The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-27


low" Truly these are troublous times for the
considerations publisher. who hesitates be-
tween fear Of HE God and love Of HE pocket
book. az he notes the tendencies Of the best
selling books
As nearly as one may gather from the recent
British outpourines In magazines. newspa-
pers. and the lectures on the art Of fiction. the
literary view Of recent fiction IL that the real-
istic novel IL become supreme In this age OF
democracy and science. while the humanita-
rian view, II we may use the expression. IL
that the fiction OF the day Il largely the voice
OF women become conscious OF an enthralled
and narrowed existence. and clamorinR for
equal privileges. including Iatehkey and abb
solute freedom Of speech. It seems to us that
the windy young gentlemen who essay TO ex-
pound realism would do we'll seriously to con-
slider whether this realism IL not the decsdence
Of romanticism. For the sexual love or attrac-
ton which IL fundamental but not necessarily
otherwise tn an noble In rom ticis m, rsnppears
10 realism, but almost invariably in base and
perverted form. As regards the revolt OF the
daughters. we observe that this hac been
traced as Q natural evolution from grand
mothers content with 1annsl-petticoat max
ing and mothsrs advanced to School Boards.
girls clubs. and exhibitions OF women's works.
Through the prodiRlous cloud OF dust raised
Dy champions anu CEitiCb tho EbNOittuk
daughter is herself to be seen but darkly. but
It lie permitted to infer that her revolt IL
against social bondage and unequal treat
ment: in short a demand that she shall be-
long to herself. instead OF to others. Without
any objections to this claim. 1t may DO said
that this purpose ought not to lead to the con-
ditlon described By Mrs. Lynn Linton: Deli
cate innocence and ignorance Of evil has gone
by the board and. though less hoydenish. our
modern young ladies OF the new school are
not whit more delicate than was Miss"
What We desire to note here Is the dspress-
ing effect Of feminine emancipation upon the
fiction Of the day. and We confess to prefer
encs for little cheer and happiness and good
health and good morals in the books which
come in our way. But 1t would be an error to
attribute the turbidity OF recent British Notion
to tho outbreak OF the Daughters. which has
It's serious and pathetic aide. or to any other
single cause.
We may generslIze as Lady Dixie has done.
and trace an analogy between the feverlsh
mental conditions Of the end Of the last
century and those Of the present DAY.
but we confess to q certain relish for the
elaborate exposition Of fin du sieols literature
due to DR.. Max Nordau. In his work on Entar-
tuno Degeneration. this author. with charac-
teristic Teutonio profundity. e=pounds his
discovery that the literature Of the
day represents q diseased imitation Of
other periods; that IL is character
lied By degeneration due to brain fatigue
caused by hundred years Of life at high press
ure: that exhausted temperaments breed
hysteria and intense self iousness. and
degeneracy shows itself In moral insanity"
abnormally developed emotional tsmpera-
ments. maginations open to every fantastic
influence. depression. pessimism. and con-
IT,