New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-19
NesC No0els By Mrs. Atherton
and Other americans.


TOWER or IVORY. A Novel; BY Ger
trude AthcIton. lenno, ID. VII s6S. Tho
Macmillan Company.
TBE HOUSE OF THE WHISPERING
srsntlspioos lsInO, ~. y, 4ss. q. y.
Puinam's Sons.
TBE CROSSWAVs. by Helen Reiminsny-
DIR Martin. i2n.o. 10. 81 Tho Century
Company.
THE GODPARENTs. BY Grace sartwen
Mason. illustrated Emo. pp. 2sd
Tie HOuEhtOn Mifflin Company.
THE PROFESSIONAL. AUNT. BY May
noughton AIifRin Company.
The scene upon which the curtain rises
On AIRS. AthertOn's romantic drama is
one wei calculated 20 engage the read
sr's interest. she places Il in the Munich
az mad King LudWig--not yet so mad as
20 be placed under restraint. but fully
launched upon that life Of solitude. ex-
fTavagance and intense absorption IN the
music 81 Wagner which made him a
positively fantastic figure. The heroine
~ Tower Of Ivory is an American
singer, priced by the King for the sE-
traordinary genius she shows in tho in
depreciation OF the works OF his adored
composer. We hear much Of her char
acter and exploits as an artist. for both
are, oT course, closely related 10 the
movement OF the story. but for time az
least we are almost indifferent 20 the de-
vol0pment Of Margagethe StyT's affairs
80 beguiled are we by the authors de-
lghtfully atmospheric picture OF the old
Ravssisn capital, her revival Of its social
color and movement and her animated
portraits OF men and women who are
obviously characteristic types. Decided
~ the background counts IN this book.
AS for the story Itself. II is one Of rather
curious interest, one recalling the stun
IA which the late Marion Crawford dealt.
and something az his mood. though IN
her conception OF character and In her
manner Airs. Athcrton Is a very differ
ent writer.
Her plot, badly stated would seem 90
he simplicity itself. John Ordham is a
young Englishman Of good birth who in
tho course Of his preparations for a dip
lomatic career hnds himself studying a
little. and dawdling a great deal. in
Munich He becomes intimate with Mar
Farethe, who ordinarily keeps herself 20
herself. and in the mean time various
ladies, including his mother, try 10 get
him comfortably married. The singer,
too. does her share in leading him into
the paths Of matrimony and success, but
presently when ne has been safely united
10 his pretty American heiress he wearies
OF her and in the reaction turns again
10 his operate friend. Clearly, this Is
simple tale Of philandering, self-seek-
ing. love. disillusionment and lawless
passion. The plot is conventional in the
extreme. But Mrs. AtheTton does her
best 20 oNade 1he pressure Of her IA
miliar stage properties, and wreaks her
self with gusto upon the portraiture 81
her two leading personaEes. With the
woman. II must De confessed, she has lit
he luck In painting Marguerite Styr
she follows no doubt unconsciously. the
hackncyed lines 81 musical" fiction. in
that she attributes 10 the singer pretty
nearly supernatural artistic powers. VIC
wonder why the novelists who go 10 the
operate stage for their heroines always
ienore the fact that the great singers OF
actual llfe are pretty Wcll known 10 most
readers. with tho result that even the
most enthusiastic Of tho latter are per
Ioctly well aware of the limitations inn
l.osed by nature upon genius itself 40
human creature ever sang as tho prima
donna ~ fiction is wont 10 sing, and
hence a portcut like Marguerite STyr
does nei So much as begin 10 commence
to prepare 70 carry conviction. The
lady's case is in no wise improved either.
hy The candid revelation she ultimately
makes of an almost incredibly lurid past.
Through this effort % achieve originality
Mrs Athorton only makes her internina-
hly loquacious heroine seem more than
over figure of fustian- But with John
Ordham she strikes q truer note.
d. at "A very important point, she also
strikes a false ono. il is not. perhaps.
matter of great consequence. Mr.. ord
ham. whose Intellectual resources are
pprpctuany being emphasized. does not
Tor moment persuade AS that he has
ANY larger allowance 81 brains than you
expect as "A matter ~ course I'm tho aver
acc. quite undistinguished youth. His
brilliant attributes arc never realized
upon the printed page But ina novels We
arc accustomed 10 the great gifts Il wit
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