New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-22
TALKS WITH THE DEVIL
lCopyriWt 1851
III.

culture and 20 have made an especial study OF
| literature. 1t occurred to me, therefore, that his
opinions might prove Of high value to the honorable
gnd which makes tbat branch OF aesthetics its profess
sion; ana improved early opportunity OF introduce
ing hln as my guest ut meeting OF the Botting Pad
Cubs being persuaded not Only that he would find the
company cou8enia and appreciatve but that he would
be able to eniighton to many points on which
| information was urgently required.
His IIighucss received my Invitation IN tho most
charming manner and when | called for him on the
appointed evening found him ready for with that
fine perception OF fitness which is characteristic OF
him. he had put on for the OCCASION loose black velvet
smoking Jacket, somewhat the elbows; his
curly locks less carefully brushed than usual his
silken mustache completely hid his mouth and two
days growth OF beard suffered to daren his we'll
moulded chin. He was pulling with evident enjoyment
at short clay Pipe; and the desk table from which lie
arose to shake mo by the hand covered with sheets
or letter paper, written over with what - ked like
! studies for pOom In irregular metre; nut which may
have been merely list OF the names OF persons with
whom no maintained correspondence other business
relations In short he appeared Ike one of ourselves;
and nvoluntarly glanced at the book where
should hardly have felt surprised at seeing the backs
half a dozen novels bearing his name IA author
An, mon ann ~ he exclaimed cordially (pronouncing
tho French words with exquisite Partisan ntonaton
but this IS truly deed OF fricndshp You don't know
how It touches me-ths mark OF confidence and good
! fellowship 1t makos me feel young and happy once
!
romances! AVonsi AN eager to be among you. Shall
| we walk or must we make uso OF horse car T.
It Ia not late" replied nor is the distance great
| suppose walk I"
he tout mon c1ur! Besides must lock after tho
nckels. Obi" Aud laughing oyOusly. down stairs
like couple OF boys, and emerged upon the ampghted
! sidewalk.
But this IL far from being your first introduction to
the great Republic OF Letters r. 1 remarked, as we
| walked along.
In one sense. moi seldom permit myself 20 appear
upon title page In propr0 PERSONA" -hc glanced at me
with arch smile, tut / may mpart to you In con-
nlence lat have far INDUCED natural tasto as TO
become the editor nspror OF various works not all Of
which (he moicstly added have been failures"
"Surely, though" objected, ." it wOdd not be other
wise than tO tho advantage OF oratdre your great
explicitly enrolled among lts workers. Not fow
m0narchs have taken up the pen OF late; aud you"
Yes yos mon cher know all tnat," ho interrupted
good humorodly; but need not remind you now much
weight nowadays Il attached to those popular phrases
OF which the air Is tul and to take too open
part In the which all have ut holrt, nothing
could prevent yoIr being assured or later that
literature going TO tho going my way. IN
snort: you understand"
While / was aIniring the delicate Insight which had
prompted TINS observation turned down s.do Ptreet
aud approdchc tue goal OF our journey which had never
seemed -Aort. But tho trnth Is. that time always
dies when IS IN the society Of my companion OF that
evening
Not moro than dozen members OF our club we're IN
the rooms ~ the moment ~ orr entrance. handed my
friend fresh pipe. aud hlcl glass Ot punch for him.
aud est tni-IoI Ourselves on ll.tlc sofa IN ono
corner ~ after another strolcd up, Presented
them. auI the centre Of an Interested and
animated group.
~ ,wArt couraIs Jon anne. who alwly7 kcs 70 50 to
tho root ~ matter. auI whose rc,o ming voice aui
rliIy b',rl ARE ever prominent ina discussion was
Immensely capt. atci cy tlc guest Of the evening; AMI
fc.Iu, pcrlnp. thai fate might not soon again bring
him into cou,,ct with au njcrIocltor even more
owned than ir,clf he hi, curiosity this com
prchca.y, orir.,ou: VAST i, jour opinion. sir ~ To
tue prc.cn condition and future prospect, o. American
literature !"
-Nucu literature" replied TIli nshuc's sm'Iinsly,
comprises two such documents - the Declaration OF
udrp.ucucc and the last newspaper report Of Society
Iliul. az Newport. what mly wc not expect to hnd
within It. scope e.
"Eat would You GLASS Journalism a. literature !"
inquired Tlrmin. o'cvAuny hi, eyebrow, o'or the
cigarette hc wa- lighting
"IvI frankly coufr,, 10 yoI. gentlemen" returned
H.. ;a0o., that unless Journalism soon becomes
literature htcrIfIro h. ,oon likely o. cease to Pc. II VIII
br found more anil more dihoIt ~ time roc' OF. for
the two t. oU.t sde by side. Newspaper work has
hitherto uuiformN shown itself hostlr-iu practice II
not 90 tArory-to literature. and un.o- 90 prove ito
auy 90 balance 10, destructive by creative rover we
must anticipate trouble"
hut" itcrpo.cd R,smsro.e with hi. accustomed
impul-iveu-, hI, decided move IN tho direction
You indicate been noticeable OF late ihc,e ~ nti.
c.',s' know Iuey iu to Introduce literature INTO
thc dAiiy reading az the poOpe; and II NAY %'j IL
WHO Icrhil' should uoi-I think they occasionally
40 ono could 10 more ready thnn to recognize the
c,reunusl .1rre.s - whIcl you draw attention" said
I!l- lsuu,- with graceful i>ul4o du,r "Ll.J Drought
t.u-h 10 Eignarulo- uA cuunus check 1877, Ter all,
mu-, Sc not aduI. It To bee exceptional Ahd are not
The chance. against rather tnan 90 favor OF IT, becoming
Ice, 30 WI not tho nr~sl"prf spri. the .pir, oil
tone oi thc-o contributions, Rather THAN tc reverse
And on tue other hand nave not some 81 the l'lrat
product, uf the human mud been cfcttr IN axes when
thr ne y-pAlrr either wholly unknown. or compare
lively Iuo,cut Pray observe that 81" not dOSmhtlAe;
an ny SELF un ilqulrsr rather tuau "a t.eori,t
" To put n shortly trhcmeru publication le'hs 10
cphemrrd writing" observed Apo'LesmAt"s' ine"''"-
You translate mo TO my ad,aniaeO," reoinod IIIs
tho days when II took ten year, to write Il book
Bat how fIow to Iye IN tho meauN hiio r. sighed
It might Ice worth the while Of tho Government
remarked HIS lEhne's TO consider inc 81 e""n'y ~
Substituting the literary NEIL on conduO" tiH none vi
them published work oitener than 'uco IA decade.
Yrs; aud that might bring tnoso coufouudtd pub
u.lrr, +, thrir bclII.4 tooi' exclaimed Isgmarole.
hopefully But LrrIhcntc rubbed hls chh al" seemed
I'm, efiui,i bow to Interpret the suggestion.
q" II the Government would ou.y follow my ndvlce on
the Copyright question began iiIuAn, ul III. a. , ~"
sound 80 that word an "ninou5 mui mur h"k l"'" il"
t"c group; aud FNmhn uiSrTccty H"""o"'" eo''o
You spoke li-t now of the spirit Il the age" said
after pause. Must not pcThaI 4, cuh'rdc 10 IL
certain anohnl OF uuth tId v@u' Ia, '',n and
fashion OF wanting onr mental to'd i'lS , =, MI I'M
quickly dgeslih" nothing comm, ndAor H'ou, u MuTy
principles aud methods - .,.
TritI" rrpied our gucat !, % the -amo fashion
now that II was m tho Garden Of Eden; aud tr'h,
why not fiction The human brain mas deVe3Pru no
new capacir. since the day of solomon ana oI Homer
rather M wID that the human mlud MOI AT
hi, moment IN temper to care Tor trHo rt' w my
shape Bnt there Is only one Krautl, ana sue i ,hnt
upon immutabo fouud tuns. She may br m"ultcI Oh
marble ivory, OF bronze, or Iufo E"bl: pul hcr
ndrauIeuts can never safely be- tempered Win. -.
Ihen Beauty i- bat skin deep rerIcrt7 tho I"ct
said AIUthegmatOs. :, H.
ASK tho ruins 81 the Athonan Acroroll7; ASK INC
pregnant seed the ask the Revised version
answered His uI.hucss, clolucntly, II somewhat
Occulty.
" on uy the way. tultng of fiction exclaimed
Riemnrne what do yOu think about this realistic Ihl
that much vogue Ii II gOluG ~ take 'ho
place OF the romantic method permanently 49,, -.
A. YOU are probably all aware" was tue ropy;
have made any pretru7ion7 to prOph'o9i pu