The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-08-21
materialized. MANY times have We

materialized. Many times have vi
been startled by the proclamation tina
it has appeared, but disappointment
always follows hard after the an
nouncement. And, judging. by the
taste and discrimination shown in oul
own present reading of fiction, when
this Great American Novel, which is
to overshadow all other home pro-
ducts, does come, we will not know it,
but will leave to some future genera
ton the task of discovering ii. Not
until there is a more general apprecia-
ton of the American novel as it is
can a story appear which will be &C.
cepted as bearing the enduring i'm
prints of our times and our people.
The novel is not rated at its true
value. 1t is not properly read. We
don't distinguish clearly enough be-
tween what is good and what is bad.
l do not wish to be understood as as
sorting that we cannot discriminate
between immoral and pernicious fic-
ton and that which is proper and
wholesome. The distinction 1 wish to
clearly set fort does not intrench on
this division. The merit of a novel
does not depend on the class to which
1T belongs. Whether light or heavy,
sombre or humorous, melo-dramatic
or analytic, 1t may have positive merit,
and that merit can be decided bv a
single rule. Truth is the ono law by
which we can Judge fairly of the value
of a novel. 1t is not meant that tho
story must be founded in fact and told
with conscientious attention to sober
detail, but it is meant that the gen
novel holds mirror up to
Nature, that, in its setting, it truly
pictures the scene wherein its charac-
ters act; that its Ladies We're de We're
are the ladies they represent, and Its
lovers and murderers and fools are,
indeed, lovers and murderers and |
Tools to the end of the chapter in
thought and word and action. The
Widest and most sensational romance
might be good novel, and to our sor-
low we know that some of the most
imbitiously-conceived and loudest-
leralded works are not good novels.
Many OF our recent stories can be call
ID to mind as instances of the fact
hat, in this particular, fidelity to
ruth lies the secret of their merit.
Let any OF US carry this theory into
lis reading and try the author and his
york by it. The result will be firmer
rasp on whatever beauty may exist
q scenery, character and motion, and
finer and more critical discrimination
gainst unworthy pretensions.
The reader will not find an ideal in
ne novel realistic, sentimental, analy-
c or romantic, but will reach by an
IMPARTIAL and catholic Judgment a
orrect estimate of the story in hand,
nd will gain the full measure of any !
leasure there may be in it to what I
ger class of fiction it may belong.
here is no occasion to say that the >
ovel OF to-day must be built after :
'rtain plan to be acceptable to the :
mons of taste. The right of crit 9
ism must be grounded in a broader :,
cory than this. By its genuineness y y
one can the novel be proved. u
Election hath in it higher end than d
ct" and to accomplish this end it :.
nst employ the full potency of fact, -
nodded as to suit its own unities. y
le critics say we have no good fic- y
n now. but in spite of this edict o
oroughly good novels are being writ q.
| and printed, and all we need is -
tier reading to have still better y
iting Geo. NJ. Huss, in The Cur =:
Il. 81