New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-04
Gbe Nen'llotk Gribn11s.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER /, 1898.
ILLUSTRATED SUPPLEMENT.

can authors that if they are wise they will
devote themselves henccforth to paraurc in
stead Of literature. Just what parlaturc may
be We have no means Of finding out, but Mr..
Emil Reich, who ought TO know, says that the
American brand Of 1t is much preferred, by
Europeans, to American literature. And, Of
roursc. the Europeans must be considered The
amiabc Reich, who has written a book on
Hungarian literature, gives this hint in Il
letter labelled "The ImposSibility of American
Classics" He AYERS that "a great classical
literature is the outcome of a national Ian
guage, and no language can be called national
that has not BEEN created by the very nation
that uses it,"
We must be free or die who speak the tongue
That Shakespeare Spake.
but that in sapicnt critics opinion, IS no
reason why we should also assume to produce
classics of literature. The TIungarians and
Poles, he declares. 'havc an immense advan-
tagc over Americans. and do venture to main
tain that there is in American poetry no work
equal to some of the best productions Of Polish
or Hungarian poetry" This is narrowing, in
deed but we need not lose heart Courage!
"Parlaturc" remains. Let Joy be unconfined.
The use Of textile fabrics for purposes Of
binding has commended itself not only to pub
llshcrS but to ok-iOvers for they are pleasant
TO the touch. they are more durable than might
be expected and in appearance they are artistic
But before it is adopted widely it would be
We'll for the binders to investigate the chemicals
employed in the cOloring and to make sure that
the light will not affect H. Some silk bindings
recently issued have begun to fade. This should
be looked into and guarded against
Manchester has never been famous that we
know Of. for its philosophy; nevertheless,
bookseller of that town has lately offered the
literary world a solid nugget of wisdom.
Backed by his practical knowledge of the book
market. his opinion that TO be prolific as
novelist, no matter how sure you may feel Of
your public, is merely to invite eclipse, must
command respect. The popular novelist, Of
course, never listens TO the purely academic
charge that he is writing too much He puts
that down to the base jealousy and mOnu-
mental ignorance Of all critics. But before
memorandum of "salcs" will he not blench?
This shrewd bookseller protests that the de-
mand for the latest book Of a leading" novelist
falls off if he reappclrs with something new
every season for too long 4 period Readers
readily perceive that ii is new only as to its
surface that the same old ideas are being
pumped up in slightly changed relations.
"Auth0rs who have published twelve books
should De suppressed. he Of Manchester re-
marks. That the public agrees with him to
certain extent is enco raging to those who are
respondent over the spread of cheap and trivial
catchpcnny literature" 1t is a relief after the
wearyng recurrence Cf that ancient gag: "Ths
novel il is said by Mr. KS friends is quite the
best thing he has done" 1t is doubly terrifying
to know that while mfr. X is being quietly
shelyed there is no slaCkcning in the demand
for the books of Ccrvantes and Thackcray and
Dickens and Waiter Scott and Jane Austen
We find another fragment Of stimulus in the
report that the demand for humorous literature
grows apacc This has it is true a depressing
side. The public cagcrness for something
funny is too often satisfied. fear, by fun
of the commOnest sort But the humOrists are
not all dead yet We have had within a short
time ''Ihe LOndoncrS." of Mr.. Iichens; Her
Iadyshps Elephant" by Mr. Wells, and
score Of good short stories from Mr.. Jacobs.
we need not fear that the world is going to he
whclmed entirely in laughter Of the sort that
recalls The cracking Of thorn> under a pot.
The chief point TO note in this desire for mirth-
full books however, desire which, as we have
recently shown, has even provoked exceptional
activity in the printing Of collections OF comic
Dctures is that il shows how tired we are get
ting of slum novels and kindred monstrosties.
The solemn novel Of sociology ana realism was
bound TO be put in its proper place in time. 1t
fingers on the scene Like most obnoxious