The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-05
THE HOUSE OF MiRTH.-BY EDITH II,
n Wharton. PIP. 5ss. sl.5o. Charles S ,eil,
ner's Sons New York Beli, h'en-

THE HOUSE OF MiRl III p, - ~ /. liz
Wharton PIP. 5SS. si5o. ChariEs S ,eia,,
ner's Sons, New YORK. Ben ~
fnond. .,,,,o
that this is both the best and the nost
i,,,,nriant worry that Mrs. Wharton mas
81 for given lis. To all the high lnteiiec-
ua,ttv and finished analysis which nave
DISTINGUISHED her earlier books, she 'i5s
here added the element which mas MN IN
erto been chiefly lacking+-eHerSaaS ny
man emotion. Her gift of per1ect Stlu.t.
IRE. before this rather characterized ps
mn almost chilling aloofness, flowers ~ !,
."rhn House of Mirth.. with the proved
ability to give also flesh and blooa h,'u
\ !, heart. While surrenderng none oil tne
b unusual exccilenccs of her previous ~ork,
shc hns succeeded in Introducing Il ne"
and necessary element which both AUS
charm and interest to those otheI On,
celiences. and gives this book, We shouii
say. n more direct and far WIDER APP
zeal.
It is not merely in a distinguished man, man.
ner. however, that The House -. M -,
wins title to place In that littie com,
nany of modern American novels Whose
evident mort raises them high above tus
nInne ne tho pleasant mcdiocrltY OF
years fiction. II It is possible TO sep
nrato tho two. Mrs. Wharton mas oSen
no less happy in her matter th man, M ~,
manner ."rhc House or Mlrln
stpry of the really upper clrets W
New York society, written IL WoViu az
pear from the inside. "itho"l resetNe
thn vcil is drawn back and we are al
lowed to see what is going on behind u,
I'D wn have reason to believe that that
-oinr.on actually is. Ii Is safe TO say
thai Tho life OF New f,rk's four hundred
ms never been revealed In way Mt once
On ,,nspnrinE and so mastery. It's ways
and methods. It's occupations and amuse-
ments, It's motives and principles ana
above all the sort OF people who go 10
make 1t up. are set before us with Il
dizziness and understanding which leaves
nothing to be desired If We CHANGED 20
have entertained the suspicion that that
society was more or less rotten. We do
not know that there is anything here to
mako us under obligations to revise our
opinion.
'6rS1n this cnerating and dcadening hot
house atmosphere there grew and bios
somcd the splendidly conceived heroine
Of this book, Lily Bart. 1t was not only
in physical mould that Lily Bart was
formed on large and generous scale.
Even the vast deficiencies of her up-5
bringing had not quite OVERLAND the
beauty of a nature which. had been
framed for things large and noble. TO
her rare aud glorious beauty she added
ali the graces of Il perfect social train
ing, ease wit, charming and perfect tact.
Her real social perfectness indeed, Few
of her friends had the delicacy to nppre-s
ciate other than Lawrence Selden. VINO
loved her 1t is true. but whose love was
SO complicated with many other cons'd-5
erations that 1t was ready to speak only
when speaking was permanently too iatc.
Selden alone saw Lily as she really was.
Everything about her was at once
vigorous and exquisite al once strong
and fine lie had II confused sense that
She mtst have cost u great deal !"
make that a great many dull and ugly
PEOPLE must IN some mysterious way.
have been sacrificed to produce her lie
.ea.; aware that the qualities distinguish
tac ncr from the rest5of her sex were
cs3cny c1ternai; rs thonshaa fine glaze 4
q; beauty and fnsti:iousncss had been
epl,ei 20 vulgar clag. Yet the analogy
LEFT him rrs,;is:ied. for a ec/ n text