The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-16
SOME PHASES OF THE NOVEL

1 the Woriu itr eutuof scSb nDout hiui, OF
reflection OF the authors own inner
thoughts and theories. Some one claim,
that todsy's novel, in order to be sue
cess, must either be a propounder--unde
the storytelling guise-of modern prob
lens, ethical, industrial, OF religious, OF
else be grotesquely amusing. Perhaps
Mrs. HUMPHREY WARDS writings best
illustrate the former class, and the Stock
tonisn literary extravaganzas, the latter.
But what OF the rank growth in the
field OF modern fiction that feeds on
neurosis aud pessinlismY We will be
charitable enough to give the authors
sending forth such books upon the world
credit for sincerity Their writings are
subjective III the extreme, veritable dis
closures OF the overweight, foreboding,
snd distorted states OF mind in which
they were written; and capable OF pro-
ducing similar unhappy conditions in
their readers. We may admit willingly,
that such writings are not literature, that
they cannot stand the test OF time. But
the facts remain that they are widely cir
culsted and read, and that they turn
peoples thoughts into unwholesome
channels OF self-analysis, and that this
embittering OF the mental current Is dan
gerous while II lasts and not easily ooun-
teracted.
Giving generous credit to an author for
his sincerity In conviction that he has q
warning for his fellows, how far has he
the right to clotke that warning in a
form that offers no remedy for the evils
1t condemns and only serves to leave the
reader in black mire OF despair9
This question lies between the author
and his public: How far has he the right
to inhict q morbid, pessimistic, despair
ing mood upon bis readers through the
medium OF fction2 He takes that
medium because it reaches the greatest
number most easily. A treatise or vol
ume OF essays upon the same theme will
go begging where novel will prove the
talk OF the season. 1t is the sugar-coat-
ing Of the pill OF pessimism that makes IL
more readily swallowed but the bitter
ness is only disguised, and the nostrum-
taking habit clings.
II seems as though of making many
dismal, cynical books there was no end.
The latest recruit to the ranks OF sinister
authorship is an unknown with a Spen-
cerian nom de plume, who, having failed
to discover the blessings OF intellect,
writes freely upon the curse thereof. The
volume is not large, but it is stepped in
the most disgruntled and dyspeptic NOR
bidness. The position OF the hero In its
pages Is divided between a man OF pitt
able weakness hence called Power-and
a monkey OF superior mental strength---to
witt the ability to read standard works
and converse fiuently on social problems
at the end OF 10 years training by his
master. An ingenious device this, surely,
and carried out In manner intended to
convince one that II he is man he ought
to spend lifetime Of remorse over the
fact that human beings are unspeakably
lower than beasts; and II he is a monkey,
he should hang his head for shame that,
according to DARWIN, his pure life Of in
stinctive bliss has been degraded, through
evolution, into the evil lines OF reason
embodied In man.
There is much keen, satirical comment
upon society IN general London society
in partfcular---and doubtless the author
tells much truth. But the trouble is that
he does not tell the whole truth---and |
there Is nc. falsehood so dangerous as the
one that Is "half truth" The biased |
view presented In this story is misleading,
ana, for that reason, hurtful. The writer
takes the lowest class of ignorant, evil
minded men and women for one picture
land for the other the "social SWIM of
London's hypocritical, empty headed
iiners-out match makers, and title-wor-
shippers. From these two extremes he
proceeds to generalize, or rather to skill
'ully repessnt his monkeyship as general
zing, in lengthy, fallacious and ultra
chapter on the fraud, flth.
md sub-bestial condition OF mankind.
lie says in substance; The beast is inno-
'ent; man, on the contrary, is sinful. The
me distinction between beast and man
5 intellect. This single difference must
ccount for all differences in condition;
renee II is accountable for the differences
'etween animal innocence and human