New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-26

ne puts INTO the mouth or Lily Dale which make
the lifelong fidelity OF Johnny Eames futile
Take. on the other hand. Mrs. ELEPHANTS equally
simple story OF "A Rose in June" There Is
sadness enough in It, but how much more natur-
ally and satisfactorily is the course of true love
brought to its close.
The plot Of the story having been decided
upon, 1t Is advisable to make a skeleton plan OF
1t on large cardboard, with plenty Of room for
the filling in of such dramatis persona as are
deemed appropriate to it. and any incidents
which may occur to the mind as likely to be
o. the characters should be placed side by side
with the real ones. that their connection should
not be lost sight Of. while their idiosyncrasies
and other recognizable qualities should be care
fully avoided. 1t may. l hope. not be necessary
but 1t Is still advisable to warn the neophyte
against making use OF the unfair advantage
which publication gives him to satirZe persons
who may be obnoxious to him: this is too often
done, In ignorance, perhaps. Of the serious con-
sequences which may flow from 1t; but it Is a
most cowardly proceeding, like that Of striking
with deadly weapon an unarmed enemy. When
satire becomes personal 1t is lampoon. Even
when no harm Is intended, and recognition
takes place. much distress Of mind may be
caused not only to the person satirized. but to
the satirist. There was little In Charles Dick
ens's writings to be repented Of but 1t is we'll
known that ne grievously regretted his delinca-
ton OF Leigh Hunt as Harold Skimpole. Hunts
peculiarities recognized at once. and the
vices Of Skimpole. which were not Hunts at
all only too readily attributed to him. Apology
In such cases is useless. Litera scripta manet;
the mischief Is done
As for the scene Of his story I would recon-
mend Scott, jr. Of he will allow me to call him
SOL not to select foreign ones however CON
versant he may be with them; the taste of the
British novel reader is as insuar as his dwell
ng-place. and he prefers to read OF places he
has visited. and OF customs with which he Is
familiar. There have been some exceptions. but.
a rule, even our most popular novelists have
lost something of their circulation when they
have ventured on alien soil. With readers who
have passed much OF their time abroad there
Is of course no objection to this; they may pre-
fer it, as awakening pleasant memories; but
they are but a small minority: the others best
like to read Of what they are familiar with,
and are in n position 20 pass judgment on. The
case is somewhat similar to that Of foreign nov
els: those who can read them in the language
they are written in take pleasure in them, but
translatOns of them are not popular with the
less accomplished Wherever the scene Of the
povel is placed. however il is absolutely neces-
sary for the writer TO become thoroughly &C
Quanted with il. No time or trouble should be
grudged in this matter. 1t is by no means. how
ever necessary TO stay long in the chosen To-
cality; on the contrary, the salient points which
strike a first acquaintance are apt 10 be
lost through familiarity with them, and 1t is
these which strike the reader.
Almost all young writers cast their fiction In
the autobiographical form. FOR indeed they are
generally their own heroes. This has been done
few times only with success Gas I'm the case OF
David COpperiield'D even 10y great authors,
with small ones it is a fatal error. There is al
ways a great deal too much about the author $
boyhood. which. except to his mother. IS ALSO
lutely embarrassing Boys will be boys Is
said by way of apology. and they need it. Some
adults may want to have their school days over
again which only shows they have forgotten
them-but they don't want TO read Of other peo-
pies school days. There Is nothing duller than
the "reminiscences OF boyhood, except those OF
girlhood. Women writer's scarcely ever allow
their readers to escape from these nara ives.
They will begin with their heroin" In short
frocks and sometimes in long clothes. She has
her skipping rope with which We wish she would
hang herself and her girl friends, who are as un-
entertaining as herself and her 'ycarnngs.' she
yearns through dozen chapters. Will" the
reader yawns. 1t would be such relief II she
would do something even II II were TO run away
with the page. Children are charming (and so
are Dogs when they leaven a story, but they
should not be allowed. any more than in real
life to occupy too much OF the attention. And
whether in youth. at any other period. there
should be no ego in a novel The Introduction
Of self into IL is fatal Thackcray. IL may be
said. did it, but it was a mistake even in his
IA case and 1t Is probable that
te$9 Scott, jr., is not a Thackcray.
>s%AYt Does he suppose that his pup
<C1MS-21 pets are so lfcke that II ia
Cr2'k = necessary dixie Bottom the
NJ AZ weaver to put his head outside
.|T1|1Ne the puppet show 10 assure US
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