New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-13
Mr.. HOMELESS PHOTOGRAPH OF SOCIETY
TO mcEditor Of The Trtbune

u
SIR: The criticism of a Modern In
stance" by correspondent IN Mondays TRIBUNE ap-
rcsrs 10 have been written under Imperfect apprehen-
sion Of Tat interesting but painful work. Mr. Howels
did not III down TO compose picture He did not pro-
pose 10 amuse and delight. Re turned camera upon "a
puasc Of degeueraug society and the result upon DIS
highly senstzed ob,eryaut intellect Is Ike an eIecuc
Photograph; p.tless IN its reality absolutely micro
scopc iii detail II may not DC The highest orm OF All
| but II goes behind Art; It il Nature. There are
pages that suggest the cruelty " yvisecton, aud oui
os the deep underlying sympathy, one would close inc
book in despairug Lcart-sIcknes' touches hiOue"Ou'
suggest surgical rather than literary habit OF seeing
as Tor instance, whore he says that Bareys back was
| that Of a degenerate man" Nothing could be more
descriptive and true. But tie motive is not in the for
tunes OF BARLEY Hubbard's hOusehOld-a vulgar, uil
disciplined man a passionate, uudsciphned WOInah
Tho lays bare the deep causes OF certain changes
IN New. gland life which have more than local sEDli
canoe and value.
Perhaps the form Of society which the world has
ever seen-n Its simplicity, earnesness and vgor-Was
that Of New England nfy years ago strong ntelec
tual education based the highest moral and religious
standards family life without elegance in its sond
unpretentious comfort men and women who had III
herited from tier Revolutionary ancestors that patriot
ism which Lord Roaebery has just defined as the self
| respect OF race"
That there has been fearful falling away, We do not
need TO learn through the pages OF a Modern In
stance" not only a decay OF belief but an aP
parent incapacity for deep conviction, al
most universal sbdIeaton Of parental authority and
responsibility, the public school and the Sunday
school were patented TO turn fine and women
without any trouble at home emotional eIaggeraiion-
fostCred by such fiction Mr.. HOwes does not write
with inevitable weakening OF moral fibre and natural
affection. recent essay by the Rev. Leonard Bacon,
On he calls successive Poly gamy, does not need
the touch OF q novelist to show how hdeOus IL social
state which regards marriage limited partner
ship and children accidental encumbrances.
That there Is still a noble life, based on the
best spiritual culture and tradition bound and fixed by
true ideals duty neither writer would deny but they
have both approached-from separate standpOints-an
ugly spot OF morbid pathology which threatens the
Nation through the family which is but the unit VI
Nation. .-.,-.
Mr. Howclls has elsewhere alluded 10 tentative
marriages. as II one should try dying" The HuDbaru
marriage was "A deadly, but not unusual experiment
more .Ortunate even its melancholy ending IMAM
some We have all watched. The syer-cOnscen iOus-
uess OF Ben Ha!leck turning away from the woman
be has been tempted to love the very outcome OF the
ausere yet sentative character Mr. Howells drawn
TO gather tie fruit or love wncl La1 its beginning
under unlawful circumstances would seem " such