New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

POINTS OF VIEW. BY Agnes Reppler. 16mo, PIP.
$50. Houghton, Mifin & Co.
The titles OF these nine essays sufficiently indicate
that the authors "points of views are by no means
conventional The essays themselves bear out this
lntimatiom in way which those who are tired OF con-
ventional points Of view will be likely to find dis
tncty refreshing. The opening paper. "A Plea for
Humor," is a good-tempered and gently humorous
attack upon the solemny which the writer complains
has descended upon literature in these days, and which
In the name Of duty and the elevation and instruction
Of the public has well-nigh banished laughter. Not
only this says Miss Rapplier but at is the most IN
significant token Of ever increasing sense OF moral
responsibility In literature that We should always be
trying TO graft own conscientious purposes upon
those authors who happily for themselves lived ana
died before virtue collding desperately with cakeo
and ale had imposed such depressing obligations"
Cervantes and Butler even are to be laden Win
morals and those readers who cannot discover the
esotercsm Of Don Qulxote and IIudbras are snubbed
and accused of blindness The essay runs on In TINS
style in a sufficiently entertaining and sometimes
pungent manner. Other papers Of equally iconoclasc
purpose are Books That Have Hndered Me-" Liter
airy shbboleths" and "Ficton in the Pulpit" In the
third of these ground is taken openly against
didacticism fiction, and not without occasion ana
justification. No doubt IL is too true that the dldacuc
novel has made great advances of late years TO such
length has the idea Of polemical fiction been car
RED indeed of late great ethical and social ques
tons have quite commonly been treated in this way
as though it were the natural and proper method OF
discussing them
The novel with a purpose may have come to stay
Certainly ii reflects the spirit of the age with con-
siderable faithfuneSs. For have all come 10 regaru
ourselves as our brothers keeper, and under deep
obligations to enlighen elevate, reform and instruct
him. So the theological novel and the socialsuc
novel and the general reform novel swarm from the
press and even though the best written of them may
discuss the pet theory with crudy they find followers
and admirers in many quarters. Miss Repphers
article on Literary Shibboeths" deals with matter
which has probably been the cause Of no little irrta
ton namely, the inclination of some advanced men
of letters to preach up literary fad with an
enthusiasm which might be impressive did it not
include depreciation Of all who decline to bow down
and worship the idol. The specific examples cited
here Tostoi and Ibsen, and the essayis Is cour-
ageous enough to put words to the thoughts which less
robust souls have doubtless formulated often enough
but have feared to express The habit OF holding up
Russian or Scandinavian literature something in
effably precious and significant might be tolerated, even
II ii provoked occasional smile; but the habit OF
assuming that not TO admire this that writer i'm
plies intellectual perverty inferority is calcu
lated to humate first and then to anger the victims
Of so injurious an implication There was time
when only very young and inexperienced writers would
have exposed themselves to the very obvious retors
which this mode Of criticism invites, but to-day we
find authors of reputation rushing blindly into
the trap as any tyro, and writing themselves down
.donkeys with curious "naivete.s
There Is plenty of opening for sharp attack here.
and II Miss Repplier is savage in her methods,
she is highly effective Her cool and gentle irony does
not leave her antagonists much to congratulate them
selves upon, and she has uncommony neat way of
putting things. AS rule, the practice of repub-
fishing magazine articles in bookform is to be depre
Gated. Such writings and especially at this day. are
only less ephemeral than daily journalism But these
papers have an interest which than fugitive and
they possess merit literature which fully warrants
their preservation Their style is good their spirit fresh
and original and the points of view so ceverly illus
trated are of kind to attract general attention Some
of the abuses and grievances dealt with no doubt
somewhat intangible If looked at from the point of view
Of the practical eformer but these belong to class
which can perhaps be best approached and infiu-
enced through rdicule Foes do not yield to serious
argument but these literary fOlhes which are sus-
ceptble Of being laughed out of existence and there
fore Miss Reppier has taken the right way with them