The Indianapolis journal., 1889-12-01
THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS FICTION.

THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS FICTION.
In the December number of Harper's
Magazine w. d. Howells discusses the
propriety and possibility of CONSOLIDATE
ing the Thanksgiving and Christmas
stories, which, to the literary sense, are
as important features of those occasions
as the turkey and cranberry sauce to the
grosser physical taste. Mr.. Howells's
idea, briefly expressed, is that the senti-
r1ent of the two celebrations is so simi-
lar that it is an unnecessary strain upon
the intellect of writer and reader to
evolve and peruse a distinct and differ
ent story for each day. The opinion of
this eminent writer of fiction ought TO be
received with due respect, but it is very
evident that, with all his familiarity
with the novelist's art, he has
not studied the peculiarities of the
Thanksgiving and Christmas stories.
He may have found them hard reading
other people have, though greater
number are enamored of them-but
he can offer no good reason for the
assertion or supposition that they are
hard writing. How can they be with
the recipe for their composition as well
determined as the directions for cOncOct-
ing the mince pie essential to the fes-
tivities? The pie may differ in flavor,
according to the moral convictions of
the cook in respect to the use OF brandy,
wine or plain "unwOrked" cider as in
gradients, but the general plan is the
same. The Thanksgiving story will
vary in some minor particulars, bu5 It's
main points have been fixed by custom
and long familiarity, and without these
it would be regarded as a base fraud.
The chief features of the story hardy
need recapitulatiOn. The scene must be
10 New England. For some reason,
though the day is celebrated in all the
States, New England farm is its
proper background when fiction is to be
considered. The other necessary ingre-
dients of the tale are relatives, direct
and of collateral branches, until the
house is overfiowing, and an amount of
provender that would paralyze a pur-
veyor for summer bOarders. An essen
tial feature of this provender is pie.
Turkey, cranberries, fruit-cake, etc., are
matters of course; but there is profu-
sion of pie, fascinating, not to say alarm
ing, to the reader whose domestic
acquaintance with this edible is limited
b %x.-<x g. % 1ol
IN the properly constructed Thanksgiv-
ing story pies are baked by the dozen-
mince pie. apple, and, above all, punkin,
commonly misspelled pumpkin" In
ordinary, everyday Western life, pies
thus copiOusly provided would, in the
period that must elapse before they were
consumed, become soggy, clammy and
otherwise uninviting; but there is a
pleasing assurance tacitly conveyed in
these stories that the New England
Thanksgiving pie remains eatable for
an indefinite time. Another indis-
pensable element in the tale is a MEM
ber of the family who has wandered
away and has not communicated with
his folks for years. Usually he goes
to sea and is stranded ON a lonely island,
but occasionally he loses himself in the
far-off wilderness of st. Louis or Den
yer. In any ease, he must make his ap-
pearance before the Thanksgiving dim
ner is over, with pocketful of money
and an ardent disposition to make peace
with his patient and long-suffering but
ever faithful sweetheart.
Given these elements and any one
with an atom of ingenuity can construct
Thanksgiving tale sure to meet all
wants.
The composition of the Christmas
story is even more simple. Snow, deep
and white, is an essential here; poor
children under their blankets, and with
holes in their stockings; good fairy, in
shape of fiower-mission girl; nice young
man in person of physician, called III to
see poor children's invalid mother, OF
other nice young man, lawyer, who calls
while flower-mission girl is present to
tell children's mother that deceased
parent has relented, died and left heI
big legacy-all these accompanied by
dolls, sleds, candy, dinner and red lights
are component parts, out of which the
regulation Christmas story is made.
Mr.. HOwells, expert that he is, makes
a great mistake in wishing to unite the
two varieties of fiction. They are dis.