New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-10-19

u.s. Whartons touch III the portrayal OF the
.,aerican woman is unerring, and she employs
= nth beguing effect in The Fruit of the
- Bcssy Westmore, the beautiful young
-, whose cotton mills should serve her
-, &c q source OF income but exercise a
,.ie1z, tragic influence upon her destiny, is
e NJ those types framed TO eXasperate while
.f., allure She has something of the character
=. nud Of thistledown, but just a tiny
,bble may disturb the equilibrium OF great
cb,ne so this little tissue of femininity affects
che course Of the lives around her. All the
1,-eads Of interest in the book are treaceable in
,a WAY or another to the mere fact of her en-
rance upon the scene. Justine Brent. who
sbares in the action of the plot, is a much
stronger type and plays, when the time comes
more consciously effective part: but it is in
,er uortrait Of Bessy that Mrs. Wharton's art
., the more brilliant and leaves the more vivid
impression.
The opening of the novel makes its appeal on
grounds Of humanitarian rather than romantic
continent Mrs. Westmore has been well
nrepared by her late husband, a materialistic
and indugent soul. to fill the role OF an absentee
rroprtetor. When, in her early widowhood, she
visits Hanaford ito look into the management
az the mills" it Is with no expectation that
the lock" will bring to light any cause for
interference with the management. That, as 1t
hsppens. IS marked by defects having their
origin in the unthinking rapacity of those who
profit by the mills and the sordid policy of most
Of the officials in charge. The assistant man
sser. John Amherst, who alone resents the
current abuses and burns 10 correct them, has
the good luck to face Mrs. Westmore across
the situation His heart is full of eagerness
10 turn the mills upside down, to increase their
efficiency by various improvements and espe-
ciany by lettering the lot Of the hands" How
viii Bessy respond to him? What OF her heart?
It's susceptibility TO Amhersts campaign and
The dangers lurking in It for him. well IN
dicated in Justines description Of her as she
was in her schooldays:
She was always the dearest little chameleon IN
the world, taking everybody s color in the most
lcharning refecton-if you'u excuse the mixed
ms 2e' ~ 1lS one tot e ncI OE WI
particular color of her own. One Of the girls used
easily E.isla-d.
OF course. she falls into Amhersts arms.
though it must be noted that Mrs. Wharton
shows less than her usual adroitness in arrang-
ing this solution Of the matter. The kindling
Of love between Amherst and Bessy is limited
at. it is true, hut it IS not made altogether
plausible. In obedience TO the ancient sorcery'
Of life" we are told. these two CROPPED for and
found each other "a regions seemingly so
mote from the accredited domain of romance
that It would have been as great a surprise 20
them 20 learn whittier they had strayed as to
see the arid streets OF Westnore suddenly burst
ing !rto leaf" The surprise is for the reader,
who, n spite OF this passing warning, is not
really prepared for the swift elimination Of
Amherst's wooing. Partly this is due no doubt,
10 a certain want Of vitality in Amherst him
hended clearly enough. but with no STRINGS OF
Sympathy. He counts, not for his own sake,
but simply as the cause OF developments in
Bessys character. It IS as though he were
3ust embodiment Of the cotton mills. just a
source Of irritation 70 their owner. IN that
capacity, at all events, he IS very successful.
in the conflict between Bessy's will and the
plans of industrial reformation advanced by her
husband. the spoilt child becomes more and
more interesting
She can love Amherst, but she cannot love
his work. Soon cooling in her enthusiasm for
the mills, she wrecks his happiness through no
deliberately cruel repulses. but through the nat
Ural impulsive operation Of her character That
character is exposed in closely written yet
broad and living study. so luminous that
must cite at least these specimens of its quality:
Bessv Westrlore had in full measure that gift Of
unconscious hypocrisy which enables woman
make the man in whom she is interested believe
that she enters into all his thoughts She had
more than this-the Gift of self-deception, supreme
happiness Of tn unrefecting nature, whereby she
subjects they discussed. TO regard him the mere
sDokesInan IF important ideas thus saving their
Intercourse from present constralnt ana from the
awkward contemplation Of future contingencies.
i don't know Isays JustineI that should care
in a man Who made life easy; should want some
Don't imagine i' YOU i invented tast, EVEN ' gPi
It. J <
pleasanter TO he thought Interesting herself"
Bessy s mind was not made for introspection. and
chance had burdened il with unintelligible prob
70 which her Imagination attributed the deliberate
malice that children ascribe the furniture they
vate sense OF helpless injury and to disdain in
advance the advice she was perpetually seeking.
Her Imagination was thrau to the spoken word
Amherst strives in vain 10 break through the
tangle Of petty emotions in which his wife is en-
lneshed his liberation from intolerable pre-
dicament only coming through the accidental
tragedy which occurs in the middle Of the book
This tragedy subjects the story as story, 10 a
curious dislocation. Up to the time Of its intro
duction our attention is fixed upon the problem
"f the mills and its reaction upon the love of the
hero and heroine. When Bessy is thrown from
her horse and is brought home to endure long
drawn out agonies before she dies the presence
of Justine Brent at her bedside develops a oues-
ton so poignant In itself that it practically OBJ
Aierates the whole business of the mills Just
what this question is may not, in fairness
10 The reader, explain, but may observe that
IN her handling of il Mrs. Wharton weightiIy
illustrates the verse in Genesis from which she
mas taken her title. The challenge involved in
Justine's action ought. in a certain sense. to
MAKE the fortune OF the book. 1t is bound TO
provoke discussion. Indeed. as regards this mat
h.