New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-15
MORE MYSTERIES.
Strange Stories of Life an africa
and an america.

THE SPIRIT OF BAMBArsE BY H Rider Hag-
gard Illustrated limo. PIP vii, sis, Longmans.
JANE CABLE. BY George Barr Mccuteheon. IL
Illustrations in color by Harrison Fisher iarno
pp. $50. DOdd. Need & Co.
BLI,NDEoL3DIED BY Earle Ashley waleott IL
4co Indianapolis: The Bobbs- Merrill Company
THE Spirit OF Bambatse" reads like kind OF
preliminary study for one OF those stories Of
African mystery with which Mr. Rider Haggard
has often enabled us 10 feet the hours II
Is briefer than most OF his familiar romances.
and II is not quite so good. but # nevertheless
shows much Of his accustomed power IN sx-
citing curiosity and maintaining it until the
end. Upon this occasion he makes US acquaint-
I'd with his hero and heroine Just as they are
on the verge Of disaster. The steamer in which
they are journeying along the coast OF Africa
goes 20 the bottom. and when the heroine wakes
UP 10 find herself safe and sound in another
vessel she learns that the man she loves has
disappeared into the sea. OF course. the reader
suspects that the disappearance will be ac-
counted for sooner or later in a way favorable
TO the happiness OF the exceedingly distressed
young lady but. equally OF course. she goes on
hugging irremediable grief through nearly
every chapter Of the book Mr.. Haggard knows
al about the art OF keeping sentimental young
makes IL desirable for them to be filed with
Jog. In order 70 keep the unhappy girl OF The
Spirit Of Bambatse" occupied until IL is time
for her lover 10 reappear. he sends her into
darkest Africa 20 hunt for hidden treasure.
She is accompanied by her father and partner
Of his. the latter thorough paced rascal ana
the three have extraordinary adventures These
include desperate search for the treasure in
a vast cave hoored with old human bones ana
peopled TO the seeing eve with grisly ghosts
il is al, rather nonsensicai. but Mr.. Haggard
has way with him. He can persuade US that
there really an immense amount OF gold
buried in his African fastness and we almost IL
not quite. believe in the fantasticalties which
are developed in the pursuit OF the great prize
IN other words. he is a practised story teller
and he throws over his we'll knit narrative the
glamour Of true romance.
We are a little sorTy for the pretty girl who
gives the title 10 Mr.. McCutcheon's new book.
She is a harmless young person. devoted 10 her
father and mother. and genuinely pleased when
a handsome boy asks her 20 marry him. But
all the time there efforts being made TO cast
a shadow over her origin. and the murlriest most
sordid passions rage around her innocent head.
The woman whom she knows as her mother has
really only acquired that title by process OF
adoption. and she has foolishly concealed the
ruin or the matter from her husband. There Is
cruel blaeknailing lawyer IN the background.
who is in possession OF all the facts OF the case
and though his own son. whom he dearly loves
is betrothed 10 the amiable Jane. he Is at pains
10 make everybody IN the little circle altogether
miserable. II takes a long time for Mr. Nc
Cutcheon 70 straighten out his mystery, and he
is a trihe heavy handed at the task. In due
course. however, Jane and her lover come into
their own. leaving the reader family amused.
This IS summer fiction OF the highest character.
"Blindfolded" IS about as preposterous a yarn
as we have read IN a long time Never was there
such mystery as that in which Mr.. walcott
deals Il is impenetrable throughout twenty
... ~ the thirty-one chapters OF which the book
IS composed. end this is TO put too great a
strain upon the patience OF even the most good
natured OK readers. II the twenty-nne chapters
| were in themselves interesting one could stand
being kept, like the hero. blindfOlded through
! them all II sufficient hints were given OF some
really romantic leading motive. which would
ultimately Justify the incoherence Of the scheme,
one could forgive the author his pages and pages
! OF crude rnelodrama- But he keeps Us too long
IN his weller OF bevildernent, and when ar last
he is forced 70 show his hand the explanation
/ Of his mystery turns out 20 be q thing OF very
! little consequences HIS situations. meant 20 be
/ hair lifting never have even shade Of dramatic
/ interest: they are only violent and obscure. and
the climax is equally Ineffective. crude. over
wrought book Is this queer tale Of life in san
Francisco.