New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-01

fails to convince us in the end, no doubt
because, being a realist he can knead
20 his own purpose far better what lie
has seen than what he has imagined.
The Isle Of Life" is the book OF be-
sinner; its invention. while no doubt
original with the author, is insistently
and persistently reminiscent to older
readers His hero is Superman, no
doubt. and in that sense modern but
Rochester. too, was Of that tribe. and
fiction teens with strong men who have
forced noble women TO turn from
aversion TO passionate love, to condone
unavoidable pasts and to trust to true
rassion and a higher rebirth through II.
Mr.. Whitman's hero, in short is Of the
Byronic tradition, a man who has
drunk lifes wine TO the lees, about
whom terrible tales have come from
the ends Of the earth to Rome. where
we find him-tales Of gallantry, but
also of debauchery. Of drink and cards
and abductions in the face Of sudden
death He is rich. of course, and hand
some and gigantic. if coarseped by ex-
ccsses; and he is q novelist whose
stories are miasma, corrupting the
minds and the principles OF weak
Youths. OF course, deep down he has
preserved a sterling manhood. 1t has
slumbered long. II has been druggeo
into silence, hut II will awaken TO
sound the true note OF the call OF love
when the moment comes. He Is an ex-
patriate American. He does not pose,
but Mr.. Whitman continually poses
him, which is even worse.
Such a hero requires heroine noble
through and through. with the power
within her that will deny the call. then
listen, and finally answer it in an out
burst Of surrender. Of dedication. The
author provides her, Of course and
does much better With her, though she,
too. comes Of a long line Of familiar
fctional women. In fact, what carries
tho reader really along In his perusal
Of the book is its adventure, after the
man has abducted the woman by
sprtnging overheard with her from
steamer and they have landed on q
small island off the Sicilian coast from
the fishing boat that had picked them
up. Here IL good material. indeed, real
romance among q handful Of poor, ig-
norent. superstitious people. with
vendetta In the background and the
Malta on the horizon, and, near at
hand. the ruins Of Greek temple,
whose reputed spirits keep the popu-
lace at bay. For the man from the sea
Is suspected Of having the Evil Eye, he
is as much hated as feared, and an
outbreak Of cholera brings matters 10
q climax. Then the Superman rises TO
the heights. and carries everything be-
fore him. There IL undeniable charm
as we'll as strenuous adventure In this
episode OF the island, which fills the
greater part Of the book. The descrip-
tons have atmosphere. and there Is
truth as we'll as imagination In the
meetings Of the man with little Pan
nino. the six-year- old Sicilian, who has
the cunning Of wisdom Of thousands of
years of a turbulent ancestry in his
Young old head.
Mr.. Whitman's venture, in the early
pages of his book. into the cosmopoli-
tan society of Rome is daring one,
and II is not markedly successful, be-
cause comparisons, however odious. are
unavoida BILE in the case Of subject so
intensely exploited by English and
American novelists. He is still new
conner there, his superficial observation
has not sufficed him for the creation Of
an impression Of reality. and his i'm
IRRESPONSIBLE employment of snatchcs
OF conversation does not mend matters
We remain on the outskirts. AS al
ready said. this is good story Of adj
venture in romantic place and ro-
mantle human environment 1t is
likely that women will read 1t with de-
light. but from the evidence now at
hand II is clear that realism is Mr.
Whitman,s true genre.