New-York tribune., 1909-11-06
II Sheaf of Stories, Romantic
and OtherTcise.


lsnao. pp. SO. 7. y. Growen < Go.
THE LONG GALLERY. By Eva Lath-
barry. i2mp. pn. 263. Henry Holi q 90.
MARIE OF ARCADE. By +. Hewes Ian
90 easter. lrontispieCe 10y Rose D'NelH
snlo, pp. Si2 Boston: small. MAJ nard
& CO.
sERMAgNE by Henry C.. Rowland
i2iilo. pp. 32l. The John Lane Company.
CARDIIlAC. Ry Robert Barr. FRONTS
piece by A. -. Issrnod limo, pp. &c.
rhe D.. A. Stokos Company.
Tic SoUTHERNER. 4 Novel Being the
Aulosloc ophA ~ Nicholas WORTH.
i2mo, pp. ~. Doubleday, Page CO.
The detective story has 50 largely be-
ronae a matter 81 the Encouragement of
fsniiiar material. a mere question OF
variations on q given theme. since the
genre itself has certain obvious lmita-
lions beyond which inventivenoss dare
not venture that one welcomes with
pleasure tale that has several elements
~ novelty. OF course. there has 10 be q
crime. and the criminal must De IN
known. there has 20 be also motive.
md that, tco, must be hidden; further
more. IL is indispensable that there shall
Re clews pointing 20 several OF the char
acters IN the story. simultaneously or
Excessively, but away : n the real
perpetrator Of the deed untn the very
last These are not merely laws that
cannot he ignored, but are ingredients
that must be used Into the Night'
does net attempt 20 be an impossible
exception - these fundamentals; nay,
more. il cannot be said that as de-
fective novel, il ranks with the best
81 foreign or domestic make. Its ncy-
city lies IN The choice OF place
IA its use. ana in the invention OF GER
vain tncidents q the action. New
orleans offers opportunities Of local color
snd individuality OF population that are
readily recognized once one begins 10
read. TIE lynching there, several years
age q 3 number of Bidh0Si may not be
~ incidert 70 which we look back wtth
civic pride 5ut il has become part
q history, and furnishes the author with
= legitimate point Of departure She has
done - well a. ihis tale that one BE-
lieves she will DO far better in the future
n the claim she has staked out
A course of Henry James IS good train
ing tor the beginning novelist. accord
sae as tle aspirsEt gc-ng 70 scnco-
70 him has talent and not merely an
aspiring taste. capable of acquiring
high polish OF initiative technique. but
with nothing 10 rsdiate from us own
fnne- se-t. Nov. the central idea OF The
Long Gallery" is la its essence z Henry
James idea: that row of ancestral por-
traits is - English manor house, exert
II D
locks most familiar 10 ST. 1ents OF his
work. His disciple begins, consequently
IN 8 decidedly Jameslsr manner packing
her. sentences with sN they viii hold, ana
uolishiug her dialogue til il Sltiers WITH
an aptness that is just the least little oll
rnonotonous ana fatigulns. But arter a
while she cuts loose from her pattern;
her own pl1t. her own characters take
command, ana insist upon a freor q
more simply human, less scientifically
analytic treatment. Hers, one is ill.,
cliued to think. is Ear more than a
merely initiative talent, and decidedly
laorc than "a cultured taste; hence
James's infinitely delicate method irks
aud retards her She VIII work out
her oNn salvation on q simpler, more
robust plane retaining what is useful
and of lrofit 10 her ga his lesson az she
goes along, and making it, in 50 Iar as
Il serves. au unconscious part If her
equipment.
Marie of Arcade Is au idyi Jhat one
cannot recommend too heartily. II IL SO
genuine. 80 sincerely felt and told with
a.
adaptation Of treatment L. subject \
settlemsnt 81 'Cajans ia bayou basin
ou tire lower Mississippi furnishes both
scene and character. the mysterious
Vyandercr from none knows Where,
Marie OF Arcade" being not "a stranger.
but one of their own race n g. q
simple tale of "a simple kindly people,
Swing Il primitive life. whose limitations
do Uot narrow, Whose poverty is not
grinding indigencr, as "a is iu cities
There is room and occasion in this eN-
lstence Tor tue growth and the mani
festafipn az al the emotions from child
hood 90 old age, Tor joy and sorIoWs. Tor
love and jealousy aud fidelity. for forti-
tude ano loving heipfulness, for humble
ambition and humber self-saclidce The
i0vable characters are admirably differ
Initiated; they are Tot tYpes. but iudi-
alduals. The story appeals 10 one, such
"a record 49, this 81 the best that IL IN
mcn and women is 50 rare III occur
renee IN thc fiction ~ the hour. Tie
dialect, compounded of corrupt French
and broken English, is delicious in its
nairetc; il is the very speech. one feels.
Tor the conveyance of the thoughts au6
feelings and TIE gossip OF these loVabIe
fpik. One is ready u welcome another
chronicle or the happenings in Bayou
BieEvieu
one wonders what can be the u. or
prout or story like "Germaine. which
has not sufficient merit 20 plead the ART
Tor arts sake" eNcuse-a false one always
in fiction as ia the drama. since both
are but vehicles for the study OF life and
'ts significance, its criticism, perhsps.
and never an end ia themselN.s-
which presents a theory Of education
that is 50 repuisiVe that il viii never nnd
acceptance. A Frenchman ting "ad-
Nsnceo' novels IN English becomes the
guardian OF child. and, IN order 10
safeguard her against danger when she
shan Toe grown up starts her on a
course ~ reading OF his own hacks ~