The Elbert County tribune., 1898-10-13
DDAvID HARuM.y

.sDayid Harum. by Edward Noyes
Westcott. ID. Appleton n Co.. N.a0.) IL
certainly one OF the notable books OF the
fcar. 1t can hardly be called a novel. II
more properly characterization, and
characterization extremely well drawn
II II true that there is "A plot and a love
story which is OF some interest. but that
n subordinate to the main purpose which
In the delincation OF the chief parsonage
of the book, David Hnrum.
That the character In drawn from real
life there cannot be the least doubt Truth
fs stranger than fiction In a certain way.
but there Is a difference In the quality OF
the strangeness which is disfinguIshable.
An author might have invented a David
Harum. but he would not have been the
living and speaking reality that Is pre-
scented In these pages. Constantly
throughout the book there is tho feeling
that David 1Iarum and his sister, Mrs.
Bixbee. whatever their names may have
been In real life, were actual personages
and that the principal incidents took
place as described,
II lis an interesting question whether the
higher art II inventive or descriptive. The
writer who draws on his Imagination for
his scenes and his characters needs to pos
sess the creative faculty In a high legree,
and II seems at first thought that the
highest literary ability is shown by the
production of characters and incidents
entirely original. On the other hand II
may be shown that all literary art is en-
compnssed within the bounds of nature.
No true literary merit can exist which is
not natural. and by natural we mean that
which comes within the limits of human
experience. II this be so then the literary
art In It's highest form consists in the
ability TO select from the mass OF ma
teriai which is everywhere and mt all
times available, such particulars as will
combine in the production of u harmon
ious and an artistic whole. Another art
that OF painting, has experienced the same
problem and there more conclusive de.
cision has been reached that the artist
forfeits meme OF his claim to originality
because he has painted from q model oil
from an actual landscape instead of pic
turing nothing else than the creatures OF
his own Imagination. The creative art ir
painting and literature is not so much
to make something out Of nothing. as &c
make something out OF something and &c
add thereto the indescribable finish which
makes It art.
How far David Harum'' in its realism
Is worthy of claim in the upper ranks
OF literature may be left to the individua
reader to judge. II IL certainly natura
and artistic as well and no one can read
the book without being impressed with
the character portrayed. than anyone
could meet the man In the flesh without
being impressed with his personality. A
somewhat melancholy interest is added
to the book by the statement in the In
production that the authors death tool
place March ii, 1888 From this same In
PRODUCTION. written by Forbes Heermans
VIC extract the following summary of tho
books central figure:
'''rhe book Il a novel and throughout Il
runs. love story which is characterized
by a sympathetic treatment and con-
stantly increasing interest; but the It'll.
role is taken by the old country banker
David Harum. dry. quaint somewhat H.
litcrate no doubt but possessing an amaz-
ing amount OF knowledge not found in
printed books. and holding fast to the
cheerful belief that there is nothing who'll
ly bad or useless in this world. Or. In his
own words. a reasonable amount of fleas
is good for dog, they keep him I'm
hroodin' on bein dog This horsetrad-
ing country banker and reputed Shylock
but real phllanthropist is an accurate por-
irayal OF n type that exists In the rural
districts OF central New York today. Var
iationB OF him may be seen daily driving
about In their road wagons or seated In
their bank pariors.' shrewd sharp
tonRued, honest MS the sunlight from most
points OF view but In a horse trade much
inclined TO follow the rule. laid down by
Mr.. Harum himself for such transactions.
do unto the other feller the way he'd
like to do unto you. an do Il fust.'"