New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-21

ton Mifn & Co.
Marie ' corelIi Emo, pp $50 Dodd Mead & CO.
THE HOLE IN THE WALL. By Arthur Nor
rson. limo, PIP 415 Mcclure. Phillips & Co.
There is a uniform excellence about the six
stories gathered together in Mr.. Aldrichs latest
volume which is very comforting to the hard
ened reader of contemporary fiction. In the first
place, each of these compositions has definite
character of its own motive differing altogeth-
n from that in each of the others. In every
fase the author gives his work finish. Moreover.
while Mr.. Aldrich discloses SO clearly the con-
science and the skill of literary artist, he man
ages to retain. throughout his work, an atmos-
phere of nature, of enforced comedy or tragedy.
IN this book we have fiction Of the old fashioned
sort mature and thorough well balanced. and
rich in the qualities of individual mind. The
touch is always light even where the theme is
grave. light in the that it places the au-
thor's conception before the reader with perfect
ease and never with obScurity exaggeratiOn
The opening tale treats Of little incident that
slight ripple in the happiness Of young
and his wife. 1t is full of fun; but where
an ordinary writer might easily have drfted into
a vein of something like farce in the celebration
of this incident, Mr.. Aldrich is faithful to a
more dignified note. and amuses us with Ger
tain delicacy, as OF exquisite talk might
amuse US. His Grace the Duke provides q
kind of meditative interlude between this pretty
tale and "Shaw's Folly" delightfully."- suggestive
narrative OF philanthronist's difficulties. The
scene of AN Untold Story brings in the ex-
cite note for which Mr.. Aldrich has always had
a prediction 1t is barely more than frag
ment but within its narrow limits it is flawless.
In The Case Of Thomas Phipps' some New-Eng
land types are handled with capital humor, and
1.-The White Feather" story of the Civil War,
brings the volume to end with really i'm
pressive stroke of drama Never has Mr.. Al
drich done better work than In this volume. 1t is
interesting from beginning to end. and it has.
for all that the stories in it illustrate no very
exalted ambition, SAVIOR Of distinction.
Miss Corelli offers US romance of love and
politics in an unreal country. beside which Zenda
is a region as prosaic Oshkosh. Her hero is
the king of that country. a splendid sovereign
who suddenly turns from his life of selfish idle
ness to lead In disguise band of political re-
formers. The affairs OF his government are in
the hands Of men who. from the Prime Minister
down are thieves and brutal spectators, bent
on exploiting law, trade and the people, to fill
their own pockets. To these enter the king
whose really daring and acute character they
have not guessed at. He accomplishes marvels
Of lofty craftsmanship. turns out the rascals
and becomes the idol of the populace. Meanwhile
conceived ideal passion IOr a pT1eSteSS
of socialism and when she is murdered by re-
iected sutton he seeks extinction beside her bier
Other loves and hates contribute to the some
what sluggish movement of the plot, and there
is much description of the highfalutin kind
A tempestuous and glittering loQuacity atfticts
all the chief characters-they round off elegant !
periods in profusion at all moments, tame or eX-
citing Some of these characters apparently
composite photographs Of living personages.
The book is full of very ill-digested opinions. |
based a strangely superficial knowledge of
current events and tendencies. That the author
intends to preach in all sincerity a poignant
sermon social and political reform is evident;
it is the worse for her intention that she chooses
to present her didactics through the medium of
a tawdry dull and absurdiy melodramatic story. |
'The Hole in the Wall' Is watersde tavern. |
ancient and foul, of a sort much beloved by nov
ests along the Thames. Mr.. Morrison, of course.
makes his edifice the scene of Crime, of murder
and theft and smuggling. The landlord is a |
hoary old sinner with computations, who in the
intervals of buying stolen plate and bringing in
tobacco which has not passed the custom house |
sentimental and sanity innocent
young grandson A certain pocketbook contain
ing $500 provides the motive of the tale: the eff
and to steal this money are the materials in