New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-05-16
Recent Fiction, Tragical
Humorous.

TIE ns ira by Alec Bali. I2mo. pp as5 Boston
ffTeiie. Illustrated 12mo PIP 2s2. d. Appleton
Co.
I'M cCutcheon. With illustrations by Harrison
Fisher , ana 9 rat nod By Theodore Hap
IhWE WIFE. BY Mary Heaton Worse Illustrated by
ton Mifiin & Co.
When Mr. Hewlett first began to appear in
rint he chiefly the essayist, the man Of
lerers with a romantic turn of mind. He was
also the poet slender volume long since out
NJ print pleasantly testifies. Then, as he de-
.oted himself TO fiction. he showed that he had
/, dual ambition, writing both short stories and
novels He has done good work on a largo
scale: in fact, the first of his novels THE For
os+ Lovers remains one Of the best things he
has ever written. On the whole, however, the
brief episole has always seemed to be most
natural with him. He showed positive genius
IN his Little Novels of Italy, and sometimes
IN his long stories he has atoned for a want Of
sustained power by striking off some scene or
incident with mastery skill. 1t is interesting,
therefore. to read The Spanish jade short
story which We remember encountering in "Har-
rer's Monthly a year two ago. Mr. Hewlett
&c che Of those authors whose gifts make ii al
WAYS worth while to observe what they are
doing He has a literary character. and that is
-are enough. for all that authors are to-day
ne counted in their thousands
1.-THE Spanish Jade throws suggestive light
mn a phase a. Mr.. Hewlett's development which
has come more and more 10 excite the curiosity
of his readers. From the beginning he has been
solieitous Of style. He puts substance into his
work. but at times he does less than justice to
il through excessive pre-occupaton with his
diction. The STOPPING Lady curious Mere
drhian performance offered a good illustration
Of his weakness in this respect The present
volume raises the question to whether his
safety does not, perhaps. lie in the choice Of a
modest canvas. The tale is not. TO be sure. one
Of his hest 1t is distinctly below the level Of
the finer things in the Little Novels of Italy"
But at least there is less of mannerism here,
and Of that stuff of fiction in which II
is the authors province to deal, human
passion. The hero is Englshman, idly trav-
cling in the Spain Of half a century ago He
befriends girl Of the people, rescuing her from
brutal tormentors, and, since there seems 10 be
no other way out of the difficulty, he takes her
upon his horse and proceeds carry her away |
from danger. His good faith is beyond all oues-
ton. but the fates are cruel. The two fall in \
with a scapegraoe young Spaniard, who has |
quarrel 10 settle with the girl, and when Man |
rsrs leaves these foes together for a short time |
his heart. From this tragic occurrence there |
flow developments which strangely and danger |
ouslv involve the we'll meaning Englshman. II
is a clever bit Of dramatic fiction. II Mr.. Hew-
lett will give another Duchess of Mona
or another Madonna Of the Peach Tree are
at least grateful for this Spanish Jade" In it
heat any rate Goes what he has ever been most
impressive in doing-he cuts 10 the bone. OF
course he looks after his style, and there are
moments in which we regret il. but in the
main he comes to close quarters with his theme;
he fnvents q picturesque story and he tells ii |
well
Mr Oppenheinl's latest essay in nelodrama,
The Avenger." is as sensational any OF its
predecessors but IT is a little better written
than some Of the latter have been. The plot is
skilfully put together, and as IL is unfolded the
author keeps sharp eye TO the little details.
50 that the whole affair is rendered more plaus-
ihe In a word, this is workmanke specimen |
Of the fiction Of crime. II starts, all such |
books start, with amazing and even prepos- |
ferrous situation A young Englishman enters |
his rooms at night, and finds there beautiful |
woman who has plainly been rumaging in his |
desk She excuses herself on the score Of hav-
Ing mistaken his apartments for the one over
head occupied by Mr. Morris Barnes. ordina-
My plea Of this sort would not keep man |
4
do nothing so vulgar-you fall in love with your |
mysterious visitor. This is what Mr.. Herbert !
Wrayson does and he lets the lady go. An !
hour two later he finds her again, this time |
IN the hall. They descend to the pavement to-
gether The lady disappears. leaving Mr.. Wray
son 70 discover that the hanson waiting at the
door Of The house contains the body Of MI ,
Morris Barnes who has just got himself COM
forably murdered. Is it necessary to tell the
reader that from this moment Mr. Wrayson IS
much harassed Young man? Is it necessary :
70 mention that when he gives his testimony at
NE Inquest he says nothing about the lady, and
mat as a reward for his chivalry, he should be
iured further and further into tfickly Swallowed
pains? The chief point TO be noted Is that
MI oppenheim keeps his secrets with capital
discretion. He inspires in the reader a keen
oeare 10 know all about it. and he satisfies that
oesre only in the last pages Of his book In
Hoentally. he supplies not only shudders but en- Z
tertannent. o
M jacques Fut7elle has done very clever y
@ins He has used the ingenuity which has .
f'ooo him in such good stead in his stories OF | =
Urine and its detection. in order to give a new
urn to a motive Of sentimental comedy. The ;,
simple Case Of Susan" is not by any means a :
simple tale II is, the contrary, as cum IT
hnsy framed as any of those queer narratives =
= which the author has celebrated the pro- y
Isious abilities Of Professor Van Dusen- But n
NC atmosphere Of this novelette, is an atmos-
l4ee OF gayety, Of froa frou. Of trfes light as CT
- susan is dirt incorrigible flrt, and p
ief kttenish conduct is due of those ST
s1hoe-standngs which ought not to cause o.
AsDooy the slightest trouble, but which often ii
y tnihgs wrong and then go steadily piling pi
. TIE agony Susan allows one Of her friends
49,. se' the impression that q man whom he sees Ii
he~L s7clo 49,, H. noi ming / ~
. Nenuc trouble for Susan. One tangle leads III
sNo'her, the number OF persons concerned is y