Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1916-01-14

The following very complimentary no
tice OF Miss Alma Newton's latest liter
airy production is taken from an exchange
and is reproduced that her friends at
this. her old home, can see the success
she has achieved in her new field. Miss
Newton has the congratulations OF her
many friends here.
Another Mississippian has stepped un-
der the strong glare OF the literary lime
light, and this time it is a woman.
Love Letters of Mystic" is the title
OF most unusual volume from the pen
OF Alma Newton, member of one Of the
Oldest and best known families Of the
State. 1t is issued from the press OF the
John Lane Company, and has already
created decided furore in literary cir
Giles, andbespecially:among: book critics.
Not since the publication OF the love
letters OF Mrs. Browning has there been a
book OF more absorbing heart interest
than this little blue and gold volume
from the pen of gifted Mississippi girl
who, for the past several years, has been
q notable contributor to the leading mag
azines, always signing a pseudonym.
The Love Letters of Mystic" is her first
signed effort.
To tell q story filed with thrills, to re-
veal the achings of human heart, and
lay bare passion shaken soul, is large
sized task for any writer, but when the
story is unfolded in the form of letters,
written in first person singular, it lie in
deed Q remarkable achievement, and that
is Whist Alma Newton has done in "The
Love Letters of Mystic" One reads the
story and marvels at the msny-sided
mind from which it emanated. Apparent
~ the authoress has sounded all the
heights and debts of human passion, and
delved into the very innernost literary
recesees. Maeterlinck. Marcus Aurelius,
Spinoza, Swewenborg, Neitsche, Confu-
cius and Herbert Spencer are her famil-
isrs, and her knowledge Of the psycholo-
81 Of love Is keen and subtle.
More remarkable still, the authoress
reveals q man-love, not the mere feminine
yearning, and, while it is a story tina.
throbe with passion, it also shows sing
ular loftiness of thought and purity o.
mind. The letters are written from Cap
ri, little island of enhancing beauty ia
the Bay of Naples, the mystic grandeur
OF which no doubt served to spur tn,
writer's imagination.
While Miss Newton has evidently read
much, quitting freely at the deep r
founts of knowledge. her literary style lie
remarkably simple. She has learned the
value of Saxon words and short sen
fences. By way of illustration, here's the
opening sentence of one Of the letters:
my soul is ike q tired flute, sending
ont music to you, but ever 30 family, be-
cause it has exhausted itself in having
felt too deeply"
Mixed metaphors and hyperbole, 30
common in love letters, arr conspicuous
By their Absence. All in all, it is one of
the books Of the year well worth reading,
and win hold you absorbed from the
first page to the. last chapter.
D Miss Newton will no doubt be remen,-
bered by many Mississppians as the former
wife of J. M. Anderson, a prominent
cotton buyer ut Greenville. Since the
separation from her husband in New
York few years since she has provided
Tor herself and little boy by writing for
various magazines and other publications.
She 10 . native OF Jefferson county, the
old family plantation being located not
lar from Natchez. Her father +. A. New
ton, was in his.day prominent planter
OF that section, brave Confederate col
der and man Of singular refinement and
charm, while her grandfather,
David Hunt was known in ante belIum
days ~ Mississippi's largest cotton plant
- 1AAo &sSNsOn wu5 ohOukut up al
literary atmosphere, aud, whiie it is ap-
parent that sshe has taken keen delight
In sbtruse reading and reconcile study,
It has given to her form Of expression q
delightful freshness and charming SIMPLE
ity of veroiage. Born pampered child
Of luxury in the far South, accustomed to
Ill the homage Of a social world, plunged
into marriage that proved a hideous a
mistake and through the vicissitudes Of
fortune forced to adopt the precarious pro-
fession Of the pen in Gotham where liter
ary genius gets scant recognition and
small reward-fo have all this happen to
, beautiful woman who is still under
thirty, is in itself story Of absorbing in.
terest.
Tho Love Letters of Mystic," en-
titles this Mississippi girl to more than
passing recognition. That che is cap
able Of far greater work and more sub
|imated effort lie apparent to anyone who
reads her little volume.