The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-02-22
THE HORRIBLE IN FICTION.
A Protest Against the Startling and the
Horrzbfs OF Modern Novels.

Protest Against the Ssertlng ana the
Horrfbis OF Modern Novels.
IChurch Quarterly Review
II requires 10 little consideration rightly
to estimate the relation which novels bear
to life in the present day. While great
advance has been made in every branch Of
human knowledge, and the accumulation
OF facts renders mastery OF any subject
harder for ourselves than twas for our fore
fathers, the hurry and pressure OF modern
life tends to make those books most popu-
lar which awaken interest without de-
mand ding the exercise OF thought. To
meet this condition OF the public mind
every conc eivable lesson, escred and pro.
FAME scientific and artistic historical and
social, erthordox and sceptical, is dis
gulsed under the gulse of hction, until
mere stories probably exercise q larger
influence at this moment than at any
other period in the worlds history. If
we may judge from some recent
Indications, We shall soon be reaping the
natural result OF this indulgence of
modern craving for naked intellectual
indo!en ce. Is there not some reason to
fear that novel writing is rapidly descend
ing TO the level Of mere narrative of
startling incident Is description OF
adventure not taking the place of delinea-
tion of character? Is the hasty dash OF the
S Gene painter to supersede the thoughtful
fms - tie genuine tr.ist? Is taste
- ,r.png Up-io which some popular uu-
b~-- ar- OF ashamed to pander-shIch
CT yes after pernicious stimulus, and has
~ eli ,ymsnt of chaste and thoughtful
GO" pasItIoI , So long as writ ers, whose
),i ~rs diff cured By extravagauce cf
a. rt;on, Uarestrsined indulgence 10 semi
"a / and rspul-ive detail, and = psrni-
coUs familiarity with topies whio I good
5ssS Anu Christian feeling prompt us
@u6 a rsverentlyy we might
be content n ass hem by in
silence; but " err their works are praised
Literary taste, circulated in periodicals
held deservedly IN high esteem, and pushed
by ali che arts of modern reclsme to sale
of many thousands of copies, they become
so serIc1s q nuisance as to call Tor loud and
immediate protest. These remarks have
been suggested by the popularity OF Mr..
Hsggard's stories. Let rs admit frankly
at the outset that they are not wanting in
some of the qualities which deserve sue
cess. The authors genuine admiration
OF manly pluck and lighting skill are
specially attractive in a day when
athletic exercises are even apt to be
overrated. His narrative flows on with IN
interrupted rapidity. His style is easy,
and some Of his characters-such as bis
savage heroes and persons in the humber
walk of life-are simple and the latter are
endowed with a genial humor that occa-
sionslly de2enerates into coarseness. One
incident follows another so quickly as TO
keep the story from tagging, and the
writer's acquaintance with African scenery
and manners, and with the details of
hunting larger game, gives reality and
vigor to his pages. If, moreover, there s1e
readers. and we presume from. the
commercial success of Mr.. Hsg-
CARDS writings that they torn
numerous class, VINO can ex-
perience any other sensation than wesri-
ness from the perusal of page after pare
describing caveTns and tombs and deserted
cities mere chateaux d Espagne - the
creation of architectural fancy s-Uu meds
if the disagreeable mRnnerism OF pretended
editorship, which allows the writer to
make comments on his own narrative. and
correct affected mistakes by means of foot
notes; if the constant reintroduction in
successive stories of the some characters
under the fiimsiest disgutses, and most OF
these besides zach mere nominls um6Too
that it is hard to feel the faintest interest
in them or in their fortunes; il the
wiredrawn conceit of spreading an in
scription over many pages by its repe-
titiOn in different languages anG' in
varied type; IL the absence of most OF the
higher qualities of style which insure a
permanent place in literature-if all these
defects ought to be condoneG on the plea
of counter balancing excellence, We should
be content to pass them by without further
criticism. Tor adventure pare and simple,
written only to amuse, is a legitimate, If
not a very Lofty aim, and the hands OF a
competent artist would mold it iRsC-storIes
that should be delightful to the imsgiaa-
ton as well as interesting to the under
standing. De xterity in construction, in
tricscy OF plot, vivid powers of describing
thlpgs fairly describable, and genuine
enthusiasm might combine to pre-
sent such stirring perils by flood and field
as should kindle keen, healthy Interest,
and foster nanliness of thought and char
acter. But such books could not be pro-
duced without the conscious CT uncon-
scious observance OF the csnons oy which
the literature of the imagination IS regu-
lated than a valid argu Nent can be clu-
sisucted in defiance o. the ruleJ OF logic.
Whether, Mr.. Haggard sins, and in what
degree. against the laws of his art, we hope
10 make sufficiently pain to our readers,
Mr.. Haggard's stock.in-trsde is singGlaply
limited. A few very. shHdowy characters,
| with soaDty sprinkling OF mere substan-
tial act9rs-a description of q sunrise,
| and sport in Southern and Central
| Africa-a battle involving terrific carnage
and desperate single combat Described
| with the minuteness and refinement that
/ would grace the account of prize tight in
a sporting newspaper-these, with the
architectural details already adverted to
| interpreted with agnostic re1ections, NOR
bid moralizing, AID aqueer vein OF genuine
but broad humor, from the wal p and wool
| OF his stories. Is,ihe dramatis personae are
mostly either fie0ds or fools, we have the
satisfaction of seeing them gradually diSap
pesz as the story is developed, and the cur
taiz falls upon a stage that has beer
cleared of many OF the leading actors.