By Irving Browne.
CURRENT TOPICS. Two American Novels.— Justinian wrote novels, but not precisely of the kind written by Mr. Fred erick J. Stimson, otherwise (possibly better) knownas J. S. of Dale." Mr. Stimson has rendered sub stantial service to his profession by such solid con tributions as his work on " American Statute Law," and his efficient endeavors as a member (and secre tary) of the Massachusetts Commission on Uniform Legislation, and thus has earned his right to write novels if so minded. As a rule lawyers are very fond of reading novels but are not remarkably skilled in writing them. We hope that " Peter Stirling" was not written by a lawyer, for although it treats of a lawyer's career, and is exceedingly popular, it is too foolishly sensational, hysterical and fairy-like to ap peal to lawyers, and is only a degree superior to "Mr. Barnes of New York." Mr. Stimson does not write novels of this kind. Although somewhat late, we have read his " King Noanett" with deep pleasure, and can commend it to our brethren as better and pleasanter reading than his industrious volumes on " American Statutory Law." A dignified story, of early American history interwoven with a very beautiful romance, told in the quaint language of two centuries and a half ago, the plot ingenious and remarkably well concealed until almost the last page, the spirit of the book pure and lovely, we have here a distinctly American novel, which has found great favor with critics as well as readers (no sarcasm on critics intended) on both sides of the Atlantic. The book reminds one much of " Lorna Doone " in its spirit and style, although it lacks the movement of that almost unapproached romance. Mr. Stimson has not made — perhaps did not intend to make — a very attractive figure of the heroine, but has conferred her honors on a humble subordinate. At all events he did not make her hateful and repulsive, as Dr. Mitchell contrived to do in respect to his " Darthea" in " Hugh Wynne," the latest story of early American life.- " Myles " in Mr. Stimson's story, is an exceedingly original and touching creation, a touch of genius, which will at tract reflective readers for many years, having the un common mixture of humor and pathos that alone con
fers romantic immortality. It is curious to note the resemblances between this novel and Dr. Mitchell's. Both are stories of the colonial period. Mr. Stim son has his two heroes in love with the same woman, neither suspecting that she is the same; Dr. Mitchell has three men in love with the same woman, all knowing the real state of things. There is more adventure and fighting and more actual history in Dr. Mitchell's, — and it must be admitted that few describe a battle so well — but in style, and espe cially in the real romantic spirit, we should place Mr. Stimson's higher. It is a more uncommon story. Both are remarkably accurate and interesting pic tures of times and manners,— wherein consists the chief value of novels. On the whole, we hope Mr. Stimson will go on writing novels. We like to read them better than his law books; and beside they can not possibly interfere with the demand for anything we have the prosaic ability to write. Having said so much in favor of Dr. Mitchell's story — to which we may add that it gives a some what new but probably very correct picture of Wash ington — we must be allowed to have our growl about his evident partiality to that very poor creature Major Andre. There has been altogether too much femi nine weeping over him and not nearly enough over that noble man, Captain Nathan Hale. Even our school histories are too prone to fall into this error. It is a curious and significant fact that the figure in bas-relief of Washington, on the monument of" that amiable spy" (as Charles Lamb calls him) in West minster Abbey, finds great difficulty in keeping its head on its shoulders, being constantly decapitated by irate cockneys or mischievous schoolboys. It is difficult to understand the British and American sym pathy with the man who was the instrument of per suading Arnold to commit the base crime for which he was held in abhorrence in both countries.
A Statutory Absurdity. — At the last confer ence of the State Boards of Commissioners for pro moting uniformity of legislation in the United States, a form of an act was recommended to the legislatures for adoption to cure the absurd decisions now pre171
