The St. Louis Republic., 1902-09-20
E FORTUNES Of Oliver HORN Other EN BOOKS LITERARY GOSSIP

.'The Fortunes of Oliver Horn" new
novel by Mr.. F. Hopkinson Smith. come.
among the earliest autumn publication:
from the Scribner press. The story has JUS
run successfully as serial IN Scribner'.
Magazine. and will be received with keer
| interest in the book world
| II Is pleasant romance of artistic life
| he hero of which is Southern-bred boy
OF the aristocrattc caste. q talented. man
| ly and loyable young fellow. In the ante
bel-um Southern atmosphere which envelop'
the earlier part of the novel, as also in ths
, sdNentures encountered by Oliver Horn
when he studies art In New York City, II
Is evident that the author has incorporated
much personal experience. Both phases OF
life are treated with the tenderest sympa-
thy and with a colorful picturesqueness
which Mr.. Smiths readers have come TO ex-
pect as a certainty in all his Hterar-
achievements
The dominating character in the book.
however, Is not young Oliver Horn. hut
old Richard Horn. his father In this char
acter Is depicted q most unusual comhina-
tion, that CT the indolently bred aristocrat
whose talents turn. nevertheless. into the
channels CT useful scientific discovery. As
an inventor Richard Horn is a genius. al
though, patheticaliy enough, he fails to
profit from his inventions, the sole financial
gain OF mis- life coming just at the moment
OF his death. His discoveries are utilized
by others. who make fortunes thereby but
undeterred by repeated disappointments,
Richard Horn keeps at his work until his
own once ample means are dissipated.
Throughout all his viciss!tudes he Is a
brave courteous, high-bred soul. the typ
ical gentleman of his times. There is a
touching and stirring scene near the close
of the book. where, at a New York artistic
gathering. old Richard Horn reveals his
mastery Of the violin and the fencin--foil
TO jolly party of his sons Bohemian
friends.
The quain:ness of the characters intro
duced in the first half of the story cannot
fan TO attract and hold the readers a.tea-
ton Old Richard Horn himself. his body
servant. Malachi. the dainty old maid Miss
Lavinia Clendinning, Nathan GIL. with HIS
beloved flute; tho fat an6 wheezy old Max
Inser. with his cello are one and al most
hkeable creations in fiction. The pictures
of the musical evenings at the Horn resi-
dence arc delightfully."- old-fashioned and
out of the ordinary. When young Oliver
Horn goes to New York. first TO earn ais
daily bread and subsequently to learn TO
be painter, the scene changes to that
of rol-icking Bohemian life, and many fig
Tres undoubtedly known to the author In
his younger days come upon the boards
The love element in the story Is rot very
assertive, but IL is agreeably handled The
romance IN which figure young Oliver and
sweet Margaret Grant is a pretty romance.
the ending Of which need not be told the
reader in this review. The girl, like O,ive-
himself. is an art student in New Ycrk.
She IL Northerner. and IN the stormy and
tempestuous times of the Civil Wars cut
break. the violence OF which has ,ts piace
in the pages OF this story, this fact con-
stitIses an obstacle to the uabro,zsi prog
ress of loves young dream. The old sccia.
and political line of North against South
Is rigidiy drawn by the families on both
sides Accompanying this devclorrent Of
the story there are scme powerful scenes
OF typical conflicts that preceded the actual
outbreak OF the Civil War. The novel as a
whole IS strong and eminently representa-
fiN.. of the e. hnr