The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-30
Dialect and Scotchmen.

The ravages or, shall we say, the trl-
umphs Of the modern Scots dialect story
are here revealed once more:
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuS-Sir: I am informed
by . friend that stories written in dialect occupy no
position among tho better class OF works. For ex-
ample. that IAN MACLARES. whom he charaotorizes
as a poor imitation of J. n. BARRIE. II an abortion to
modern literature" II I Am In error kindly set mo
right. and state II II il true that . well-constructed
aud interesting story "a to be condemned because
it happens to be in Scotch dialect or some other
dialect. II. A. B.
NEW YoRK. April "a.
Your friend Is too severe and sweeping.
Possibly his mind has been soured by look
ing on the genial logrolling to which the
chiefs OF the modern Scottish school have
been subjected. Possibly he is naturally a
bad man. and therefore repealed and not
charmed by the raptures Of the good DR..
ROBERTSON NICoLL, who has the gift OF
witch hazel and can discover genius any
where. but especially in Scotland. Your
friend needs to learn mcekness and toler-
ance. Much must be borne in this world,
and We know not why a grown man who
has survived the measles and the humps
should he made nervous by the prevalence
OF literary rashes.
Still, this stern critic Is about as good a
critic as most Of the rest of us. II like 1t;
/ don't like it -: there is the sincere milk Of
most literary criticism. No reasons given
or required. Now nobody Q~uarrels with
anybody for preferring clear soup or rare
beefsteak or one lump Of sugar. Yet Mr..
HowELLs and Prof. BRANDER MATTHEWS
and some other critics seem bound to write
down one kind of novelist and write up
another. Is literary culture, after all, de-
pendent upon q feeling OF superiority that
shades away into pity for those who are
not fortunate enough to have the same
tastes AS yourself? AT any rate, it is curl
Gus to notice how much missionary zeal is
shown by the gentlemen whom we may
not irreverently describe as literarytouters.
Is it worth while to have learned to read II
YOU are going to worry so much about
what other people read Our own motto
is: Read and let read" and We don't care
u bo~ddle-notice this mastery use Of Scots
for the prescriptions OF the doctors Of
letters.
Merely to oblige our inquiring friend, we
will say, as Il matter OF our personal taste,
that while Mr.. BARRIE has the most talent OF
the Scottish writer's who are commonly, and
doubtless incorrectly, called the kali
yard school, the Rev. JOHN WATSON Is not
justly described as a "poor imitation" Of
him. DR.. WATSON does not remind us OF Mr..
BARRIE especially. At times he may family
remind us OF L. p. Roe or TIMOTHY S.
ARTHUR, but such reminiscence are not to
be trusted. He Is an excellent man, as safe
as the directory and capable OF producing
stories that are not only admired, but
bought. Occasionally there is an author
whose works bring him thousands OF friends
and a good pile Of money. Such an author
has reason to be satisfied with himself. He
may not sit upon a hcaven-kissing hill, but
his influence and his royalties are s~atisfac-
tory. Men like DR.. WATSON and the late
DR.. JOSIAH G. HOLLAND are not FIELDING
and THACKERAY, but what OF 1t? Neither
do Mr.. BARNES laurels prevent the multi
plication Of editions Of SCOTT. Let us be
happy In what pleases us and not in what
pleases somebody else.
AS for dialect" there has been little
else In the world for some years, and our
correspondent Is just as able to study
the subject as We are, and perhaps he Is
more willing. A well-constructed and In
teresting story should not be condemned
because it happens to be in dialect. Ger
tainly not. Dialect, 80 called, is q spoiled
child and does as it pleases. Sometimes 1t
seems as II the dialect were all that the writer
OF the story considered. Interest and de-
velopment OF plot and character, strength
OF situation, In short the essential vitality,
the spine OF the story, often seem forgot
ten or neglected while the writer chops
dialect. The passion for local color, the
desire for something unworn and quaint,
and the cant or illuminate truth OF real
ISM" "naturalism." and what not, have
helped manufacture dialect. We dare say
those deep dogs, the magazine editors,
have helped at least as much by giving
large orders.
Dialect covers. or has been held to cover,
a multitude OF literary sins and the read
er's attention Is 30 concentrated on making
1t out that he may remain blind to other
wise obvious faults in the tale. In the
hands OF an artist, dialect may be a power
full means and it gives an air OF verisimili-
tude. but we could wish that there was a
Society for the Moderate Use OF Dialects.
geographically they are a crime some
times. Some Of them look like "a set Of
hiccoughs in print. Probably the very best
Of them Is neither accurate nor con-
sistent. The dialect of the swans or geese
OF the kali yard has been aesailed even
by Scotchmen. SO, We believe, was Mr..
STEvESsON's. Mr.. CABLES elaborate creole
language or want OF it is scorned In
New Orleans. Miss WILKINs's Yankees, it
seems to us, habitually talk more dialect
than any actual Yankee ever talked. Per-
hama Mr.. JOEL CHANDLER HABRIa's rander.
Ing OF the negro dialect Of . part Of tina