The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-25

Just as it is folly to expect ones friends
SO is it a risky experiment to recommend
a novel to the same friends with the belief
that they will all be equally pleased with it.
Taste in fiction varies widely, also the pow
er of discrimination. What entertains one
reader is deadly dull to another; the senti-
ment that one finds mawkish or forced salts
ties another who sees in it the expression of
his own feelings The theme itself may at
tract or repel. The historical novel pleases
many, but not all; the psychological novel,
the novel with purpose, the philosophical
novel, the novel of adventure, each has it's
adherents and its opponents. Fortunately,
there is variety enough to suit all tastes
except. perhaps, the extremely critical and
even these have a standard which is some
times reached. There are certain charac-
teristics of style, method of treatment,
imagination and power to hold the atten-
ton which common to the best novels,
and it would seem that it might be easy
to make list of these best ones which
would be generally accepted. But when the
attempt is made it at once proves not so
easy A contributor to the literary supple
ment of the New York Times offers a list
of twenty-five best" American novels, but
will probably find few to agree with his
judgment. 1t must be remembered that he
does not say great but "best'-a distinc-
ton of Importance since the number of
great novels in any land or language is de-
cidedly limited. In this country it is much
less than twenty-five. The list given in
cludes some which all will probably accept
Hawthornes Scarlet Letter. and House
of Seven Cables" Cooper's Spy" and Last
of the Mohicans," Mrs. Stoves Uncle
Toms Cabin" HoweIls's Rise of Silas lap
ham, and Hazard of New Fortunes" Most
readers will agree, too, with the choice of
Mitchells Hugh Wynne" and Smiths
Colonel Carter of Gainesville" Some will
accept Poes Arthur Gordon Pym, some
Curtiss "Prue and t. some Ford's Hon
orable Peter Sterling" But what has
Jamess Princess Casamassma" to do in
such a list, even though it's author be Amer
lean born? And what about Tourgees Hot
Plowshares' and four novels by Edgar Faw-
cett? How many will think Wheeler's "Tol-
tee Cup properly placed, or Mrs Harri-
sons "Anglomaniacs," or Cranes RED
Badge of Courage" or Saltuss Transaction
in Hearts, or Frederic's Domination of
Theron Ware" or Townsend's Daughter of
the Tenements," or Matthewss His
Fathers SOM" And why was Holiness
Guardian Angel omitted and Theodore
Winthrop's John Brent?" What about
Mrs. Stoves other charming stories, 1.-THE
Minister'S Wooing and 1.-THE Pearl Of Orr's
Island?" There, too, are Miss Jewett's de-
lightful idyl "Deephaven," Mrs. Gather
woods Romance of Dollard" Helen
Hunts Ramona and Miss Woolsons
"Anne''-all thoroughly American. Cables
"Grandissimes' should have place in such
a list and some might include Miss Phelpss
Singular Life" There is wide room for
choice, and more than one list of twenty
five distinctively American novels of high
class can be made up. The great Ameri-
can novel" may not have been written, but
when the field is reviewed the list of exceed
ingly good ones is found to be surprisingly
long.