The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-11
JAMES M. BARRIE, NOVELIST.

tines" There could not well be a greater
contrast TO all that we call "decadent" or Nm
oe steele than Is supplied by his work. Aud
willie other ncvelists are winning their sue
cesses BY telling us that the "old order" has
had It's day. II is somewhat reassuring to hnd
genius OF the brightest enlisted on the side
of that old order. II is probable that 10 order
to be healthy literature must be catholic, ex-
perimental--a free expression OF the workings
OF the human mind II deals legtimately with
novel, even with daring, phases Of thought.
But there are those among us who recognize
IN certain tenets OF the old order the very
rock on which our social life Ia founded
To these tonets has Mr.. Barrie ever been
truo--a fact which, at a period when indiNid- ,
ralsm at war with the social order has be-
come too much a favorite subject with our
novolists. would suffice OF itself to sivs TO
works such as his q unique and special value
~
Born on May 0, 1850. at little weaving
town, Kirriemuir, In Fortarshire. which as
'Thrums" he has since made so famous, Mr.
Barrie received much Of his education NJ
Dumtries and subsequently devoted himself
to Journalism In tho inland English midland
counties. His FIRST book, the curious and not
very happily inspired little work called Bet
| ter Dead" was published In 1887. 1t Is not
characteristic OF the author and 1t proved
failure Success, however, was not long de-
| layed The next year produced the novel
''When q Mans Single" and the volume OF
| sketches entitled Aud Lich ldylls.' Straight
! way those whose business II Is to scan the
heavens for new stars turned their optic
tubes toward the north. In both OF the books
we are introduced to Thrums; in both the
critic may discover what--llke the Athenians
OF uld--he is forever seeking-something new.
something individual, But 1t is tho volume OF
sketches which OF the two, is by far the more
individual. over the novel there still hangs
the influence OF Dickens 1t is on Dickens
optimistic convention that IL rests.
In Aud LIGHT Idylls" the author once and
for all bids good bye to Dickens. Judged
however by the light OF subsequent achieve
ments, his talent is stll In the experimental
, stage Take, for example, the winter piece
calied 1.-THE schoolhouse." 1t is descriptive
delicate. nnished-a perfect piece of writing II
tselt-but others than Barrie might hav'
a written It, Several papers In this volume ar
of the na-u OF "Reminiscences and Of thes
q ''Davit humans Political "Reminiscences
= might pass as a report from shorthand note
- OF an actual conversation or soliloquy.
!, others of these sketches, however, we NEE
d the essential Barrie, and in such papers q
"Thrums," "The Aud LIGHT Kirk" "Th
Il Aud LIGHT in Arms we are introduced to
= form of life which Is essentially new In literf
y ture.
- An Intelligent and Travelled Thrums ma
whom questioned recently set me the follow
ing simple sum In proportion; As the ord
-. .Ifsl.s
the ordinary Thrums man to the ordinai
st Scot what was implied was that, az the a
I'd erage Scot strikes one as reserved and blu
as hammered in comparison with the aVorh
ne Englishman, so does the "Thrummy lmpre
as by his excess in these attributes over the a
&c erage Scot This lie the impression OF sing
be individual and OF course contains only an q
ke Proclamation to the truth. But certainly I
"Aula LIGHT" religion as our author shows
~ appears adapted TO race so characterized
AZ Sufficiently unpromising material read
so might conclude, and I am not sure but h
ite Mr.. Barries work been cut short at this pol
no one might have rested In this mistaken I
by lief, for 1t is of the nature Of that work Il
II is evolutionary In character and oumulat
'u' in effect Real originality Ia almost unobtr
re sive and though the fausse alerte be sour
no ed on the heights with increasing frequen
elr the critics must he allowed their duo OF pra
eh for immediate recognition both Of Mr.. Bar
ms and Mr.. Kiping, AT least one OF the "Idyll'
however. betrays the richness Of the ore viii
ne undorlies an unpromising surface-the story
IN Cree oueery and Mysie Drolic" a tale
the two parahs and OF the beauty OF hlial tend
md ness which irradates their life Of poverty a
RS toll,
Efg L
ted The note hors sounded Is the keynote OF
ny "window In Thrums" that wonderful be
ley which, winning It's way directly to the he
ur- of the public, there lodged Itself so socur
her that now, ten years after publication, its Il
In 50 a household word among us. while an
an tual window in a far-on northern town
viii become shrine Of pilgrims for Its sake.
sed its lighter side the window In Thrun
ma plays round the humors and quaintnosscs
It's novel typo Of Scottish character, touch
for playfulIy on the manifold little inconsist
he ces and incongruties OF human nature
! large But, good as this lighter side OF
book lis, 1t is not that which enchains us
have spoken OF the Thrums character. as
soribed by Thrums man. as primarily
served-"dour." perhaps, In the less ha
IEa sense Of that expressive Scotch word. Blu
lar :, not truth mat the aeepest affections
found in the stilest, the most reserved
sap- natures? Scott, In the trial scene OF
her Heart Of Midlothian,' and that hne
mas The Highland Widow" makes US think
she And Mr. Barrie makes us think SO, too; an
the this book he appears in what we take to
SIS his true and ultimate character as the poe
SING family affection.
I Is During 1891 Tho Little Minister"
through the pages OF Good Words AS
aced nrst effort. in the novel form. OF the auth
no maturing powers, Its announcement aroI
ould the keenest expectations. It's appearance
sor- keenest interest Nor was the public dii
leut' pointed. The book was popular from tho
l. an set. while today the demand for II seems
'He' active than ever.
&c ~
mas The next book. Sentimental Tommy
ar above criticism even by the most csptious
.neSe is the authors masterpiece, the full and
X OF feet expression OF his genius. In 1t he
out found, or rather made. an artistic form Of
own. suit himself, and his easy seemi
ana irregular narrative compels the reader to
'or"' low him as irresistibly as the Piper OF III
N,'s lin compelled the children. But now