The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-20
OUR LITERARY BUDGET.
The Retirement Of Nj. HoEells from the
Editors Study in Barpsr's.
BUSINESS OF HIS CRITICAL VIEWS.
what the New York Tribunc Thinks OF the
Realism OF the Author DIR. Breens
Practice"-Opinion OF Stevenson.

=. AA'AaNRT -
speaking OF the function of criticism. simply
10 know the best that is known in the world
and by in its turn making this known TO
create a current OF true aud fresh ideas" The
announcement that Mr.. Howel!s has severed
his relation with the Editors Study of Har-
per's MAGAZINE. and is hencetorth 10 exercise
his talents IS editor and critic in the service
OF the Cosmopolitan. makes timely a oriei
INQUIRY rs to the extent and character of the
influence that be has exerted when measured
by this high standard.
There is n touch Of grim humor in this
simply" as MIR. Arnold uses II III hls state
ment OF the purpose Of criticism a. II It were
q thing of no great difficulty 10 Know the
best that IS known and thought IN the world
and to be SIRE If ones knowledge is not play
ing him false. Ent II one asks how criticism
IS 10 be certain that what II thinks Is tho lest
that ia known and thought IN the world really
Is such. the answer is by no means clear. And
If We turn from general considerations 70 IL
divi6uai cases the way out OF the d~iincJlty IL
no p.alner than before. For Nj. HONeIlS, IN
one OF ms Harper papers, asserts, IN defense
o, realism in nction, that fidelity to expert
ence and probability OF motive are e~ssantiat
conditions OF a great imaginative literature,
and that n life the true reailst finds nothing
Insignificant all tells for destiny ana char-
acter; nothing that God has made Is con-
temptlble."
Contrast with this definition of the point
Of view OF the reaiists iir. Stevenson's charac-
terist;caiiy vigorous reloinder
The realisfs will not let themselves enjoy
anything. The moment anything enjoyable
appears they must remind the reader that
there is a cesspool under The kitchen floor, a
corpse in the back-parlor cupboard and 4 vol
capn IN rho Immediate vicinity. do not say
il is not SO in real life. / only say that in life
NOBODY cares. II lie IS meeting his sweet
heart or combating his enemy at the mo-
ment. cesspOOi. corpse aud volcano are All
blotted from his mind. lie does not look out
OF the window to aualyze a smell and con-
slider the miserable late OF humanity or tho
geological conditions Of the earth. lie does
rot care a farthing candle II the whole thing
is going 70 explode tomorrow. AT that mo-
ment ne is ali upon the present passion and
his being thrills. IL IS this sympathetic thrill
OF emotion that ] miss in sO-called r%ealists.
We may .airly accept Mr.. Stevenson as the
representative Of the modern school Of roman
tic or ideal fiction. and the difference be-
tween the view which this school takes OF the
art Of fiction and hat which the real,sts take
is admirably illustrated IN the foregoing quo
tgtlOn. IS against Mr.. HOWells' dlctum that
IN lie nothing Is Insignificant. the romanticist.
or idealist. il that term he preferred. boldly
@ L.ANs - AZ - ~ tAF4R4-R N+-@-Ar ~ NA
art. the novelist must treat many things in
life as insignificant andlgnCre them. selecting
and aging stress upon such incidents and
manifestation OF human nature as tell the
most for destiny md character. lust as the
painter SEXES uDOD such features OF the land
scape as he thinks are best worth emphasizing,
and ignores. or subOrdinates. whatever IS
trivial, or whatever contributes nothing
artistic to the scheme of his composition.
Here. then, are leaders OF thought and
mOuiGers OF opinion who are travelling IN
widely divergent, X not directly opposite,
paths. Which ono is the safe guide 70 follow;
Mr.. Arnold himself would have 10 admit that
each mas arrived at his opinion touching the
art OF fiction by that free play of tho mind
which is essential 10 3 dlstnterested Judg-
ment. and will "infexible honesty, with due
ability" All the conditions seem TO be full
filed, end yet one - puzzled 70 know in
which case. in the case Of the idealists, or in
the case of the reGlist. criticism IS performing
its proper function. according TO the Arnold
standard. How are We 10 tell which Of them
knows the best that is Know and thought
in the world" and which IS creating the cur
rent of true and fresh ideas
Leaving this question for the future to an
swer. all will probably admit that during bis
occupancy OF the Editors Study Of "Har-
per's" Mr.. Howells has certainly displayed in
flexible honesty and Tue ability and that he
has created ii current of fresh ideas. whether
true or not remains TO be seen. The transfer
of the scene OF bis critical activity makes APP
prOpriate a frank recognition of the sincerity,
earnestness, skill and courtesy with which
from time 10 time he has pleaded the cause
of the ~realists and has commented upon
other phases of the literary movement OF the
age. In this respect Mr.. Howelis has become
a force: he has made himself heard; he has
had something 10 say that was worth saying.
he has SAID 1t with effect; he has eIerted IN
influence that will he lasting. His manner has
been at times u tritie dogmatic. a trlfle irri-
tating 10 some Of us who were still bowed be-
fore the old idOls-tLe fair Rebecca, the cal
liant Harry Esmond and Hester Prynne-Gnd
who did not enjoy beiug told that our
fetichism was making Us the laughing-stock
oflterary Spain and france and itussia, But.
when all has been said. 1t remains true that in
the half dozen or so years that he has presided
in the Editors Study Mr.. Howells has made
men think. one may not accept his con-
illusions as regards the mission OF fiction. but
all must agree that he has ideas. and. 10 quote
again from Arnold. ideas cannot be TOO
much priced in and for themselves. cannot be
too much lived with in his new field Mr..
Howells. let us hope, will continue to tell us
in his deiigetiui way why We ought to enjoy
Gogol and Tolstoi and Nslda aud Nerga. and
we shall continue TO make appointments at
the Cave of Harmony with olive and the
colonel, and 10 follow the fortunes Of Monte
CristO and Of the treasure-hunters in the
"Hispauiola.'