The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-22
NEW BOOKS.
cbarminE DOlIy Played The Piano.

Charming Dolly Played the Piano.
The story Of Dolly Winter DANES Pott
4 COZ IA told In the form Of letters. The
tide page says that they are the letters
Of friend, which Joseph Harald Il per-
nitted to publish The publishers notice
says that they are mot fiction, but an ex-
ceedingly rare correspondence between
rare people, Jack purports 10 write them
10 his friend Thornton Most OF them are
dated from the village Of Mossdale (situ-
alton not speoihed), whittier Jack went
for Impressions that are supposed to lie
nearest 10 nature, and where he met Dolly.
Jack was an elaborate letter writer.
Though his letters, a. we have learned,
are not fiction, he was at the pains 10 give
them the appearance that II is the business
Of tho novelist to produce He reported
dialogue carefully and achieved what
appear 10 DO studied dramatic efeots
II he had written a work Of fiction and had
not corresponded in truth the result would
not have been appreCiably different We
dare say that realism is involved here
and that fiction and truth are finally mar
ned 10 a work Of indubitable history
The truth Of this narrative is perhaps
particularly borne out at that point where
Jack describes Dolly's playing on the
rano. The allegation regarding any young
woman that she plays on the piano Is
wrapped In the atmosphere Of truth IN the
FIRST place. We wish that We could declare
10 the contrary, but experience and our
own truthful habit do not permit us. 1t is
undoubtedly to Dolly's credit that abe Inn
provised and that she was qualified TO
achieve q motif Jack at first remarked
only the beauty Of the back Of Dolly's
head and the curve Of her neck. Gradually
no became aware that abe was mprovising
the sad story Of Miss Gordon, a maiden
lady who had been disappointed IN love.
We have our own ardent and somewhat
pathetic IDEAS regarding music as 1t has
largely been made known TO US. We are
going to write an essay some day on the
subject Of the tonic triplets. We viii not
sneak exhaustively here Of Dolly's triumph
. N sentimental Interpretation on the plano.
We will bet a siIpence that abe interpreted
, Mas Gordon's history with mathematical
emphasis, and that she used the loud
treadle; but It is no matter, and We viii
not be the champions Of the other boarders.
The point IL, after all, that Dolly had dark,
dreamy eyes, and that between her and
Jack there established itself, In spite Of the
piano. an elective affinity.
Jack guessed the motif before he was
s5ure oft. He was q clever fellow and knew
how 10 recommend himself. Hush, said
Dolly whenhe told her what she was playing.
She was at once frightened and con-
ouered; and We stand ready TO wager that
any unattached lady playing on the plano
can be conquered by the wooer who win tell
her accurately what Is In her soul. We
should not wonder II It would answer II he
should tell her inAoOurately; but Of that
we are not sure, being inexpert.
For long time Jack denied to his friend
Thornton that he was In love with Dolly.
Doubles Thornton was hard to convince,
since Jack had declared Dolly's outlines TO
be Gredan and Dolly's face 20 be that Of
Beatrice Cend- 'Do you actually take me
for fooli' wrote Jack. But he vas no fool
,St ali, and when he married Dolly It was
precisely the right thing TO do. They
dniShed up at the Waldorf-Astoria, and We
dare say that the lonely reader has seen
them there, promenading fehcitously In
the display corridor, and that he regarded
them at ouco with approval and with gentle
reasonable envy. nDolly had left the piano
silent We ourselves should have loved her
Just a. well, but We know from what We
have suffered that our feeling In this matter
IL Of ANAL account.