The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-26

Why Is II that we so often hear II said
that essays are out of fashion. that no one
reads essays In these days, when as a mat
ter of fact a number of contemporary writ
ers give to the public from time to time
essays that are charming, that are well
coined and read by a large and discrimi-
mating class OF people? Mr. w. ID. Howels
may easily be placed at the head of the list
Of these writer's. He is producing much
literature in these days, his work appear
ing in nearly every issue of each of the
Harper Notwithstanding the North
American Review-with now and then
novel that is seen in print first in book
form. Readers may differ as to the i'm
portance and value of his fiction-some have
such limited powers of appreciation that
they are unable to see merit in that de-
lightful study of American life, 1.-The Ken
tons"-but few of the cultivated class, sure
ly. can fail to take pleasure in his COM
ments on men and things, his shrewd, his
contempative, his wise observations on
literature and life' They need not neces-
sarily agree with all he has to say-quite the
contrary will be the case sometimes-but
they can enjoy his point of view, his kindly
humor and gentle satire. his attitude to-
ward life in general Some perhaps all, of
the papers gathered into this volume have
first appeared I'm periodicals Easy
Chair" utterances or as more formal es
says. In a little preface Mr.. HowellS ex-
plains in graceful way the relation which
these apparently desultory sketches bear
to each other. For my own part" he
says eff / am to identify myself with the
writer who Is here on his defense L have
never been able to see much difference be-
tween what seemed to me Literature and
what seemed to me Life. II L did not find
life in what professed to be literature 1
disabled its profession, and possibly from
this habit, now inveterate with me, 1 am
never quite sure of life unless 1 find litera-
ture In II. Unless the thing seen reveals
to me an intrinsic poetry and puts on
phrases that clothe 1t pleasingly to the
ina gination / do not much care for it; but
If it will do this l do not mind how poor
glance; Ii challenges my curiosity and keeps
my sympathy. Instantly love it and wish
to share my pleasure In it with some one
else or as many ones else as L can get to
look or listen. If the thing is something
read rather than seen l am not anxious
about the matter; If it is like life / know
that 1t is poetry and take 1t to my heart.
There can be no offense in 1t for which its
truth will not make me amends. Out of
this way of thinking and feeling about these
two great things, about Literature and
Life, there may have arisen a confusion as
to which Is which. But l do not wish to
part with them, and In their union have
found since / learned my letters joy in
them both which l hope will last till 1 for
get my letters"
AThe artist and the writer to whom writing
is second nature speak in these words. The
character and varied scope of these essays
may be indicated by their themes--"The
Man of Letters as a Man of Business"
worries Of a Winter Walk" Confessions
of Summer Colonist." 1.-THE Editors Re-
lations with the Young Contributor"
of the Asphalt" Last Days in Dutch
Hotel Some Anomalies Of the Short
Story "A Circus in the Suburbs "a She
Hamlet" Spanish Prisoners Of War"
1.-THE Midnight Platoon" 1.-The Beach at
Rockaway, American Literary Centers,"
''Sawdust in the Arena AT q Dime
Museum" american Literature in Exile"
THE Horse Show, The Problem of the
Years ago" From New York Into New
England 1.-The Standard Household Effect
Company" 'Staccato Notes of Vanished
Summer" 1.-THE Art of the Adsmith, - 1.-The
Psychology of Plagiarism" "Puritansm of
American Fiction The What and the
How in Art" politics of American
Authors" storage" FLOATING Down the
River on the Ohio" Each of these essays
tempts to quotation. Together they en-
body much sound sense and wholesome
philosophy. They are far more entertain
ing than most fiction, and the book is one
that should be within reach on the library
table Harper & Brothers. New York.