New-York tribune., 1902-01-17

writer and her heroines." How this may work.
and does actually work, in the careers of women
from personal knowledge. Mrs. Craisie related:
"A blameess woman Of my acquaintance who
takes a large view Of humanity and writes
stories which are described as powerful was
asked the other day by an earnest inquirer
whether she really Intended leave her eX-
cellent husband, her delightful children, and
join rapturous Violinist the Continent. The
earnest inquirer went on to say that he hoped
the rumor was based some misapprehension.
L hasten to add it was. Another friend OF mine,
singularly handsome, happy, and accomplished,
wrote romance. Her husband occupies an i'm
portant public post. She is herself the daughter
of a distinguished politician. Well, she wrote,
as l have said, a romance; 1t was very clever,
absolutely lifelike. She read il to her sisters.
They all agreed that it was admirable: they said
they wouldn't wonder If the book showed genius
but they all agreed that it could not be pub
ished. Why not? Because. said the sisters.
every one will think II is about all Of us-a1d
that will never do, and they will say you are in
love with somebody, and are going to do some
thing foolish. SO my accomplished young friend
has decided TO publish under some such name
as Samuel f. Tompkins, and this under
standing her family think she may yet be pre-
sumed to enjoy normal degree of felicity, and
the ordinary number of nice relations
But, although there is a ridiculous side to the
matter there is also a very serious one. 1t
places severe tax upon all originality; it leads
to an acute personal note IN reviewing which in
way assists life. We know how the at
taCks Charlotte Bronte-the curious con-
fusion of herself with her female characters
dlSnayed her sensitive genius ana certainly
affected her view of human politeness. George
Eliot and Mrs. Browning met with similar treat
ment. If there be any foundation in fact for the
Bacon Shakespeare alliance. one can explain II
by the desire on the part of any observer, or
creator. to remain eternally outside the combat
It is unreasona BILE for readers to suppose that
author approves and holds up for example
every type of character which he she may
describe. For instance, If any we'll known Acad-
emCian should paint 'Ariadne Forsaken,' it
would not be assumed that il conveyed any
sinister hint to the world at large that he in
tended TO abandon his wife. But when come
TO a book a play-signed by woman's name
care instinCtiVey for literature: one inferS that
she falls back upon il. il were. a diStraC-
tion from unhappiness, or because she wants to
do good or because she wishes to make mischief
Plain facts. without comment from woman
considered very alarming indeed. This is
fence, TO frame her narrative in solid moraliz-
ing. She may perhaps tell anything she pleaseS,
but she must make II quite clear on every page
that she is panied and shocked by the moral
instability OF mankind and the disastrous fas-
cination of her deplorabe sex"
The immediate application of Mrs Craigie's
remarks lay in their bearing on the guest Of the
evening. Mrs. Harrison 0ucas MaleD whose
History of Sir Richard Calmady" has been in
some quarters regarded with \ kind of pious
dismay. Il do not believe" said Mrs. Craigie,
in defence of her comrade in letters that
known, and thoroughly known; on the contrary.
unkindness and want of charity arise from
knowing IL too little This is why novels should
not be composed in order 10 fill idle hours with
false pictures and falser ideas. They should
widen our range of sympathies; help US to un-
words. they should be education Of the
heart"