The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-23
Literary

Jeanette Glider, in Chicago Tribune.
Mr.. Frank Norris has written an article
for the October lumber of the Worlds
Work, which he calls 1.-The Reward of the
Novelist" He might better nave called it
my Opinion of the Modern Historical
Novelist" Mr.. Norris, as everyone knows,
is a reallst. His "McTeague' and 1.-THE
Octopus are as realistic as Zola. NATURALLY
he does not care for the romantic novel
merely because it is a romantic novel. He
wants other qualities, but he does not want
realism in them. They must scorn details
if they give us life. He cares naught for
the clothes if there is a man inside of them.
The latter day historical novelist he calls
q mere copyist. He has no quarrel with
the IMAM who started the fad" but with
the 'detestable trading upon another mans
success" The men who do this he calls
''copyists" and 'fakirs." These are mot
novelists at all, though they write novels
that sell by the hundreds of thousands" He
designates them as busine men solely:
They are business men. They find out
no. they allow some one else to find out
rubot the nublic wants and they give II RI
the public cheap, and advertise it as a new
soap is advertised. Well, they make money;
and, if that is their aim-if they are con-
tent TO prostitute the good name of Ameri-
can literature for a sliding scale of royal
ties-let's have done with them. They have
their reward. But the lamentable result
VIII " NA0N - 49, - NAC NAAA
so prejudice the people against an admir-
able school of tiction-the school of Scott
that for years to come the tale of historic
times will be discredited and many a great
story remain unwritten, and many a man
of actual worth and real power hold back
in the ranks for shame of treading Wher
so many fools have rushed in
The modern historical novelist gives too
much attention to accuracy. He thinks of
from books. If these Little People, as
Mr.. Norris calls them. only knew their
Scott hey would know that his archaeology
Is about a thousand years out in Ivan
hoe. What matters that-"he got beneath
the clothes of an epoch, and got the heart
of il, the spirit OF it. These precise Little
People take the clothes from the people Of
their rOmances and one finds only wooden
manikins. Take the clothes from the epoch
OF which they pretend to treat and what is
there beneath? 1t is only the familiar. we'll
tieth century after all. As well have writ
ten of Michigan avenue, Chicago, as La
Rue de la HarPe' This Great North Road
or the Appian Way"
Why is it that these novelists only write
Of soldier life? he asks. There was GER
tainly something else going on besides cut
ting and thrusting, night riding, escaping.
V%enturing. and posing. 1t is easy enough
TO know why it is this aspect of life in past
ages that nOvelists like to write about: il
is because people like to read about il. We
have business life. student life, professional
life. and home life of our own. but we do
not haVe the cutting and thrusting. al least
not I'm the same way. There is nothing
picturesque about our way of settling quar-.
rels. We either so to court, or we shoot
or we lynch. Naturally we like TO read
about people who settled their duarrels
with swords. who wore velvet and IaeeS
and feathers IN their hats.
Mr.. Norris argues that there IS nleptv -
romance around us If we only knew boU,
TO get at il. There is. he exclaims "as
much romance on Michigan avenue as thor
Is realism IN King Arthur's court" This
Will be interesting news in Chicago and +
am sure that il will inspire your no,eIists
10 turn the searchlight of their genius uno1
your fashionable streets and avenues.