The Helena independent., 1894-12-14
THE WEATHER.
1AE YEAR,s cRoP oF FlcTIoN.

THE YEARS CROP OF FICTION.
In an interesting article in the Decem'
ber number OF Current Literature, Prof.
II. II. Boyesen discusses in "A conscrYa-
tive but comprehensive manner the crop
OF fiction for 1894 written IN the Eng
lIsh Language. He attributes TO Mar
celia easily the first place, aod thinks
that Trilby is the only other work OF
the year worthy TO be mentioned Ia
the same connection. Prof. Boyesen
grows quite enthusiasts over Mareella,
and declares that Il is au infinite relief
after wrestling with the torturous and
whimsical English OF long list OF
writer's whom he has mentioned by
name, 70 turn TO the sane and llmpid
utterances Of Mrs. Wards latest and
best novel; He holds that Trilby. apart
from its view Of the seventh command
ment is one Of the most fascinating
books that has been published for many
a day, and II is impossible TO part com.
pany with its author without a sense
of gratitude and admiration. Prof,
Boyesen does not entertain the highest
opinion Of The Heavenly Twins. lie
admits that possibly II Is a limitation
OF the masculine sex-ln fact a lack OF
masculine generosity-which prevents
him from entertaining high regard fol
-'-,Aiadame Sarah Grand, for he accounts
Il fault In her that, being an Eng
fish woman, she should be Madam,
rather than Mrs.
Ships That Pass in the Night is a
book that pleases our critic by its sweet
melancholy, like one OF Chopin's dole
full waltzes, TO which II bears the further
resemblance OF ending with an abrupt
and heartrendlng bang. There is an
utterly unnecessary cruelty in the kill
ing OF the heroine by an accident.
Though the list OF men writers for
1894 is long and their literary output
has been very heavy. there is also an
astonishing amount OF excellent liter
airy work produced by women during
the year. As already stated he gives
first place TO Mrs. Wards book, gives
high rank to Madame Grand's book. is
much pleased with Miss Harradeu's
little work, and has a good word for
n number of other productions by wo-
men OF less renown. Although Prof,
Boyesen does not say so. in 81 many
words, 1t is a fair inference from his
paper in Current Literature that IL he
were to name the half dozen greatest
novels Of the year IN English. four or
five OF them would be the work Of wo-
men.
The present reigning favorite of su-
thors is DIR. Conan Doyle who has sud.
denly leaped into such popularity that
he is weighed down with the burden oi
orders for ali the matter hc can write
In three years Of incessnnt application
Doyle's Memories Of Sherlock Holmes
our critic thinks are the best detective
stories in the English ianguage. al
though less interesting to "a matur,
mind than HIS berries " tales entitled
Round the Red Lamp. which deals witt
curious cases OF mcdieol experience.
Besides Dr Doylc's gtorlcs our Eng
nsh cousins have poured forth an amaz
Ing torrent of romance OF clever work
manship. ana some historical color
but Prof. Boyescu thinks the character
i+aton lnmcntahiy conventional, with
out subulliyor point. anl rarely pcue
tiatlng beneath tho cpIdcrnus. lIo say
that "on our sido OF the Atlantic N.
read these CORY tales ana enhance IN
fortunes OF thcir oulhJw. hut hold Oh
novellsts Ia sharper account nnd d,
mand of them at least Fomblancc ,
Ncrisimilitude," Since Julian IIaW
lhornc went To Jamaica 10 cultivate col
fec and Mrs. Amcnc RIycs Chanl,
lapsed Into silence, we have not sing
bona hde romantcist lot within on
borders. he says
Marion Crawford la accused Of d
sertlng the banner undcr which he VIC
his iaurels and going over To- tho roa
lists The work OF George W. cab
~ esteemed to be Of finer literary qua
ity than Mr. crHwford's. although NJ
Cable is also ranged between the no
tile ranks OF romance ana roalIsr
Prof Boyesen ranks Mr. Cable consi
erably above Doyle. Crockett ana We
man.
our humorists have not been idle du
ing Tao year, ana Mark rwaln's puddi
Head wilson ia accounted ono OF 4
most notable and original books OF I
year. Gcors1 Meredlth's Lord ormo
and his AniGia 10 called an abomi