The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-22
new FICTION.
JOHN MALCOLM. by Edward Fuller:
published by Snow and Farnham. Price


$3.50
Much professional reading, reviewing
and citicism by Mr.. Edward Fuller OF the
Providence Journal has resulted in the
cultivation of standards. not to say ideals
in the matter of fiction which readers of
his critical work have probably not fail
ed TO note. In such measure as the tugi-
tive newspaper essay may illustrate, Mr..
Fuller successfully endeavors TO write ac-
cording to the standards developed by
the process OF canvassing or dssecting
the work OF others. Accordingly, when
he sits down 10 produce a novel one may
confidently bespeak an attempt to make
book according TO his often expressed
views OF what sort such book should be
and indulge reasonable expectation that
he will succeed I'm making II of that sort.
1t Is with thoughts something like these
that the readers OF Critic Fuller will take
UP any work Of Novelist Fuller
The citic and the producer are
rarely so strongly differentiated as
they are In the literary field.
Judicious and skilful theatrical reviewers.
for instance. have collapsed utterly when
they have turned the critical pen to the
writing Of the play. He is bold reviewer.
indeed. who ventures TO put construc-
tive book, other than volume OF his re-
views, on the market. In no field is IL
more easy to advise than to do.
So when We read John Malcolm" here
abouts, IL is inevitable that, we have in
mind the authors critical doctrines and
his point OF view. We are naturally GU
rious TO learn how well he succeeds in
writing to his line and. more than that,
how entertaining to the book reader the
product Is. For. plainly. I'm novel writing
at least, one might live np to ones stan
dard while failing utterly to produce
anything worth the effort or OF interest
TO the prospective reader. There never
was much question among cultivated
readers that Mr.. Fullers ideas of what a
book of fiction should be like, to COM
mend itself, are excellent ideas.
SO much by way of preface, for IL isn't
every day that literary Rhode Island
produces anything for the book counters
or course, the book itself is the thing,
and the only thing, TO be judged We ven
ture the foregoing observations simply be-
cause John Malcolm" possesses that sort
OF special interest for readers In this ter
ritory. Needless to add, such special in
terest is hardly calculated to assist the
book into favor with the reader
book, especially novel, would better
have the advantage OF a reading inde-
pendent OF, and unembarrassed by, con-
siderations or the author or his bent OF
mind.
John Malcom." however, will be freed
from all considerations. other than its
story. so soon as the sophis tica ted reader
within the radius of The Journal has ad-
vanced few pages into it--say about
where Amy Warrinder returns to her
fathers home. after an absence Of %
years beyond the pale, TO find that a
young man unknown To her has been in
stalled as her fathers favorite and is
scheduled To be the heir TO his millions
John Malcolm had bad luck with his chill
dren. His son got into n scrape and left
the country and his daughter ran away
with worthless chap. When the story
opens John Malcolm is alone with the
young relative he has taken to his heart
as n protege and the few servants of the
old mansion. He has planned to secure
peace for the remainder OF his days and il
is this plan that Mrs. Warrinder's ar
rival sadly breaks UP.
The story that develops is what may be
classified as Of the domestic type II is
story of characters that are forcefully
developed, of motives that are plausible.
of scenes and situations that are pro-
gressively interesting, with plot that
Is calculated to keep the reader eager
and that developes surprises to the last
chapter. There is naturalness and sim
plicity I'm the unfoiurng of the tale with
n fine accompaniment OF effective situa-
tion and frequent dramatic climax The
double accomplishment is notable. and
the story is told with grace and dstinc-
tion of style.
Amy Warrinder unworthy daughter
and unworthy mother. is a character that
Is consistently hard and offensive. And
she is very real in the assumption that
she Is a victim of injustice and delight
ful in her self sufiiclency and loudness
In effective contrast. stands Emma Dix.
associate and the real genius
In Mrs. Warrinder's plans and plottngs
a woman OF grit and much resourceful-
ness, who conceals her light humbly
enough until occasion calls for It's vivid
display. Miss Dix Is n fine little sinner.
who never fails TO interest and entertain
the reader. In striking contrast. too. Is
Constance Warrinder. the daughter a
charming maiden, who accepts the OBJ
security that her mother shuts her in un-
I'll circumstances bring her out I'm way
TO demonstrate that she possesses the
family spunk for all her amiability
Constance IS a heroine quite good enough
for Mr.. Howells 20 interest himself In
when next he brings his collection OF the
fairest maids OF fiction up TO date IL
Ronald Holmc. Mr.. Fuller's hero may
strike the reader as rather less positive
a character than those we have men
toned and others in the book. that Is not
really the young mans fault for Ronald
ls n good deal OF victim OF circumstan-
ces over which he cannot properly exer-
else control. and so appear TO his best
advantages However. he Is n likabIe
chap. and the reader will feel confident
that he and Constance live happily ever
after. There are some choice pen pic
lures Of old family survivors of the kind
that fiction may still enable US TO eniov
and John Malcolm himself IL splendid
old man.
10 Is In order TO note. In connection with
this fine and spirited novel. that Il IL the
frst publication OF the sort from the press
of SNOW and Farnham of this city. We
should say that. In putting out John
this publishing firm have set
for themselves a high standard They
have done an excellent piece of workman
shin IN making the book.
But why did author. publisher and
proof reader combine 10 print the archaic
word safe" for sat" all through the