The times., 1897-06-20
mine whether fictien shall be q dissipation
or q mental and rnrral food

l luluc WuCbnCf lIcGi0n kLGlk 10 q uHuSip pfttOu
| or mental aud moral f0od.''
| The practical problem, continues the
same writer, is to find modes OF studying
| fi.tion, which can fit themselves into
the routine Of ordinary busy life. Some
excellent suggestions In this direction
are eivenin -Four Years OF Novel Reading"
an account of an experiment in popular
izing the study of fiction, edited with an
introduction by Richard &. Moulton, pro-
lessor OF literature In English in the Uni
versity OF Chicago. Some hard work is
called for by Prof. Moulton, but his ideas,
carried out under intelligent guidance,
would educate the readers of novels In sys-
tematic thinking, and open up TO them
view of life that would widen their SYM
pathies aud increase their personal iu-
fluence and usefulness.
The only way to get rid of the trashy
fiction is to cultivate the minds and hearts
OF readers until It becomes an abom ina
tion to them. Taste In music, in painting,
in sculpture, is cultivated by constantly
hearing and seeing what is good Why
should this not hold good in the art OF
literature? Read with understanding and
cultivate the critical faculty. Trained
readers of Fiction will lie AN inestimable
benefit to authors, many OF whom are now
content TO furnish only what q large pro-
portion Of their readers are satisfied with
false pictures OF false life, excitement and
enervating reaction.
Homer. Virgil, the parallels OF the Bible
what are they but fiction? Tennyson
Browning, William Morris have presented
US systems of philosophy in fictitious set
ting. In other arts we have been taught
TO study the old. Why not apply the same
rule In literature? Training in fiction
does not mean to be able to discuss giibly
the latest novel, but to have so read the
masters hat you know at glance where
the author found his subject, and Just how
much of him he has put into his art
The technique of fiction and poetry is
almost perfect In the hands of literary
artists, and we have right to demand :.
soul and message as well as correct liz.
terary form. But we must be taught to
look for it. The earnest study OF fiction
today is really study OF life. Men and
women may see the life they are leading
and may reflect upon the conditions of So
ciets which they are helping to bring about
1t lis an open question whether the earnest
study of life is not about as good study
as any college can take up.
''The Burglar Who Moved Paradise is
by Herbert b. Ward Mr. Ward is the lit
crary gentleman who wrote "The White
Crown as he wrote the present story,
all by himself, and "The Master OF the
Magicians' and Come Forth In collabo-
ration with Elizabeth Stuart Phelps 10
whose tri-pedaled name he added his own
The facts associated with this writing give
III unique place In the conjugal aspect of
literary endeavor.
IL will be remembered that Mrs. Ward
some years ago wrote a charming story
The Old Maids Paradise in which were |
recorded the adventures OF Corona of Puel- |
vir, her maid; Of the Raspberry sIan who |
wooed Puelvir nnsuccessfulIy and married |
n widow and four; of dog, boy, II horse |
ane a burglar. corona's biographer raised |
the question: .Has the most dangerous |
burglar of all climbed up to Paradise?f,
And Size has never answered il. Admirers Z
of her and OF her story have often wondered /
If she would ever write the sequel
Now, by very happy arrangement, by |
which the glory of the Paradise problem |
remains In incept on and in solution in the
Ward family, Mrs. Wards husband has
applied himself to the answering of the
question, and the result n the story t.
question, The Burglar Who Moved Para
disc" OF course II wouldn't be fair to
disclose here any OF the poisss In this irl-
teresting document. II is never Just To
tell the point OF Jest or the denouement
OF good story, so we leave IL to the |
reader. who WIFI find Mr. Wards story n
happy sequel to his wife's story. And what
q pleasant form of literary partnership this
suggestsi Husband and wife divide labors.
What one hasn't time or inclination to do
happily falls conveniently into the way Of
the other.
However. it is fair TO Mr. Ward TO say
-hat one Of his reasons for writing tie
story was that justice M ght he ,lone his
'ex. 1t will be remembered that in his |
wife's story Corona was the heroine the |
house was the hero and a widower was |
she suf,heTo. The ''sub" business was gall
ng to Mr.. Ward. He determine d to erase
{ and its implied snub, and raise man To |
lis proper sphere on an equal with the
Jerome, az hero without the sub, (Bus-
on: Honghton, 3iifflin & Co. Washington
3rentanoj