The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-11
4 snhnnl ~ Fiction.


If the angel that disturbed AbOu Ben
Adhams midnight 81 umbers should an
near TO the editor Of Authur's Home Nh
gazine. and demand his record. the latter
might say with truth, Write me as one
who loves his fellow subscribers. IN
proof. be could point TO the school OF
Fiction" he has established IN the pc
riodicaI he edits 10 which writer's may
send their articles and receive criticism
and advice gratis
Tie air1 of the editor of Arthur's
Home Magazine, it is to be supposed,
is oDly TO aid literary aspirants by GRILL
cism. not 10 graduate them rs bctlon-
writer's. The art OF tictoD-making Is
even less communicable than that of the
other branches Of literature. One might
be taught to write respectable if unin-
spired. essay. or, following given laws
Of meter and rhythm, might learn how 10
construct verse of u certain sort: but
The practice Of fiction Is more difficult.
There il an imperative necessity tor the
gift Of imagination and the ability TO tell
a story. Even If the tale be a study of
character il must have imagination be-
hind it. or it will seem but a humdrum
recital Of facts. Some writers appear 10
think that system and industry arc the
geat prerequisites in lterature-but when
the ant has heaped up grain upon gram
of sand, the result is, after al. only an
ant hill, not g palace, or "lordly pleas
ure house" Such reasoners recall the
schoolmaster who, when Charles Lamb
remarked that his own essays were FAR
from methodical" kindly offered TO in
struct the author in the rules 10y which
the young gentlemen Of his seminary
were taught TO compose English themes.
AS for the wisdom OF counselors,
whether literary or otherwise, the expo
rience OF one man is Of little value
10 another. No two people ever
encountered exactly the same difficult
ty: so each must live his own life.
and wiring out Of existence for himself
the solution of the problem. The utility
of school of fiction is to be doubted.
IL might possibly help some of the little
writer's that swarm like black bellies upon
the face of the earth; but those who pos
sess natures passport TO greatness have
a way of helping themselves The lat
ter do not stand hesitating upon the brink
of literature. asking the advice OF tins
or that passcr by. but plunges in at all
hazards The difficulty would be TO hold
them back. A man or woman who is 10
be the great expoSitor Of any art is vowed
10 it from birth, revealing the vocation
from the first stammenng attempt at
speech.
There have been men of great gifts
born fortunately, amid surroundings that
foStered and stimulated intellectual
growth: vet how often has genius shown
like a fallen star. in some mean hoyel or
peasants hut. AS general rule no
huge feather-beds of promotion" have
been outspread for those who have
helped to make the arts living force
in human existence. Frequently the III
fuences surrounding them have all been
adverse Not only have they had to en-
dure want of sympathy from those near
est them. but even the derision of that
vulgar ignorance which tries TO belittle
what it cannot understand. To such OBJ
fuse minds the painter and poet are
merely idle, worthless Missionaries. Co
rot's relatives always remain blind TO
the charm of his pictures. and to the very
last his father could not believe in the
artists fame-bis dull eyes being unable
to discern anything that justified it. The
man of genius himself has often been
NJ elected until his old age. or il some
times happens that the need of honor is
not granted him until after be is dead
but the work of genius inevitably finds
and maintains its own place.-New Or
leans Times-Democrat