The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-08
CONCERNING BOOKS.
BY e. cAvAzzA,

Annie Kilburn. By w. ID. Howells. I'm
der meath the ready realism of Mr. Howells'
stories may usually be found-if one will
look fer it-an earnest intention. Perhaps
this serious object would be more effectively
shown If the purpose and method of his
work were somewhat more closely connect
ed: and the acute needles of his social phil
osophy hidden under a smaller stock of cut
and dried realism. Nevertheless, the insen-
tion is there, and repays search. Mr.. How
ellis. who observes and retains the impress
sion of everything which comes under his
notice, has not, formed the habit of careful
selection, of recognition of values, of pro-
spective and pictorial composition. He does
not divide the accidental from the typical in
cidehts, or the significant traits from the UNI
interesting, in the portrayal of his person.
ages. These faults are not incorrigible; and
from the fact that they are less prominent In
Annie Kilburn than in some of his previous
noyels-this is favorable occasion to speak
of them. Meanwhile, Mr. Howells is the
chief of realistic fiction in America; what
ever he writes is sure to be widely read, be-
cause his novels are in touch with honest
right-minded American life and its practical
If not its most ideal, aspirations. If his art
sometimes fails in the construction Of story
IL is yet so yeracous in atmosphere and in
detail that the more aptly built plots of other
noyelists often appear unsatisfactory in COM
parison with his inconclusive episodes. In
Annie Kilbarn, there is reason for the be-
ginning and the end of the story: the return
of the heroine after long sojourn in Rome,
to her native Hatboro; and finally her hap
Ply and well-promsing betrothal This con-
cession to the canons of fiction seems a
mark of an increasing willingness on the
part of Mr.. Howells to meet natural de-
mand of the public taste; as also the episode
of the taking off of Mr.. Peck by means of a
railroad accident at the best moment for his
rehabilitation in the minds of his enemies.
And the charming little phrases in which
Annie Kilburn accepts her lover may also be
counted as slight homage to the audience
which likes cue whereupon to toss its bou-
qpets to the first lady of the piece. These
little concessions are lightly acknowledged;
yet at the same time are appreciated as an
overture Of good will toward idealism. Ey-
cry art has its own conventionalities its
touch of heightened effect to offset the fact
that 1t is Imitation and not nature; and Mr..
dowells, so soon as he shall have practi
cally accepted this axiom, will find that his
realism, winged with idealism, will take
far fight. To return more precisely to the
story of Annie Kilburn, it may be defined as
study of social relations in the miniature
world of manufacturing town of Eastern
Massachusetts. Annie herself returns from
Europe possessed by a distinct sentiment
of patriotism, and Immediately tries to &c of
use to her native town. Her friend Mrs,
Munger-a type very cleverly sketched by
Mr. Howells as giving the impression that
she wore leather where another woman
would wear lace--is ambitious to combine
Social Union that shall unite capital and
labor upon terms Of liberty fraternity and
-qualifed-eQuality. The out-of-doors per-
Torrance of Romeo and Juliet, and also the
meeting of inquiry with regard to the useful
ness of Rev. Mr.. Peck, give occasion for the
review of varied and salient types: Putney,
with his excited, incisive wit; Lyra and her
obvious and crude filtration; the excellent
Mrs. Bolton and her secondary spouse; Mr..
Peck with his abstract yet practical deyo-
ton to humanity and dreamy disregard of
his own child-in some odd way and degree
he seems Down East reflection of Count
| Tolstoi; DR.. Morreli with his refreshing
common sense and direct reason; and Annie
Kilburn herself, heroine far removed from
the neviotlc types of inconsequent femi-
ninity that have been literary caprice of
Mr.. Howells these, with some excellently
sketched chorus-people. seem to have walked
straight from their little town into Mr..
| Howells's inkstand. There has been too
much loose and incompetent criticism for and
| against Mr.. Howells; it is to be hoped that
the present novel will show, even to hasty
| critics, that he is novelist of serious pur-
| pose, to be regarded and respected. whatever
| points Of his technical art it may be appro-
| pirate ito question. (New York: Harper &
Brothers; Portland; Loring, Short & Har-
| mon.)