New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-09-12
Literary .Nea,s and Criticism

sages. scarcely goes to make a drama He sim
ply does the work that is set fer him TO do and
does II WELL whether he is playing the part Of
a useful lawyer in an American town or gov
erning island for the United States on the
other side OF the world. He is painted for us
as a type Of American efficiency. intelligent,
modest. simple hearted. manly TO the core
There is nothing exaggerated about the portrait,
either. The atmosphere of truth in this book
is its best virtue.
1t is a red letter day which witnesses the pub
LEGATION of q book of short stories by Miss
Somerville and the lady who collaborates with
her under the name of Martin Ross. These
writer's are Jealous sportswomen, who know
how to put into their pages something of the
zest with which they follow the hounds Merely
for the color and movement Of the hunting field
which they preserve IN their work that work
is TO be valued. But 1t is above all their huncr
that makes them irresistible It is humor
which remains IN their new volume. Further
Experiences Of an Irish r NJ quite fresh.
quite captivating as 1t in the first book
they published. several years ago. The fun
fairly bubbles in their stories. Their Irish types
are perfect The absurdities IN which they deal
would be droIl enough In any case. but they are
the more laughabIe because they flow so nat
urally from the characters Of the men and
women introduced Never were short stories
constructed with less of obvious art. and never
were short stories more entertaining They be-
gin in matter of fact wise. and they ramole with
absolute unconventionality TO the climax We
smile as we turn page, and when we reach
the end we shout with laughter There are
twelve stories IN the book. We wish there were
twenty-four.
s.Rv Plight Of Pl1rchase'' Is based on one of
those episodes which have served the purposes
OF hundreds Of novelists. The heroine Is an
English girl the daughter Of an Impoverished
house Her father is none too scrupulols. ana
when q prosperous farmer turns up from vest
ern Canada he is promptly led into q marriage
with Carrie Denham. Leaving good sum OF
money behind him he goes home with his nrloe'
already we'll aware OF the fact that he does not
nossess her love Does the reader need to be
told what happens Carrie watches her nus
hand at work on the prairie. striving to save his
wheat from disaster, fighting outlaws. and
through It all, quietly demonstrating that he is
every inch a gentleman? It is an old story
and Mr.. Btndloss does not illuminate it with the
fires NJ imagination. On the other hand, his sin
ceritv saves him even when he is most trite-
Though the narrative wants vivacity II hoios
the readers attention, and its sentiment makes
fairly persuasive appeal
When Mr. Fergus Hume is sentimental he IS
not in the least celebrating, and there Is III
tie TOO much Of philandering in The Green
Mummy" But whenever he addresses himself
to the mysteries attaching to his mummy he be-
comes amusing. The stepfather Of his heroine
is an Egyptologist, who, for a change wakes
enthusiastic over a Peruvian mummy He buys
if with money supplied by the hero. sending an
assistant TO get it at Malta. The assistant lands
upon the English coast, and the case IN Which
he has been Transporting the mummy is brought
to the purchasers house When this Is opened
however, the object exposed 10 view Is not the
mummy, but the body Of the man who had
brought It home! Who killed him? That is MI
Hurae's riddle and he withholds the answer
with shrewdness, puzzing the reader more and
more as he unfolds his tale. The solution when
it comes, is surprising indeed