The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-17
Harper & Bros. send out the following
literary note:


literary note:
tage," has throughout her literary carefully
avoided all newspaper publicity, and only in an
swer to enquiry has she consented to reply to the
charges of a number of English papers. that in
her portrayal of the Rev. Mr. Gresley she has made
uniustitably lbelous attack the High Church
clergy.
Writing to Mr.. J. f. Holder Williams, Miss
Cholmondeey says: 81 have attempted, after
years OF patient observation not TO describe
type, not to wound party in the Church among
whom count some of my best friends, but TO
create character individual as l hope Captain
Pratt is individual. yet captain in the guards
so far rs ] am aware, thinks that am attacking
the army, or even their department of it, when
describe Captain Pratt, who is worse than
Mr.. Gresley. The whole point of Mr.. Gresiry's
character appears to TO be missed il he is re-
Tarded accusation of class anything
except what he il, namely, man with closed
mind
ON the WHOLE Miss cholmondeley's point is
we'll taken. and IL the criticisms OF the American
press may be taken as evidence. the character of
the Rev. Mr. Gresey has been better understood
and more keeniy appreciated in this country than
the other side-whieh, after all, is not un-
natural.
1t is interesting to learn that portions of Miss
Chomondcley's work in 1.-The Danvers Jewels
are almost photographer. 'Stoke Moreton,"
the country house Of the Danvers family. is in
reality Condover Hall. shropshire where the au-
thor spent many Of her happiest years and the
thcatricaIs which play so prominent part in the
story actually took place there shortly before the
story was written. Certain characters in "Red
Pottage" also taken from life, the original
of Dick Vernon being other than the novelist'S
younger brother.
Which is all very well, but for the fact
that the clergymans name is Gusley and
not Gresley.
The essay on 1.-THE Nature of the Crea-
tive Imagination" in the June number OF
the international Monthly" is the most
signal contribution this year from the
School of Psychology of France. This con-
tribution to the science Of psychology is by
N. Ribot, of the College of France. Writ
ing of one phase Of his subject, he says:
PersoniRcation is the original process in the
creative work. in that it is radical and always
with itself. though transtory; 1t passes from
ourselves to objects outside OF u.s. Personiiica-
ton consists in putting soul into everything, in
finding in all that shows signs OF life, and even IN
the inanimate world. desires. passions, and will
which analogous to our own, and which act
like ours with reference to definite ends. This
state of mind is fairly incomprehensible TO the
adult, to the civilized man; but we are obliged to
admit the reality OF ii because OF the facts be- |
yond number that bear witness to its existence.
need not enter in detail upon any OF these in |
Vulnerable facts. They too generally known, |
teeming as they do in the volumes of the ethno-
logist, of the traveller among savage tribes, OF
the mythographist. All OF us, moreover, at the |
beginning of our life. in early childhood, have
passed through just this stage psychologieally, OF
universal animism. Works child-psychology |
abound in examples that leave us possible room
for doubt this score; the child endows every |
object with personal life; and so much the more
when his imaginative faculty is highly developed.
But this period of universal animism. which in the
civilized man lasts only for brief time, is in the
savage permanent and active tendency.
This process Of personifcation becomes therefore,
that failing of invention from which
the great majority OF myths and an enormous |
mass OF superstitions have poured forth. along |
with large number of aesthetic creations. To |
sum up the whole matter in word: all things are
invented ex analogia hominis.'
new volume Of short stories and es-
says by Mark Twain. entitled THE Man |
that Corrupted Hadleyburg,'' will be pub |
lished by the Harpers early this month.
In addition TO the story from which the |
book has taken Its title the new volume |
contains: my Debut as Literary Per-
son, ;" Stirring Times in the Austrian Par |
About Play Acting and Con |
corning the Jews" The collection will be |
illustrated by Lucius Hitchcock and 9th
SAS' k--A-N-->-A-