The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-26
Fram Cla.nhcrs1 Journal.
Proposals GsT a Reform, IN LIshi Literature


Il seems 10 be confessed that the great
difficulty of the age with respect 10 light
literature is to produce anything new. All
the styles and modes Of fiction, the Waiver.
ley-hisloric, the Valerie classic, the IDOL.
phoromantc, the horrible, the sentimental,
the criminal, the siiTer-lork, the low, the
e.erything, ace totally worn out, and worth
less. We know every kind of character
that is to be Introduced, and every kind Of
coniuncture that can ruiIs the course OF sup.
pOslIious evenE, and feel, bslore We ad.
vance twenty pages, that it is all barren.
Like PhOmms blaSe, we declare We have
ssen all that before, aud turn away from
the profsred meal with disgust, albeit per
hsps raging with the sacred hunger Of
smasement. Il has occurred TO US that
something might be done for mankind in
these extraordinary circumstances, and We
proceed TO lay our scheme before discern.
ing public.
1t may be thought bold idea, ia as Gar
Is perfectly new; but the longer we reflect
upon il, il appears 10 US the more plausible
tnat noveiiss might after all, make some
thing Of nature as she is. Many objections
might no doubt 5s ranked up-were il not
80, we should not save had novelists ne.
slectinz the truth of actual human life so
long. Ia the dearth and exigency Of nov
ely, some one would have pitched upon
Ihis idea if it had Appeared readily worka-
Die. SILL, let us calmly consider. The
upturn OF such deep virgin soil could moi
but be attended with a grand vegetation.-
Surely ZONE Of the new plants would prove
useful, If not for the conservatory, al least
r,r Inc kiIch n. {, would be very strange
if something could not Be made OF them
D1t let US al ouce come to pss'iculars.
l. is, for instance, horrid stupidity, this
constant s1aining 10 bring about a Tsr.
rage between two commonplace young
people, with which the curtain may at Last
be allowed to drop. Suppose We make
novels without any silly love affair in them
az all, and end the third volume by repre-
senting the principal parties as sizing down
to dinner instead Of preparing to go to
church. In actual life. one does not find
/, tast marriage is quite looked upon as the
sammum bonum, or that Thing for which
every other thing is to be sacrificed. We
do not find that all the wor:hy people Of
oar acquaintance are ia ferment OF ankle
ty TO get us tied up for life in Eymen'i
bonds. On the contrary, if we do make
up our mind to the venture, we often tnd
these worthy people in some anxiety as to
how the affair may turn out. The lady's
temper is probably discussed ia fisPas.
sioaaLe names; or our own abilities for
housekeeping may be a matter Of solicitude.
AT all events, & calm soPe mag be express
ed that we shsil have the wisdom 10 insure
upon our life for the benefit Of our offspring.
Now, such being the manner Of nature. why
should we continually keep By ths opposite
in fctionl Let Us try ncsel foT once
without msrhageshle heroine, or say. ON
who despises marriage as an object to live
dor. There ere women who scoril The idea
Of being lLeueht under any anxiety for an es-
adjustment, and who would prefer eternal
spinsierhood TO an alliance brought about
by msneuvring. Let us see such person
introduced into fiction. She could not Gail
10 tell, from her mere novelty in tha, stu
alton.
IL is. again, very iiresome thing in nov
els, IS OF present written, that every person
introduced into thea must be described IS
Of certain fixed character. according TO
use and wont in this department Of lileaa.
ture. For example, If boarding school
keeper is 10 be amongst the dranatis per.
soma, then that person must be paragon