Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-05
GOSSIP FROM BOOKLAND.

We have heard a great deal from press and literary critic alike as to the possibil- ity of "the American novel," Would there ever be an American novel distinct from other forms of novels? Were not the canons of art the same in all lands and under all skies? And other such queries, though of late we have ceased to hear the subject urged. May it not be asked, what would form the basis of a true American novel? Should II not be founded upon those Verities and unities which characterize the ideas and principles of the foundation of our gov ernment, and what are these? In few ierse words, are they not "the brother hood of man?''-the old truths iterated by our patriotic forefathers that all men are born equal" and that the Amer ican government is founded upon human rights. upon the rights given to every man by his Creator-upon the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the free eXer- else of ones faculties? True, we have works of fiction portraying with vivid ness and truth individual localities Of our extensive country, and now we are beginning to have just spirit of patriot ism manifested in fiction, depicting with earnestness and skill the historical phases of the early days of our republic; but where is the novel based upon the true, generic American principles, whose ev cry page Is aglow with the spirit and vivifying element which makes our dem ocratic republic the greatest the world has ever produced? Can a finger be put upon any specific one, such as Holmes, Howells, Crawford, or those written by many of the lesser lights, and accept 1t as exemplifying the unities of all in feel ing and equality of rights, which is our heritage?
 If you read a novel just published, "An American in Paris" by Eugene Cole man Savidge, you will readily concede that if it is not "the" American novel, it is very near it, and not because it is written by an American and published in Philadelphia, but because the pre- dominant American force characteristic of our government here finds manfesta- tion; and you feel it's subtle presence and power along every line of the book, and when laid aside, though the story may fade from memory, there is an abid- ing essence that will make each one prouder and truer American citizen.
 As to the story, it is of an attache of the American embassy in Paris, who joins it m 1870, just a month before the declara- rlon of war against Prussia. He remains in Paris during the siege and commune, not on account of his official duties, but because of his love for beautiful woman, cocodette, reader of the Elm press Eugenie. An American in Paris may well be conceded the best book of the year on either side of the Atlantic, for 1t has the strength and virility of some notable ones, while still possess ing the grace and charm of others We find ourselves living in terms of easy in- timacy with such persons as the Elm peror Napoleon and Empress Eugenie, Bismarck, Moltke, Washburn. Sheridan, Favre-in short the men who made his tory during those troublous times-and gain a ready and forceful insight into their characters and abilities by their speeches, as when Bismarck, in his nf busy-body whom he ordered out of Yer sailles "Who makes himself green the goats will nibble." For the author has told us in the preface that these great men are the authors of the words they speak in this volume, found In official proclamation, authentic report, memoir, or descriptive writing. Liberties have obviously been taken with the time and the connection. Aside from these great men, are couple of Americans, an Eng lishman and a naturalized German American, who has returned to fight for the Fatherland. Worshipping Bismarck and adoring King William his "Ameri- canism" yet proves too much for him, and he must eventually forsake them. Zola has not given so vivid nor graphic a description of this terrible conflict, when an empire went down at Sedan, laden and crushed by its own weight of splendor and folly.
 Here we have long sweeps of the pen IIdl pIeSeIl III Il SuCClncl way tfle WlueSl dramatic actions, detailing with equal facility the successes and errors of the great Napoleon the mistakes of the French empire in Mexico, the palpable iDtents of those governments which rec ognzed the Confederacy. thereby looking beyond to the wished for result of a divided republic; then striding back to European affairs and exposing each move of the Iron Chancellor upon the chessboard of Europe with an individ- ualization of character and power of nar- rative indicating vein of original genius which is full of promise.
 You forget" replied Langford (En- glishman), when you call the democrat ic movement an American one, the work of the brilliant minds who taught de- mocracy in France, while the fate of America was being decided by skirmish in the western woods between the French and the English"
 "No," replied Clarke, "but I love to contrast the French democracy, it's bril- liant means, its science. its philosophy, its countless armies, it's heroic generals, its epic battles. with the humble origin of American democracy-a book of prim- itive society, the Bible which Luther put among the people to develop private Judgment and prepare them for popular Sovereignty. I like to enumerate our scanty means. our losing campaign, our few simple men, Otis, Jefferson, Frank lin, our only general Washington, more a citizen than a hero Then like to look at It's results in both continents, for whatever remains permanent of the French democracy was borrowed from the American
 You must be a very superior race" laughed Largdon.
 Not at all," protested Clarke, "it was the moral element which made the diff ference and the contrast Is strong be- tween brilliant men frivolous and simple men earnest. Franklin brought fair play to Europe. Mirabeau well proclaimed that no power aiding the Americans dare read their declaration, which divested every government in Europe of it's rights Joseph II of Austria likewise saw the is- sue and refused to meet Franklin. It was his trade he said to reign, and he would not endanger the craft by playing with Franklins lightning"
 Thus you see that MT Savidge has his own very original ideas about things, but 1t is refreshing to find so many ideas so pointedly and forcefully put in the in terpretation of such an important epoch In history. The only fault find with Clark, the enthusiastic American is a faw of his views and oDIpinnc- in raoar1