Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-26

Parker. Since MT. GliueIt al 0'
came to London there has been ten
dency in the literary world to rally
him for the seriousness with when ne
takes himself. When he writes criu-
callv it is with labored pen, and when
he makes a speech, that speech Is
usually heavy with purpose. There
NAV be some basis for the attitude OF
the outside public towards him, ana
that he is not genuinely popular is
statement of considerable truth Inc
man however, is, | think, force 10 be
reckoned with, and within the last two
or three years his reputation as
thinker has been increasingly ac-
knowIedged. With others, l appre-
ciate him most when he is serious, and
q recent lecture which he delivered on
the Art of Fiction before the Sesame
Club ought TO show to outsiders that
it is sometimes a very good thing for
novel writer's earnestly to espouse
their art, 1t is not possible. here to
give more than mere excerpt or two
from Mr.. Parkers address. In dealing
with the subject of the test Of novel
the speaker said: There is only one
test for a novel; that it be first and
before all a well constructed story;
that ii deal sincerely with human life
and character; that it be eloquent OF
feeling, that it have insight and reve-
Iation: that it preserve indiosyncrasy,
but before all, that it be wholesome
TO produce such a book" he added, "A
sane tolerant impartial tempera-
nent. and a wide knowledge are neces-
sary When a man has real character
"A real power and genius-his book is
himself"
Mr.. Parker, in this address, also
pointed out the necessity in every book
Of a dominant note, which, in the very
first chapter of the book should be
struck, and should recur throughout
the book like the motif in an opera.
The conclusion of his address was Il
distinctly pretty piece of oratory. In
the thing really great" he said, there
is no eccentricity, nothing morbid. 1t
is all normal. but the normal form and
power are infused with life, composed
If eenius-the supreme and perfect
sanity. One must be in earnest. A
man must hold his art seriously
himself as nothing-the vehicle, the
hile, tn loom through which pass
NJ strands OF emotion or experiences
of passion of human comedy and
tragedy woven into a web of life
which man seeing shall say: Behold,
this is the garment of truth; this is
the mantle of beauty"
If some of the principles enunciated
by Mr.. Parker were to be observed by
the young writer's of the day, and il
they were to take themselves at times
as earnestly as he, there would be few
er books published more regulations
hi 4 l.
lasting character to be treasured. Pub
fishers may not care to have such COM
ments written, but it expresses a
growing feeling amongst those who
love the best in literature to say that
the number of books issued yearly
could be cut down at least one half
and that a lot of dross would then have
to be shaken out before those novels
written in due honor Of the art of fic-
ton. could be selected.
Two of the most interesting novels OF
modern life ever written are Trollope's
"Dr. Thorne" and "Barchester Towers
Queen Victoria is said to have held this
opinion, like other people, and wher
her daughter, the Prussian Crown
Princess, was slowly recovering from
of paper Send her DIR. Thorne' and
'Barchester Towers" The not too lit
erary official who had to fulfil this or
der searched the London Directory for
some time before he realized that he
was commanded to send to Berlin two
books, and not two distinguished medi-
cal men. This was, by the way, one OF
the stories of the late Lord Dufferin
Those not already acquainted will
these two sprightly books of Troilope':
should look for the trim, beguiling lit
tie edition recently issued by JOIN
Lane. 1t Is to be hoped that he will
publish the other Trollope novels il
similar form.
The London Chronicle says: what
apart entirely from its literary quail
ties, are the attributes which help
book to sell? BY these are meant it
binding, the color of its cover, tn
paper on which it is printed, and tn
print itself. series of inquire
made around the London bookshop
show that such matters are really of n
small Importance. For instance, Their
is a lady of title who likes the book
she reads to be bound in green. her ia
vorite color. Many readers object t
shiny paper, thinking it trying to tn
eyes. even when the print is good-an,
good print is a universal demand. Per
haps the attributes of getup which
most help to sell book are espresso,
In the word distinction The average
book buyer is instinctively attracted /,
such volume, though. indeed, he ma,
nor be able to say why"
Professor Goldwin Smith asks tn,
following pertinent questions of tn,
Bfconians: In this whimsical con
troversy about the authorship of tn,
Shakspearian drama the fact has bee,
overlooked. so far as l have seen. tina
Bacon wrote poetry. He translate,
seven Psalms into verse. Let the Ba
contains compare the language an,
melody of these TRANSACTIONS with IN,
language and melody of the dramatist
Did Bacon write the Sonnets an,
Venus and Odonisg Who was ii tina
collaborated with Bacon in Henry vi.
Henry VIIL, .Pericles of Tyre, ant
other plays of combined authorship.
Did Bacon doff his scientific orthodox,
10 assume the very opposite spirit anf