New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-24
SUNDAY, July II, 1898.

observed by n London writer that very lew
American novclistS have any circulation 10
speak of in England. Bret lIartc and Henry
James both long rcsidcn; in the English cap
ital. have Il certain vogue, and Miss WilkihS mas
a large English public but the bulk OF American
work is ignored. SO much the more reason
then. why American authors should rejoice IN
the present cagcrncss Of the reviewers OF Lon
don to make their books known. Those DOCKS
are not only noticed in large numbers, but they
are constantly praised. The only thing to re
grct is that sometimes the praise is slngulariy
injudicious, and America Witnesses the lauda-
ton as representative" Of writers by whom
She must feel it humiliation to be repre-
scntCd.'
The literary agent no doubt has his bad
as well as his good points, but we arc glad TO
sec so authoritative person as Sir Walter
Besant coming to his defence in discussion
which threatened TO leave the author high ana
dry and his literary agent in lamcntable case
We refer TO the discussion started by William
Rdcing on the subject Of literary methods ana
gains in London, and especially to his mpca-
ton that the poor popular novelist. wiring
himself to death was doing so under the baleful
influence OF the literary agent. "llc need not be
driven unless he plcascs,' says Sir Walter he
SAINT Of this unhappily successful author. ut Is
his own fault if he is driven. man who con
sents to ruin his powers and to destroy his rep
utation for the sake Of little immediate gain
deserves no pity. He need not be driven"
Some of these days the authors will realize this,
and when the agent tcmptcth them with vast
sums they will cast him out from their pres
cncc wait for inspiration to come in faircr
I..ft. L hon ntnF
will be a great day when authors and artists
get human nature under and blame nothing out
side of themselves for their failures. That will
be supernatural, miraculous inhuman state OF
affairs. but it may come, nevertheless
Since the DAYS Of Charles AuchcStcr" the
mere mention that new novel was musical
in its subject has suniccd 10 deprive 1t in ad-
vance of any sympathy on the par; Of thoughtful
readers That masterpiece Of mawki>hncss has
been the standard toward which all the music
mad romanccrs have sought to LIT their work
Very recently change has come over The
musical novel II is powerful In The hands Of a
novelist like George Moore. whose "Eycyn
lines is brilliant example Of how music can
De adequately handled in a work Of fiction. and
even in the case Of a minor writer like Miss
Nellie X. Rlssct, the author Of "Iho Conccr;
Director" it is reasonable production. with
neither scntimcntaliiy nor gross error In IT,
Other excellent novels lately appearing in this
field might be named. Their excellence. their
great superiority TO tie old musical novel Of the
"Charlcs AuchcStcr' style is TO be asrribcd
partly to an awakened sense Of humOr but still
more to an incrcas" in musical knowledge and
above ALL to liyclcr realization Of the human
frailty Of musicians. The hy.,crical dcvotcc is
still cxtant. 1t is true but she docs not often
write novels. Nowadays the writers who treat
music and musicians in works Of fiction are
careful 10 study both with open eyes.
In one respect the biography OF Gladstone
promises TO be sadly disappointing. 1t will con
tain 50 few letters with the true cpsiolary
charm. The great statesman was, in the first
place. too serious, too much in earnest. 10 write
a perfect letter which needs n more flexible
spirit 10 make ii perfect and, secondly, his
written style was always sadly overloaded.
When Gladstone spoke. say those who have
heard him. his most WcgIiy thoughts seemed
lightly poised. seemed nothing more or less than
fclictous in expression. But the print Il speech
fails 10 carry the same effect The f"W letters
which have from time to time been made public
have lacked felicity. When the biography ar
rives it Will be packed with good things. but
the correspondence Will count simply rs il
throws light upon GlldStonc's career Ii is
doubtful if 1t ever is read for its own sake.