The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1915-03-11

of the short story in the thought of this century
The ever increasing number of publications devot-
ed in whole or in part to this precocious literary
child during the latter half of the nineteenth CEN
fury make one of the most phenomenal chapters in
literary history. The great and immediate de-
mand for this new literary form was undoubtedly
due to the genius of the brilliant school of writer's
who fathered it, and the very real and tangible
value of the stories which they produced Poe's
''Bernice, Irvings Rip Van Winkle,' or Maui
PEASANTS The Necklace" alone we're enough to
create short story vogue This vogue stimulated
the growth of the popular priced magazine, which
in turn opened up vast remunerative field to
writer's of talent, tending to keep the form at
its highest standard of quality. And when quail
ty is maintained at high standard appreci-
alton there must follow influence.
Matterlinck, in one of his philosophical bro
chures on 'The Unknown Self" has said that we
live in fictional age. This is true, in the sense
that this is age of idealism in thought but not
always in action. The human race today is earn
estly striving after the highest ideals which men
have ever held--and striving in materialistic ways
that too often cross the line of brutal realism.
1t is the function of all literature to keep the
ideals of the human family fresh in it's mind to
its eyes. History philosophy, poetry, the drama,
fiction, all mOtivated by the human need to see
itself as it is and as it should be.
1t would not be strictly true to say that that
form of literature which reaches the largest num-
Der must play the largest part in this influencing
the thought and life of men, but it is true that the
form of literature which commands the widest
sphere of appreciation must exert the widest in
fuence. And today the most widely appreciated
literary form is the short story.
In this connection it will not be amiss to touch
briefly on what is commonly called cheap fc-.
ton" and it's alleged dileterious influence Where
there is a great quantity of anything-and there
are over 124, 900 publications in America alone
which run fiction in their columns-some of it will
inevitably be of poor quality. This is so of the
short story. Further, there are and probably al
ways will be writer's who will stoop to the prosti-
tuition of their art profession for material con-
sderations. A very few such writer's may
through the vast circulation which their efforts re-
ceive, cause great deal of harm. But it is only
fair to admit that the harmful influence of the few
venal writer's is more than offset by the good in
fuence exerted by the many who hold their pro-
fession in high esteem and realize the marvellous
scope of the influence of their typewriters
Comparing with other modern art forms, the
short story stands pre-eminent in its influence on
the thought of the day. Strange as the fact u.s. it's
nearest competitor is the movie play. We have
many talented novests today, not few of whom
will 60 down in literary history as great novelists,
yet our best modern novels will not bear compari-
son with best short stories. This is partly due
to the fact that many of our more talented
noveists have put their best into short stories be-
fore essaying the novel. The case of Kiplng is
one of the most .forceful of many instances in
kind.
And while the modern drama is not as so
many critics would have US believe, below the
great standards Of the past, yet the sphere of it's
influence contemporary thought is necessarily
prescribed within very definite limit
AS for poetry, it is perhaps not too much to say
that we have poets today. In strict fact liter
airy history shows but half Dozen perhaps fewer,
world poets; today we have but our national poets
who will be superseded and forgotten tomorrow
But Anatoie France, Pierre Lott O. Henry, Or
penhe1m, Barrie, Kiplng, Wharton and Turgeneif
will live forever in the gem-like slices from life
which they have given to US, and in the indelbe
impress which they have left on our ideas, our
ideals and everyday life, in their short STORIES
SHEER NOT AT THE fool"
l shudder when ponder over the final Judgment
of the who, when he hears that fellow man has
gone astray shrugs his shoulders and sneers Foop'
Who when he hears that another hos ono,rn+ou.l