New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-23

But what is mink? rather imagine
II is a word each man defnes 20 suit
himself: or TO suit the woman 10 whom
he applies it, II is like 'prig'. only
TO be explained by examples. We were
, Cncc-a group Of men--discussiug GER
1 tain young lady whom one Of the group
/ plloricd at once as Il mink. Another
said.
NO, she doesn't answer 10 any OF the
definitions Of the word which have any
authority"
Il care nothing about YOUR authori-
ties. The girls mink and there's an
end ont"
The latter part of the phrase was
Of course borrowed from Johnson who
had used a word much coarse. II a man
has dislike TO express. he does not
always discriminate. The dictionary
says mink is "a pert girl a hussy.
a jade; a baggage" quoting Shake
spcare. who uses il: or Malvolio Goes. Of
Maria in Twelfth Night; and shcri-
dan uses il. Worse still. il is "a female
puppy" as if synonymc for another
unprintablc word. II is not really neces-
edry 10 take "a scientific or even philo-
logical view Of il. but if We do We ar
rive at a less rude meaning. Mink is
n reduced form Of minikin. who is first
! "a little darling and then n fin"
mincing lass" So that after all my
friends invectivc missed fire. But in
ordinary usage this softer Specification
is not intended. We all know Young
women for whom the harshcr sense IS
! thought none too severe. In this. az in
! other cases affecting women. woman's
opinion is or ought 10 be decisive and
the reader will consult Mrs. Lang with
a certainty Of seeing justice done.
What other perceptions than those Of a
woman are competent with respect
either 10 a type If there I've a typeJ
or 10 an Individual? ono might de-
mand as in other Judicial matters. i'm
Partially. but one must not demand too
much. Whether YOU agree With Mrs.
Lang or not YOU will read her ana will
/ welcome her az she has long since been
welcomed in England. TO the great
company OF writers who have distinc-
tion and something 20 say.
Miss Mary Johnston's novels II
novels they are To be called, follow each
other IN quick succession. II is no,
many months since tho echo Of South
ern battlcaelds vas ringing through tho
pages Of her previous book forget It's
name-and now comes Cease Firing.
Englishmen ask whether this ladya
unrcmitting efforts 10 fan smouldcring
resentments into Game again are wei
coined either in her own south or IN
! the North. or are We 10 assume that
novel writing is TO take no account ~
moralitics: political or other?
one thing Miss Johnston might take
account OF, and that is length. She
oyerpasses the limit. She forgcts that
/ the reading power Of her public is not
inexhaustble: and that with het~mon-
otone Of patriotic fanaticism the OK
/ haustion may come all tho sooner.
The English arc no longer partisans Of
the extinct Confcdcracy. The majority
of them never were. even while Il
lived. They have therefore neither
prejudiccs nor prepOsseSsions ana !
/ suspect they feel the strain OF Miss
.lohnston's perpetual appeal 10 both.
Her passionate manifcstoes have 20 be
treated as novels, but the controversy
she revives might be. so far AZ The
, English are concerned. struggle be-
tween Athens and Sparta. They
award TO this writer certain measure
OF praise bat HEY DO not think novel
ought 10 be a pamphlet Of civil war.
! must find room for a word about
Mis-. Janet Ross "Luccd' one OF .
serieg Of books on Medieval Towns
plhlished here by Mcssrs. Dent. No
reader of Mrs. Ross The Fourth
Generation" will need 10 be reminded
Thai CHE has long lived in Italy. ana
long studied ana loved A. She haS now
told i'm I'VE chapters the story of luccd
80 it has never been told before; found
ing herself throughout on italian an
thori'ics. from some Of whom she. be
ing a born translator. now and then
gives 4 passage rendered into til" most
vivid English. II is a book Of hard
facis. one long record Of slcses and
battles; of political strife a. well a.
military: Of perpetual italian intrigue.
trcachery. violence and contempt II
popular rights.
To tx all the details ~ ones mimi
il not easy even when they are sci
forth in Mrs. Eoss's crystal style. Nor
need one care 90 remember them all.
For presently from al this wclter ii
couteuding centuries cmerges con-
cept.on Of Lucca. and o. what HE was
like 10 The Lucchcsi. which eliminates
rhe whole period II becomes CO.
'bcrent living story. picture OF an age
forever past; Of a municipal existence
fought for as if for Kingdom Of
race which has left irnpeTlshable iega-
,.i.s. Iucca az il Is to-day. with It's
art splcndors Of 20 many kinds. Miss
Er;ch.cn has described with knowlcdg'
nic,tIr,souencss and true sympathy.
That Is the other half Of this little
volume. The two halves together give
>ou the whole LuCta. u. W. ;.