The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-18

and recognized thirty years ago. there would
have been less to tantalizc and disenchant the
husband of Queen. NJ w. II.
The Novels OF Mrs. Oiiphant.
As the production of fictitious composition
increases. the rules by which it is to be judged
should be applied with more and moro severity.
and not seems to be the case with less and less.
These rules are now well enough understood
by all sagacious critics. Yet many authors
appear to be ignorant. or. at any rate, heed
less Of them. OF these. Mrs. MARGARET
OL1PHANT Is an example. She holds a con-
spicuous place among English writer's OF fiction.
though not in the first rank Hor books have
found much favor on two continents especially
among writer's of literary notices for the news
papers and magazines. Unhappily, these facts
do not clearly indicate that her compositions are
Of n high order. or that their author s n model
to be emulated by young and ambitious writers
How far she may safely be initiated what her
merits and dement's may be. and what is her
just rank among novelists. more thorough critl-
cism alone can determine. This is especially true
ifitbc fact that aman's genius is like II clock:
it has it, mechanism. and among its parts a
mainspring." Ii you lind out this sprng.
show how il communicates movements 10
tho others. pursue this movement from
part to part down 10 the hands In which
IT ends" you may determine tho kind
OF work that it will do. Whether he will or not
the really COMPETENT critic follows this process
reversed. From the action Of the hands on the
dial he works back to tho handspring. notes its
motive power and tho manner in which it is
regulated. To study the writing is 10 study the
writer.
thoroughly good novel demonstrates on the
part OF its maker the possession Of certain dis
al IN l-fl Iln
degree mt least. the eye OF n painter. He must
be able to discriminate between what Is plctur-
esquc in description and what is unpicturesque
and wearsome. rs we'll IA botween what is and
what is not worthy 10 be described. Moreover
he should have sculptor's kcen sense Of har-
monious proportions 10 restrain him when
tempted to add 10 his work matter which in
itself may be good. but which, so used will
only mar the symmetry Of the composition and
interrupt or delay the action Of the story
In a word. rs the great painter is said to CON
tain the sculptor also. 80 tho novelist should
contain both sculptor and painter Mrs. Oil
phant seems 10 contain neither in any high de-
grco Of development. Unfortunately, many
authors Of her class whose works arc eagerly
and widely read. show shameful negligence
Of even elementary studies. OF thess Mrs. Oil
plant ia one rs further on will moro fully APP
pear. She has, however. unlue,tionablo nat
ural powers. She ccntrivcs interesting, often
strong, stories. but mars them in the telling De-
s'riptions abound in place and out OF place
descriptions Of houses. Of rooms. Of furniture.
81 wall paper, OF window curtains OF ceilings
81 uoors. things OF which any knowledge is "a
useless 10 the reader rs its acquisition by him
IS wearlsome; descriptions OF scenes ana places
which could not beSet in him any conception
without tho aid Of maps ami colorel draw
nss descriptions Of 10 ,lins. AMI states Of feel
ing, and conflicts Of feeling. aud hang ; Of feel
Ing. and want Of feeling. till he is So bsnumbel
~ tho dun iteration and interim nabc monOt-
ony that to NJ feeling is he capable Of respond
ing. All this IS d1no regardless Of tho fact
that the action is made u stand still. and the
thread Of the story 10 be lost.
This authors Imagination Is, in some re-
spets, strong. 1t can conceive clearly indi-
vidualilcl and consistent chara tors in trying
AMI dramatic luNtpositlons and complications.
and can see plainly the way TO a logical conclu-
sion. 1t is. however. tho mag nation Of the de-
tecilve, tho lawyer tho Spectator in science.
not that of the poet Like that OF many another
English novel writ'r. II is more Ike n DRAFT
horse than it is like Pegasus 1t Is chiefly en-
poyedln lab1riously exagseratln- the common
pa'e. Within aud partly concealed by this
mass lies. generally. good story. Tho plot Is
almost Always praseworthy In flling 1t up
the overlooking. tho descriptions, tho violent
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