The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-16
SOME OF THE new BOOKS


Fiction readers who, after a course of
"Sir George Tressady' and ''Marcella,"
had vowed never TO read another of Mrs.
Humphrey Wards novels, were beguiied
by the opening chapters of Eleanor to
forget their resolve and at the end found
themselves at least partially justified. AL
though that book showed abundant evil
dence of the authors disposition TO drop
into politics and craftsmanship as Mr..
Wegg dropped into poetry, and to discourse
didactically of many things. yet it held
more of the human interest than some of
her earlier tales. and TO that extent found
a more sympathetic reception from the
public. In Lady Roses Daughter" she
has departed still further from her earlier
methods and has produced picture of
English society and a study of individuals
almost entirely free from the characters
tics of the essay. which is her natural field.
In places. it is true, she pauses to sermon
ize over her characters, but the sermons
are brief and do not mar the interest and
scarcely the artistic qualities of the story.
For the tale is really the achievement of an
not by nature. Mrs. Wards work in this
book is striking illustration of what may
be accomplished by an intellectual woman
OF trained literary tastes through practice
and perseverance. She is a woman of great
talent, but is wholly lacking in the genius
which puts that spark of fire into her crea-
tions which nakes them beings of life and
light. For the most part, though they are
clearly drawn and with great pains and
much detail, they remain creations and
Will finger in the memory only as clever
drawings, not as perSOnages vivid as those
with whom We have actually walked and
talked But inspiration has come close 10
her in this book. AT least one character
whom she introduces has very human
quality. The sorely-tried Lady Henry is by
all odds the most lfelike portraiture in the
book; her very RACES, so excusable are
they and so probable, excite sympathetic
interest in her personality. But the hero
Inc, Lady Roses Daughter" is a far less
successful delineation. 1t is not quite clear
that the author desires her to win the read
ers entire approval, since she pictures her
as possessed of many faults and weak
nesses; nevertheless she does describe
her as the possessor of great personal
charm. as a woman so fascinating that
she wins friends on all sides, women
as we'll as men-friends who are faithful
through good and ill repute, men who be-
come her lovers and remain her friends
when they lose her. And yet, with all her
efforts, Mrs. Ward is unable to convey to
her readers any realizing sense of this
charm. On the contrary, MademOiSelle LIE
Breton remains from first to last a person
age rather repellant than otherwise. The
description of her personal appearance
helps to this unfavOrable impression 1t is
hard to comprehend the destinations of a
woman extremely tall, thin almost to
emaciation,' with chin and mouth too
strong, cheek bones too much in evidence,
and marked pallor. Less accurate descrip-
ton would have served better by leaving
something to the readers imagination. AS
for Jacob Delafield, who Is plainly ia
vOrite with the author, he is good deal
of an ass. 1t is evident from the beginning
that he is destined to be the husband of
the stormy-natured Julie, but though there
is natural interest in having Mrs. Ward sue
coed in her obvious purpose OF making
Julie duchess, ii is impossible to care
greatly for this result on his account New
ertheless, in spite of this curiously unat-
tractive heroine and this hero quite too
good to be agreeable company, Mrs Ward
has produced a remarkably interesting
novel. Her plot, though borrowed, as she
life, as told in biography, is an uncommonly
good one, and not so familiar to the public
that it's origin lessons the interest. The in
cidents are handled with great literary
skill, and the story is so well rounded and
so free from superf1uities that the Severest
| critic must admire its workmanship. If the
sudden liberation. not to say affection, felt
| by Mrs. Delafield for her husband seems too
| speedy a growth, the development is per-
| haps not open to criticism. The situation
| is dfficult-and she is to be made a duch-
of the book is the picture given of high
| society-a picture drawn without effort by
| one so familiar with il that the truthful
ness of the portrayal is entirely convincing.
| The story holds the readers close atten-
| ton from beginning to end because of its
| interest as a story, but because OF its lit
eTary finish alone it is a novel that no one
should miss reading. Illustrated by Christy.
| Published by the Harpers.