The San Francisco call., 1909-03-07
IN TEE STRAITS OF
NAoELLAN :
"Araminta"

b. ]. c. snaith author OF Broke Of Coren-
den" etc Published by Monat Yard a
Co. New York. Price sl.50.
The publishers OF this unusually In
teresting novel send with IT this word:
'Araminta' is, in fact, almost Thsck-
- erayan. From It's first page on it is
inspired by a fine humor and high
artistic purpose"
The praise is high? Not a BIT OF
g. no more carefully written novel
has come out Of England since Some
how Good" by William de Morgan.
as to which that same adjective.
''Thackerayan." again had to work
overtime.
j. C. Snaith is well and favorably
known in England. but in America he
is known only by two books and popu-
lar because or one. Broke OF Cow
enden" was praised by every readek
but William Jordan. Jr.'' which ap-
peared last year, was a partial disap-
pointment. That book was study
or genius. but so exaggerated and un-
real that much Of real merit was
passed by unappreciated. IN this new
book the author has written as charm
ing a comedy Of manners as can well
be imagined.
The plot OF the story is Of the sim
plest A worldly old woman. one Lady
Crewkerne. sends Tor q long forgotten
niece to come and hive with her. The
niece. Araminta, who is called Goose
because she IS rather a silly" is the
daughter OF Lady Crewkernes sister.
who made a misalliance by marrying a
poor parson. Lady Crewkerne has two
old friends. Lord Cheriton, who is al
most Beau Brummel. rich and worldly
and 65 years old. and George Better
ton, the duke Of Brancaster. twice a
widower chndless, very stupid and
thinking only Of eating and drinking.
The latter is SO years old and also
very rich. The scheming old lady de-
termines to marry the niece to one of
these old beaux, but rather favors Lord
cheritOn. Araminta IS ravishingly
beautiful and almost the living image
OF q certain ancestor painted by Gains
borough and called "Araminta, Duchess
OF Dorset" Seeing the resemblance
Lord Cheriton sends an expert milliner
and dress maker to young Araminta
with instructions to make her look
like the picture. and she is soon known
as Caroline Crewkerne's Gainsbor-
ough." The gossip and stares OF the
people DO not seem to worry the
Goose" at all. She is rather a silly"
and she continues to be q docile and
Uninteresting beauty.
At the same time Lord Cheriton, who
is very artistic and a great collector.
wants TO buy the real Gainsborough
from Lady Crewlzerne. She will not
sell. so he makes arrangements TO
have the picture copied by James Las
celles. a struggling young artist. Young
jim goes TO Lady Crewkerne's to paint.
and, seeing the lovely Araminta, finds
that they have known each other In in
fancy-have lived IN adjoining villages
and the story IS plain. The plot it
selt is SO simple that no one could
be pursuaded to read the book just for
the story, but Snaitlls manner OF tell
ing Ii Is perfectly delightful. IT is
quite unlike any other tale Of today.
and yet it is strictly up to date with
the Thackerayan flavor. When Ara
tainta first interviews her aunt she
tells her that she comes from the par
souage at Siocum Magma. After long
time the aunt says:
by the way where is slocum
MagnaT
Miss Perry's blue eyes, which by
now were perfectly dry. opened to a
width that was astonishing. The ig-
norance Of London people was really
very remarkable.
'Slocum Magma is the next village
to Widdeford,' said Miss Perry.
All. yes the next village 10 Wilde
ford. One ought 10 have known
''rhe manner in which Miss Perry
stroVe 10 e1tenuate the painfully
obvious ignorance OF her august and
formidable relation was really a
triumph OF good breeding.
They haven't quite got the rail-
way at Widdeford yet, don't you know
said Miss Perry, but # is only three
miles away. Of course
The railway is only three miles
away, OF course said the old lady, as
Eenting with grim chuckle."
Every time Araminta NEE Is new peo-
PIE and is questioned about her home
this same conversation is gone through
IN the most sober eafnestness and with
good faith. The girl seems to have no
sense OF humor whatever, but she is
not always quite such a silly as she
calls herself. It IS quite impossible to
get into the spirit Of the book by
reading a quotation or two from it. 1t
is unfair to the book and particularly
J unfair TO the author. If he is a young
man, great things may be expected
from him, for this piece OF work is
IN a class by itself and deserves all
praise.