New-York tribune., 1908-04-05

,os O. indlsputable virtue. It's value might
p,rs.rated by countless examples But II Is
,o-tsnt 60 remember. az course, the spirit IN
Ii This ideal is pursued. whether for its own
!. or as a means 10 an end. classical ex-
l. Is that Of Beethoven, whose sketch books
~ how his symphonies were beaten into
80 But when ;he symphonies were finished
rms u effort n their composition had dis
..a-ea Take on the other hand. novelist
Eqsuf.ert. II IS Nj James himself, We be-
! Who speaks somewhere OF that consum-
=. ,-zf,smau's thin sheets OF beaten gold "
,ssr they are. II a sense, but they reek OF
le,.or spent upon them. and. for all their
.. they leave The reader with taste OF
d. ane ashes on his lips. Nj James. writing
a devotion that by itself excites respect
-evertheless defeated his own purpose
oh excess Of zeal. lie has proceeded on
=suoihesis that eternal vigilance is the price
ss-;rction i Is only part Of the price.
..he smaller part al that. II is deeply in
.irs 10 any one who cares about the mys-
| &C NJ authorship 10 read Mr- James's pref
| : IN which be exposes all his technical proc
sss vet the tact that he could have written
~ riycs but too clearly the measure Of his
| vou- true artist is not blind 10 the effects
| ,sLee Dor is he without reasons for making
~ h11- he Is il danger " hen he takes 10 put
| 80 hos reasons into words. II il is a mistake
| eerrs-Tertalize a genius, il is equally mis-
| ID. o, forget that. when AL is said he works
/ magic. For magic NJ James substitutes a
| = n subllma-eG industry. II is fascinating.
/ ling urodie5ous- = only il were touched by
divine Ere
ne pitfalls tnat await the feverish too sedu-
l - --,lt.v.tcr ~ style" are made manifest
l .re-r,astr vino ca-efuIly scrutinizes this new
.dr OF his works Abiding TO his revision
4 .re latte. De- observes that he has nowhere
-ried O. rerrtc d sentence or a passage
--Ge.-- q susceptible q a better turn
-eticsIIr. ns doubt. Mr.. James is the best
-e IS It. WHIT Constitutes "a better turn"
-s nevertheless put the point to test.
raoose al random. II The Portrait of
sv- . conversation between Ralph Touchett
H,s.ri-tra SraekpeIe. The latter wishes
70. her ...l4r.ou that Isabel Archer has
,-e6 and e the first edition Of the book
says "Sae is r.- The same as she was"
+e nev e1-.. Miss Stackpcle remarks.
not :le -.r. aS she once 50 beautifully
Tn. as. a-aurlruly" IS not Henrietta
j I--. Henry James. i IS one Of
raure-s-u- ike The precisely" and the
= la6y vE.. DE and MS disciples have
almoe. r-..e~at-s. II the passage in
s-.on NJ James car scarcely be said 10
70 achieved ~ .a--er turI." Il Is difficult 10
why n sau-.- .l- have left well enough
1s Reads-s 20 ~h, Portrait viii rcmem-
TIE COD term ---..r - the narratiye-Lo7v
-sr Gcecv..5 comes hopefully II search
safe. Only g. Hs VOID hy Miss Stackpole
she h-s started fer Rome. Thus run the
Ines IL tas ---- -5.'-ar.
a..,-a lad -e-. s.- dosing. ne docr beh.nd
lsok la-s .,- -..-7..6.~ Size sad. "..s, you
pas.f fs .oa4ss a1 a. ler.
IT, a-e II, I-e-.-5. and ,aata,ized- II The
edue1 NJ ----. gives Is this lasc para
\ he- tacr w.t. % -evul<ion that she simply
-1. be "a Young SHe stood shining a. MIN
Tat c5e8T r.---.r- Inc lt added. Iue spot.
rg wears 70 -1s -e -1s EalNed him away Wit
ccHt.--. .- -fs rad given ElrE The
o. Iatl-E.f
- We any better o@9 : The story better
she'd Hardy r caet. -he earlier rerGniua-
II e14zpe-a--1E zs j. is. $ the better art But
tze question - 20 Low an artist shall send
ECrk dow 70 pesterlty TIE opinion cf the
e IS conclusive W. may fee as We choose
y: n Merec.-h -ehanGllng OF his work and
L2Dess rehan5-irg of his. We may deplore il
aot -; we must 1= grateful for having in
eases. The texts hy which. II their deIib-
-e Judgment hey should stand or fall