The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-28
THE MIDDLE COURSE.

upOn IN literature rs IN lie.
ELLA WHEELER Wilcox.
THE MIDDLE COURSE.
The middle course Is generally right IN
life. II Is impossible 10 draw hard and fast
lines as 10 fiction. There are many things
In nature which the artist should not paint
and exhibit. Why should the novel be like
the secret cabinet in Naples? There arc
many things about which we do not talk,
for perfectly ~justifiablc ethical reasons. WIZ
should they be described in novels? But,
while pruriency should be avoided, prudery
aud false modesty are also 10 be Stunned.
We want yirile fiction, dealing with real
passions, and not an emasculatcd view OF
human nature adapted TO the nursery.
There Is abundant cope for this in a pure
and olcvating novel That Is a false ''natu.
ralism' which says than only The indecent
and Illicit side Of life Is true. Morbid In.
deccncy Is apt 10 be the resort OF a ''sensa.
tionalist' incapable Of attracting attention
otherwise. | believe there Il now n reaction
against the extreme naturalistic movement.
but very likely this movement has had the
effect Of rcscuing the novel from mainly
~pambyism. CnAs. DUDLEY WAHsIR
MORE FREEDOM wANrED.
Whethcrthe recent manifestations OF n
greater freedom In American fiction indicate
a radical aud permanent change or merely
n passing fashion can hardly be determined
for some years tO come. II we are 20 have any
considerable American fiction In the future
"A point hat seems doubtful, since the
people and their Representatives In Congress
show no desire Ia foster or even 10 permit a
native literature Of any sort-it should seem
that we are nov entering on n period when
our novels will take a wider range and use
a l....w ItI.W0ss gE.U hUu. INNh.Nf. sN.uutl.l
In dealing with all the phases OF daily life a.
II actually Il. At the same time, some Of
those stories lately published which have
aroused discussion by their audacity Illus
trate n violent and In some cases morbid
extreme. probably due 20 reaction against
the opposite excess Of artificial dclica'y,
which has for n long time been imposed
upon noyclists as a condition precedent 10
reputable rcnown. The extreme Of unrc.
serve. one should hardly need TO say, Is very
unwholcsomc. But 20 also Is the extreme
Of supcrscnsiilyonoss. All the elements aud
passions In human nature should be dealt
with frankly, yet under certain Limitations
OF purc.mindedncss, high and useful aims
and true dclicacy. But true dolicacy does
not consist in n shnmefaccd silence aud
evasion. which often suggest more
than a healthy aud properly restrained
outspokcnncss can. ] would like TO sec
the samc bold, but wise n refined liberty
used by American writers In the future
which Nathaniel Hawthorne exercised In
The Scarlet Letter" "rho Marble faan."
or wherever else he chose 90 assert his pre-.
rogatiyc a. artist aud teacher. l~mmodcsty
Is FAR from being essential TO truth aud for.
ciblencss IN depicting humanity. On the
contrary. u II a grave defect both In art and
In morals. Hut who II a. decide nc what
point truthfulncss becomes immodcstf Evi.
IDENTIFY the very young aud inexperienced Nc
not competent 20 do 20. Neither are those
persons, for example, who regard round
dances as inevitably vicious and dcmoraiiz.
ing Experience, cOmprchensivcntss knowl-
edge Of art really profound moral wisdom
aud great temperance OF judgment are re-.
qnircd for a correct decision. Besides, the
whole subject needs q much morc searching
analysis and candid study than II has yet
received or cat receive In n few paragraphs.
Meanwhile, u i evident that n vigorous aud
adequate literature Of fiction cannot be
evolved N the limitations or supposed weak
ncsscs OF n single class or body ~ the instl
tuition arc 10 be made the final standard.
Tho ham which II Is ftncicd may be done 20
young people by books not suited 10 them
may better be obviatcd by supervision OF
young peoples reading than by the manning
aud dwariing Of an entire literature.
0EoRGE PAnsoNs LArnRor.