New-York tribune., 1903-03-15

| j.
naturally made his work topic of renewed dis
cussion in many quarters. This and beauti-
full edition Of his masterpiece will also revive
/ interest in him. Yet in turning the pages Of
John Inglesant' in its latest form thought
| is constantly present, that the book needs no
adventurous aids to keep it alive. An edition
like the one before US exquisitely printed
| fine paper, and exquisitey bound is Of
| welcome. We are only sorry that it is limited
to $40 copies But in any edition John Ingle-
SAINT is a book to love and to preserve.
1t Is scarcely twenty-three years since it was
first published, but for considerable part OF
. that period it has been generally recognized as
a classic This in spite of qualities which or
dilarily, would say, could not but initiate
against the permanence of a novel. Mr.. Short
house triumphed over those qualities. What
they he himself clearly indicated in the pref
he supplied to the new edition brought out
in the year following the first publication OF
the work. The book he said. is an attempt
at a species of literature which think has not
hitherto had justice done to it, but which 1 be-
lieve to be Capable of great thinSS-1 mean
Philosophical Romance" If it were only an at
tempt John lnglcsant" might have failed But
it was written with the authority that assures
success at the outset it illustrates the art of
demonstrating to perfection the validity Of a
literary theory The reason why nine out or
ten authors embracing the theory embodied in
John Ingesant' have met with disaster was
perfectly clear to Mr.. Shorthouse. 'The Philos-
ophy has SO far outweighed the Romance"
he said. just in historical fiction, rule,
the opposite error has prevailed, Romance SO
far outweighing History" He knew how to
strike the balance. and he knew because, if his
mind teemed with philosophical ideas. it
nevertheless constantly open to the appeal Of
romance He knew that magical influence
wherever he found It, how we'll he knew it is
shown in the passage which he gives to the SUBJ
ject as though in reply to interlocutor
doubtful Of its Importance.
But you say. 'it is only a Romance"
True 1t is only human life in the highways
and hedges and IN the streets and lanes of
the city" with the ceaseless throbbing of its
quivering heart; it is only daily life from the
and from the stage; it Is only kndness and
neighborhood and childlife and the fresh winds
and the sunbreak upon the stainless peaks, and
contempt of wrong and pain and death, and the
passionate yearning for the face Of God. and
Womans tears and Woman's self-Sacrifice and
devotion, and woman's love- Yes it is only
Romance. 1t is only the ivory gates falling
back at the fairy touch 1t Is only the leaden
sky breaking for a moment above the bowed and
weary head, revealing the fathomless Infinite
through the gloom. 1t is only Romance.
Imbued with the emotion reflected in these
words. Mr.. Shorthouse wrote John Inglesant-"
He endeavored as he says in his preface, to
trace amid the tangled web Of life's story
some distinct threads-the conflict between
Culture and FanaticiSln-the analysis and char
acter Of Sin-the subjective influence Of the
Christian Mythos" Does the reader recoil? He
might be justified in doing on most occasions
or a similar nature. But in John Inglesant"
he has to reckon with man who, at least when
he was writing this book, felt the impulse and
received some Of the power which come from
distinct threads he introduced his philosophi-
cal ideas, but he gave an enchanting ro-
nance, story which is readd BILE as a story
from beginning to end The hero has been
Of prigg gishntSs. 1t does not matter. This can
not harm the story. Moreover what John
Inglesant lacks in surface charm he possesses
in spiritual significance. This book, like The
Of MIR. Shorthouse which seems destined to en-
dure, has u spiritual poignancy which will not
be denied. 1t is a beautiful and a noble work
of art. We glad that the publishers have
given it fitting form. for while, repeat,
John InSlt ltslnt is to be read no matter in
what form it is found, it is certainly delightful
to read il in q really luxurious edition.
ZIGEUNERLIED.