"THE MAJESTY OF MAN."

Otago Witness, Issue 2161, 25 July 1895, Page 55

"THE MAJESTY OF MAN."

A NOTICE OF "ALIEN'S" NEW BOOK. As the grave title of " Alien's " new book is apt to prove forbidding to some persons, I may say she has not discussed tbe majesty of man in dry dissertations, bat for the mainStay of her story has taken love, which she seems to regard as the fundamental element in the best greatness. Jim Smith, the rough diamond among the characters, lays to the boy Bret, "You've got a kinder notion that the majesty o' man pomes out in his works. I've got a notion too, sonny, th*at the majesty o' man cornea out in the love o' 'im. . , . In all the doin' o' it he ain't happy when he ain't got nobody to do it for." If to these two notions we add the conception of a combination of love and works, I think we shall have the three main views of the majesty of man which enRaged " Alien's " attention in her study of the subject. The novel is meritorious ; the plot and the characters are original and well-managed, and altogether the story is very interesting. Most readers would find it hard against the grain to .cast the book aside after having read two-thirds of it; and there is much more than the story. The authoress evinces " deep insight into life and oharaoter, and a deal may be learned from the booic by thoughtful persons who read between the lines. Sho neither makes her opinions obtrusive, nor poses as a judge of what is right and what wrong in others' conduct. Some inkling of questions touched upon, and of her nriaieuming position about them, may be obtained from tho headings of two chapters-;-" Clairvoyance or Dream 1 n and " Reincarnation or Heredity 7 " She describes New Zealand scenery with a graphic and facile pen. A very appreciative description of a West Coast Sounds trip, with a striking love scene thrown in, and an account of a Dunedin University "capping" oeremony, and tbe comical behaviour of certain interested spectator*, form part of the novel. In some details— as, for instance, about manual industries — the authoress makes blunders which should be interesting to readers wholike to perceive smarter people than themselves tripping. The language is generally wellchosen and simple. The passages most difficult to comprehend are the somewhat transcendental dialogues and correspondence between some of the characters. Figurative diction is not so frequent as in " A Daughter of the King," but sometimes it is strongly in evidence. If the use of apt symbolic language is as trustworthy an indication of merit as Emerson held it to be, " Alien's " command of imagery of iteelf entitles her to distinction as a thinker and writer. - - . The book abounds in fine specimens of pathos. Jim's love story and Lilian's London experiences are - good examples ; and the closing scene in the last chapter— " Nightfall 'Mid the Pines"— may affect readers ac it did even the doctor when " the oynical corners of his mouth softened and a lump rose in his throat." There is a deficiency of humour, although for the supply of the comic element, as of more material things, the old gawmiller comes in handy. However, if there is a scarcity of humour, there is a compensating lack of pestlmism and gloom. Portions of the volume are of thrilling interest, but little of the exciting element is derived from the usual sensational resources; such as physical perils, adventures, and tragedies; it is mostly furnished by intense emotional experiences, by psychical, mental,- and moral crises. ."Alien" has a special aptitude . for. the presentment- of strong characters in situations which test thtir mettle to the utmost. The characters are skilfully drawn. The four chief ones are distinot and interesting types. Two or three of them are endowed with rare magnetic and intuitive powers. Jim aod Dora will probably be the most popular. Jim iB an obscure and unassuming old sawmiller, ugly, eccentric, and unpolished, but " trusty as steel," and devoted and tender-hearted as a woman. Dora should please advocates for what is .generally considered woman's natural position. She is handsome and estimable, with I tho disposition to be a loving wife and ; mother. It is suggested that early in her .'life tbe development of her individuality was . checked by untoward oircumstances; but, in •my judgment, in her mature womanhood gives emphatic evidence of possessing 'both mind and will of -her own. In contra-'-distinction to Dora' there is Sister Lilian, the tpirituelle, self-sacrificing philanthropist— a 'pathetic yet truly noble figure. Like the . hero, one queries mentally whether it takes " something more or something less than a woman" to constitute such an individuality. The deepest study in character, the most indispensable individual in the story, is Bret,, the hero. In his early years, while living with the old sawmiller at Waihi, and known as " Daddy's boy " or " the young Napoleon," he was an illustration of the poet'B dictum, "The child is father of the man." By £he time his university course was ended he had developed into a cultured, eloquent, masterful man, ambitious to do something great and to be a dictator among men. Notwithstanding bis many unamiable trait?, such as pride, jealousy, and impeiiousness. be was popular — a fact due more to bis personal magnetism than to his real worth. Thwarted in bis early ambitions, Almost despairing, yet with higher aspirations entering on fresh activities that lead to greater trials ; again foiled and almost crushed, he profits by the lessons of life, and gradually becomes noble as well as strong. There are two Bubordinate with whom readers ■ oould wish longer acquaintance. One is genial Charlie Grant, the dull student and brilliant athlete. The other is Mrs Manton, a sprightly little wife, who says " the whole mystery of life is in making a man want to do as you want to do," and considers " spirit- , emotion as bad in its way aB an indulgence in opium." (Of the debatable topics presented In the bo?k, in my judgment the main one is the problem of celibacy versus matrimony in jcoEnection with philanthropy. It is treated admirably. " Alien " does not give a onesided presentation of the question, but shows «a Taricmß aspects from different points of

view; and these aspects are not set forth in abstract statements, bat by an excellent plan are used to give the etory its deepest interest. Almost opposite sides of the problem are represented by two estimable women of markedly diverse natures. The spiriluelle enthusiast and philanthropist proceeds on the assumption that sexual love is a hindrance to spirituality and philanthropy. Sho says : " Earthly love must be rooted out. Flesh and blood sannot inherit the Kingdom of God. It is not easy to triumph over the flesh, bat it is well." The more human woman asserts : " There conld not be a higher ideal for the race, nor a purer one, than that of a husband and wife working together side by side for their uplifting and development and the up- | lifting of the race. . . ' . My love assures me that any substitution for the love of man and wife will leave a void and anguish — a sense of something lacking. A man^of strong and peouliar individuality becomes closely bound to both women by diverse bonds, has deep but dissimilar regards for both, and is subject to opposing influences from them. After having committed himself to celibacy and plilautfaropy, . he finds himself powerfully drawn to matrimony. His diverse relations with and feelings, towards tbe women, and the necessity of choosing between their influences and between the opposing sides they represent, 'lead to a great mental and emotional conflict. The intensity of the struggle, the gravity of the issues involved, and the conflicting emotions of the persons most clopely affected are portrayed with dramatio force and skill. The authoress has painted a piotnro of family life charming enough to make unmarried readers feel " a sense of something lacking," but has as faithfully— though, of course, in less glowing colours — depicted the graces of the 6elf-denying slater and her noble work. She does not presume to lay down the law regarding the problem presented ; bat, if I read correctly between the lines, she points to a happy intermediate j coarse between exclusive devotion to home and ascetic philanthropy, postulates the right of individuals to choose for themselves in the matter without having their choice called in question by others, and suggests the advisability of persons retaining liberty of choice in preference to making vows of celibacy. A unique figure in " A Danghter of the King " is the principal in " The Majesty of Man." This novel also admits of a sequel. At the end of it the reader feels desirous of watching the progress of the fuller life and nobler work contemplated by the hero and heroine. Amateur Newman. Groper's Bush.