New-York tribune., 1902-01-26

l2no, PIP, 500. Lonsinans. Green & Co
CASTING or NETS BY Richard Bagot 12mo,
PIP. &c. John Lane
THE NEW AMERICANS. By Alfred Holder,
Emo. pp 472 The Macmillan Company
KARADAc. COUNT OF GERsAY. 4 Romance
BY X. and Hes1eth Prichard. l2mo PIP X, 297. |
Frederick \. Stokes Company
Miss Moutrcsor has produced by all odds her
best book in THE Alien" 1t is the best because
it is the most interesting. Her first chapters
Introduce a querulous but lihable Old woman in |
possession OF estate which the law of entail
must turn over at her death TO heir with
whom she has little If any. sympathy. Her sole
companion is a woman who might be called the
heroine OF the story if she were not rather a
mere watcher Of events, helping now and then
10 guide those who guide them. but remaining.
on the whole outside Of the conflict which forms
the substance of the book. The allen is 4
son Of Mrs Mordaunt who. nevertheless. can
not lay the same valid claim to the estate that
can be advanced. and is advanced. by the un-
popular gentleman aforesaid. a cousin. Jasper
Iredae. Cation Mordaunt. the alien is
called according the exigencies of the plot
require. begins by seeming rogue. Curtis Ire
dale is only too anxious to prove him one. In
the long run neither of the men be said to
triumph though both share in certain sort OF
moral achievement. How the tangc is resolved
the reader must find out for himself. We may
simply testify TO the address with which the
author has worked out her well invented situa-
tiOn. and to the seriousness and understanding
with which she has made that working out
flow from the interplay of character. This novel
is OF mystery and surprise; it fulhs all the
conditions OF the familiar modern tale dealing
with q contested inheritance. Yet it has none OF
the sensationalisln of such tale. but preserves
throughout the tone Of a thoughtful inquiry into
the development Of human nature under trying
conditions. well planned book 1t is, and well
written. Altogether example of that sort of
minor fiction which it is a pleasure to approve.
Elizabeth Of the Garden the bright. the
shrewd. the humorous, has a rivaI-a rival
whose humor is trenchant and as wholesome
as her. and whose knowledge of German char
acter is as complete. Mrs. Sidgwck's novel,
'Cynthia's Way'-her cleyerest piece of work
thus far-reminds strongly of The Benefac-
tress." The English heroines are not unlike in
womanly ideality and generosity; the German
heroes show even more resemblances in charac-
ter and circumstance The same fresh viva
cious and femininely ironical style marks the
two stories and wins upon the reader with ire
sistible beguement- No one will put down the
history of Cynthia, imagine. until the last
page is reached. 1t turns upon theme which
never fails to interest-the masquerading in
poverty of the heress who wants to be loved
for herself alone" Bored to evaporation by the
many selfish aspirants after her moneybags
beautiful Cynthia BlOunt insists playing sub
stitute for gOverness friend in German fam
lily. In the consequent comedy she finds not only
excitement and amusement but work good for
the soul and heart shaking romance ending in
well founded bliss. All that might be expected
IN any properly constituted novel: what sur
priSes and delights us in the book is a series of
studies of the Teutonic nature that vivid and
spirited IN high degree. Good Aunt Klopps,
the sensible, kind devoted hausfrau, is a tr-
umph in her way; Wanda, the spo1lt, delicate,
silly elder sister of Cynthias pupils. is little
Exaggerated in the drawing, but not much. The
sentimental tutor. obtuse, vulgar and sordid
under his fine phrases. is a contemplate Great
ure, in notable contrast to the manly hero-a
contrast as piquant that Of the charming
Cynthia with the purse proud, underbred little
widow who Is the meanest figure in the English
girls romance. Not to be forgotten. either are
the little boy pupils who look so hoy-sweet and
are so impishly naughty. All these with divers
minor characters, are sketched in with most at
tractive sprightlness and veracity.
In Casting of Nets we come with amused
recognition upon relic of a former time-the
novel In which the Roman Church is made to
play the part of aIl-devourng ogre and prose-
lytiser. 1t is long since the type was fashion
able, but are bound to say that Mr. Ragot