Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-19

birth of nationalsprt duct; almost Tor,
getting that even their most successlui
rovelists like Heyse and Lindau had De
come thoroughly imbued with the reanstic
spirit then everywhere prevalent W
Europe. and that this spirit had certainly
found It's most brilliant representatives III
French literary art.
Perhaps it was fully a, much the hope
that the great Teutonic dramatist hnd ~
last arrived that drove many even furthet
into the camp of the new leader, lbsen
Anything to transplant the ans-hneni.s :.
influences and to keep from drawing IN
SEPARATION from French and Latin sources,
although even the new prophet himseli
had been trained IN an atmosphere OI
French technical art. Again, l am not
sure but what the socially revolutionary
and advanced ideas which found express
sion in the new author somewhat las
cinated and bedazzled the minds OF the
free and liberal; while the psychologlca,,
and analytical studies of character satished
even those addicted to the most aostruse
phllosophizine.
How often was discussed the influence OF
hereditary disease upon future genera
tons as brought out in Ghosts. perhaps the
most abhorrent of all to q delicate sensi-
billty. The value of Rebecca Vests ex-
patton. suicide for life of falsehood, IN
Rosnersholn. The logical sequence OF the
action OF The Enemy Of the People, even
though it might lack all practical applics-
ton TO such a small matter as everyday
life. Whether the author is Laughing IN
his sleeve when he allows in The Wtd D'ics
a happy family circle 10 be broken up ana
destroyed by a meddler and retailer OF
gossip IN the name of Truth. Is anything
left that is sacred or holy-is anything or
any person sound? Only lookl Every
thing that seems so fair without,
when exposed. is seen to be only
rottenness within. And these men
aud women who are presented are
so intense, so ardent, so eager, so tuil OF
excess. Is this pessimistic and fatalistic
atmosphere which casts its pail and gloom
upon every one and everything due to that
dark. northern climate. where for halt the
year the sun hardly penetrates the heavy,
murky mistsl Can II be that these mists
have also darkened the brightness OF home
life and of society, and when exposed 70 the
light of day all is TO be found putrid ana
foul2 Certainly we OF southern and bright
er climes, more optimistic by nature, can
not believe this to be the real state OF so
ciety and the true philosophy OF life, we
believe such atmospheric conditions abnor-
NAL, and that we have here in part the re-
suit OF centuries of morbid brooding
among the clouds Of Scandinavian dim
ness, derived already in part from those
gloomy Teutonic ancestors depicted In
the early myths of the Anglo-Saxon,
Old Morse, and German literatures.
There is much that is hollow. unreal,
mere semblance and form in life, all have
found; but these plays and these episodes
intensity hypocrisy, deception, cynloism,
pessimism, despair-presenting no sun
shine and no hope. There still remains to
L T.. HA-tash
which leads TO hope? Thackeray is oyni-
cal, many think even pessimistic, and often
depicts men as deprayed and essentially
bad George Eliot Is subtly psychological,
at times to safety, perhaps-but neither
represents man as hopeless utterly ana
necessarily wretched and lorn. There Is
always sympathy for Man. the admirable,
the pitiable." The details in Ibsen's plays
are practical. natural, and realistic; ne
makes use OF constant psychological analy;
sis and each work presents study"
They are attractive and fascinating,
and one need but read them TO feel
the influence OF the spell. and the discus
sions to which they may. give occasion
are virtually endless. This quality Is
heightened by delicate handling and con-
summate touch which causes clrcum;:
stances and incidents to be merely limited
at, implied. and but half expressed. and
leaVbS Jne IesI 10 COHJcCbuIohnu w euV iiA"-
gination. But everywhere and over every
thing that obscure fate-the ,eetrd OF the
old Teutons-seems to be casting its ma
lign influence. The punisher. the avenger.
is always present-like the mythical
Wooden or the Thunderer of old-it is
Hope, the Saviour, that is wanting. 1t is
IN keeping with this that the hopelessly
sick are always introduced those who be-
sides suffering take delight IN discussing
their symptoms with others; the chronic
invalid, the consumptive, who Is going TO
be so much better on the morrow. which
may actually witness his end. This, too,
serves only to increase the mockery and to
emphasize the Udnitds rdnitGtum Of the
whole.
Nora is psychologically correct and per-
fectly logical perhaps, but / doubt whether
the case would occur-even granting the
conditions-in actual life. Is the home
circle to be broken up and are the babies