The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-07
Crime I'm Fiction.


Comedy is the salt and life OF hcuon'
as the pathos which is the highest .ri,
umph of the artist, evoking naturai
emotion without sensible effort, may
be said 10 be fiction's soul. When
pathos degenerates into vapld sehti-
ment. il is sometimes an opiate, though
more often an irritant. Soporfcs are
very well in their way. but on tne
whole the patrons of the circulating IL
braries fprefer to be excited and IN
terested. Hence the popularity OF the
sensational novel, taking horrors tor
its subjects and criminals for its heroes
and leading the reader onward from
surprise TO surprise to the dramatic DE
movement which should be enyeloped
in mystery. The range OF the criminal
romance is wide enough in all con
science. At the best 1t may be
the subtle masterpiece OF the analytical
genius of a Balzac; at the lowest,
| though not invariably at the worst, 1t
NAV be dashed off in blood and thnn-
der for the penny dreaifuls" and the
.shilling shockers." Much depends.
of course. on the public for whom the
romance is intended; and the blood-be-
smeared story which has a grand sue
cess in the New Cut would possibly not
20 down in Belgravian drawing rooms.
Yet we venture to affirm that the Grim
inal romance pure and simple, al
though it may be devised with the prac.
teal instincts of Gaboriau or toned
down with theliterary taste Of Bulwer,
has one unfailing chsracteristic-it
leaves an unpleasant and unwh0lesome
flavor behind. Like the garlic IN pro-
yencll cookery, the SAVIOR may seem
to be smOthered for the time, but
there is an arrure govt that come :
out sooner or later. There are
fascinating novels which are as edify-
ing in their way as ThUmas a KempiS or
the Pilgrim Progress. Like the
plays of Shakespeare or the poems OF
VI lton. they raise Us for the time on
the wings Of heayen-born genius to-
ward the noble ideals Of the highest
life After we have smiled and wept-
the weeping is a figure of speech-we
feel morally better and much the hap
pier. But after q tale OF crime, how
ever talented it may be, some ta'nt Of
the disreputable company we have been
keeping clings TO Us; We feel as II we
had been cOnniying at their guilt, If not
actually accOmplices in il. There are
worthy folks as we are given to under
stand. with unimpeachable moral re-
cords. who come TO find an actual rel
ish in that yicariOus degradation. and
who draw lingeriB. breatbs of ineffa
BILE pleasure in the vitiated atmosphere
of the police cells ard the iails. In rare
cases, like VI. Lacoq in Gabo.
riau's "Crme d'Orcival.N they even
give loose rein 10 their perverse mag
nations. and revel IN the clever es-
croQueries they might have committed,
had the chances of their life offered ia
yorable opportunities. But cases OF this
kind are altogether exceptional. 1t Is
asserted. and we dare say with some
truth, that novels like Aims worth =
Jack Shepplrd.' and illustrated
| sheets like the Police News. have large
| ly recruited the ranks Of the thieves
| and the burglars. There the seed had
fallen in kindly soil prepared by cir
cumstances and hereditary deprayity.
| The mass of amateurs Of the horrible IN
the upper or middle classes are more
prosaically minded or less romantically
disposed. At all events they seldom
dream of translating thought in action,
and taking the short but dangerous
cuts 10 their crimes which come 50
naturally TO their favUrite heroes and
herOines. They are content to admire.
TO cape, and to swallow; 10 shrink de
lighlluily al the rustic Of the
steaithy PRISONERS night-dress, and
ID shudder at the heavy
ihud OF the hired rutfian's bludgeon as
10 lights upon some respectable head
Criminal fiction does lutte direct harm.
90 the sense Of shortening inc0nyenient
lives or tamperinC with important
deeds. But it steadily demOrallzas the
palate for anything milder and more
delicllcly livored: the habitual dram
drinkcr will have hl' stimulants
stronger and stronger, and you cannot
expect him TO turn with satisfaction
from spirits above proof, fresh from
the distillery, to the choicest Of Scbloss
JOhuaruisbeTg or Chateau Nquem.
Sensational stories. in moderately
priced single volumes, are the fashion
now. and. without satirical intention.
we say the shOTtness is in their favor.
Some are as good as Mr.. Stevenson :
Treasure Island, or Kidnapped =;
others are comic aud CORY burIesques OF
the better kind Of criminal extravagan-
zls. G. nsidering the difficulty of
hitting upon any fancies that are de-
Gently fresh. we are bound TO say that
not few OF them show creditable dex
terity and ingenuity. But surely this |
sensational business must soon come TO |
an end, or be suspended for half a gen
Grafton or 50. The public is getting
lamiliarized with all manner of mystic
ries IN cabs, in black boxes, in garrets |
and IN cellars; the detectives have been |
tOlled OIL for such intolerably hard |
duty, that it is clear they must soon |
strike in disgust, and refuse to lend |
themselves TO those stale combinations: !
and the pirates, bighwaymen. and /
bushranger5 who have been indiscrimi- |
inately resuscitated, will find temporary
rest again in their dishOnored graves. |
The nOvel-reading public reyels in ex
citemeuts. and is not over-critical; but |
of sensation, when it has degeneratei |
into melOdrama and burlesque, there |
must surely come safety at least
Blackwood : Magazine for August.