The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-04
by OWEN JOHNSON.

F I WE'RE asked what l considered
the greatest obstacle to the free
progress OF American fiction along
the unvexed paths OF European literature
l should answer at once the sentimental
ization OF women enforced upon the
author by 4 curious sort Of mob psychoi-
ogy. Furthermore, should add that the
arrival Of the prevalent parasitic type
among the women of the world to-day AZ
directly traceable to this long unreason-
ing period OF feminine !deal!zation on the
stage, In fiction and In illustration.
The average American has a curious.
dual mentality. Comfortably installed in
the intimacy Of n club conversation he
can discuss himself as frankly as his
continental brother He sees his own
motives clearly. he signalizes the ten
denotes In feminine life which Justly
alarm him and with lucidity analyses
the changing surfaces OF political and
social movements which threaten the
established order. All this he will admit
in privacy with deceptive frankness but
once let these structures be publicly
voiced or indelibly printed and he is W
In arms.
have always remembered with a
lingering sense OF humor a group Of
authors and newspaper correspondents
with whom II was my good fortune 20
dine at a banquet some ten years ago. At
that moment the country was In the pro-
cess OF a complete self-examination con-
Quoted by those who have since been. paid
for services performed by being tagged
with the opprobious pithet "muckrakers"
Our particular group happened to be ex-
ceedingly well informed OF the sinister In
fiuences which were shaping the devious
course Of political and financial history.
And In the Informal discussion which
ensued each added his fund of alarming;
knowledge. We were agreed that matters
were in a very bad state. one or two
limited darkly OF the spectre Of social
revolution. and In the gathering pess mism
even the least radical was willing to
admit that II the man in the street
knew what We knew red mobs would be
ploughing up the cities of the land.
But behold. when later in the evening
the first speaker, a man of courage and
Imagination. rose and frankly voiced the
whispered condolences OF the diners the
thrill OF Indignation which went brstling
through the hall was marvellous to wit
ness. And though we contained our wra u h
with a polite effort no sooner had the
next speaker retorted with an impas-
stoned glorhcation OF things as they ar,
than We rose In an uproar of relieved
and patriotic applause. This American
phenomenon ] have since frequently wit
messed with increasing interest. While
privately he Will take you into his conf
dence. the American seems TO have GER
tain fixed standard OF public ideas which
he displays pro bono publico.
Nowhere Is this restraining influence
more directly brought to bear than in the
field OF literature. and In particular on
what is permitted an author to present In
his exposition OF women. Curlously
enough. he may without danger present a
woman VINO Is utterly and inkily bad. al
ways provided that an overtaking Justice
IL TO be conclusively shown In the last
chapter. The difficulty Is to depict a
woman on the same plane as a man. as a
being uniting good and bad tendencies and