St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-08-26

minister physical reproof that would be
efficaciouS.
Since she is woman, gallantry for
bids aught but courteous criticism of
works whose general treatment of what
we cherish dearest in life is demoraliz-
ing and bad.
In the Lippincott for September will
appear tragedy. ''Herod and Mari
amne,'' from the pen of Miss Rives,
which the critics favorable to her cause
say Will create a Juror exceeding that
aroused by THE Quick and the Dead"
Perhaps in the creating of Jurors lies
the only ability of Miss Rives.
There is not space here to consider
the work dramatically-they say that it
is perfect-the greatest of American
prOductS-and so on ad libitum.
The concern of the candid Judge of
Miss Rives' literary productions is not
so much with her mechanics as with
what she teaches.
The test of her greatness is not in the
mechanical construction of her novels
and tragedies, but in the modicum of
truth embalmed in them and offered to
mankind for study and adoption.
If she does not preach the truth. per-
feet mechanics and faultless English
will not save her from oblivion.
What may be considered as the best
test OF the doctrines she promulgates is
in her definition of love in this tragedy.
She betrays in it the workings OF a
very bad digestion, or the mind run
loose with the idiocy of Ella Wheeler
Wilcox.
Love-" writes Miss Rives, sis to put
myself beyond myself" That is abne-
CATION of self-but for what?
The answer: ITO him submissive,
rh ntn hifr1, hao
belliOus."
A slave to the one loved, though re-
voting against the will of God.
This is Sickening. 1t is not sentiment
but Ito use an offensive word for the
sake of fOrce) rot.
She continues her definition:
To bear his doubtS.''
''TO be sleeps enemy because of
him.
ITO forget all earlier loves in his"
Gentle to him, though to all others
harsh"
There is neither grandeur, truth nor
beauty to these sentiments.
They make of woman a cringing,
fawning hypOcrite; of man. high
thrOned god, either driven to nausea by
that which is at his feet or lowered be-
meath his true eminence. his manhood,
by worship that is false.
Miss RiyeS pOrtrayS a physical love !;
love of the body that is as untrue as it
is ephemeral.
Her key is low. 1t is pitched for the
Amelias of life; the mawkish danes
who grovel at the feet of their hege
lords while cOncealing in their hands
the last billet dOux of lover.
Loves not flower that grows on the
dull earth;
Springs by the calendar; must wait
for the sun.
r
'..It owns
"a richer soil, and boasts a quicker
seed!"
Miss Rives has not scared above the
level of a contracted horizon to define
the master force.
'She premises "to put myself beyond
myself" and then incontinently defines
a love so selfish. 80 narrow, that when
ever manifested it cOrruptS and eats the
heart.
Do her lines approach the greatness
of these:
what would you weigh against
love?"
"Wealth? A featherl Rank? Tinsel
against bullion in the balance!
'Weigh love against the wOrld!"
Miss Rives sets the dross of the world
"a mans doubts, his whlms and fan
cieS, his indigestion and temper
against love, and then, forsooth, because
she would bear it, calls 1t love. File
upon it! Love has no such cOnfine.
1t is not love but passion.
The answer to her well may be.
The love thou speak'st of
A flower is ONLY, that Its season has
Which they must look to see the wither
ing of
Who pleasure in its budding and its bloom
In the womb of sorrow a great heart
finds the secret of truth-entire abne-
CATION of self for the higher mission
mankind.
Miss Rives loved once-a farmer lad
doubtless a gallant fellow. In his
wooing he had as his rival Mr. Chanler,
the present husband of the lady.
The farmer boy died, and Miss Rives
suffered as all must who see the dearest
lost. In time Mr.. Chanler returned to
his wooing and won.
From such an experience Miss Riyes
evolved 1.-The Quick and the Dead"
and her definition of love in "Herod.''
The opportunity was hers by love
lost, by death and by love won, to see
and grasp the highest.
That highest OF which the laureate
sings:
We needs must love the highest,
When we see it
Not Lancelot nor another.
She has signally failed. No sorrow
nor no love but her own is visible to
her mental sight.
By this she brings to world that
continually needs aud demands con-
ISOLATION aud new light-a stone.
She cannot pass from without herself.
The lego" is too palpable and the
''ail'' yet in the vista.
When she does
'sPut myself beyond myself"
Other works from her pen may have
a permanent value and take their place
with the balms of the past that still
Soothe and comfort the heart.
The richness of true love is that it en-
braces not alone the one beloved, but
all the world. The sky has new smile.
earth fairer look. the stars an incom-
parable radiance, and the lover to his fell
low man-high and low-turns with
new hope and purpose to exclaim:
BE happy with mel"
And from that impulse springs still
higher Impulses to make mankind
happy. SO the circle witlens until the
influence of they who love permeates
and Se:teTS ALI the world.
Life is good. but not life In ITSELF"
The love that Is measured within it