The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-04

to make minstrel Jokes while his wife is starry
ing.
The average female heart am afraid hiceds
for such an innocent: and have not the
slightest doubt that II Rip were alive to-day
aud were committed for Nagrnncy. or put under
bonds 10 support his wife and family decenty
as he certainly would be. this average heart
would 20 and take him bouquets and pate de
Joie ords In his CELL and get him to make his
mark in her album
But 1t is not alone the pathos OF Rip that keeps
him green. There Is also the humor. Is it
not the prototype of much that has got TO I've
called distinctinctiyely American humor $50
called. | suppose. because no people under
heaven but Americans would tolerate itr
think you will find the keynote here Of that
irrcverent and lawlcss fun which buds into
paragraphs and spreads its sickly fruitagc over
the land in such books Us The Innoccnts
Abroad
1t is humor which never takes otf Its hat or
keeps silence in the presence Of the awful mys
teries that have weighed down the hearts Of
mankind. II is II popularity that invades re-
ligion and intrudcs upon sorrow. ridicues pain
and prompts the joker TO turn back somcrsaults
upon his mothers grave If so be there are
lockers on.
We have so accustomed ourselves To- speak Of
Mr. Jcirersons mpersonntion as delicate. that
We overlook entirely the fact that true art must
have del,cacy Of feeling before Il has delicacy OF
detail. We care deceived by the exquisite finish.
and do not look at the materal. But this is an
exact case In point Of what n great and good
dramatst has called u satin finish on a shoddy
ground
II is needless TO say that Mr.. Jefferson fur
nishcs the satin.
Either Rip VAN Wrinkle" is a good and pure
al. a.
upon it. or il is not.
Seriously. claim that 1t is not and for these
reasons:
1. Dramatically its pcrsonages are not true to
their own characters.
2. Philosophicnlly. the Incidents belong nei-
Their to an ideal scheme ia which poetic justice
Is dealt out. nor to a realistic plan in which the
events proceed as In actual life. 1t il Just such
mixture OF both makes II a dream story
without ideality. and picture Of life without
representation II life.
3. Morally. it paliates vice and wins our sym
pa,hy for what is reprehensible and mean in
itself.
II is impossible to say at any point Of the
drama that Gretchen is overcome with disgust
for her husband. or that she retains "A deep af-
lection for him. But she exhibits both disgust
and affection. She orders him out OF the house.
gone. Then marries another man that she
hates and is overoyed at Rips return. The fact
Is. she does what Is expedient for the play
wright. not what is consistent With herself
Rip If IN the same fla. He doesn't think
enough OF his wife and daughter 10 treat them
with ordinary Kindness and consideration. He
abandons them promptly when they most need
him. But he hurries back when he most needs
them. and. making u show OF affection at meet
INK Neenie. whclms Us with the pity of 1t.
Gretchen WIS intended 10 bc Il shrew and she
turns out To bs self-sacrincing. loving. impu-
sivc. and much-abused woman.
Rip was intended 10 be an amiable. loving
gentle. estmabe, and weak husband. and he
turns out 10 lie mean. cowardy unfeeling
wretch.
With regard 10 the second indictment. IL may
be said that the punishment VI RIP in the noun
tains Is poetic justice only in n poetic sense but
his restoration to his family and an increased
property il Theatre justice. Having made us
admire a certain gayety Of worthlessness II was
not possible for the dramatist 70 leave our idol
where Irving left him. aud where nature GER
tainy would have left him-forsaken and alone.
1t Is not necessary 10 point out the inverted
moral. leave that TO any ordinarily intelligent
reader who dares 10 think about II with his ears
shut 10 the patitudinous clamor raised over il.
M '"'' 0P"'' !" 7'p "" "P'us n"Ou'
Mr' JEFFERSON ae''h.' II mas pech praiseu WIN
'nVicer rhethorie hnu i''@r "'uihei thah 'he a'l-
INK vi any american p'uy'r 'h"t know o.
mas p+eh callen poetic ana splrtuhI-the ihesl
mower u his'''ohi' genius 'he rare power 10
'H,'rprc' r"'n'r ''an 10 copy hu'ure' He'' g.
| think II Is not only more temperate but
!us'c' !" "a, 'l'"' u'' emerson aoll'tes' Is
ul'pi"yeu MP van 'hAie' are oi hlsh'
but not Of the highest. order.
'"e' are ueilhe"'Ne. not ereatlVe-talen's
"h''h We" our sehs'oli'le9' "nhOu' winning
gu, Juus"rn anu 'npr''Vle uea'hs Win spe-
elM '.cts' MOI Win geh'r"i spiritual truths
ihe uellchcy Is an eleihlha'e rather thah
many u'Hcacy' LOT II ueais WIN u''"ls mol Wnh
'"hV'us'"h7' ihuveu' 'he e'eneh's "hleh nave
ureh 50 patiently ana cnreiuIIy wrought py Mr..
JEFFERSON are mol IN themselves susceptible OF
the hlghest treatment Ihey are OF me earih
earthy, ana all the TAX ABOUT spirituality hows
from the iinag nation OF the observer. and IS
mol the reflex Of the aflng.
The Interest Il purely pictorial. not dramatic.
We are touched oy the episodes OF the action.
"" care little Tor the late OF the hero. Ltp'S