The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-01
THE FREE LIBRARY.

in usefulness and influence Men of large
pecuniary means can help to swell the
number of its volumes by an annual gift of
books. Persons who have books that they
do not want should present them TO the
library; and when such books represent
works of permanent interest they can be
rebound at comparatively small expense.
Gifts of books that are duplicates of popu-
lar or valuable works for which there is
frequent call are welcome to a library.
A gift of money enough to prepare and
print an excellent catalogue would of
course be most welcome. proper topi-
cal catalogue can only be prepared by an
expert; its preparation takes time and will
cost considerable money, bnt once per-
formed it is worth all it costs in conven-
fence and as an intelligent summary of
the resources of the library. The necessi-
ty of such catalogue may not be fairly
felt just at present, but is certain to be as
the library increases in size and becomes q
popular resort.
One thing should not be forgotten and
that is the greatest good of the library
will not inure to those who have already a
sound, well-established taste for reading,
for the thirst of such persons always leads
them to the water, free library or no free
library, but to those whose taste for read
ing either is not developed. or if developed
has taken vicious direction. The es-
sential thing is to tempt persons who are
not natural readers, or if they read never
read wisely, TO read books that stand
for literature that is wholesome, even if it
does not stand for the literature of infor-
nation and serious instruction in its
strictest sense. For this reason the library
commission has done well to see that its
department of fiction is full, for it is to
books of fiction that readers whose taste
needs reformation will first turn in the
library. To substitute taste tor sound,
sweet, wholesome fiction in place of the
corrupt taste, which is satisfied with dime
novel trash or the vicious sensational
French novel and its far more vicious
American counterpart, is the best reform
that well-stocked free library can do for
the people who need the library most.
The distance between sound. wholesome
fiction and fiction that when it is not cor
rupt is utterly false in its presentation Of
life, is immense. 1t stands for the dis
lance between the literature of heart,
home, hope, health and heaven, and the
literature ofheartlessness, sentimentalism,
sanetimoniousness, lurid eroticism, or
pessimistic distrust or black despair of
human nature. The really evil books are
not always those that have the worst
name. To illustrate: nobody who ever
read one of Zoias coarsest books would
fall in love with vice, for with photo
graphic realism he makes vice in all its
forms and its memorable retributive con-
sequences hideously repulsive to the
reader No man ever yet read Zolas pitt
less picture of the dreadful deInoraliza-
ton which intemperance brings upon
those who gradually become victims of
the drink habit, without making serious
resolution TO practice at least severe re-
straint in the use of alcohol. So with his
terrific delineation of the horrible blight
of the social evil, which makes the reader
resolve To keep clear of paths that lead to
sexual dissipation. lola is not the best
painter OF human nature, but he is by no
means its worst, for he paints vice in
sombre colors SO faithfully that he makes
it repulsive by its absolute absence of all
paint and powder and gliding of any sort.
The defect of Xola lies not in his pictures.
which are true, but because he paints only
the dark side of human nature; he shows
nothing but the social swamp and mire.
ana his pictures preach nothing but the
philosophy of pessismism and despair Of
the future OF modern society.
Suppose Shakespeare had painted no
side of life save the luhricity, obscenitv.
rascality. inebriety, mendacity and cow
ardice OF Falstaif, the vindictiveness Of
Shylock; the subtle viIlainy, ingrained
remorseless treachery and pitiless cruelty
OF Iaeo and Richard; the wantonness of
Cressida, Cleopatra, and the fell ambition
OF Lady Macbeth, he would have been
great and true artist, hut he would have
been the artist of moral ruin, desolation;
the evangelist of that pessimistic philos-
ophy which sees no hope for modern So
ciety save a final tumble into the bottom
less pit. But Shakespeare was not con-
tent, like lola. TO darby and powerfully
paint the uou-heroic side OF human ma
ture; he was a born optmist: hopeful
man With generous. poetic faith in the
heroic possibilities OF human nature.
SO he makes his pages fairly Gloom
with radiant pictures of heroic men like
Hoispur, Prince Hal. Falconbridge. Tai
bet, Hamlet, OtheIo; OF noble-spirited
women Ike Isabella. Cordoba. Imocene,
Olivia. Hermione. Poriia and Destemona.
Sound nrtion must be Shakspearean in its
spirit and philosophy, painting both the
heroic and non-heroic side Of human
nature; optimistic not pessimistic in its
co.0rs,
This is what makes the romantic, heroic
Shakspearean schoo! Of nction, repre-
scented in our day by Scott. Thackeray,
George Eliot, Dickens. Charles Reade and
Blackmore in Lorna Doone," sound and
wholesome reading compared with the dis
heartening, repa.sive art and philosophy
OF the great masters of the modern French
school The fault With Zola is not that he
teaches vice. for he makes ii hide
Gus, bur lie teaches and breaches
the gospel Of despair. Far worse