The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-21
WILMINGTON. Y. C.
.RUNNING RE.LAKkS ON STYLE,
SCOTT AND OTHERS

however otherwise gifted. We have
been reading that kind Of objection for
many years. He does no write so ar
|fifcially, SO very artistically, so daint-
lily as Walter Pater and some others
IN English who gave far more atten-
ton to language than to what langu-
age embodied. To be a finished
~sstylist" is regarded now by a prepon-
b ring majority of present day authors
to be the chief end of authorship. 1t
IS glorious to see the freedom and
|breadth, the sturdy Indifference to even
rules when Shakespeare had mounted
Pegasus and was careering OF the very
| clouds and in the highest heavens of
Invention" There was nothing finical
or studied or a~ttitudinizing or eagerly
CONSCIOUS in him. His aim and end
was thought, was quality and not man
nerism or mere style. He could out
write the whole herd when he had on
his cap Of vast inspiration. We re-
ferred to a paper, delightful and rich
IN wise reflection and precision of view,
In the Atlantic Monthly for March by
Mr.. John Burroughs, n Of the fore
most of living New England authors.
He has a healthful mind, and his judg-
ments are generally distinguished for
both felicity and sanity. Style is quite
admirable when it Is the man, when it
Is the vehicle Of high imaginings and
profound thought. But the man him
self must be in it from first to last.
Mr. Burroughs says:
but in the writer with the creative
touch, whether he be poet, novelist,
historian, critic, essayist, the chief
factor in the product is always his own
personality.
Style, then, in the sense in which I
am here using the term, implies that
vital intimate, personal relation of the
man to his language by which he makes
The words his own, fills them with is
w quality, and gives the reader that
lively sense of being in direct commun-
cation with a living, breathing mental
4uU cplTlCudl IOTC0. ne WThLcI WIN
appears to WELD his language a. an in
etrument or tool, something exterior to
HIMSELF; who makes you conscious of
1iE vocabulary, or whose Words are the
garments, and not the tissue, of his
[hought, has not style in this sense
We could be sure that he would be
rue to Scott, and would not share with
he literary perfection, and, strive for
kerbal effects and linguistic dilettanti
& the expense of simplicity and power
& great thought. AS we have said
lyle is a good thing if like fine cloth
ng it covers a man; if it is the instru-
nent of genius then it essays to up
lift and help and inspire the souls of
aen. Read any of the rare style-mon-
kers who damn so many of the great
uthors and behold the contrast be-
ween the delicate cut and verbal fe-
E~cities," of the one and the masculine
igor, the vital energy, the simple and
elightful charm of the creative minds
Ike the masters-like Scott and Thack-
ray and Dickens and Fielding and
|arlyle and some others. Mr.. Bur
bughs notes an opinion of MI. How
lis, who is so often held up as a writer
Infinite interest. We take leave to
hy that MI. Howells is often dull and
hmbling and as a story teller he is
Dmetimes like the "Kneedy Knife
Frinder of Canning-he has no story
tell. He is utterly opposed to all of
bmantic tendencies in novels and holds
B the severely realistic. He is one OF
few living American writers we
ave essayed to read among novelists,
I'D twice we abandoned the task so
reary we found his books. We read
everal of his earlier novels, and two
18th real interest and pleasure. His
Wn style is o%verrated as is that of Mr..
INES, who lives abroad. Mr.. Bur-
bughs kicks aside the criticism Of
[owells as not final. He says, and it
so good, so timely, so broadly sym
hetic in Interpretation and appreci-
we make a long extract:
may admit all Mr.. Howells
about SCOTS want of style, his
f~fuseness and cumbrousness, and his
kaious descriptions, and still Justly
aim for him the highest literary hon
s. He was a great nature, Is Goethe
i'd. and we come into vital contact
1fh that great nature in his romances.
8 was not deficient in the larger art
I'D knows how to make a bygone age
ve again to the imagination.
y ineness of workmanship, no deft-
ess of landing, can make up for the
ant OF a large, rich, copious human
kdowment. ] think we need TO re-
ember this when we compare unfav-
ably such men as Dickens and Thack-
~ with the cleverer artists OF our
"a day. Scott makes up to US for his