The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-30
FASHION IN Literature

TT is A truism to say that men and
women of this day and generation
are slaves to fashion. There Is an
habitual bent on the part of frail hu-
manity to do the thing some one else
has done, or Is doing.
Not so much because We lack origin
ality and self reliance but for the rca-
son. mainly. that it saves time ana
prevents disturbing jars i'm ones inn
| mediate sphere.
Here and there will be met those
who assert independence of all binding
forms. and who deridc the weakness in
others which daily puts them in lead
ing strings Of one sort or another. To
bear them make speech ON the subject
is like listening to the wind blow from
the north. They are chained to no con-
duorors chariot wheels. More. indeed.
are they liEc Atlas with all else
chained to them
But we kuow-a few Of US wis. ones
that there is no such thing as true
independence Within the hcdgcd
| Gemesnc of the most ardent warrior
| against conformity it will be easy to
| iind paths never cut nor graVellcd by
| himself.
Pathways in the sands Of time are
not otherwise made than by the sue
ceSSivc tread of loCl-stepped imitatorS
Emulation and ambition, IL may also
hc aCceDicd. play IA large part in this
matter of fashion. We do not care To
| be left TO ourselves. 10 I've as good as
our neighbor.-and that means To he as
| near like him in favored condition as
DoSsible---iS the end most of us seek
| So that when we see this same neigh
Dor come forth on a fine morning in
| a new or unfamiliar cut of garment
| although our own wardrobe may al
| ready contain it's share of fine ap-
| parcl--Contcntment no mon" walks
| with us until we too wear a coat from
! his pattern.
y broad piazza. a taStcfully placed
! dOimcr window. 1 stretch of lawn, a
| bank OF ferns when ornaments to the
| property Of some one else, have the
pretty trick of setting the pace for a
score of home building imtators.
So, too. when We discover the class
| OF literature newly made friend is
reading. the grade of book he places
upon his shelves, the periodical he
| Systematically buys straightway we
drop any personal ai'lnities we may
haDDen to have and CnthuSias stically
seek partnership with him.
There is fashion in literature as in
dress. Today one school holds our al
| leigience. tomorrow IL may the the op-
| rosite, or no school at all. We are blue
stockings in one generation, phlistines
in the next. Two or three seasons gone
kipling's jungle creations entertained
the bulk of our literary public-and
terrified the remnant. This season we
have interest in such books only as
deal with historical events fancifullv
worked up, or with picturesque
treatment of the social problem
Is 1t that our literary palatcs
metamorphose with the changes of the
moon? Does the rise aud fall OF our
temperamental harometers determine
| our taste in reading? Or Is il simplv
the old ambition not tc he oudonc
by some one living in the next block.
or on neighbOring continent, or In a
| past age that keeps us running this
way and that after new leaders? Who
shall answer? This much we know.
these varying tastes have cbb and
flow as do the tides of the sea: and
the turning time Of each comes silently
and unObserVed.
Time was when bnoII-buyprs and
pook-rea"efs We're on up-too for the
appearance or some new thing in lit
crature. Books, in that day--thc gold
en- age Of modern literature to the
lnlnd of every gray beard bookman Of
l"day-had their times and seasons.
Individual huverS, as well as retail
dealers knew in advance what were to
be the attractions of spring and holi-
daN openings. There was not then an
army or prolific writer's To flood the
BOOK stalls and bewilder the honest
deNotte with "A numerous progeny. one
or TWO starting sensations, with not
more than half dozen works of stand
ard Importance was the usual seasonal
limit; and dealer and reader could be
relied unon To be in line on the days
| of issue To give these Il generous well
come
Today We have no time between the
appearance of new books TO grow cX-
pectant. They come. one upon the 9TH
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