New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-24
CURRENT FICTION WORTH WHILE
Henry Sydnor Hanison's Delightful New Novel-An
Englshman Of Promise and Performance
Two Popular American fIumorsts.
Mr.. HARRISON ARRIVES.


". VS. EYES BY Henry sydnor Har-
/ rison Illustrated. Emo, ~. 5Js.
I Houghton. Miffin Company
( Awaited with an interest that is sig
] nihcant Of the expectations built upon
3 Mr.. Harrison's first book. his second
proves not only worthy Of its prede-
/ cessor's promise. but a long step be
yond it in craftsmanship and In
breadth Of outlook upon life. our
young American novelist is maturing
rapidly. still and fortunately for us
I his greatest asset. his greatest charm
remains his youthfulness. The long
road of life is still voyage of discov-
erv TO him. not Of the sober retrospect
OF experience a voyage of magic rev
/ Citations and enchanting unfoldings De-
yond each turn Of the road The itin-
erary is still forward through the sun
/ shine OF morning The shadows Will
come. and the obstacles. Love ana
right living and thinking are the only
guides that can be trusted when the
hard places shall be reached. and must
lac overcome Only-there is the bitter
game Of cross purposes between life
and destiny. or call IL fate, which al
WAYS shou &c at one. and so seldom
are. Hence the tragedy and the puz-
! Zle of existence.
he. De-
parent rhyme or reason, yet Life
profits because V. VS. Eyes and ex-
ample of loving service have taught
woman what the mistress Of the great
pleasure dog Behemoth taught the
man To whom human souls and hearts.
like their bodi <. were but pawns in the
scheme of economics-love of ones
| kind. and servico of their needs. And.
| II in the realization. one life be sac
rifced and the happiness OF another
wrecked. the price Is not too nigh
since the survivor. so at least we in
| fer. will continue the martyrs work
and add thereto her own.
/ That is the lesson. but it Is not
| preached. Mr. Harrison is teller OF
tales first of all, a loving student and
| delineator Of his kind in the formative
DAYS when. confronting life with self
confidence. sure Of victory, youth is but
| clay in the hands of the potter. He ar
/ fects a gentle touch OF worldly-wise
! irony-is he. as novelist. not far more
/ knowing than his youthful characters?
| He turns IL more sternly against their
elders-against middle age. which is so
far more interesting than he knows, as
| he will discover, one hopes. in the years
to come, when his books will grow in
! depth OF insight into life as well as in
breadth of outlook. one takes this
| novel seriously, because Mr.. Harrison
! has earned the right thus To be taken.
He is becoming a figure Of importance
on the horizon Of our fiction, so dis
maly void Of promise.
Regarded from the technical point of
view. "V. VS. Eyes" Is far better than
| "Queed." Its plot is far more firmly
interviewer with life and destiny; its
| characters move AT the same time lar
more freely in this scheme OF things
which he has borrowed from existence.
He loves TO linger by the way TO give
telling little touches, here to his peo-
pie, yonder TO his setting. elsewhere to
the vistas his own voyage OF discov-
cry is revealing to him. Even his elab-
orately descriptive chapter headings, a
revival Of an older fashion first af-
fected. one believes. by Mr. de Morgan,
are delight in themselves. Mr.. Har-
rison is perfecting his method OF say
ing things-and he has things to say
that are worth while. Withal, he is a
graceful, a delightful companion. whose
lighter touch is as felicitous as his seri-
Gus note sounds sincere.