New-York tribune., 1908-04-22
Nr. Crascford on the Life and Char
acter of q PTimadonna.
-vr pRnttDONNA

NJ Crawford is at his best in this romance
re tells 81 absorbing story. and he places AT
.se centre Of il g woman whose character is fun
~ interest. His readers well remember Fair
MARGARET" the book 20 which this is q SEQUEL
,-5 ROW the heroine Of it found her way upon
.he are-atic stage. She reappears in the present
or,--~e. accompanied by some Of the figures that
nee AT her side in the earlier tale. and is soon
--,--lye5 i- the affairs Of others Her success
has been rro6isious. She is the leading soprano
- hr- day In the first chapter OF ''The Prima-
s--ra~ s-e Is singing in Lucia to a crowded
t--se and is holding Il speIIbound Then there
ss a terrific explosion. the building is wheIned
!, darkness. and there are all the signs of an
i-7rs-szrE panic. Cordova. as Margaret Donne
x knozu upon the stage, has an inspiration
sle begins To sing in the darkness and thus
,~s--s The audience % its senses The lights
s-e turned Qu again, and q great catastrophe
lss been averted. 1t is a dramatic beginning
r-z l-r C-eluford goes on as he begins In the
same chapter woman dies from causes that
nay c- may nor be natural. and with her last
A-rs-r she puts the heroine in possession of 4
mysterious secret. He did it says the diving
Ida Fa-aa--a-. indicating that she means Mr.
r-r-s Van TorD. q wealthy man OF business
vr7 has been IN love with the primadonna. but
has become engaged 10 marry the speaker Of
-zs5z- cannot Qut down the book until he has
found cl-
TIE story carries Margaret to London. ard
tt7-e her Path is crossed by curious company
r- friends and acqlaintarces- Her two old low
.-s whom we have met before. are still faith
ri sz1h after LIS fashion. Logotheti. the au-
5--=--s Greek millionaire, has won forgiveness
s- lis attempt 70 abduct her. by the simple
--a7szs o- continuing TO adore her and taking
--s--r- -.15.s n WOO her as she prefers TO be
rres5 Llsnington, the fastidious young au-
,--- is rs devoted as ever. but is beginning to
.-i-r.ze f=- ways This attitude Of his is ex-
NAMED 5- some of the best pages in the book,
s-- before VaEsl0E upon the prinadonna's char
s--z- aa must refer TO the drama in which she
----z part Van TorQ comes TO England. too
a- --a same shiIt-and ne soon distinguishes
t.r==re rv meeting clandestinely the English
wife n Russian and presenting her with
,s--- sum az money Why does he do this?
Esr Is l. --a-- while al appearances are against
-zz ----=s--.o-, his meeting with Lady Maud
is dearly Innocent To make the darkness
darker -. are informed after a little while that
Ez- ----.- partner. Bam5eTgeT. the father Of
--z E.--- woman vho dies n the first chapter
Is h=-- .- proving that she was murdered by
-.- Toni As chapter follows chapter the
--.=E business becomes more and more
as-.-E ard follow the primadonna
---z. --- Proceedings with breathless inter
.=- -. IS d sad 'l=t down" aS the tale draws
p s l.-. lLr C-auford's invention would
----. 2. have tagged. and neither IN MS clear
.r The murder lr-ster, nor in his eX-
-z-.-.-r .. the relations between Van ToTp
s-- Lady lLaul does he quite fulfil eXpecta-
u--= E-- rc tells d good story. nevertheless,
q. r. have said The climax is weak only by
..---..-. -1t- what mas gone before. In il
sE g. a.- So bad Moreover. II might be even
weaker and e-IE 81 would be- condoaed for the
s-- .- me portrait OF the heroine
-.- --l1esral ..-u-e IN tais story i a woman
.- --.. characters. Margaret Dome i a sensi-
---.. and VERY refined girl. the daughter OF q
-s- oxford scholar with au Of the traits that
z-... -r- -7-.a Mime Co-doya. the successful
r-s j. Z. very different individual But
---. -.--a r.-5 characters. belonging respec-
-.-.. -.. r.-srsE- and - public life are unsTm-
Zach - the o-he-. they have neces-
.-- -..--- II spiritual contact. and Mr. Cra|-
-.-s never been more subtle than in his eN-
-.. .- The manner il which q normal Eng
Is. ri deals .rl-a -he conditions in the life oI
s- .-.- SINGER H. thus paIn-s hls heroine IL
.-- Stages or the struggle
-.. .-e- -s--- -lr- clearly understood that |
-=. --aa- rHa natures 9uf ~ her oF'stIi.- "a
-a- the -va did rat A-".1ys asIre. I'm 9-5- /
% --,--. ~ ~. - ir herself she had not |
u.r ur amy elaborate Seli-sjlUt. IoI |
people d.. Ea- study themselves She SIN |
.- ~ aer Jgro selves Wa able to |
4.-H.-- much amy woman !
The a.e-ss5--.t Like vhat The other diS-ih-44 |
.r- Tile raurr.iG .eIiJn was open anu 4
..... ~ -..r-l .n. morbid The two women |
respectively Nm EorcOva and Miss /
-r-. -a-r- thought Mn-- 'ordoNa Wa /
59g 'a-ea . ,e-5 ri v5s.5rty - i5'-IS I-rseIf
r .-.a- Rand r-- brilliantly successful Cor /
Ass Elul- was very fond OF Ed 1
-H ----- -r- writer. a-- the PrimadoEna /
- s.--.- weakness lor Cou~L-ItIn me LOgOtheti, 1
-.e sr..z -.an-l=r. sgle lived IN Paris and who |
F- 81. a-rs r-ales and diamonds
Curiosity ss u which Of the two characters |
r-- la the long run get the upper hand and keep |
b is steadily maintained. The question is han
--- v.-- skin and tact NJ. Crawford does not
-ez- Il from the point Of view Of an observer
having q prejudice from one side or the other.
His --s- aim has been 70 preserve the truth, 10
make his heroine an absolutely natural person.
-1 this La has succeeded, and has not only
-z-e thereby a better romance. but has given
. his hook. Considered a q study of character,
a unexpected weight
Ua5a- lie ti-,e Of Natures Aid TO Design"
J1z- Lane Company L s D owen and
Louise " Bu1ce haze published portfolio Of
zaces which should prove OF high value TO the
-=s=-z ~ textiles. wall papers and the like.
--sy have Photographed z long list Of flowers
= bloom. 11ve~s from amaryIlis TO zinnia- and
--zE have rer-oduced these in 1l5 half-tones 50
Clearly printed that there is no mistaking the
forms o- textures Of the growths represented.
: .oEe- ard leaf are here made as vivid as black
"a white ulI permit, and in the list Of plates
II co-rs are al enumerated. The compilers
tI1E perfectly veL that the best course for the