National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-07-22

Miss CIeyeland's Literary Work. I,
We are very much inclined to think, with
all respect for her high aims and evident
devotion to what she considers to be her
calling, that Miss Cleveland has not found,
and is not likely TO find in literature what
the French writers would call her meter.
Her first book, composed of essays which
were supposed to be critical studies, was
not critical, nor was It in any true sense a
series OF studies. Her long sentences
packed with quotations generally from
undigested German authors were mingled
with short aphorlsms moulded after the
manner OF Emerson, but resembling in
matter the dogmatic and damnatory clauses
ofthe Athanasan creed. The entire book ap-
peared as lit had been written piecemeal ina
schoolroom during the intervals Of recess.
II was clear that the writer had read widely,
but not by any means with any considerable
thought, sympathy, or exercise Of the criti-
cal faculty. There was deplorable want
Of originality, and the perpetual effort to say
strong or bold things disclosed want of
literary tact or even ordinary good sense
which is quite remarkable in a lady Of Miss
Cleveland's character and culture.
Carlyle's most serious defect Of style is
found in his constant tendency to quotation,
but each sentence borrowed from some one
else was placed in a new and brighter light
by the great Scotchmans fine poetic genius,
and phrase which in other hands would
have been platitude, a plagiarism, or per-
hGps utterly meaningless, comes under the
| SFI ;sf f,,,p a,
formed into life, and force, and beauty. 1t
| becomes as Carlyle himself described the
face Of Camille Desmoulins In the process.
sion Of deputies TO the national assembly,
"suddenly irradlated with genius as II
naphtha lamp burned within it.n Miss Cleve.
land does not influence her innumerable
| quotations In This fashion. She hurls them
at her readers MS II she cared not whence
they came or what they are expected to
prove or suggest. The style is crude,
abrupt, and unpleasing. Its endless dog
matism is the most consistent aud unpleas-
ant feature, and great number Of the quo
tations are inaccurate.
| The criticism upon George Eliot could
only have emanated from mind utterly In
capable of understanding that glorious and
wonderful woman. Any comparison be-
tween the author of "Romolan and Mrs
Browning indicates the form of mind pre-
valling in boys between the ages of 15
and IL, when, In their school debat-
ing classes, they hercely discuss the ques-
tion, "ls Dickens or Thackeray the Greater
Writer 20
AS we have said before, Miss Cleveland
| hoe M gf1 1itavo
portion, aud we should not have made q
comment upon her 1rst book II It had not
been followed up by novel, which leaves
even a more disagreeable impression than
the "Essays."
What can be thought Of an author who
writes with appreciation of the hero OF
"The Long Run" in the following style ?
1t must be remembered that the occasion OF
the following dissertation occurs about five
minutes after the "hero" has been intro
ducod to the heroine:
"Afler all, each one of us ia nm individual"
he went on. "Nohing can help that-or him
der In der BescirdRkuRg :cigt Sich crst der Meis.
Ter. Our limitations test us. 1t is what We
amount to IN Spi,C of them that Is the real thing
And no one can touch your own intrinsic life
You have your secrets with God and Nature
Ike the rest of us, and no one can violate their
sacredncss"
"But we ought to do something in this life,"
said Emeline, simply.
"There is u great deal of delusion about this
doing things" murmured Grosbeck. 'You re.
member what schiller says; 'seek'st thou the
Greatest, the Best, The plant can teach II thee
What 1t does, not willing, that do thou by will
inep We have but to surrender ourselves to
friendly elements. All nature is for us. The
sun can only bless the air only stimulate; the
earth has for us only nourishment. Ours only
IS It TO assimiate these friendly elements The
fern there has nopower to resist this conspiracy
that makes for its development. We have.
That Is the worst and the best of It,"
"Yes, that must hold for us all" continued
GTosbeCk, presently. an der Bcschrdnkung
stigt strh CrSt der MisCr, ind dls Gcs,. Rur kdRR
ans FrCihCh Gejn, Freedom in the midst OF
, our own bondage Freedom out Of our bond
age. We must forge our liberty from our fet-
tcrs themselves. You and l."
This in tone Of quiet assurance, his eyes
fixed on the hills blue and distant, cleaning
through the trees.
This sort Of writing crlticises itself, and
VIC can only regret that Miss Cleveland
should have wasted time and toll upon such
utterly improbable literature.
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