The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-07

'Jady Roses Daughter" the new novel
by Mrs. Humphrey Ward, which has at
tractei international attention as serial
in Harpers Magazine. comes from the
Harper press this week in handsome book
form and with the Christy Illustrations that
accompanied its serial progress.
In several respects Mrs. Ward has done
her most distinguished work in this latest Of
her novels She has drawn a sirgularly
vivid and brilliant picture Of English high
society as represented b. large group OF
important and typical characters &c whom
We are swiftly introduced in 4 certain L-n-
don house OF dignity and marked Gistinc-
ton. In the character Of ncr heroine. julie
lie Breton we need the most subtle. per-
picking. battling and Fascinating woman
whom Mrs. Ward has We; dep:rted. in the
plot which marks the dramatic interest Of
the story We find by Ear the nest. tnopeht-
cut foundation for a novel that is TO be en-
countsred in this authors work.
II Is as Il Mrs. Ward had determined, at
tanning the fullaess of her powers, 10 re-
veal the utmost of her skill IN thaSsheor
telling of "A stOEy. NossI. Enactment OF my
sort, not the mere revelation of tempera-
ment, or of a contrasted little group Of In
teresting Municipalities. as in Eleanor"
but a strong. dramatic, absorbing story.
filled with possibilities even of melodrama
and with fine plenty OF action and incl
Gent. The stage upon which Mrs. ward
has set her story is spacious and inviting,
the scenes are these of an attractive life
with which the author is intimately famll-
lar, the management Of the story is master
~ in the simplicity of its mature art.
Yet, though It has just been said that
Lady Roses Daughter is not first and
foremost a study Of temperament, the fact
remains that the strange personality of
Julie lie Breton dominates the story from
beginning to end. 1t is in evidence from
the moment the curtain riseS-and very like
the first scene in a strongly dramatic play
Is that gathering OF distinguished English
mSn and women in old Lady Henry Della
fields house in London. A mystery is pre-
scented 10 the reader almost in the first
breath, just as 1t was to Sir Wilfred Bury,
returned from five years sojourn in Te-
heran and Fastening 10 visit Lady Henry,
his lifelong friend. whose salon" is the
most famous In England. IT is the mystery
of the dominance of julie lie Breton, paid
companion to Lady Henry. who has, some
how, made herself the central figure in her
MISTRESS society. They are not here for
me-these people" says the old noble
woman, QuiverinS. They are here-come
closer, 1 don't want to be overheard-for a
woman-whom l took in. in moment Of
lunacy'-who is now ro5bing me Of my best
friends and supplanting me in my own
house"
Behind this perplexing truth there is
secret which in the end iustifies and eX-
plains the fact of Julie lie Breton's irresiSt-
ible appeal to those whom she met and fas-
c!nated Lady Henry's companion and
general utility woman. A hint of the Sc
cret's nature Is given in the first chapter.
once by Lady Henry herself in her talk
with Sir Wilfred Bury and again when Sir
Wilfred suddenly behods the face Of old
Lord Lackington in the British Foreign Of
flee; old Lord Lackington. whose per-
sDnality was still. at a. charming to most
women and challenging to most men" It
is then that a flash of the truth comes to
Sir Wilfred and q keen suspicion to the
mind OF the reader. "Of course, OF course"'
says the Englishman, recalling Lady
Henry's words. She is not like her mother,
but she has all the typical points of her
mothers race
And It is in her racial inheritance that !