New-York tribune., 1906-05-24


with companion. From time to time lately as
fresh apoplectic attacks came upon him, it be-
came obvious especially In view of his advanced
years. that his death could not be far distant.
His condition last week disquieting. On
Tuesday night another seizure left him uncon-
scious. and his physician, DR.. Bull, announced
that he had only few hours to live. At
o'clock this afternoon the patients respiration
weakened, and the nurse in attendance sum-
moned Nine Ibsen, the poets son. Sigurd Ibsen,
and the latter's wife, who remained at the bed
side until the end.
King Haakon, soon as he received news OF
Ibsen's death, transmitted to the widow his own
and Queen Maudes sympathy and coincidence.
The Storthing and other public bodies are for
mally recording the national grief at the loss of
this leading figure in the literary life of the
nation All the theatres were closed tonight
The Authors Union has placed wreath on the
Ibsen monument outside the National Theatre
1t is understood that the funeral will be a state
ceremony.
The death of Henrik Ibsen removes from the
scene one Of the most conspicuous types of the
modern spirit of unrest He was the spokesman of
those individuals whose discomfort with themselves
and with existing conditions, urges them 10 re-
bellion but who lack either the religious faith or
happy issue 1t is the natural tendency of such
fevered souls and yeasty minds to take the line OF
least resistance and Ibsen indicated it for them in
declaring that the ego should have its chance.
though the heavens were 10 fall. This comfortable
doctrine being the of his writings he natu-
rally came TO assume tremendous Importance in
many quarters, and his death must undoubtedly be
noted with interest wherever social questions
discussed. Ibsen brought to the handling of those
questions something of the artistic temperament
min
had a strangely mixed nature. NOminally he dealt
with the problems Of mankind AZ large He sought
to give the personages in his drama a universal
significance: he tried TO make them symbols of
modern life, rather than eXemplars of purely local
conditions He starts with the presumption that
his characters nothing if not representative.
He was not gifted. however, with quite enough
creative power with quite enough sweep of imagi-
nation. TO lift his men and women above a pedes-
tTian level. He was horn provincial. and provin-
cial pettiness limits the effect of all his plays
These leave the impression OF a genius for
taking wide and penetrating views. but OF a talent
for dramatizing episodes of human weakness.
wrong-headedness. viciousness or fiat stupidity as
the case may be. The philosopher has glimpses of
broad laws Of conduct of fate but he cannot see
deep enough rise high enough to grasp their
secret and To interpret them in such wise as to
make them truly inspiring.
Ibsen achieved his vogue-a vogue which is even
now passing-through talking. with great show
of unconventionality both regards manners and
morals about the fulflment of self His plays
have air of proving that there is nothing so
righteous following the dictates of your individ-
uality. idea in perfect harmony with the
terialistic tendency of his time. Is perncious
idea. and Ibsen made it the harmful through
embodying it in dramas filed with sickIy char
acters and brmming with scklier senti-
ments. Wanting the instinct of the poet the sense
of 1neness and of beauty which indfspensa BILE
in work bearing upon the troubles Of the human
soul, he dwelt with a kind of unholy persistence
upon types and situations Of extreme morbidity.
The result was the production of n number OF
plays which, for all the good intentions underly-
Ing them. essentially abnormal and therefore
repugnant to sound criticism. OF course In these
matters everything depends upon the way in
which the thing is done. If the gods had been
kinder to Ibscn. if they had widened his mental
horizon and given him the impeccable sense of
perspective which is bestowed upon the supreme
masters. he might have painted a truer picture of
human nature in his dramas. and thereby extended
their appeal. AS il is his vehement but narrow
minded and warped efforts to reform the social
order have commended themselves chiefly as
have said, 70 those whose thoughts and emotions
in a sort of unhappy muddle. and whose hearts
cry out for JOY at what looks to them like ratih-
cation Of their weak and selfish impulses
Ibsen's influence along these lines has Oomed
larger in years through the adoption of his
ideas by clever disciples, especially among the Ger
No other dramatist OF the period has been
50 widely initiated. Writers in all countries. pre-
burning question a theatrical motive. have gone to
Ibsen to the man best qualified to show them
how make the most of it, Partly his tone of
high and mighty freedom from convention has be
guiled them, and partly they have been attracted
by his stagecraft. though this point the follow
ers of Ibsen suffer from queer illusions.
He knew his trade of that there can be ques-
ton. He had the paywrishts natural gift, and.
in addition TO this considerable practical expert
ence Of the theatre his earlier years taught him
not only what TO do, but what TO avoid. In dra-
matte construction. in short. he reached excel
But there is something positively naive about the
enthusiasm Of the people who fondly talk though
Ibsen had invented the well made play" That
form Of art was brought to perfection in France
long time ago and while there. elsewhere. many
a playwright has taken a leaf out OF Ibsens book
on the side OF technique his usefulness to the
stage IN this regard has been grossly exaggerated
Indeed, his whole relation to dramatic literature
has been overstated by his devoted admirers, some
Of whom have carried laudaton OF him 70 the point
hysteria 1t is toierably certain that this wouid
not have occurred save for tho anarchlstic element
In modern thought TO which, in a discussion ol
Ibsen, is bound return again ana asa'N
The later years Of the nine,eeHth century were
ripe for the unsettling ministrations OF men ike
Nietzsche and Ibsen. men keen meeting the
animal in man half and on throwing
glamour Of "naturalness' over its lustful afhrma-
tions and its callnua raisctQn of undesireQ pbga-