New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-31
FICTION.
Stories Mostly in Romantic Mood.

Illustrated Emo. PIP. 362. Dodd. Mead & Co.
A MASTER HAND. The Story OF Crime, BY
mans Sons.
Mr. Harland adheres in his new book to the .
same motive that he has exploited in two pre-
yious novels AS in 1.-The Cardinals Snuff-Box
and THE Lady Paramount" he treats of dainty
Iovemaking in a dainty manner. finding for his |
background such scenery as suggests at once |
Italian nature and the painted landscapes OF the
theatre. Most popular novelists nowadays re-
peat themselves, when once they have achieved
a successful effect, and Mr.. Harlard is hardly |
TO be blamed for following the fashion. More
over my Friend Prospero'' Is very pleasant |
little romance 1t revolves around beautiful |
old castle in Italy where the hero, a handsome |
young Englishman, is staying as a lodger alone, |
he thinks, save for two humble companions He |
is the heir to q peerage, and in the mean time
has a very small income. Presently it appears
that a certain princess is likewise dwelling on
the same estate. They meet, of course, she not
knowing anything about his worldly prospects,
and he not guessing her rank; and they proceed. |
equally Of course, to fan in love with one an
other. 1t is a pretty idyIL But wish II were
not so pretty. II Is not simply Mr.. Harland's
having done much the same thing before that
makes US feel his work In My Friend Prospero-
TO be the fruit of trick than OF art.
1t is the essential tone Of the whole thing that
the author had never been heard OF before.
The book is all rosewater and sugar candy .
compound of sentiment and precosity deadly
sweet that the reader becomes positively thirsty
for 4 little jet Of merely human emotion Every
body in the book is type perfect that he or
she ceases to exercise the functions of an actual
living type, and strikes us merely as n kind of
puppet fashioned with loving care by tho
author, but left helpless until he pulls the wires
The hero is described as IAN unself-conscious
sort Of fellow" but he IS really self-conscious-
ness incarnate and talks in the same unutter-
ably felictous style characteristic OF the hero of
each OF the other books mentioned above. Tho
heroine IS persLstentlv as graceful and beautiful
and picturesque II IS possible for her 20 be
without disclosing any OF the traits of veri-
table woman. The subsidiary characters are
drawn with equal artihciality. Why we Won
der. cannot Mt Harland be merely natural
and content TO paint human beings as they are1
IT is plain that he delights in high-bred charac-
ters, that lie appreciates the charm Of Italy.
that he has sympathy for the Catholic Church
Why, then. does he go on treating these things
as If they were much material TO be made
into copy? MY Friend Prospero" is. as We
have said. pleasant little romance; but our
pleasure in it is sadly discounted by the authors
failure TO show beneath the surface OF his
cleverness any insight into character any abil-
itJ " CIedte Ied4Iy plausible perSOuaBCS.
The author of Cherry" gives us IN that book
what Mr.. Harland gives US in My Friend Pros
pero." trihe. but it IS a triHe colored by OBJ
servation Of human life. The scene Is laid in
eighteenth century America The actors in the
brief narrative old gentleman and his
daughter two claimants for that daughters
hand. and few minor figures brought in to
render assistance at certain critical moments
Mr.. Harrington has hit upon the humorous idea
OF making the loser in the rivalry for the hero
ines love the teller Of the tale and at the same
time showing that unhappy young man as quite
unconscious Of all that Is going on under his
nose to make his suit hopeless Poor Sudge-
berry, sitting doSn years afterward to recount
the incidents Of his early adventure. never even
dreams of the revelation of his own faulty that
he is making. He born a terribly sober
soul, and he has gone through life unaware of
his having any limitations whatever. His rival
succeeded His own conduct In the whole affair
had been excruciatngly absurd But what OF
that? The secret of his failure eudes him to
the end. and he sets forth the history of II
without cracking smile. Nevertheless he Is
not dull The substance of his story is ex-
qusitely droll. and Mr.. Harrington is to be
congratulated on having written his book with
touch as light it is sure Cherry" is a bit
or charming craftsmanship, 4 book to be heart
lily enjoyed