately,
to give comparatively little attention to Crom-
we'll himself. This is, indeed, dOubly fortunate,
for when he does appear, it is to engage in
transactions that are hardly in keeping with
his character. But, the main thing in this ro-
nance is the plight of Sir Christopher Harden.
a Kings man, hiding for his life in the forest
near the home of Il wealthy young woman whom
he pretends to love. Mistress Dorothy Capel
has faith in him. and her efforts to shield him
from harm cause most of the exciting occur
rences which go to make up the narrative. The
situation is complicated by the presence of an
other woman. who has also been the object OF
Harden's advances: a stalwart young officer
serving Under Cromwell is drawn into the
tangle, and the plot goes forward the reader
feels genuine curiosity to how ii is going to
end. The tale is dramatic and even tragic, but
there are some humorous touches here and
ap1 +ba Ton iS he
more attractive through the authors skill in
handling the sylvan charms of the countryside
in Old England.
The congratulations offered 20 Mr.. Davis when
he published his Soldiers of Fortune" in 1897
can scarcely be repeated by The reader Of Cap
tain Macklin,' in which the author treats q
similar theme a Central American State in one
of its revolutionary moods. The new book is
cleverly written. and in one respect at least
shows that Mr.. Davis has improved. He shows
at times frmer grasp OF human nature in his
portrait Of Macklin the young soldier who Is
expelled from West Point for a youthful indis-
cretion and. true to the fighting blood in his
veins, seeks to retrieve his fortunes by throw
ing in his lot with a parcel Of military advent
urers in Honduras. The hero is lovable fell
low with plenty of faults of very human sort
20 counterbaance his heroic traits. But even
Mackn pals after while; lfeke as he is In
many respects. the faint OF the matinee idol Is
upon him, and become the more impatient
with him as We discover that Mr.. Davis has not
after all much of a story 10 tell. The plot, such
as il is. contains very interesting elements
and though as a study OF character Captain
MackIin'' has merits, these not numerous or
strong enough to carry the book OF themselves
Instead of the mature work that Soldiers OF
Fortune" would lead the reader TO expect, Mr.
Davis gives him a clever trfe.
The author OF THE Visits OF Elizabeth" has
endeavored to recapture the successful vivacity
of that book in The Reflections of Ambrosine."
with doubtful results. There is the same in
genue for a heroine. there similar Opportuni-
ties provided for the exploitation OF her pre-
sumed charm and capacity for amusing remark
But AmbrOsne is not half engaging was
her predecessor. the other types of modern
society introduced fOils are. almost without
exception dull, and the whole effect is one Of
straining after thing that once well with
I'm the authors grasp. The grandmother of
Ambrosine may pass muster, though she is the
sort of highbred old lady that is being done to
death I'm contemporary fiction. The rest Of the
people in the book all portrayed with crude
exaggeratOn. The husband forced upon Am
brOsine is unnecessarily bOOrish. his mother is
mere caricature of the parvenue, and the
gentleman in whose love the heroine finally OBJ