New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-08
THE MALE FLIRT.
His Characteristics ViUidIy Drazcn
bg W. Z. Norris.

NATURES COMEDIAN. BY ". E. Norris limo.
2p. 3D. D. Appleton d. Co
IT is always easy - distinguish between the
people who pride themselvs their sincerity
and the people who sircere. But there are
other people who nearly elude classification be-
cause they begin throwing dust in the eyes OF
their friends by deceiving themselves. Their in
sincerity is in a sense, the sincerest thing about
them. II one could follow the processes of the
infantile mind. one would probably discover that
these men and women begin act when they
are IN the cradle They diplomatize over rat
tie and are histrionic for the benefit of adoring
mothers and nurses. Do they forget to keep one
eye on effect when they are dying? Perhaps
But OF this We may be sure, that from the
cradle 10 the grave IL is natural for some peo-
pie 10 play a part il is for them to breathe.
That is why the hero Of Mr.. Norris's new novel
is as interesting as he is disagreeable. He is
type. a perfect representative, of the men who
go through. life as though the world were liter
ally a stage. and pursue their selfish aims in
such good faith that il does not occur to them
10 imagine that there IS anything about them
10 be found out" But in the long run fate is
apt to come down upon these gentry heavily.
Mr.. Harold DunyiIle is well described in the
title OF Mr.. Norriss book. Natures Comedian"
He acts well upon the stage pleasing crowded
houses in London. because ii is for him mat
tells him TO do OFF the stage he is precisely
what he is on it-uses his eyes and his voice
with the same artistic skin-and never suspects,
Ia private life that he is storing up trouble for
himself through his nominally engaging con-
duct He is a male flrt, incapable of serious
emotion. but he sincerely believes himself 10
be IN love with every woman 10 whom he pays
court His adventures are amusing. When We
first make his acquaintance he is nearing the
end Of a successful season. To him enters Miss
Lorna Fftzwalter, his leading woman, who is
much IN love with him. and with whom he has
been a little in love. The conversational barom-
eter is set at stormy but even in this first
chapter Harold shows his gift for beguiling the
ladies' Then comes the death of his mother,
calling him back 10 the scene of his boyhood in
Kent. and there, Of he falls in love again.
this time, he thinks, with genuine feeling. Miss
OrTnond falls Enthusiastically in love with him,
but the third woman arrives in due course, and,
with very little delay. has so entangled the
handsome young actor that the reader cannot
guess. any more than Harold himself guess,
how affairs are TO be Strengthened out to the
satisfaction Of everybody concerned. Mean
while. Mr.. Norris gives his story some decidedly
unexpected turns.
The actor turns politician, stands for a seat in
Parliament. and when he fails goes back to the
stage with his vanity chastised in more senses
than one. Rejected not only by the voters. but
by the woman whom he had hoped TO win in
winning their suffrases he is almost inclined 10
feel that the world is tuInbling down about his
ears. Yet even when he is on the verge Of max
ing his proposal to Miss Gardiner his sincerity
is only skin deep. Wei might Harold say Of
himself that he never knew what he wanted.
He knew what he did not want; he knew that he
hated TO be throw2 over by any woman.
It may be conjectured that what would have en-
tirely satisfied his soul would have been to re-
ceive an offer of marriage from her. and. with
deep emotion, deep gratitude and regret-to de-
cline it." This frame Of mind is undoubtedly
characteristic Of a certain type of man all the
world over. To relate further details of
Harold's experience would be to expose similarly
familiar traits; on the other hand it might spoil
the readers pleasure in turning the pages of
Natures Comedian for himself. But we must
quote from Miss Gardeners conclusive summary
or the man He was in many ways charm
ing attractive sort Of being. 1 don't
think he had it in him to care to the extent
which is really Indispensable about anything or
anybody; not even about himself. But
let US do him justice; he was a great comedian
"a great comedian up to the very LAST We
have all known that kind Of man. Mr.. Norris
paints him to the life