New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-09
MORE BOUT Mr.. IBSEN.
MIR. BOYEsEN's COMMENTARY.
A COMMENTARY on THE WRITINGS OF
" HENRIK IRSEN. Iy HJalmar Hj0rth ISoyesen.
limo Is Chapters. PIP 81 Macmillan & co.

HtGMMn rrS' fESt,N. Hv Hjalnar Hjor,h Boyesen.
i2rno Is Chapters PIP. 81 Macmillan x CO.
The writings OF Mr. Ibscn sufficiently tIrcsomc.
but 1t has remained for Mr.. Boyesen. In his com
mentary upon them to leave his soporihc country
man completely in the shade. Fourteen OF Mr.
Ibsens plays and several Of his poems are described
in these pages AMI Mr.. Boyesens IDEAS are dis
closed with reference % Mr.. lbscn's probable mean
ing 4 Biographical account OF Mr. lbsen - also
furnished wherefrom the reader may learn that the
Norwegian prophet IS s!Xty-siX years old ana mat
..he pursuca his solitary ways" tn Christiana Mr.
Boyesen tesilncs that he docs not always agree
with Mr. Ibsen-a fact that possibly may difluse
sadness in Christiann.-brt that Mr.. lbs"n has
aroused him 10 the necessity 81 dragging moral
uclin.ss into the Light day: and 81 will be- freely
admitted by all persons who happen 10 read Mr..
Hoycsen's commentary that. with the Kind per
mission of Mr. 1bscn. he has succeeded In dragging
into the light OF day m amount Of moral ugin"sS'
quite sufficient % last TN the arrival ~ tho cholera
next summer such collection OF scorOutlc. gan
grcncd. spawned. knock-knccl vicious. demen'ed.
and nl-smo.ling persons as Mr.. Elycson has man
aged TO extract from Mr.. Ibscn's pages surely never
before WAS crowded Into anything but a museum
Of anatomical horrors.
II is no wonder that Mr. Ibsen should believe
Mr. Boyescn declarcs-that morality IS out OF
plumb" that the foundations Of everything are
gagged and that society Is tn, brink OF dissolu-
ton Things mus, certainly have been getting more
rotten than usual, not only In tho state OF Den
mark but In all the States contiguous thereto -
produce such an agitation In Mr.. Ibsen's mind. or
Is the rottenness. perhaps. some whore else? May
1t not be possible that there IS jaund'ce1 eye row
ing about in Chr,stiana. closely accompanied by
nose that has a quick scent Tor garbage? And Is II
not credible that mere concei, may have lmpeilei
| vain crotchcty. opnionatel person 10 think that
he is displaying genius by the aborlols uticrancc
OF mere p!ati,uaos about herollty. ara human In
| mi hal he can or
vent? Mr. Boyesen has not thought OF that; but
he has reached the conclusion that Mr. Ibsen. IN all
his attempts to break down the code OF traditional
ethics has sough, to inva.lda'e the rue hy devils
| Ing a garlng exception Under ordinary circum-
stances q ioslc.an who should do that would show
himself 10 be- an asa. Mr.. Boyesen's coroliary IS
far less abrupt. for he thinks that 1T ought 70
| prise no one II Mr. bison occasionally ends by
confirming the very thesis which he started by sub
| vertng."
Mr.. Boyescn may BE- comfortoA The only surprise
| that the writings OF Mr. lbsen have caused
! or wi! cause IS surprise that anybody should
! read them Mr. Boyosens commentary rlthc- sus-
| gess, by It's many qualifying reservations. that he
| himself has had some difficulty In following Mr.
| Ibseus mental process. which indeed have
impressed him after the manner OF the Hghlandcr's
gun. mentioned by Sir Walter Scotia weapon that
only required stock lock and barrel to make ii per-
/ feet Il IS consollng to know that Mr. Boycscn does
not concur with Mr.. Ibsen In everything because
| II the two were agreed that the social system IS
really going to everlasting smash. there might be
! grounds for uncaslness.