Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-30
4-s-l
]LITERATURE AND LIFE j
I A. j. n. !

Prose Fiction" by Bliss Perry the tai
ented editor of Atlantic Monthly. In
reviewing our best fiction for the past
forty years. written since the war. MI.
Perry thinks he finds three tendencies
at work, the first of which is the
production of novels of the soil, l. e.
the distinctively American novel. me
second trend is excellence in limited
field rather than largeness of creative
activity" by which Mr.. Perry means a
trend toward the local rather than the
national or all American novel.
Whether such local limitations will in
the future. continue to characterize
American fiction, or not, is to our au-
thor, an unsolved problem.
BUTT is to Mr.. Perry's third tendency
that we would call attention, as
quality sharply separating American
from foreign fiction. On this tendency,
the Fundamental morality" of the
American novel, we quote the author:
1T is optimistic. Its outlook upon
life is wholesome. The stain of doubt
full morality or flaring immortality
which has often tinged English and
continental fiction. and made both the
EnglisHaHd American stage at times I'M
speakably foul, has left scarcely any
imprint as yet. upon the better known
American story writer's. Our greater
magazines have remained for the most
part unsoiled Bad as our yellow
newspapers are, braZen as our stage Of
ten is, people who want the sex-noNel,
and want it prepared with any literary
skill, have to import it from across the
water"
OF the permanence of this trend Mr..
Perry confidently assures his readers
that while the fiction of the future
may not be national and may not be
great, it will have at least the negative
virtue of being clean
In the above words, Mr.. Perry has
unconsciously paid high tribute to
American fiction, and, moreover 1t is
absolutely true. Ii anyone will study
carefully the popular fiction of the day,
he will find ample proof to Justify the
authors faith in the moral quality of
our fiction. While it is true. there is a
certain class of fiction emanating from
the Realistic school, especially that OF
the Hamlin Garland type, that is per-
vaded by an old world tone of sadness
and despair, such books are the eX-
ception, and even their pessimism ana
lyzed is found to be superficial, growing
out of local and temporary conditions
incident 10 the great industrial changes
taking place in our country. AS rule,
all of our most popular" fiction as We'll
as the realism of the Howells brand,
is not only pure and wholesome in point
of sex morals, but also cheerful, sunny
and optimistic in it's faith of the future.
On the other hand, let story be ever
so artistically conceived and executed.
If there adheres to 1t the slightest faint
of morbidness or want of moral tone.
it falls fiat on the reading public, as
witness the stories of Mary MacLane
and Mary Adams.
Just now we recall no book that will
better Illustrate our position than the
present record breaker among popular
fiction--''Nliss Wigs of the Cabbage
Patch" What is it that gives to this
little book as well as to its successor
("Lovey Mary'O its immense popularity
and charm among its millions of admi-
rers? 1t certainly contains nothing
new, startling nor profound; no plot,
no important love affairs. no hero, no
heroine in the usual sense. Its charm
lies in the possession of at least three
distinctively American virtues: first
its absolute purity of tone and thought.
Second. its democracy of lowly setting.
Third the cheerful, optimistic faith of
the irresistible Miss Wigs, that moth
ing can be so bad but what it might be
worse, and that even the worse may be
hat l,1yc oft nd hniy, or
cheerful.
With it's quaint, sunny humor and
wholesome philosophy equally clear TO
the mind of child or adult, and appiic-
able alike to both classes and masses,
it would make a capital beginning for
a modern up to- date Sunday-school
library.
In speaking of the success of Mrs.
Wigs" Gertrude Atherton hit it off
with a news name and one that will
doubtless increase it's vogue, viz, "Da
vid Harum's Widow
AS we'll known as is the book, until
a recent press dispatch announced a
fire in that suburb, perhaps 1t was not
generally known that the Cabbage
Patch is real local!ty-a suburb of
Louisville, KY, and tina. Widow Wigs
is a real character-a resident of that
suburb.
Louisville papers say that Miss He
gan's book not only brought to the
residents OF the Cabbage Patch the
gladdest Christmas of their lives, but
also started immigration in that direc-
ton Before Mrs. Wigs became known
to the public, that suburb was re garded
as one of the most undesirable spots in
Kentucky. Now it is leading resort
for louisville people-residents, guests
and tourists alike Travellers passing
thru stop off purposely to see it. and
kodak iiends haunt the place. More
over, the book has served to boom real
estate and Increase the value OF prop
erty in that locality, which has now
grown to be most desirable place of
residence to the humber circle of
Louisville's population.
1t is reported that so great is the de-
mand for residences that one landhold-
or has let contracts for twenty-five new
cottages in order to be ready for the
spring rush which the publication of
"Lovsy Mary" is expected to create.
The property owners of the c. p.
ought to present Mrs. Hegan-Rice with
{. handsome wedding gift in the shape
of a Cabbage Patch residence.
Here are a few recent samples of
Cabbage Patch philosophy from the
original Mrs. Wigs, who reappears IN
n