[Review of The Conjure Woman]

THE CONJURE WOMAN

So long as we have such writers as the author of the present work to help perpetuate the dialect and superstition of the American Negro, in story form, so long are "negro stories" sure to retain their popularity among a discerning class of readers. This book will be read by those who prefer the best dialect stores, for the reason that the dialect of Uncle Julius is without a flaw, and the descriptive portions of the stories are all that could be desired of true-to-life description and real portrayal. Mr. Chesnutt has not gone out of his way to find people and incident with which to please and entertain his readers. He has only pointed out waysides that we have not observed before, and he interprets them as no one else can. There are seven stories in the volume, and all deal with the negro life–while Uncle Julius, a cousin once removed, of Uncle Remus, is the leading figure, and a born story-teller. [The Conjure Woman. By Charles W. Chesnutt. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Company.]