The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-15
why Most Novels Die.

T.. u roc IN Tue Apfil Forum.
How about the scores OF novels to be
published during the next few months2
One after another the majority Of them
will disappear from public notice, and be-
come part OF the inert sediment which
gathers on the book shelves, dead as their
sapless wooden supports. II may be that
the least heralded, least praised one Of
them all will make its way into thousands
OF homes, and amuse or inspire tens Of
thousands Of readers. BE this M IL may,
no amount Of advertising or praise can
make dead book live, although Il may be
galvanized into a semblancc OF life for q
time. Unless II makes lis own way by u
native vitality, sooner or later II disappears
and is forgotten. With few exceptions,
the value Of novel consists in lis power to
interest. Tho story is not the accepted
means OF information or instruction, nj.
though the writer may have aspircd togivc
both abundantly. Neither for the facts
nor for the wisdom conveyed Ia the mar
rative will II be generally The author
may seek TO further some cause or smite
some evil, yet he may learn that while the
publicsympathizes with his motives, II neg.
lccts his book. lie may simply be actuated
by the legitimate wish 10 amusc, 10 rest
tired bruins, 10 bcguile the sorrowful into
forgctfulness, and 10 wing slow hours; but
II he does not nmusc, II the weary dis
cover that they must grid MP their mental
loins Tor renewed effort, II the sad find the
specters Of their troubles intervening be.
tween the eye and tho page, and the dull
catch themselves yawning with increasing
frequency, q ukasc could not make the
book 20. Ambition Of the most consum-
ing quality may drive the pen, but tho
public Is supemcly Indifferent 10 our de-
sire 10 be great. Philanthropy stepped In
the very milk Of human kindness, may In
spire the effort, but out Of 10000, 600
scarcely a corporal's guard will read
novel from q sense Of duty. The author
may acquire n style 30 finished that even
the hypercritical cannot find a faulty SEN
tence from cover 10 cover, and, after all, he
may learn from the popular verdict that
he has produced mere form. We can
fancy Eve lying In iaultless symmetry on
the green sward Of Eden. What mockey
would her beauty have been 20 Adam nm
less the breath Of life had been brcathcd
into her nostrlsl Even the marble statue
must suggest life and represent H. While
gazing We think Of yirilc manhood, gra-
cious womanhood, sporiyc, innocent
childhood. Little would we care for mere
sculpturcd curves unless they were inscp.
arably associated with the highest forms Of
life.
A living novel Il H. own raison d'etrc.
II lives bccausc something has been put
into II which II life. Critics cannot Kill II
any moro than they can slay the Thousands
10 whom Il appeals. They may snccr nj
book aud reader, but both survive. They
may contempiuously dismiss u a. appeal
ing 10 an inforior class, but the maid reads
| II In the kitchen, the mistress In the par.
lor, and the master puts II In his pocket
when starting on a journey. The novel
destined 10 live appeals 10 humanity,
Nothing u more true Of u than Us indie.
pcndcncc Of adverse opinions and predic'
lions. In manuscript, publishers may de-
cline Il; printed, u may be criticised "a
the point u brutality, politely snccrcd At,
/ ignored, or damned with faint praise
yet II Just simply lives, and makes To- way
from one 10 another, until, like human
being, II has liz circle Of friends. II !,
very amusing 90 find In some journals the
people accorded ~ much intelligence on
the political page, and almost denied II
possession In the literary column; yet III,
people and time 90 on settling values al
the same.