New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-27

t.io, /, ie the tbcorv of the Naturallsts them
solves. and il is the only one whlcn ahorus even
\ seeming excuse for them. But. as Scherer mas
! i,,cd ont if this theory of the equal beauty
! - al reolitv is once accepted, there is an end to
| all discrimination the rose IS no more 10 ne ne
LIGHTED in than the dungheap murder and love
hecomc equally laudable. and all schemes OF ethlcs
| disappcar in chaos. The fnndamen'al dls'lhc-
tio, hctvccn the Naturalists and their opponents
we will not sy the Romantlcsts because the term
l. ;,fclicitous and miseading-is that which has
ovisted since the beginning of civilization; Inc
distinction. namely. between the Material and
the SDiritual elements and influences. Inc
former are represented by the Naturasts, and to
\ greater or less extent by the Realists. though
these number many who. like Senior Naldcs HIM
Golf are strongly tincturcd with Idealism. The
lorcal cousummaton Of Realism is indeed Natural
ism for if tends always away from the spiritual
and toward the material side of human nature
and that material side Of human nature Is
~carthlv sensual dcvilish" for it is the brute
side from which man has assembled, ana whlch
represents all that is still gross and foul IN hlih
This too Senior Valdcs pcrccives but ne does not
nerccive the bearing Of the facts upon his own
view of the relations between reality ana beauty
So We have the interesting if curious spectace
Of an author who practiscs quite other IMAM he
breaches. and whose methods are greatly better
than his theories.
When. however. Senior Valdcs passes to analysis
and criticism. leaving the vcNed question OF
! fundamental principles. he writes with Judgment
and insight His observations upon compos'ioh'
npon Tie vital importance of character. upon the
vice of eiIcctiNism, upon the underlying m"'lN'S
which prompt tie cNcesSes OF the ha'"r''is"'
| school are all cmucntly sound and opposite
- il crit
is IFS breadth lie is TINE to his art theory IN
rcfusin. 70 draw any lines Of exclusion He holds
that the classical symbolic. romantic schools are
zach and all right and true With his assumption
that Realism is tie distinctive note OF the present
time We are not prepared to agree ana the less
& since the definition Of Realism remains TO he
established At present half dozen schools
claim possession Of the only light and truth, ana
As a rule each OF these condemns, or al "'s'
dcprrcines the views Of all the others Between Tue
/ to,h Naturalisrn md the Realism Of nor Naldes,
| for example. there is plainly a great gult hX'd,
nor is il conceivable that these two SCHOOLS shoul"
ever come together. H. might almost oe s"iu
that his Realism consists chiefly in the theor'tcal
acceptance of certain principles when are ais"
accented hv the Naturalists. but that IN actual
creative work he constantly proceeds away RON
instead Of toward tho goal they have SET up.
In taking leave Of tie prologue" we may note
some Sins which. presumably. are 10 be ial1 10
H.. ,-,.s',ior's account Al least it is hard -
b.lieyc that Scror Valdcs referred to the author
NJ Nauop Lcscaut~ as e; - Abbc Provost
Poridol or that he wrote II "Longus 10
Longs. or called "Gcrminc laccrt"nA yer
riuia These mistakes probably grew ON OF
carclc.snc.s in rendering Spanish forms ''c
for chloe may he no more than misprln''
The novel which follows this long essay IN
criticism is. il may Voc assumed. ln''h'e" 10 IT,
/ lustra;e the theories advanced. me IoI'i-H
reader IS necessarily placed at considerap!e as
advantage ~ aticnptn- 70 appreciate 'he rear
ISM of the work hy the fact that the peoP"'
/ places. manners customs and typical traits are
s'ran-r 10 him Iir l. thus compelled 70 take h"'h
n,on trust and i, reduced 20 ANALYSIS Of those
motives and emotions and expressions whicA are
common - aM men The whole tone Of Sister
saint Spp!cc is pitched somewhat lower IMAM
That Of 90 MiNmina. Perhaps this may be- re-
.lrlcd A. tie me, table consequence Of CON
,cious cnor, 10 illustrate tie principles laid down
= n the prologue The motive Of the story Is love.
and b, no means love of the commonplace KIND
so dear TO some Rcalsfs The hero becomes en-
/ a,norcd 81 a num- or 10 Doc exact. a girl IN her
J novit!aie II is evident from the Introduction
/ II Sister Saint >ulpcr' that she has no Vo'a-
fiou con.cAtWard. ior even while wearing the
+ ronycrt.rl costume this young lady comporis
herself IN a distinctly secular not 10 say lr-
r.vcrcnt manner. carrying her revolt SO far as 70
/ sing and even dance i'm a hotel paror The
/ Gaiician or callisan hero j. certainly moulded
on rather unhcroic lines. and the thrlft said to
characicrilr the people Of his province crops out
here and there i'm amusing and significant way.
Bs there Is M him something beyond the com
mouplaoc. as Is clearly demonstrated in his ener-
,f. tfrr-
prise. and particularly at the crucial moment,
when hc by force and arms prevents Gloria
from being shut mp again IN the convent by her
~cAcming mother and Don Oscar Possibly senior
Valdes viii hc lcproacAcd for romanticsm IN con
rcrtion with this episode. rs also concerning the
/ ii-if with Daniel Sulrez. Never hclcss both in
ciIcnts. since they obviously fall within the
line of possibility. are admissible on high real
istic grounds and certainly they hcighcn the
interest Of the story
senior VAdcs las in this novel, in his dcscrp-
lion of tie orgies IL the Scyillian bulLh.hierS
"toughs and their degraded female companions
! introduced Il uaturalisiic element which is peril
ous.f near the bordcr OF scnsationasin or effect
Nism. oi It's nGcity - nature no question need
/ lc fai,'d. lAc pictures OF the street and home
lie OF seville OF the Patco OF the Anguiias- OF
the boaidin--noNsr are vivid and full of pct.
/ uicsq4c qus4nin's, and subdurd humor usually
/ ecfisl. bat sometimes tending 10 aciilty. In tie
nist chapter the author employs a story whose
antiquity may not be- known in Spain-wc refc!
To The lJhc %! the railroad traveller who left his
things IN tine rack. 10 find on returning To his
scat that his too-0fic!Ou, fellow patscnecss, think
| ing he had been lrlf behind al the last station,
| mad thrown out all his belongings No doubt the
! incident may have occurred several times bat
| II would be- bold English or American novelist
who should employ ii IN these days. The char
! actcrs are well Disseminated and consistent and
| the interest wijf never carried TO the height
of excitement. Is steadily mnintaincd. There IS
| very little plot. and not much passion One OF
the prctilesi hth IN the whole book is the chap.
ter entitled An Excursion Down the Guadu-
quivIr. wherein Gloria and her lover are recon-
cilcl after quarrel. Those who may have pre-
| pared themselves for "A novel unlike other novels
viii. however. possibly he disappointed. and may
/ feel like VI. Juurdan concerning the talking of
/ prose -namGiy, that they have been reading
realistic novels all their lives without knowing il
! And IN one way this Is the simple truth. for all
fiction which contains faithful description and