New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-01-22
THE HEROIC MOULD
Heroes and HerOincs Must
Still Be Cast Therein.

"Of course fashions In heroines change
| just like fashions in clothes remarked
| the woman who Is addicted TO novel read
| ing out the idea that the beautiful hero
| Inc has gone out of fashion is a deuson.
| II Is true that with the advent Of The
/ realistic psychological novel has come a
| tendency to portray the hero and heroine
/ as individuals who enthrall the opposite
sex By charms intellectual rather than
physical, and this to the majority Of read
ers is a gratifying change.
Most of us, especially those who hap
pen to be women, are not loath to accept
The abdication Of Helen of Troy in favor
OF the little. insignificant Jane Eyre and
even the green eyed. reprehensible Becky
Sharp. There is a subtle satisfaction
which comes from the thought that the
least OF us be she ever so homely. might
not unwittinEly be selected as the type Of
heroine for a best seller Proving upon
the vanity OF expectant female readers, the
inodern author does not scrupe 10 expa-
tiate upon the fact that Melinda is hone
lessly plain: but. be it notes. possessed OF
an indefinite charm. a MOTTO be- Analysed
je ne sais quot: which is ,ust what I'm her
heart Of hearts. each trustful feminine
reader knows she possesses. Compacently
the eager readers turn the pages. never
seeking to ascertain in just what particu-
lars did Melinda's LONELINESS consist.
ION this point, however. the author wise
~ is always vague. Now, we all know
that coupled with uncOmpromising plain
Less in looks there is always some specific
defect, such as a short squat figure, bad
complexion, scanty hair, projecting teeth
astiematic eyes: but what author could
hope TO win the sympathieS OF the public
FOR heroine thus uninterestngly blighted?
The utmost handicaps he dares ascrbe 10
Melinda the irregular features and q
figure too hin for grace II is allowable
for q heroine 10 be too thin. though ut.
terIv ia boo 10 intimate that she is too fat
an unjust discrimination. surely, Cannot
a woman be both plump and passionate?
Cannot a stout lady run the samut Of hu-
man emotions as completely az she Of the
attenuated sisterhood?
And take the case or the hero. II seems
permissible 10 make him homely. but his
must be the sort OF homely' that Is akin
ia handsome; his face must bear look of
rugged virility' seldom detected outside o.
novels. and his stalwaft frame must be
possessed Of the strength OF Atlas. lie
may be crippled or actually deformed for
such misfortune is picturesque. being a
blow struck direct from the gods: but never
a single little niche In the authors han
OF fame do you find for short. Fat. bald
headed man who feels the heat terribly
f. sJmfner-ihe sort Of man we all know
the chap who IL frequently the life of the
marty In suburban circles before he re-
fires from the social whir hy marrying
our pretty sister-in-law
In the drama OF real life being played
all about W. We see men and women OF
every diverging type Of human usliness as
signed 10 leading roles. The race seems
no more often to the beautiful than 20 the
GOOD. But close examination into what
We read will force the conclusion that We
sill demand cur heroes and heroines OF
popular fiction be cast In heroic mould