New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-08

with distinctive method and moral purpose
Every novelist who produces work worthy OIL
serious attention has his own methods or con-
structIon and habit OF labor and also his own
inherent difficulties and weaknesses. one VIII
begin his preparation for a new story with an
exhaustive study Of blue books bearing upon
social question: or of scientific treatises on some
psychological problem. Another starts with an
intensely dramatic situation with two or three
strongly contrasted characters, and proceeds u
group around it a series Of Incidents foreshauo"-
ing. explaining or leading up to the maj ca'''
trophe. One author reves in imaginative an"
creative power. delights in weaving ana unraVei
ling plots ana recoils from the literary druuseiy
Of working them out and filing in the detail OF
incident and dialogue Another finds everything
easy except the skeleton outline OF the s'o'y'
which he is to cothe with flesh ana blood o'ir
works by fits and starts far into the h-sht u"ue'
stimulus OF coffee tobacco ana WINE anu 'ie"
can do nothing for a fortnight: and another joys
along so many hours. day in ana day ou' anu 10
unaffected by moods. surroundings or pnysicai
conditions Every successful authors experience
Is essentially his own. and it is always entertain
ing and sometimes Instructive to hear him relate
II in his own way.
Mr.. Martens talks about his books with I'M
affected modesty and with a conscious sense OF
his limitations. He does much OF ms Worh ~, 10y
daylight. and never writes after ii AT night. ~
lacks dramatic instinct. and has no marx" 'e.
ent for constructing plots His stories are Pay
Geological studies based upon human charac'cl
and modern institutions lie starts with an eN,
ceptional character like the poor dear ana DIM
creature in Gods FOOL, and before ne IL iaiiis
aware of 1t there is distinct morai purpose ~
the problem which he has set for nimsen n, he en-
deavored in that book to show the apsolut" su
ppriority of the development OF the neart-tne
comparative insignihcance Of the nina I'D Soi,i
narison with the hearts secret life. The ute OF
i,n, ioh oil ed
taken from a text in Corinthians. lie writes ms
books without any other plan than most ere
mpntary thread of events but the minor cnarac-
tiers and incidents come up as ne continues me-
work He protests that he does not deliberately
write a novel with mora purpose Ihat H. ne
does not start with a distinct ethical motive plr
invariably something of this kind Is evolved as
he proceeds ..,.,,, . ,,,,rnoso in %
novel when the author has had It in NINA almost
without knowing it, It should not be like
snake in a bottle OF spirits, but IKE whisKey /"
water. ,,o,,,
exposition OF some central character ana the
processes which he employs are at once simple
and subtle The development OF the stotY ma!
lead TO a catastrophe but he makes use OF H. not
es a unique dramatic situation by WnlCh thc
reader may be thrilled with sympathetic interest'
but rather as logical sequel by wnicn ms u@
notement of character in its relations 10 filouei
life and ethical principles may be rendered lnteli-
gibe and Adequately emphasized lie dlsclalths
regretfuy having any technical knoWedee Vi
modern painting; but his methods in fiction are
those OF the Dutch school in art and MS pictures
of horney lHc and character have equally deep
tones, the same minute hdety 10 detail, anu t
simplicity Of treatment HIS DOCKS are no.
studies from. life, although they deal with ques-
lions appealing profoundly to human sensiplhty
He has been charged by Dutch critics with Dor
rowing suggestions from acquaintance in real
life: but that IL not true. His characters are
purely imaginary. and he reproduces ony tne
intellectual activity ana spirit Oh the t'"'e' IL
II he were asked to define his literary method
he would probably say that he has none put
hopes to have one some day. The idea or oook
first comes up. Then the mind lies falloW TOT
long time without recurring to II. Wnen lie 10
weary of naction and undeniabe lndoience' he
devotes himself to a course of hard reading, ana
then in sheer desperation he begins TO write at
white heat. The plot Is as shadowy ana MISTY a.
the background OF a Dutch landscape, Dut ne
works with a precipitate rush, every day ana al
dav Life" he would say, lis a desert or lahguiu
contemplation of men and things, with iittle GASES
of production Yet he does not find the process
Of production pleasant, but toilsome ana harass-
He has little faith n schools Of fiction Every
master. he would say, has most OF nta'oss an"
only few pupils; and the main junction OF NJ
erary artist Is to realize the idea which informs
human phenomena. Thackeray he describes as
'the supreme lord and king OF noveistS' put
he has many minor literary heroes. His favorites
among American authors are Nathanei HaW-
thorne and Poe. OF The Scarlet Letter ne
speaks almost reverenty as supreme work OF
literary art The frs: book that ever deeply IN
terested him was Lambs Tales from Shake
speare." His definition OF hctoh IL WIZ /" ie
The modern novel" he says SIS to a large ex
tent the principle OF poetic enjoyment adjusted 10
the wide new class OF readers. who are not equal
to poetry in It's narrower sense III Is 'he srea-
educator for wea, .: Woe
MIR. Martens has been sharply criticised by
Dutch writers foT abandoning MS naive ran
guage in his literary work. But nobody In hol-
land knows anything OF modern Dutch hctioh.
The value of the Dutch novel has been DIS
covered In England ann America the natives OF
nd French
novelist was forced to one or the other IAN
guage. He has also been charged with satirizihS
his own countrymen. because he has some gruage
against them This Is not true II ne satrHes
AT all IL Is not the Dutch people. but MS
fellow-creatures the world over. He Is a loyal
Hollander. IF nation be pitted against nation
he has said. the Dutch would certainly not
come In last" Only on one account does ne re-
gret his nationality. He spends his life IN sucn
ba OF tongues that he despairs OF speaking any
language with absolute perfection, whereas II ne
had been born in England he would have been
able. he thinks. 10 write some good poetry lie
modesty undertakes his command or EhelisE'
No intelligent reader could ever make the mis-
take of supposlng that his novels were transa-
tons. His conversation is crisp and sententous
like his literary style. .,-
Mr. Martens has never crossed the Atlahtc,
but he hopes some day to do 50. and TO see some
thing OF America He keeps an observing eye
upon the critical notices which his books have re-
ceived there, and he has discerned a most synpa-
thetic audience which quickly and unerringly
understands him. The bare title OF his book
Gods Fool" frightened many English readers
and they were not very keen in percevlng MS
motive which was both religious and reveren-
tial But in America the same book was under
stood at once and he has been delighted with the
appreciation with which 1t has been received
one OF the pleasures which he hopes may be in
store for hin. will be visit In America. II ne
ever goes Americans will see an artist without
affectation p workman with high Idea Of the
dignity and moral responsibility or literature.
man Of strong religious faith. and a most com
panionable and accomplished gentleman