Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-06-07
DISAPPEARING AUTHORS.
Writers of the Past no Longer Pop.
ular.

In the North American Review
Justin Mccarthy writes of disappear
ing understanding the authors
VINO were very popular at one time
but whose popularity is now unmis-
takably fading. Most of these authors,
he explains, were not followers Of any
particular school, had no set man
nerisms or fads and were in their
way thoroughly original. Charles
Kingsley, Anthony Trollope and
Charles Reade are classed among the
disappearing authors" Trollope was
popular even during the days of
Dickens and ThaCkery. For several
years before his death, however, his
POPULARITY was steadily decreasing, and
now, Mr.. Mccarthy declares, zone
seldom hears him talked OF or hardly
reads citation from him in a news
paper or magazine" Charles Reades
novels We're books with a purpose,
written to expose some social griev-
ance or iniquity of legislation They
were strenuous, maSterful and mas
culine, but with the gradual accom-
pIishment of the purpose which they
! were intended to promote interest in
them began to fade. Mr.. Mccarthy
thinks, however, that the artistic
workmanship of most Of Reades
books was enough to secure for them
a life with the everything works of
fiction.
Charles Lever is also given a place
in the category of disappearing au-
thors," His novels had nothing to
do with law reform or social reform:
they were clever, original and bril-
liant, yet they are undoubtedly, as
Mr.. Mccarthy says, disappearing
from among us. 1t cannot be, he
points out that they are no longer
popular because they are old-fashion-
ed, or that they tell of lives and
people whose ways were not our ways
and for whom we have ceased to care.
As regards "old-fashioned" novels,
Mr. Mccarthy says If we are to read
nothing in the shape Of a novel unless
1t occupies itself only with the man
ncrs and customs of the year or the
week in which we live, Dickens,
ThaCkery, Sir Walter Scott and even
George Eliot are hopelessly out of
date Mr.. Mccarthy does not accept
the general declaration that all the
really great authors shine forever,
and that only those disappear whose
light has lost its power of illumining
the human heart and intellect any
more, There are disappearing au-
thors,' he contends, who have written
books which seem to be quite as well
entitled to hold a place in what may
be called our classic literature as
some Of those which we all believe to
be firmly enthroued there.
MIR. Mccarthy believes there is no
desire among English-speaking read
ers and writer's, public and critics to
be rid Of old authors and to give their
places to newer Corners. we do not
want them to disappear" he writes;
we are not always conscious that
they are disappearing; we might per-
haps entreat some of them to stay
with us If We knew they were taking |
their departure. But we do not notice !
their going at the time, and after
awhile We become conscious that they !
are gone" In literary France he |
finds a positive eagerness to speed |
the parting guest" and hurry the de-
parture of the disappearing author"
According to Mr.. McCarthy's observa-
don, there are three stages in the
career OF a French literary man
first. the striving after a reputation;
second, the reputation achieved; and,
third, the intimation that he has done
his work and that the world wants no