New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-28
SATURDAY,
MAY 20. 1904.

Congreve' is entertaining imitation Of the
real thing None of the characters are OF flesh
and bOod-au are made up for the stage. like
Pam herself. yet they made up rather skill
fully and strut their brief hour with atr.
The plot is neither strikinsIy original nor badly
hackneyed. but the faithful Duke and the scoun-
drelly Earl the high minced poet with hump
on his back and deathless devotion in his SOUL
the beWitchins fisher girl turned actress and
dancer bringing London 20 her feet: the hoyden
Lady Kitty, and Lady Betty the fair and dread
fUl shrew for counUerfOil-the whole group have
an artificial charm. and their adventures are set
forth with certain seventeenth century pro-
lixity which spins out the story without losing
the thread of interest.
In the preface 30 "Huldak." by Alice Mac
gowan and Grace mcgowan Cooke. the authors
say; IF the readers OF this book shan be
brought TO feel that "a man may keep 4, saloon.
be gambler. and, remaining reprenensibie in
these particulars have cOmmendahe ard Iowa
bic qualities; that even stage rObber may have
his virtues; it's authors win be content" IL fs
rather a pity tina, the authors should have
chosen task SO often and so excenentIy lone
I By many others. Moreover, it beJrays an ig-
norance OF the real and Undoubted charm OF tho
book which lies in the exposition of it's title
character Huldah the shrewd WISE simple
| abundantly loving old woman around whose
knees all the persons in the story gather al
around their natural mother. That this Is sub
consciously the real purpose OF the narrative
is evinced by the fact that the book is prac-
ticalIy plotIess. but consists of series OF epI-
sOdes in which Aunt Huldah plays always tina
leading part. 1t is homely story OF a mors
komely Western town. filed with cowboys ana
/ shady characters and temporarily abandoned
| children. all OF whom Huldah sarvlce. Of the
| Wagon Tire House. rounds up in the great circle
| Of her mOtherly love and tender care. Tia
/ story is capitally written. in a fresh. crisp,
style. full of veritable local color. and infused
| throughout with the charm OF Aunt Huldah's
wise. homely and loving philosophy
| In the ineluctable "foreword- to her romancsl
| Of the Middle Ages. The Castle OF Twilight .
| Margaret Horton Potter makes shift" as shs
might say in her quaine speech. to beguile the
| reader into the trust that her historical novel;
IS not off the same loaf with most slices Of SUCH
| provender. She undertakes 20 show US the dis
taft side of days OF chivaIry. before the time os
women's clubs. when ladies. left at home while
| their lords jousted or went a-hawking. sat and
! span. and took no thought for careers OF their
! own. Mr.. Green undertook to write something
| which should not be a drum ana trunpet
history; Mrs Potter has tried to write an hiss
torical novel with few at arms and no
J gadzookses. But since she must have a man
she introduces US to a troubadour who was not
| a nice person. even If he was handsome and
could make passable verses. He beguiied the
! daughter Of the great house of Crepuscule QUE
| OF her black veil IN the convent TO roam the
| world with him. with lamentable results. few
phases of a Grieg nOcturne printed as a
lett motiv for the tale. which is dolorous thing
| deliberately plainttve and embroidered with
many woes. tapestry Of forlorn women, a
! sampler OF sadness
'PerroneIIe" by Valentino Iawtrev is the titIa
| Of story of bourgeois life in France at the be-