AMERICAN NOTELS—FASHION AND FAllINEl

THE SHADY SIDE.* THE decision that an undomiciled foreigner cannot convey a copy- right valid in this country, seems likely to work some change in the book-trade, and in a direction that needed no stimulus—that of mere lowness of price. Mr. Hodgson announces two of Cooper's later novels in his "Parlour Library," with Mr. Bentley's permis- sion. Mr. Bentley himself has advertised the series of Prescott's Histories at a cheap rate ; but unless the price is that of print and paper with the usual profit thereon, and the style of getting-up as plain as readers of Prescott will put up with, he will be under- done by somebody, or several bodies. In fact, the same publisher has included Mrs. Ann Stephens's fiction of Fashion and Famine in his "Railway Library," at one-twentieth part of the price for Which less effective novels have been published with a copyright attached. 27e Mady Side, another American fiction, from Mr. Low and Mr. Constable of Edinburgh, is perhaps a more remarka- ble example of low price; while almost even as we write competi-

Fashion and Famine; or Contrasts in Society. By Mrs. Ann S. Stephens. Published by Bentley. The Shady Side. By a Pastor's Wife. Published by Constable and Co. Echo- burgh; Low and Co. London.

tion issues another edition of Fashion and Famine, as well as another edition of Mrs. Stowe's Sunny Memories. With this last, " cheapness," we believe, (though we have not seen the publica- tion,) -has gone to a pitch that seems impossible if the whole work is really printed.

In speaking of Fashion and Famine as an effective novel, it must not be considered that we count it a first-rate fiction. The story is • essentially very like the usual run of stories that aim at combining an 'intense interest with sketches of every- day life. Neither are American manners shown in the book otherwise than incidentally, and in a way that the writer cannot help, having laid her scenes among her own people in the empire city and the country round about. The effect is for the most part very strongly melodramatic; the leading person of the piece -being one of those coldblooded, selfish, artful, all-accom- plished roues, whom we continually meet in romances of the in- tense school, exaggerated by American magnificence of idea be- yond the soberer nature of Europeans ; for certainly America, among her other claims to distinction, " beats creation " in her fic- titious villains. Still Mrs. Ann S. Stephens is a mistress of her craft. There is a story which moves along from beginning to end; there are scenes of great power, though often too theatrical and glaring in their effects; there are sketches of fashionable society in New York and Saratoga, with a little too much of what Lord Sydenham called "Broadway finery "; but there are also some very pleasing pictures of homely or domestic life in America. Mrs. Leicester, the mother of the libertine, is a nicely-drawn cha- racter,—quiet, lady-like, conscientious, grieving over her son's wrong-doings; an old English lady with a touch of greater mild- ness. Jacob Strong, the old attendant of Leicester's deserted, ill- used, but criminal wife—loving his young mistress with a pas- sion hopeless in the outset, but surviving everything, and lead- ing him even to the wearing of a livery in Europe, so that he can watch over her—is a conception general in the outline but truly indigenous to America in the filling-up, and perhaps only to be naturally developed in a land of equality. Mrs. Gray, the large- hearted, charitable huckster-woman, is a piece of worthy nature, belonging to all countries, at least of Northern origin.

The Shady Side. The workings of the "Voluntary principle" have been a frequent subject of treatment in this country, as well in fiction as in more formal argument. The points chiefly dwelt upon here, however, have been the interference of the congregation with the minister's theology, and the necessity under which he lay of rendering his sermons " accept- able " to his paymasters, by observing a discreet silence on their own backslidings, but making up for that reticence by an onslaught upon those of other people. In The Shady Side, ail American novel "by a Pastor's Wife," some turn for mastership in this direction' so dear to human vanity, may be found. But the main topic of illustration is pecuniary. If the circumstances of this story have any general truth, the Americans seek their salvation in the cheapest market,—nay, below the "cheapest market" of the economists, for they will not pay the price of producing and main- taming a divine. According to the Pastor's Wife, the best city livings do not more than support a man in the way he must of necessity live, leaving him without provision for old age. The smaller town and the mass of country congregations either retain a man with a family in abject poverty, or he has to exhaust his own means in living comfortably. The story of The Shady Side is soon told. A "gifted" minister of the Congregational Church marries a young, accomplished, and amiable woman. Their own means are small, the clerical income is insufficient to support them as their expenses increase with their family. Their private resources are exhausted; embarrassment is added to poverty ; and after several changes—for the minister's merits are sufficient to induce invitations—where promises are not kept, or the expected advantages are not realized, the husband dies prematurely, and his wife, after striving to support her young family by teaching, follows him to the grave.

If we take the general facts respecting the remuneration of American ministers as they are given, the logic of the tale is better than that of didactic novels in general. Where it is deficient, the deficiency rather adds to the effect of the fiction. Edward Vernon, in his college career, aimed at the bar and the loftier walks of life, which legal success opens to a man in America perhaps more than elsewhere. The decline and death of a beloved sister, the wishes of his mother, and his own religious feelings, subsequently lead him to the church. Be is conscientiously and laboriously devoted to his duty ; but in times of exhaustion, or depression, or when his highly sensitive nature encounters rubs, the old leaven of scholarly or worldly ambition rises within him.

"Morton's visit was not productive of good to his classmate. He WRS a man of fine social qualities—a man of talent and ambition—recently a& mitted to the bar ; a professor of godliness withal; but his piety, if genuine, had never gone, with its melting power, to the depths of his nature, firing and fusing the soul, and working au amalgamation conformable to that apos- tolic model, I count all things but loss for the excellency of the .knowledgn of Christ Jesus our Lord.'

"His friend's change of profession had always vexed him. Now that he saw his unwearied efforts for the prosperity of his people—and saw, too, that these efforts were often at the expense of his own mental culture and finish of style and execution—he vented his feelings in a way that did more mischief than he imagined.

"It was at the close of the Sabbath, when Edward was inwardly chafing with the thought that his sermon had fallen far below his design that Mor- ton saki, abruptly : 'What a fool you are, Vernon—pardon me—lo waste se much time in running after your people ! You had a splended sermon there, in conception, but you gave yourself no time to elaborate it. Why, my dear Sallow, the materials you had in that-disoeureef wrought up as you" are capable of doing it, would electrify the most cultivated audience in our land. You are doing everything for the people, and too little for yourself.' Edward's face flushed, and a bitter smile played on his lip. (Had not his own heart been saying the same thing, though he durst not frame it in words?) He made no reply, and Morton continued : 'I see how it is. You lay down your book, or your pen, and start off to every sick child or whim- pering woman that takes a fancy to see the minister. I wouldn't do it. I Would cultivate myself for a higher field. The people here don't appreciate such a thinker and writer as you are.'

"Already, at the thought of the sick and tempted to whom he had in the past week been a messenger of comfort and succour, Edward's bitter feelings gave place to gentler emotions, and remorse smote his heart. He gave Mor- ton a sad, earnest look, as if in doubt whether explanation were not labour lost on a man of so little Christian sensibility. Mary entered soon, and the topic was not pursued."

This want of thorough devotedness to his vocation is shown not only in yielding to such thoughts as these, but in quitting one charge after another, on sufficient lay motives, no doubt, but hardly sufficient on religious grounds. These and other circumstances, as peouliarities of temperament and health, cause the logic to fall short, by suggesting some natural unfitness in Edward Vernon for the ministry ; but they give interest to his career, by the hu- man failings and struggles exhibited. The story is artistically treated. It is not so melodramatic, or productive of what some will think so effective scenes, as Fashion and Famine. The Shady Side, however, is more thoroughly Ameri- can; every chapter in fact containing a picture of domestic life or manners in the New England States, real and fresh. The scenes involving the internal struggles of Edward Vernon, the pious re- signation of his wife, or the difficulties of their position, kave pa- thos or force. The exhibition of the pastor's people is quiet, often with touches of satire ; sometimes the quietness passes into flatness. This is a fair specimen,—the gossip which takes place when the milliner brings home the news of Mr. Vernon's intended marriage, from a town where she has been for fashions ; and Salem is all agog. "Esther Anne's little brown shop was now the centre of attraction, not so much on account of its new millinery as of the information there to be ob- tained on the subject of the young minister's matrimoniaLs.' Almost every one was taken by surprise. Some, who had benevolently selected for him, were not a little piqued. A few, who had still nearer hopes, sighed as they were thus dashed at a single stroke. "Esquire Lewis's daughters were among the first that called, and they were not easily suited in the choice of bonnets. One after another was ex- amined and rejected, being used as foils to hide their excessive interest in the one topic on which they had resolved thoroughly to examine Miss Brooks.

" 'Iou are sure this report is true ; ' " Yes, I am sure of it [that bonnet, Miss Lucretia is a good fit,] for the girl said her sister saw him every time he came. He has visited her ever since last June, [there, the brim wants raising a little. I can lap it under the crown.] He met her first away from home—somewhere she was visit- ing; that time he was gone so long, you remember.' "'[Let me look at that drawn silk.] What did you hear of the family, Esther Anne ?

"'Well, as good as any in Mayfield ; hold their heads pretty high, I guess [that white straw, Miss Helen, will look sweetly on you]. The girl said, her sister said, she heard the gentleman where she lived say, that the doctor was a clever man, and the girl well enough ; but he had a son in New York [the price of that is three dollars]—a half-brother of hers in New York was a slippery kind of a man—lived in dashing style. If his debts were paid, be wouldn't own a cent.'

"'[I don't quite like this white straw, Esther Anne]. What more did you hear of the young lady herself ? '

"'[Try this French lace]. Not much, except what I told you. She's young and pretty ; has always been kept at school [there, that's a complete lit. Just look in the glass.] ' "'Never mind ; finish what you were saving.'

"'They say her father has been very inaulgent to her, because she lost her mother so young ; and he's brought her up to books, and music, and drawing, and all that sort of thing.' The young. ladies winked to each ether under the shield of the bonnets. 'That girl's sister didn't seem to like her much. She said there were some families in Mayfield that thought hired girls good enough to associate with anybody • but she had lived six months , right ever the way from Dr. Allison's, and had not been able to get ac- quainted with Miss Mary. She said she was always flaunted out with her I neck full of curls. She'll have to put 'em up now, I guess, [will you take those two bonnets ?] '

"'[You may lay them aside. We'll not conclude till mother has been in and looked at them.] You didn't hear when the wedding is to come off, did you ? '

"'No; they guessed not for some time—she is so young; but I find some folks here think he has gone now to make arrangements.'

" 0 no ! he has gone to his father's.'

"'Well, you know the Whitman place is to be sold ; and they say Mr. , Cook talks of buying it. Since this thing has come out, many think Mr. Cook is 'trying to get the place for Mr. Vernon. What would he want of another house himself? Miss Leevy asked him about it yesterday ; and he ' told her if he purchased it there would be some one in this autumn. I hope Leevv will give it up now. She's tried hard enough to catch him.' "The Misses Lewis could bear no more, but bit their lips with vexation, and went home to report to their intriguing mamma. Mrs. Lewis was not prepared for the failure of her deep-laid schemes. She had withdrawn her daughters from the gay society, taken them to hear every sermon, sent them to all the prayer-meetings, drawn them in to the circle of inquirers, rejoiced over their growing interest in religious things, encouraged thorn to make an early profession of their faith, as fruits of the revival ; and now to be disap- pointed thus! Between the two, she had thought herself secure. Lucretia Was of just the right age—twenty-five. Helen, she knew, was very pleasing, though she had supposed her too young ; yet slut was nineteen last month. She tried to vent her disappointment in displeasure at the innocent cause of it. She would not have believed Mr. Vernon such a deceitful man ; coming here so pleasantly, week after week ; so many interviews as he had had alone with Lucretia, and so ready as he had been to ride in their carriage to the neighbourhood Meetings. It was too bad. He could not be the man she had thought him.' "And there were others to echo this 'too bad.' There was the shrewd, match-making Ms. Pritchard, who had recommended no less than three of her favourites to Mr. Vernon. Another lady of the parish had boarded a niece from the city two summers, with an eye to the cultivation of a special acquaintanoe. No wonder sim felt injured."