New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-11-06
THE TENDENCY or THE AMERICAN NOVEL.
From The BOSTON Jonnok


Aponp he four or i've noteworthy novels "hich
have recently appeared IN orr HrOliir ,lence
zines, thTec-by >omGWh3t sluHul"t 10 iUraIiritv
have dealt with the subject of domeSuc HllVnCi'5
HIbougb fine style conception and execution on
these novels have been different eaen S'tM, o@s ~
same KEYNOTE Celebrates the same lGea, Lio"'n 49,
81 - .,lose ~ lupan existence. ran hicSsHtS'
10 marriage vows is portrayed DV. a ; nuTwi =; Tbc
stance and . Trough One AdlhlIllstIH'i1 nd;clJ
Tuf,,y, fl1tbeSsncSs to MARI age VOWS Is GePiC1u
D.. - A. Echo oi Passion" in me IUdb"c HV'"'y;
and the description OF INCONSISTENCY, seInsin' ,6e
cruelty is necessary accompaniment 10 "a ~ - and
IT, "A Modern Instance fanny e SUM-. ~ - ~
trials are rtpreseuted with cool Gynlcisih eld' %
almost az TessVcly irritating nc NY So 49, Va
married hfc are pIObcd and reNeaIet ~ th'uHdd
10. - ,,,t.ri3I for scientific Investigation; ana
theWOcess however skll'ui Is as II i1.ii- ii,I
sult of Tie experiments phnIul' M ,1' -
and wife embtteIiug their ilves WIN pGltl qun
Teis mn il The one begins tOqueSllOn Nhet nc .t
not made great ms axe 10 Ect nldll'S 81 i,
other perceivlnI hat her young dream ldS aDI
realized ,rIcS to iurbear ana us PATENT. &c
The storyn Oes.On to The lncVltd0ie uea'A"0'lu" W
the house old. Wth tue complete dc 2Iai"Io1 u tTo
husband and the moral stagnatIOn OF lhc "no' -
,,,,at mis- pictlrp of a state of society OF Which
divorce law, ar the index there IL aHdeu Ilc IA
faruation OF an unmarried man WIN d ni1'tdC ~
wom9n and the reader is edIned with thtlI COLI
SCIENCE puckiugs and soul tOrments uhtii IHS
misery and WtetChedneSS OF TINS Wohuci1uI
psychological study END. , ....,,.,.., ,,l,o..
- Inrougn One Administration presents d PAaso
of life not in tie least more cheering athousI Tue
oharac ers move III round OF gdSc'S duu az
bIrs.,d with the brightest aud happltst OF HaeIll
snrr"nuGlpgs Here again human passions ay the
mischief and the human heart Is eIoulu' unln
the hopes OF It irder ana better existence are
10 ashes ana the ire on the ooheslic ilc'i III ~
out Again we see an unmarried man lhld'udttu
with married woman, ana although tHe lac' loI d
time, is kept as secret as pOssiY'e, ,o 20
throughout made 10 witness ana 10 ~ lnP"'ii
with the uniOrtun ale characters. Ana Tue S'oi9
goes with slow tread WAllt me author Win , 80
cacy and refinement ahalyZcS anu '0"i' " P'N
feclIirgs aud sentiments.
me motif off, An Ecuo of Passion may be seen
4, ,I,. cna,ce reflection ABOUT the hero. + cnn
I.,iYu ft4ft a
self that he loves his wife al the same tlno thaI ne
Is welding 10 auOiucT wJmdus iasclndtOhs, staiuS
in even more seductive peril thdn Ne VINO "hoiLF
loses his attachment to the one, "nlle aware % NC
ptIa!l prppal iOr him." Ana in the uhio4ulHs u
The put Tie rcauer accompanies the authOr III SOW
ing he problem, glYcii-A man ana Two Wolncu-to
mn y,htt-r the man love bOtu equally wen al
thr same lime WIN a Co"Iness almost TepuiSINe
the nero in thoOuzing over NIB feelings cOhciudeo
a. he ,. LOST MS affection for his wife, ana at the
same time Acknowledges hlS eAtuIaIHehl 10 ab-
OtneI By some special pIOVidehco thIS stoi5 hdS
a bavpy ending But what matters the ending 10
tins or any o,her novel OF the same character Inc
plan Is there and tAe meaning Is theie IN al qh-
wnOiesOInencss. As the author OF lhlougn Olie
ADMINISTRATOR" truly says: one may can II Nn"V
one ikes, ana make II Us patheJlc, ana as tragic
and as hopeless words can paint IT, Dul IL Is ou4y
the old, miserable, undShihed sto'y oI a "CH'n
who Is married AID VINO CARES Tor man VINO Is hoI
her husband. Nothing can he W.rse IMAM lh@t'
And vet these stories than whlcn nothing can 90
worse are read and admired and godted over "
thousands o. readers every month; these stories,
uctures OF lnlmoEtnty as hey are are carried mo
IesDtCtdHie homes lOf INC pleasure anu OuiiiN"'"-
o thc Old. and stll more OF the Young W no can
1clI OF the influence over innocent, unframed ninds
which Is cXor.ed ny these powerful novels where
the feeling OF sympathy Is app SIed 10 IoI dc's
winch lu tnclr nature are criminal =,
NoVels, tncy Say, are tue DcsJ histories o. inc
time Novrls IKE these pictures Cl society OF
winch olyorce laws are tue lnUeN." lncI are mod
.rn instances minors OF Washington society," rep
res,,,a louS of American life " nile tar of cor
Tupuou ia politics, we are prGlhg ourselves OF lhe
advancement III literature. We say we arc now
welding an American prOduct from American soil
Wbllc we are dcIlgnIcu Win the Signs Oh growing
strength while . Il charmed Win the graceful
f.cllc pe " are closing our eyes 10 INC tchuCHCy
ot me american novel 1t is not national, because
IL is uoi peTnieateu with the spirit OF hoptluneSs
nnd courage mat duludtes the American people IL
is instead, EuiOL can aud French European Ill us
immortality one Is tempted so cry 10 the Amen,
car, novelist q iiesh how ait tnOu FIenchned
i me pruucnt, guIleess days of our novel are over
Ne sing 10 IOnSeT 10 the tune
Al was a love and his lass,
WIN d ney, ana u no. ANA hey nonlnc
The American Indian Is too tame subject for
our romanccs ana the Western pIaules nave been
deSplied OF the'buito. We write instead Oh MONIES
drsnated and marriage bonds broken, and trea ing
1hs tueme la all IT'S manifold VARIATIONS we send "
fOrth IN our mOst prominent magazines as I"ou
for the babes. ,,.-,.
Are the magazines to be blamed for publishing
noyeis OF TINS typef Are our authors culpaDle 1or
wrung (hom is, not, Instead tne gledt AHcr'-
can uI,nlic at 1aulJ demanding them TIL II ex-
hausts ltseii in the peIusaI Let inc puDhc de-
m.nd different class OF literature, and the authors
will create whLe the magazines VIII furnish the
supply.
Nom nuhirnt1nua