Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-01-30

nave placed wrong CONSTRUCTION upon lne
indications as developed by expressions Of
popular sentiment
DEMOCRACY IN LITERATURE
There has been much written for and
against novels. But the fact is generally
conceded that the novelist is the Democrat
the demagogue of literature. AS the orator
sways the passions Of the populace b. the
magnetism of his presence so does the nov
elist work upon the feelings Of his readers
by the magnetism of his art. Their influ-
ence, however, upon the morality and in
telligence of society is variously estimated.
That the tendency of certain class Of nov
els is to elevate and purify popular taste and
morals, and that Of another class is TO lower
and deprave all that is good, pure and holy
is as trite in its application as it is truthful
crime, which sweep over country, arc
fairly traceable, in a great measure, TO cor
rupt, demoralizing novels which inflame the
passions ef youth and innccence, by present
ing the most false overdrawn pictures of life
and experience. Like the Dead Seas fruit"
while they enthrall the Imagination, turn TO
ashes of sin and crime upon the lips. A
short time since, in the city Of London, a
youth and maiden were srraigned in one of
the criminal courts. The former, bright
lad Of sixteen, was charged with the murder
Of his companion. They were close friends
and the crime was without apparent motive.
His reply, when asked what he had to say TO
.i,,s,ifl the deed, was that he wished TO be-
and to be made immortal by the pen of the
same novelist was his solo motive and am
bition. These unnatural, high-wrought in
cidents of blood and murder had worked up
bis mind to state of morbid frenzy. The
latter, a pretty, intelligent girl, was arraigned
for attempting TO drown her little sister in
the river Thames. Her answer to the query
what she had TO say in defence of her crime,
was that she had read of some noble girl
who committed the same crime to save her
sister from the sin and misery of the world.
These are startling revelations and point a
!orcible moral. 1t il n grand thing TO be
able TO invest the abstractions-the mere
creations Of iancy-with all the charm and
interes, Of seeming reality. They appeal TO
our sympathies and move our tenderest SEN
sibiities. Tho strongest and most prosaic
mind is not proof against the dramatic art
and skill-the witchery and glamor of orig
inal genius displayed in the best and purest
novels. We at once identify ourselves with
) the thoughts and feelings of the hero or
heroine; their hopes and fears, their tri-
nmphs and roverses, their loves and hates.
The ideal representation Of human follies,
vices and crimes, as portrayed by Scott,
Dickens, or George Eliot are 50 well poised
and life like in all their vivid phases that
our whole heart goes out in admiration
and sympathy. Such novels ennoble and
strengthen the mind and leave upon the
heart a lasting impress for good. To one
who has read and pondered the representa-
tive novels of Germany. France, and Eng
land for the last two decades has acquired u
concrete, practical knowledge Of human ma
turc, which furnishes the key to the senti-
menis, passions and ideas OF all classes OF
European society from their own standpoint.
II gives him an insight into the origin and
growth Of those perplexing problems Of sci
entiic investigations familiarity known as
socialism, free love, and the labor question, -
which the most elaborate trcatises on moral
government and political economy fail to
impart. The modern novel is 20 literature
what photography is TO pictorial art, The
novelist, who, like the great painters Titan,
Reynolds or Nandyke, can trace out and
anaiyzr the delicate intricacies of human
thought and sentiment and clolhe them in
the beautiful imagery OF poetic fancy, whose
creative powercan call into being the thrilling
romance or enhancing fiction, whose genius,
unlike the artist, can touch with the brush Of
eloquence the ideal fabric OF the brain and
render tia" thing Of beauty and Joy forever"
leaves behind him like the artist enduring
footprints on the sands OF time" The in
AlfiuuhtlAl oi Tut noNtlSt II h1 lnucilDlN
impressed upon the pages OF romance In pro-
claiming the brooding presence of the mas
ter spirit In thoughts that breathe and words
that burn, as the soul-speaking canvas. glow
ing with the bright creations Of genius pro.
claim the individuality Of the artist. Dick
ems, Charles Reade, and 1hAckery made the
novel weapon Of controversy. They had,
however, far higher ends and motives in
writing than personal ambition or glory.
They had a mission 10 accomplish, purposes
10 serve, IDEAS W advance. They were phil
anthrophists and reformcrs, in the broadcast
sense Of the meaning, using their vivid pow.
en Of narrative and Characterization 10 en-
force their convictions. They painted life
in its true colors. and were among the fore.
most 10 "clasp the banner with the strange
device and eTclsim," EXCELSIOR" Among
the 1rst 10 light with the torch OF their re-.
splendent genius the benighted pathway Of
humanity and raise II 10 higher plane Of
civilization and enlightenment Nobly and
grandly did they fulfill their heaven. born
mission, and the memory OF their splendid
achievements will b A. enduring q. iha
mountains