National Republican., 1886-10-01
Ouida's Novels.

---ts]wsds sr6aattof fiaTt to Senator Conkllns
on q memorable occasion so are we TO
Mrs. Mary Livermore In her estimate OF
Oulda published in the current North
american RevieV. 1t is not necessary to
60 into the special arguments upon woman
suffrage with which the two ladies are
sharpening their wits, but it is well for
American parents to know what u woman
so competent and cultivated as Mrs Liver.
more has to say about certain class of
literature. "Her (ouida's) stories are
coarse and unnatural In detail, exaggerated
10 incident, vulgar in their worship OF limit.
less wealth, and immoral in tendency.
Her heroines are always spanged, be-
dizened, and unreal creatures. Her prepos-
terous heroes, whom she presents as types
Of the aristocracy Of our day, are OF the
same dazzling and unlikely sort. Like
Disraeli, she gives us a surfeit OF splendor,
and fatigues us with gorgeousness.
"But the worst feature Of her novels Is
their coarseness. Her dainty puppets have
an inordinate appetite for the grossest
forms Of sens uality. Her men rejoice in
many mlstresses. They must have ripe,
scarlet mouths TO kiss in lawless sover-
eighty, because they are men, They wor-
ship love, wealth, and enjoyment They
are all 'godlike,' and yet are 'hlgh.souled
debauchees,' devils of fellows for women
who act up to their physique aud whose
lives are 'erratic poems and long liaIsons.'
One Of her early novels was written with
the object of warning young men against
'that worst of all evils, early marriage
TIL they had been 'steeped to the lips In
sensuous delights, Ouida thinks they should
content themselves with love that can be
bought Her women are worse than her
men, II possible. If married they have
many lovers, and arc generally unfaithtul
to and deceive all. One is 'splendId
| Cleopatra, who dances break. downs at my
lords theater'-'a woman with loose
shining hair, and bare limbs 'Others are
blase aristocrats, queens Of the DENT
monde 'wanton women with the accident
of beauty false and worthless jades.'
q OF any love higher than the animal
instinct, we recall no example In Oulda's
novels. The trustful love OF a faithful
spaniel Is her fayorite phrase for the love
| VI pun NOuluus III tJhlCul way But
analyses all human feelings as the botanisi
does the flower, or the anatomlst the human
body. Her lack OF faith In humanity Il
ultra and scornful, and she scouts the idea
that goodness and truth, sincerity ani
purity are abroad In the world, redeeminl
and unlifting 1t. She fails to see that thl
human race has always had before II al
ideal of a noble life, the attempt to realize
which constitutes progress" Mrs. Liver
more quotes from Harriet Waters Preston
"Doubtless 0uida's vaulting ambition tC
portray these ecstasles OF crime o'erleapt
itself, and suggests the idea that sht
may be really as ignorant of the world o.
men as she must be OF that of let
ters." This is a perfectly fair criticism
oulda prIdes herself above all else upor
her knowledge Of the world OF men, ant
such men Fellows six feet six IN their un
slippered feet, who, when not engaged IL
riding steeplechases, or making love IN
their own british fashion, seem TO pass the
remaining portion Of their lives in some
such dawdling llstlessness as We are led to
associate with the occupants OF Turkish
barem, plus boxing gloves, cigars, brandy,
soda water, and champagne bottles, with a