The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-19
Forces i'm Fiction.

The full title of this volume is Forces
in Fiction and Other Essays yet, ac-
cording TO the definition of essay as
given by the author, DR.. Richard Burton,
In the chapter on that form of literature,
the term does not precisely 1T this col
lection of papers. His definition is in
teresting: Slight. casual, rambling. con-
fdential in tone, the manner much, the
theme unimportant in itself, a mood TO
be vented rather than a thought to add
to the sum of human knowledge; the frank
revelation of a personality-such have been
and are the head marks of the essay down
10 the present day. This fact is some
what obscured by our careless use of the
word at present to denote the formal
paper, the treatise; the current definition
of the essay admits this extension, and,
of course, we handy the word about in such
meaning. But il is well 20 remember that
the central idea of this form is what re-
moves it forever from the treatise, from
any piece of writing that is formal. I'M
personal, and communicative of Informal
ton. > The essay is thus a literary
creature to the making of which go mood
and form, and the former would seem by
far the paramount thing Applying this
test to these writings, they are found 10
be a series of discourses of formal pa
pers, rather than light and airy express
siOns of moods; and 1t follows that in
ldDellllS llCIl WIFI III ndnlS essays he
has somewhat banded the term about"
This comment might properly enough be
called hypercritical had the test not been
so directly invited, but certainly no adverse
criticism is intended or called for. What
ever may be the name best suited TO the
several productions they are we'll worth the
reading, being at once entertaining and
full of suggestions TO lovers and students
of literature.
The opening paper deals with "The Fun
damentals of Fiction" The power of char
,.tl, a-.,ss., L.. ,l,rf1nru 20 ~ IL, -.-l
iy most essential TO the making of high
class and really successful fiction. In this
he is undoubtedly right, in spite of the
wide circulation of numerous novels. in
none of which is to be found a character
having the first elements of life, and in
most of which there is but little attempt
at character drawing. Their so-called sue
cess is but an ephemeral thing; 1t is the
p~ersonages who figure in novels that make
books live. Inc author cites Dickens
as one whose power IN character draw
ing is paramount. The fact" he saws,
that Dickens is at times a trihe inchoate
or careless in his English, . sinks
into insignificance when set over against
such a faculty as this" I'm this incidental
reflection on Dickens's use of English DR..
Burton is i'm accord with the ordinary COM
ment of critics, but comes into direct con-
fict with Mrs. Alice Meynell, the dis
tinguished English essayist, who declares
that Dickens. though lacking In the educa-
ton of schools. made no laDses in gram
mar, and who expresses great admiration
LOT his precision HI the tiOlC6 Oh words.
Between two such authorities as these
it will be necessary for the curious TO re-
read their Dickens with an eye TO his
use of l%anguag in order to decide which is
right.
Other papers in the volume are The Cult
of the Historical Romance" "The Love
Motive in Modern Fiction: The Dark in
Literature, - Poetry and the Drama. - The
Development of Technique i'm the Drama
THE Essay as Mood and Form The
Modern Need for Literature Past and
Present in Literature, The Use of Eng
Iish.' "A Note on Modern Criticism
Literature as Craft" and Indoors and
Out In each case is the subject well
handled. with a touch lsht and grace
full. Yet with an earnestness of feeling
that shows the author to be not only a
teacher of literature. but a lover OF it
two conditions not invariably united. Or.
Burton has for some time held the chair
Of English literature in the University OF
Minnesota, and has published a number
Of books. among them a volume of essays,
Literary Likings.f and two volumes Of
poems. This latest volume. in the timeIiness
of its themes and the method Of treatment.
has elements OF popularity. The Bowen
Merrill Company.