The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-02-16
WRITER'S OF FICTION.
Communicated.


There are two kinds of writer's of
fiction, the realistic and the romantic.
The realistic writer sets before you
the story of human life drawn in such
familiar colors that they arise like
scenes from your own experience. The
light of truth shines upon each Incl
dent from such an angle that dark
problems are illuminated, and you are
shown the reason of things. Each
character interviews you, as 1T were,
face to face. Some OF them are &C
quaintanceS whom you meet daily,
Others are old friends from distant
lands or the more distant past, whom
you greet with delight and from whom
you do not willingly part. Some are
strangers who quickly become friends
and are henceforth clothed with
flesh and blood by the imagination
and take their places as members of
the human family. Who has not such
a circle of friends and acquaintance,
and who has not often found them in
extrcably mixed with the people one
has KNOWN. Who is this character
that arises before my minds eye?
Is it Mr.. Macawber? No; it is an I'M
Gle, who down to his old age, wrote
letters which are still preserved by
his friends as the very high-water
mark Of epistolary excellence. Bea-
trice Harraden's "Fowler" is a very
confusing character. 1t was only last
year that we met him-no, it was an
other man; but somehow we can never
decide which is which. We have often
seen Josiah and Samantha Allen drive
by in their old-fashiuned buggy, an
cid couple. known for many years, and
have had many narrow escapes from
addressing them as Josiah" or 'Sa-
mantha." Although it may not be
generally known, yet it is a fact that
"Uncle Remus" came night and morn
ing to milk our cow for many years.
1t was the same old darkey the child
rem knew so well. Who has not met
in society Mrs. Skewton, the anti
Quated fllrt, and been Mortified at her
palsy-strcken vivacity? Dickens has
indeed turned loose urOn the world a
whole population Of his own creation.
They step out from his pages, assume
the guiSe Of well-known friends and
acquaintance, walk your streets, ave,
dine and sup with you, for are they
nOG OF your own nOuSenOlO!
The other class of fiction writer's
leads you into land Of pure romance,
although many of our best authors
possess the gift of both schools of tic
tion. When ScOtt'S voice calls you
from out his enchanted pages, the
present disappears, and you follow him
into passed-away world. The Wiz
ard of the North has touched the
pages of history and they CLEAN with
a light that never was on sea or
land"
Robert Louis Stevenson is a literary
descendant of Scott. The same light
of romance, 'cOlored by his own deli
cate personality, shines with new
tintS and shades, and again we are in
an enchanted land. 1.-THE Black Ar
row. is the England Of "Ivanhoe, {"
with difference" Prince Otto,"
that incompatible romance, has a
score of followers if not imitators-
writer's who are indebted to Steven
son for the opening of vein in fiction
which they are working with success
and honor. "The Prisoner of Zenda,"
by Anthony Hope, is one of the most
notable instances.
Stanley j. Weyman belongs to this
school, and from his pages something
of the witchery of Stevenson steals
upon you. Conan Doyle at times
shows something of Stevenson's in
fluence. At the present time we have
many fine young writers of the TO-
mantle school. Charles Major, author
of when Knighthood was in Flow
or, is one of the most notable.
But over and above all authors past
and present, the English language
has one writer who covers both of
these fields in manner that can never
be equalled, land Shakespeare is his
name" When we open the leaves of
1.-THE Tempest" and hear a voice
which says, Come unto these yellow
sands" we recognize the Immortal
Sprite, pure, intellectual Joy His
"Harkl harkl the lark at heavens
gate sings" finds US far enough up to
enjoy the song, and we are where
nothing earthly can mar our delight.
To such a feast Shakespeare invites
the lovers Of romance. On the other
hand, he introduces us TO Falstaff. the
prince OF good fellows, who is a reaiis-
tic combination OF grossness and wit.
In the melancholy Jacques" we have
without a doubt the original Popu-
list, the first calamityite in literature,
as D0gberry Is the original Mrs.
PartinRton.