The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-08
PERIODICAL LITERATURE.

Have readers of periodical literature no
rights which publishers and authors are bound
to respect The custom of taking fiction on
the installment plan is one which has long af-
forded satisfaction to large numbers of peo-
pie. Many who would feel thati was waste
of time to sit down to the perusal of com
plete novel, and who yet have not the strength
of mind to lay it aside at the proper moment,
will indulge in the chapters as they appear in
monthly magazine with much complaoency.
Others, aware of the cloying effect of much
sweet, prefer love stories in broken doses as a
matter of discretion. TO some excitable and
impatient young persons this delay in reach
ing the climax of thrilling romance is very
exasperating, but in time they overcome the
desire for monthly to issue daily editions,
and await the regular numbers with great
composure After they have learned that an
ticipation exceeds realization, and that the he
r0es and heroines are bound to be extricated
from their inevitable dilemmas in some man
ner, the young readers gradually allow them
selves to regard dramatic situations calmly
and to TRANQUILITY await the development of
events.
There are certain points however, of which
even the experienced reader is tenacious, and
the absence of which causes him annoyance.
As before intimated, one of these is that the
chief characters of tale shall be brought
into haven of peace in the final chapter, it
not earlier. If they are not made happy in
worldly point of view, they must, at least, be
killed off artistically. Another condition re-
quired by the patron of this species of litera-
ture is that each section of the novel shall
contain some feature of interest or promi-
hence which the mind may grasp and thus
carry the thread of the discourse over the
intervening chasm of time. Lacking these
the experienced novel-reader is at sea. If he
has no certainty that the suffering hero or
heroine is to be comfortably disposed Of, his
enjoyment of the'story is lost Instead of leav-
ing them without distress just where they are
in the midst of thrilling adventures, knowing
that the clouds will break in the next number,
the reader is made to feel an anxiety in regard
to the personages which is destructive of all
pleasure in it as a work of art
Mr.. Cables 'Dr SEWER is an example of
this painful species Of novel. The married
lovers in that story long since reached a pitch
of misery which would justify any humane
writer in bringing them into an earthly para
disc at once, or in sending them to heaven by
the shortest route. But no. month by month
they have starved along until the sympathetic
follower of their fortunes wonders why
they are not living skeletons. When the
delicate. high-bred wife reached the wash
tub it was felt that there was the place to
turn the tables, but still the agony was piled
on and drawn out. All the sympathy which
any one can afford for fictitious characters has
long since been spent upon these, and now
that the latest chapter has landed the hus-
band in filthy prison no one is able to care
whether he ever comes out or not As
Continued story" DR.. Sewer is not a success.
Robert Grants ''Average Man" is q case of
the other sort One can, by an effort, main
tain faint interest in the fraction of the his
tory while it is being presented to him, but no
| effort of the memory will enable him to re
member what it was all about when the sue
ceeding chapter comes to hand. The "Aver-
age Man is weak and unstable as water.
And yet these are offered by the publishers
of leading magazines as specimens of the best
literature As before remarked, have readers
no rights which are to be considered