The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-30
L1vC-ytOries.

Inventories
What are called love-stories should rather
DO styled stories for lovers. The written
record Of such tender affairs is apt TO seem lat
and yapid, except to those h are themselves
treading the Golden Way" and are there
fore in the proper sympathetic mood. The
reality Of first love is so pretty aud innocent
and artless that few of US would be harsh
enough TO grndgo the participants their youth
and their folly. We are more likely 10 cnYy
them the glow and glamour that belong 10 the
April morning IF life. when everything Is IN
blossom. The workaday world has receded
from the girl with her bright eyes full
OF hopes and dreams the youth so sure OF
himself, SO certain that no has only TO go
forth and conquer. The very evanescence of
their JOY gives 1t another charm III
the beholder's eyes. Practical cares
and trials and duties will never put TO
flight the flock Of rosy Amoretti that hover
about their pathway. Their nebulOus vision
OF happiness will never assume the rigid out
lines of realization. IL will hang in the sky
forever so"--a haunting memory # something
sweet and fleet: something that has fed and
can never be overt0ken aud recaptured, TOR
the shoulders Of youth are winged" The
novels OF an older day dealt almost exciu-
slvely with what they called the tender pas
sion. The interest always conferred IN a hand
some young couple. whose romantic diyaga-
tons the reader followed through many vol
umes their marriage. or failure 20 marry.
being the point upon which the whole inter
est OF the tale depended. Loyelace's pursuit
OF Clarissa, Alr. BIS determined love-chase
Il Pamela, Sir Charles GrandisOn's
stately courtship Of Miss Harriet BY
rOn-al harp to persistence upon the
same note. The sentimental tradition was
perpetuated by generation after generation OF
tabulists. and shows no sign OF desuetude IN
such a piece Of fiction rs Dlsrael's Henrietta
Temple" Its roses and raptnres OF dlction
might we'll pail upon even the most infatua-
ted lover. The loye-making in the novels of
the present day is much more familiar and
%cOllOquial. There are kisses aud embraces
galOre-much more realistically described
than in those old layonder-scented rOmnnces
but few howers If speech. Such a hand
some proposal Of marriage as that made
by Ferdinand 10 Henrietta would
Beautiful. beloved Henrietta. 1 can re-
press no longer the emotions that
since | first beheld you. have vanished my eX-
istcnce. love YOU: adore you. lilo IN your
society is heaven, without you cannot live.
Deem. oh. deem me not too bold. sweet lady.
| am not worthy Of you, yet let me love
This is what Gyp would call truly 'lyrlgue.'
The proposal OF modern fiction Is quite likely
TO take place while the young ladyis climbing
a tree. sliding down u haystack, or sitting on
top of the garden wall. A humorous tinge is
thus impaired to the situation. and the hero
inc is also enabled u fall. with increased inn
pstus. into the hero's arms at the proper
moment.
There have always been loye.stories, and
probably there always will be, unless the
human race should get into the habit Of
coming middle-aged into the world, which
would not be a desirable state OF things.
Andrew Lang says: "LOve-stories are best
lone by women. as in Mr. Cliffs Love
story and perhaps in an ordinary. way, oy
writer's like Trollopc. One may defy critics
10 name a great English author in fiction
whose chief and distinguished merit Is in his
pictures OF the passion ofioye. But tie au-
thor whose chisf and distinguished merit lay
IN the depletion Of a single human passion
would not be a great author, but n very mar
row one. A novel devoid otthat element
Gould give but q partial view OF hie. yet IL
fiction love should take the place it occupies
in human existance highly important, yet
not crowdiDg every other emotion out Of the
way. The writer's of France dwell so insis-
family upon loye-Or the French substitute
for it-that the reader becomes satiated. II
not nauseated." In spite Of Langs opinion, II
looks as though the production OF the Oid-time
blue ribbon and white muslin love-story may
finally be handed over by women % men.
The former show q disposition % deal with
those kisses that burn and bless and blister. ~
in the language Of the mocker, and t. handle
problems much more dark and enigmatical
than the paltry cOurtship OF unmarried cou-
pies. Their manner Of looking upon love.
and the sin and suffering that sometimes
show its darker side, has undergone a radical
change. The plea, Yea. she sinned greatly,
but she greatly loved" is apparently too SEN
timental for modern use. Two novels Of to-
day. at least, might DO mentioned in which
the heroines deviate from the path of virtue
in a spirit Of scientific research. as II were.
The woman Of modern fiction. ike lbsen's
LADY From the Sea" must be free %
choosen-must have absolute freedom "
Moreover. il is a common boast that women
are beginning to love men ~ men love wo-
men" Love is no longer "woman's whole
existence, " but "a thing apart - in the masru-
line style. II used 10 be said that men com
mitted suicide from loss of money and w0-
men from loss Of love. Perhaps now that
womenhave learned to lose-and even steal
money, they will give over such soft friyollties
as love stories and the writing thereor-New
Orleans Iimes-Democrat.