Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1873-06-04

great success has induced many to
follow in his iilustrious footsteps. and
/ for the last fifty years their produc-
tions have engaged the largest
amount Of the attention and admira-
tion of general readers.
The novel has, secured its infuen-
tiAl and honorable position only after
many severe battles with public opin-
ion. There was time when a mans
perusal Of novels was regarded as a
mark of frivolous and i'll balanced
mind but now, he who is not &C.
quainted with the standard works OF
fiction is esteemed inexcusably igno-
rant. The reformer employs the nov
ell as a vehicle for securing attention,
the politician for exposing corrup-
ton, the philanthropist for exhibit
ing misery, and even the minister has
deigned to enforce and exhibit great
moral truth by the same means. Vain
were it then for fogies to decry and
anathemize any species of literature
which has received such general and
favorable recognition. We are not
blind to the fact that many novels
are of a low and vicious character,
but shall we destroy the pure metal
because it is associated with dross p
Shall we cast aside the crystal because
its every angle is not perfect? Is not
every utility liable to be perverted p
An immense deal of talk is expended
on what is styled "yellow-backed lit
erature." Any one will admit that
it is bad enough, but the thought that
it might be much worse should con-
sole the anti-novelist. In fact a COM
parison between the novels of the
present and those Of the last century
shows a decided Improvement in Ian
guage and sentiment in favor Of our
cotemporaries. This elevating and
purifying tendency should encourage
all "to hope for better things in the
future"
AS society and its taste change, so
will the novel, which is only.a reflec-
ton from the mirror held up by the
author, change. There is nothing
absolute and fixed in literature. 1t
exists only because of change. If So
ciety be pure, the novel will be pure.
If one be degraded, the other will
partake of the same character. Men
write bad books not because they pre-
fer the good to the bad, but because it
pays. We WilIadmit that those who
cater to a depraved and vitiated pub
| lie appetite place very low estimate
on the nobility of their profession ;
but where bread is the stake, seruples
are easily thrown aside.
Our primary object in writing this
article was not to eulogize any su-
thor or age, but to account for the
wide spread popularity Of novels
They are read by all classes, ages and
conditions of men. The child Is de.
lighted by the fairy stories OF Hans
Anderson, and the sage and philoso-
pher entertained by the wit Of Dick
ems and Thackeray. Novelists find
their most Unsuitable and appreciative
audiences among women. They are
the great devourers ofthis species of
literature. We will hazard the asser-
| ton that women read more novels
than of all other classes of books COM
bined. Why is this so? What prin-
ciple will account for this unprece-
dented activity in the perusal of nov
els +? We believe that novels owe
their success to the amount of gossip
which they contain. The highest
compliment that can be paid to any
novel is to say that its characters are
life-lIke and real. People who are
alive and real generally talk, and
that talk is undoubtedly gossip. Ev-
cry Individuals writing a history, in
many of which are found prediea-
ments quite as amusing, adventures
quite as thrilling and passages quite
| as pathetic, as any TO be met with in
1.-THE great works of fiction. Buta pc
rusaI Of these life histories requires
years, while the characters on the
mimic stage appear, say their say.
and disappear in few houls. Some
may be tempted 10 regard gossip as a
very mean and insufficient founda-
ton on which to erect the great super
structure Of popular fiction. But is it
not broad enough? ? Why do we en-
Joy meeting an old acquaintance P
BE may not have been a friend, but
we are glad to meet him. We shake
his hand and ask of other acquaint-
anees. We gossip about this ones
success and that ones failure. We
pick up a novel, we are introduced
to few persons +; we follow them
from their first appearance until they
have acted their parts we listen to
their conversation, witness the de-
nouement and finally bid them adieu.
We enjoyed our conversation with
an old acquaintance because we take
more or less interest in every charac-
| ter with which we come in contact
We enjoy a novel on the same score,
because we take an Interest in charac-
tiers, whether real or fictitious.
ELM.