New-York tribune., 1902-06-29

ments that go to make a novel in this book
The love interest is not neglected Here and
there the glamour OF romance is suggested. But
it is only suggested. What we are asked chiefly
| to find our account in is the personal charm of
this character or that in the book. We find il
Miss Judy, for example, to whom We are intro
duced in the first chapter is assuredIy de
lightfuI little old maid, and several of the other
innaDInls Of Oldfeld are, in their very different
ways, equally beguiIing- After ALL the title of
this book suggests that the celebration of
quiet village, rather than the evolution Of an
elaborate plot, is the authors first purpose,
and, granting Mrs. Banks such aim. il can
not be denied that she has achieved success.
She gives US a clear idea of what the tranquil
existence Of group Of kindly folk may have
been like in an earlier phase OF Southern his
tory, lived out within the narrow limits of a
secluded corner Of the PennyroyaI region.
Miss Charles. in her turn. calls In the Coun-
try God Forgot" a story. and grievousy disa >
points US. She had perhaps, story to tell,
but she has pretty nearly ruined it in the tell
ing. She is spasmodic and obscure The be-
wiIdermeut Of the first chapter is deepened IN
the second and only sense of duty has en-
abled US to persevere TO the last. Having ar-
rived there and given the " hole matter careful
meant 10 give Us something like a plot EIt
We imagine that she also meant to paint "a
picture Of life in Arizona. and while both ambi-
tons are to her credit it is plain that through
lack Of the constructive faculty che has. s. 20
say, fallen between two stools with result
not very encouraging 70 the reader Not in
long time have We come upon novel put to-
gether with so aulateurish i touch We regret
this all the more because there are charaC ters
IN the book. and there are circumstances in it.
which excite just enough curiosity 70 make as
wish that something effective might be made
out OF them. Perhaps some day Miss Charles
will find herself and exploit. with adequate
craftsmanship the material which is apparently
within her grasp. In he mean time all hat
can be said in approval Of what we believe is
her first book is that it shows promise in its
substance if not in its execution.
We are glad that the abundance Of new fc-
ton by American writer's has not discouraged
the publication in new editions of several books
which have borne well the test of time. Henry
Holt & Co. bring out the sixteenth impression
of the anonymous novel Of Washington life
Democracy" which We long ago praised for
its genuine humor, its clever satire and its gen
eraI brightness and finish. 1t is pleasant 70
greet it again in its form Welcome also
is the new edition, published by Fords, Howard
& Hubert, of a FOOLS Errlnd: BY One of
the Fools which ever since its first appear
ance in 1879 has been gratefully remembered
by discriminating readers of American fiction.
It is one Of the best novels of the recOnstruc-
ton period ever written. Miss Anne Douglas
Sedgwick's two novels, The Dull Miss Arch
inard' and The Confounding of Camelia'
both of much more recent date. In fact, the
first of these appeared SO late as 1899 But
Miss Sedgwick is accomplished writer. as
her latest book, The Rescue" has just re
minded US, and il the success of that novel has
invited the reprinting of her earlier books the
public is so much the gamer. She is accom-
plished, and she has ideas and tone all her
own. The books placed again before US