New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-12
VIII, AND OLD NOTELS.

country seems to have turned the neaus Oh HIS
ardent admirers. He is proclaimed the founder
of a new school of fiction. He is represented as
having characteristic qualities ana methouS
which have given him unique position III
modern as well as in American literature. 10
such lengths is this spirit OF laudatlon carileu
that his hame is already exalted above those Oh
the great masters of modern fiction. Here Is
Mr.. Howells, for example, whose later WORK
markedly excels that of Mr.. James IN genera
workmanship, dramatic action, humor, realism
and moral purpose, burning incense at his riVals
altar with an ardor almost fanatlcal. Descrio-
ing the new school as rejecting George Ellot
and Ha gthorne rather than any otherS' DIS
largely influenced by French fiction III lorln'
and as preferring to avoid all manner Oh uiIo
catastrophes," the moving accidehC no'
heinz y its trade.n he AYERS That Mr.. james
characters are revealed through their own
qualities and are not affected 10y insinuatlon
" or by downright pettng such as Wo H"' -
- Dickens nearly ALWAYS, and in Thackeray too
q ortan - aThe art of fiction" he continues
q has in fact become a finer art III our u"J V",ii
it was with Dickens or Thackeray. we couiu
@noi suffer the confidential. attitude Vi tho
alotter now nor the mannerism OF the former,
aanv more than we could endure the prollAlty
= of Richardson or the coarseness of Fielding.
The new school, whatever may he Its orIgihal
canacity or distinctive traits, is not encumDered
with modestv. 1t does not hesitate to patrouHe
the masters of past generation. They wrote
we'll enough for their day. it eXclaims with IAN
guild nonchalance, but it was coarse woi%' anu
finer art is needed now
1t is not our purpose to dsparage Ill
the least the brilliant success achieved by
Mr.. james in GctiOn-writing His fame
has been laboriously and honorably Won'
and whatever may be said in regard to the
nermanence of his influence, he occupies
momentarily, Mt least, Il commanding position
in American letters. Nor are we inclined to
criticise Mr. HOwells for bestowlnS LAVISH
praise upon an associate whose literary
methods resemble his own so closely that he
cannot analyze them without revealing the
secrets Of his own art. The mistake III the
passages we have quoted from his article III / he
Ccatury is apparent, but rs lie has done Sd
much to adorn and dignity the profession Oh
American authorship, he will be readily Tor
given Sc innocent an indiscretlon. The d.
rectiOn in which our reflections are tending
is the disadvantages under which the dead
masters labor in any competitive test Instituted
in the interest of living leader Their work
is done; the generation in closest sympathy
with their manner, purposes and creative genius
is passing away their books must be reread
by the old circle which can find III them no
startling surprise in plot, no unexpected merit
of workmanship, but only lights and shades OF
incident and dctiOn before unDOticed. Refine
ment of style, peculiarities OF manner, studies
of character, the 0y-play of incident and the
underlying purpose, whether moral or artistic
in its quality, have ceased to be matters which
are seriously considered. Their influence has
been defined their tendencies have been
ascertained and cOntempOraneOus criticism Is
watching the newer figures on the stage. 1t Is
the living author who serves as channel
for the communication OF the thought OF
his time His stories have the Incompatible
flavor of novelty; his pages have not only
CLEANS of brightness, but a sense of freshness;
he belongs to the living, breathing world and
every phase of his literary experience, every
development of his characteristic genius, Is
watched with an intensity of interest which
cannot be shared by the ghosts of the library
shelves, benignant spirits though they be-
1t is apparent, therefore, that in the compare
son with the old masters which the new school
has invited with what seems to us precipitate
haste, the question is not whether Thackeray
and Dickens are read to-day with the same
freshness and eagcrness of interest with which
the creations of the newer men, so characteris-
tic of the intellectual attitude of the time, are
critically examined. That false basis of com
parison. The vital question is whether the
new men will be reread by their own and
succeeding generations with the same measure
of satisfaction and appreciation with which
Thacleray and Dickens are still read. When
that crucial test can be applied it will be time
enough to decide whether the art Of fiction in
the hands of Mr.. James, Mr.. HOwcs and their
| imitatOrs has become a finer art than it was
with 1hackeray and Dickens. Until the new
| men can count with confidence upon THEN
ability TO write 50 well that they can not only
eectrify their readers by the first flash of a
new publication, but leave permanent impress
| sion upon public that fOrgcts almost n.
easily as it is pleased, they must not descan
| too boastfully upon the merits of their art
| The admirng friend finds close points OF
resemblance between Mr.. James and George
Eliot. No other novelist says Mr. Howells
except George Eliot, has dealt so largely il
analysis Of motive, has so fully explained anC
commented upon the springs of action In thu
persons of the drama, both before and after
the facts" This was Il characteristic o.
George Eiot's later rather than her earlier
work, and was most strikingly illustrated il
Daniel DerOnda." Yet of all her novels, tina
is the one which nobody wants TO reread
while the earlier stories, in which the analytic
tendency and artistic qualities, wherein Mr.
James is thought to resemble her, are not dis
closed, will I've permanent source of intellec
tual enjoyment. Mr.. james has written many
brilliant and fascinating novels and sketches