The times., 1897-08-08

and art: 1T ought to be generally known
that literature and art are not professions
which confer of themselves on those VINO
choose them mysterious dignity, or spe-
cial titles to the consideration OF Others.
We owe no awful respect to the young
men who embrace a literary career, Tor
there are far too many OF them; and 1T is
very fine TO cali ones self a writer or an
artist, since 1T can he done without justify
ing il bv single proof that ii Is true
Nor should one have the least scruple in
disccuraging the young people who are sur
fering from the disease of writing. Those
OF them who have talent will either sue
ceed in ary case in spite OF all hindrances,
or else will display / t in other professions
in unexpected and useful forms; so THAT
neither their artistic sensibility nor their
imagination viii be lost. ~
Frank r. Stockton is evidently willing
TO rest on his iaurels. This do es not mean
that he Is willing to rest on his oars These
two similar phrases mean entirely different
things. He is not resting Oh his oars, for
both hands are busy, as both hands can
be at one time ia the operation OF writing,
making sttries for the magazines. Thus
gHlg idsl week illS s@NiItli cis itdb Will uN-
light i'm scribners Ma gazine his Butler
PodlDgtoa Compact
Resting on his Iaurels means that he is
satisfied with what he has accomplished
This is evidenc ed by his last volume of
stories. bearing the attractive title. 1.-The
Story Teller's Pack In preparing this
lie has not gone to fields that are green or
pastures new, but has tossed together some
wel-seaSoned sheafs, which we recognize
| as products Of the magazine crops OF many
seasons ago. But he has been discrimi-
nating in his Compilations. and each of IN,
stories was doubtless compelled TO pass g
sort of poSt-graduate examination before i5
was released from the paper covers to tie
permanency Of hook FORM
These stories are ten Perhaps In the
recitation of their names you will recall
an old frien; or two. There are THE
Magic Egg 1.-The Staying Powers Of
Sir Rohan," 1.-The Widow 's Cruise.
Love Before Breakfast" "The .Bish-
| ops Ghost and the Printers Baby" Cap
tain ELS Best Ear LAS One Woman 10
Another" My Well. and What Game Out
: of It," stephan sharridge's Christmas
and My Unwilling Neighhor.
In "a Word to Begin With" Mr. Stock
ton tells some interesting things about the
| story-tellcr's pack. For the cretibilty
or his hypnotic story of "The Magic Egg"
! ne asks that Judgment be deferred until The
beginning OF the twentieth century. That
Is comfortable avoidance. The virtue in
the story of ''Sir Rohau- is The evidence
10 the fact that roam horse never has
anything the matter with him. He holds
! Love Before Rreakfast" afrectinnoteIy.
| because. though the people and the events
be pure fiction. the setting is his own home.
! The ghost story he diScloses is set in the
| poets corner of Westminster Abbey, near
! Chaucer's tomL He tells other Interesting
things. besides acknowledging the Influence
| OF Dickens Christmas stories in writing
DIS own two In this collection
The whole pack is good, but there is
one OF them thatis worthtle whole pack.
II is so thoroughly breezy nd imaginative
in Stockton's freest nd most untrammelec
style, as if the ropes and anchors had been
castoffand Manufactured sail had been given
to the hreeZes OF his fancy. lie is at his
best in this style OF story. He is on in
| imitable liar. The untruth moves unblush-
| ingly from his pen, whereas, If his ink had
any sense Of self-rcspect it would turn
from black to red in distilling this audacious
mendacry. Stockton invents and writes
lies with pausihility Munchausen cnuldn I
assume, and which only finds its prototype