New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-18
MOLOCH AND THE NOVELIST.
LITERARY AND SOCIAL SILHOUETTES. BY
Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen. l6mo PIP 2B. mar
per & Brothers.

LITERARY AND SOCIAL SlLHOCEITioES' by
Hjalmar Hjorth Boyesen. lemo PIP 10 mar
per Brothers
Professor Boyesen gives to woman considerable
proportion Of the space that these essays occupy.
He approaches her with profuse protestations OF ad
uiration-one might almost say respect When ne
has theory 10 PROFOUND revolving to chiValronS
mind" he is wise enough TO shield himself behind
the great name OF Herbert Spencer in reproducing
It," He has discovered that he would rather have
milestone about his neck than court the terrors IN
store for the American who has the audacity not to
admire women He writes fiction with View TO
the approval of woman he conceives her AS he
passes the meridian Of life he muses. on the time
when he shall no longer be able TO fire maidens
heart. Therefore however one may chance to diner
from Professor Boyesen's views there will certainly
be none found to accuse him Of any lack OF wish TO
csioe the fair sex" or attribute any possible fall
IRE 10 please them TO anything but inability to rise
10 true conception Of their character II they
think they are looked upon as paythings, they must
not forget that many women have for many years
been Just that for many men, II, as he says the
feminine ideal for the man is an unin-
diyidualized creature-a mere personication OF the
sex" IL is not surprising that he, like the other
magazine novelists for whom he seems 10 speak
realizing that young women are the mover reduers'
..shuns large questions and problems because MS
audience is chiefly interested In small questions ana
problems" or that 'he avoids everything which re-
Is not supposed to be the ladies' forte This con-
ception may be a just Professor Boyesens sue
in turning IL TO practical advantage when writ
ing novels and giving lectures TO young ladies TENDS
TO lend 1t credence.
The woman to whom he devotes 50 much atten-
ton Is a product Of the ages Before the advent OF
civilization she had In self-defence TO practise de-
ception She could not accomplish her purposes by
force and so became diplomat. The grandmothers
mendacity is in the granddaughter archness and
witchery. After seeing this evolution the Professor
f. led to exclam: II feel in such a positively
grateful to the grandmother for having hoodwinked
her lord and do not question the ability OF the fair
descendant TO do the same though without coming
into conflict with single commandment OF the
Decalogue. The blunt command Thou shalt not
was / suspect meant for rather than for
women; for / have known some highly developed
members OF the sex who have been able to wind in
and out among the ten fatal prohibitions, coming
dangerously near some OF them. but without getting
entangled in any. There is TO them a rare pleasure
in this hazardous play-which again hints at an
inherited comp,exity OF character, never wholly
comprchensble TO men," These queer beings show
strange contradictions, however There Is. notwith-
standing this wondrously complex character and
diplomatic ability, inherent in all women what
may be called. without any invidous inference,
yearning for the normal lot" III it were possible
be found that they have underlying respect. not
to say fondness. for the tyranny which they justly
denounce"
Here are two sides OF the character OF this omnip-
otsnt creature who. in her immature state, accord