New-York tribune., 1901-02-03

Sary la certain people. But now we draw near
10 NJ. Zola's delightful climax. If there be a
denou"ment it will be that of the art of reality.
For myself. l am inclined 10 believe
that if there be return to idealism-it will
be only temporary. The future belongs
to the novel of observation" In other words
the future belongs To the kind Of novel that
NJ. Zola is writing The reasoning is perfect.
from his point of view But we decline To think
that the vogue of dealism is 10 be only tenn
porary" Idealsm will endure if only 10 com
hat and counterbalance the realism of those
writers who. like NJ. Zola, produce books of 4
certain sort because. fOrsOOth. certain works
are necessary for certain people"
The tramatizaton OF "A popular novel has
seemed 10 promise 10 follow the publication of
the book as inevitably as night follows day. 1t
Is Interesting. therefore. to hear what a well
known novelist has to say on the subject Mr.
Marion Crawford, despite his good fortune with
the stage version Of his latest novel In the
Palace of the King" has his doubts In a re-
cent conversation ne said: Il think that the
fashion of dr.imatizins popular novels has had
its day. The public will not In future rs IL has
IN the recent past. flock to see "A play lust be-
cause il is a dramatic version OF n novel which
they have all read That fact alone has given
an adventurous attractiyeness 10 many plays
that have originated in novels: but somehow IL
Aeehls 10 me That the charm of IL has worn out
ana viii not work any more. OF course there
are novels. like 'Bcniiur.' which are specially
adaptable 10 the stage, and in such eases
drhihailSis will continue tO tc successful rs
ever l;ut the trick OF drawing big ho,ls.s by
dT;imdtiZationS of big novels on th,. merits NJ
the novels, is Worn out as a trick" These re-
marks are persuasive, but il is not improbable
uliit dramatlZations of novels will nevertheless
continue To be brought forward, for a reason
limited at 10y Mr. Crawford himself when he
speaks of some works of fiction being specially
adaptable To the stage" Are not MANY novel
iSts now writing their books with one eye on
the reader and the other on the p,,vooer7 IL
they are not doing so they are likely to b.ain
d"iiig 80 within a very short time The man
who sees an easy method OF making two dollars
grow where only one has grown before is not
likely To overlook his opportunity
Mr j. Bagnall Stuhhs is of opinion that TIN,
majority of authors DO not read book reviews
ana 50 he writes to The Author protesting
against the publication of book reviews in that
periodical. This has inspired Sir Walter BE, ant
Ia make some interesting remarks on the very
interesting subject of the criticism of books He
demurs. for example. Ia his correspondents
declaration that book reviews are intended
simply To guide readers, showing them what to-
read and what to ~ alone. Sir Walter Justly
remarks that this uItluly limits the function of
the critic. Reviews are. ar should he. he as !
Serts. designed. first Of all. to mark and To
illustrate the present condition of literature Ia
maintain standard and to keep before the
world the canons of criticism This conception
of the place of criticism il not h0norct we fear
as much as il ought To be. We gel too often
the notice" that deliyerlnce which NAV mean
almost anything from alniablity to IN author
10 desire To ill space hut rarely means srti- I
cisn. The review "f Il b0ok.' continues Sir I,
Walter. must become "a distinction and "A rrco..-
milton. How often ln.S il fulfil such II mis- |
sion: One point brought up in this discussion !
is especially admirable. In the matter of novels /
sir Walter would Restrict the ideal Journal !
scope To two week. There is something i'm |
this tan anyone pretend, lie adds. THAT /
there are more than one hundred novels every !
year which are worthy of the distinction and |
the recognition-eyen for condemnation he |
slowed by a competent and serious criticism in |
The columns OF a literary paper Of authortyy'