Life — May 20, 1886 — page 7: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

> LIFE: = EK yee, tT NS MR. BUNNER’S NOVEL. T warms the heart and touches with brighter colors the cold gray of an uneventful life to read a story of the affections—not passionate or disordered love which puts the whole world out of focus, but kindly, generous feeling, an unconscious sympathy with humanity in distress. And this.is the pleasure in store for those who read Mr. H. C, Bunner’s. novel, ‘The Midge” (Charles Scribner’s Sons). There is not a touch in it of the modern cynicism which cheapens the individual life, none of the subtle class dis- tinctions which American snobbery has invented, nor any gilded morality. It is the old-fashioned gospel of humanity which deals gently with the erring, and holds out a hand to a brother in distress. It makes of a generous action nota self- denial, but something which adds a pleasure and a richness to him who gives and him who receives. You close this story feeling that a narrow life on the common level may be filled with a genuine happiness unknown, perhaps, among the favorites of fortune. * . * HE tender relations of Midge and Dr. Peters in Mr. Bunner’s story are as beautiful in their way as the love of Ethel for the elder Newcome, There is an immeas- urable distance between the French quarter of New York and Bryanstone Square, but honest, truthful affection adds a glory to life in either place. And what a lovable creature is the M¢dge /—self-willed, impulsive, but true—a delightful combination of the elf-child and woman. This study of child life is a credit to Mr. Bun- ner’s sympathies as well as to his literary skill. The quaint ta'k of the little one, and the charming development in her of += vanliness are qualities that appeal to the heart as a real child does because she is genuine, For our part, Mdge loses half her charm when she coils up her hair, puts on long dresses, and ceases to be achild. And I think Mr. Bunner was sorry also. I half believe he would havg Jiked to end the story with the ninth chapter, and leave us 4gth the memory of the good old doctor standing by Miage and looking into her wide open eyes, and asking her whethér she loved him, “right clean through, honest and true.”’ And while the autumn sunlight streams down the avenues of trees in Washington Square and brightens up the.” dest sitting-room she gently answers: “ You know Tu, * * * NE does not like to think of the generous Doctor sitting desolate in the big pantry, resting his head against the old jar where Midge had cried away her childish griefs. Hathaway is a good fellow, no doubt, and Mzdge and he are happy up in Harlem; but they should not leave the old man alone, who made their happiness possible. 287 E have praised Sidney Luska and Ivory Black for giving us distinct and faithful pictures of certain interesting localities of this great and complex city. Mr. Bunner has added the French quarter to the romances of New York, and shares in their honor. Droch. * NEW BOOKS + THE MIDGE. By H.C. Bunner. Charles Scribner's Sons, Lovers Four and Maidens Five. & Coates. Philadelphia. A Victorious Defeat. By Julius Chambers, Porter By Wolcott Balestier. Harper & Bros. “Hus” PuNcH—One of Sullivan's. A FRENCH HoRN—Absinthe. OMAN is like a coin—she is prized according to her face value. A DRAMA. (La Caricature.) Prologue. —THE ARTIFICIAL SPIDER. Act /,—SINISTER PROJECTS. Act JV.—DEATH FROM FRIGHT, Act V.—THE CRIME REVENGED. comicbooks.com