davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-17

WILL RUIN OR
REVIVAL COME,
AFTER THE WAR?

Is a thing Of the past, The instincts
of the people have been sharpcned no
that they can tell whether or not a
work of art is right and true; they no
longer trust exclusively the aesthetic
impulse.
Indeed the war while II has abso-
lutely killed the erotic novel has hurt
the honest novel too. The English pub
fishers say that they are selling only
half as many novels rs they were selling
last year at this time. But they are
selling twice as much poetry as ever
before.
1t is because poetry has kept closer
TO the big vital things than fiction has
Taking the whole field OF poetry into
consideration. excluding Of course such
bits of madness or charlatanry as flu
turism and its imitation. imagism. you
see that poetry has not lost sight of the
eternal verities. so poetry is ready for
such an event as this war The people
see the cheapness and falsity OF most
modern fiction and they turn for con-
ISOLATION and strength to the poets,
who still have faith that beyond
all the intricacies OF the wheeling sys-
tens God and the soul stand sure.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-17
~ ROBERT W. CHAMBERS.

1t does not occur to me that the Euro
pean war is likely to have any par
tcular effect on literature. The stand
ards have been too long established.
Always there has been something 10
write about there will be as much In
the future, II no more. and the same
proportion OF writers will say something
about 1t whether or not they have any
thing To say.
Subjects change: individual and coll
lective attitudes toward subjects change &:
the standards of literature remain un-
changed when they have been really
established.
We all know what they are : few at
tain them now; few have In the past
the few who have set them. Possibly the
present war may see new standards
planted beside the old. not to supersede
them, but to add to their scanty number.
Naturally the subjects for literary
treatment always are affected by crises.
Toward what the minds OF writers may
turn during and succeeding the present
era of hostilities only literary prophets
could venture to predict. am not of
their number.
II seems TO me that the usual effer-
vescence. the familiar exaggerations. are
pretty sure to ensue: that the literary
hystef1a indicative OF literary impo-
tence, the emotional excitement of linn
tied or inexperienced intellectually. is to
he expected. The scum is likely TO rise
and float. But what may he discovered
beneath II am sure j do not know.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-17
OWEN JOHNSON.

things that might be affected are fiction
and poetry; philosophy, economies. poll
tics. history should continue much as
before.
There will be an outburst OF war
books, some of them veracious. and there
may even be history of the war writ
ten In English. but devoid OF cant II am
not sure of thls). But as regards fiction
and poetry. | anticipate no change. or
course the best sellers Miss Y, Mrs.
Y. and Mr.. H.. are likely to be in
fluenced because their mission In to re-
fleet that which excites the commonest
minds but ! trust that no one con-
POUNDS their works with literature.
The modern novel, concerned with the
relations OF the sexes. social readjust-
ments such as that OF the family. wages,
the shock OF classes. the aspirations OF
women. will remain exactly what 1t was
or grow more intense. This because the
war will stimulate the artists and make
them see things more wildly. not differ-
entity: II is nonsense to think. as many
people do think tand especially repeat
without thinking). that an era OF good
ness, morality, social service will come,
/ believe that II the Allies win. after
period of penury will come commercial
boom and with II luxury; with luxury
men,s we have known. futurism, cublsm.
ina gism. vii, rise again In altered forms
and with different names.
Because many suffer there will be
more need for psychological analysis
while the times are bad there will be
more need for social revolt, and all that
will he expressed in the modern novel.
You see. that Is not change; II Is in
tersifcation OF what prevailed last year
As for poetry. I hesitate. l am dis
appointed, for I thought that few great
poems might come out Of the war; that
has not happened. possibly because
Britain has not been invaded and has
not feared for her existence. Certainly
the best war poem. so far. Is Lissauers
Hymn Of Hate: but even that Ia not
much, and the music to which II has
been set II In the worst tradition OF
modern German harmony. English poets
have of late years been throwing Off
some of the trammels OF form they will
presumably go on. As for the French
poets, there are none.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-17
ny WILL LEXINGTON COMFORT.

There's always Ioud
Squeskng when wagon climbs out Of
a rut, which is another way of saving
mat a time OF transition Is a time of
pain
The worst OF II Is over: the turn.
ing mas been made here in America tho
Qua - pretty well done for The last
generation. which was formally closed
late in July. 1914, is probably the
bieakest In literary workmanship that
America will ever have the shame Of
showing TO future general ions. Il WAS
not So devoid Of genius as would an
pear; absolutely the first cause was
the difficulty In getting good stuff
through And this again was not he
cause tho public was not ready for
the good. but because the public taste
was brutalized by men who stood be,
tween the public and the producers
These middlemen insisted. by the right
or NOR" direct contact, that the pub
lie should have what they fanclcd the
public desired.
sat in Union square recently with a
hegear, who studied me because IL was
my within to help him with "A coin
Back of his temples WAS "A great story.
story that the world wanted To know.
= story of sumptuous drama and throb-
hing with the first siRnihcances OF life.
He did not tell me that story and |
could no, draw it from him. Rather
he told me the story that he fancied
! would want There was a whine in
~ lie chose to act, and he was not "A
good actor His Offering hurt not no
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-17
ny JULIAN STREET.

II Mr.. Howells had not expressed the
belief that war stops literature" !
should have more confidence In my own
feeling that the present war may in the
end. exercise a beneficial effect, at least
upon fiction in this country The weight
of Mr.. Howelrs opinion is. however. so
great with me as to cause me TO doubt
my own Judgment.
However. II seems to me that II the
war does affect our literature favorably
II will not he by direct action
That is to say | do not believe
that great novels and poems dealing
with war will be produced-ccrtainly
not in quantity sufficient to make a new
literary era. II seems to me that war
stories and war poems are seldom lit
erary productions of the first class and
that most of them are nearer third or
fourth class. Why this IL so I am not
certain. 1t may be because war is so
much bigger. so much more terrible and
Supplying than anything that can be
written about it or because II is so
FAR from common human experience or
because popular writer's frequently be-
come sentimental about it--as in the
countless cloying civil war stories and
plays handling over and over again the
romance between the dashing Northern
Captain and beautiful Southern heroine.
| suppose We will have lot OF those
things in connection with this war. but
they do not count any more than Cheaply
martial verses count.
My hope that literary good may spring
from militaristic evil is based upon the
fact that whatever else II may do
the war makes people try 10 use their
brains The present base condition OF
literature In the United States seems
10 me to he the direct result not of
national feeble mndedness but of A
general loose. fippant, nconsequentlal
habit OF thinking, Anything which will
make Americans think will do them
good. Perhaps our greatest. certainly
one OF our greatest national vices is
our shallow complacency. II is not so
important that our emotions be stirred
ny war-superficially. at least, we do
not lack emotion-as that the unused
unframed portions Of our minds be slim
ulated to action. MY hope IL that as
We think moro we shall demand more
In all things. including literature. And
II seems to me that | can SEQ already
signs which indicate that in spite of
Europes madness the world IL more lust
ana more intelligent than it used to he
| one OF these hopeful indications liz that
we hear so much about the woman side
of war. | do not believe that in any war
! PRIOR To TINS one womans part and
/ her right to he considered has been
| advanced as II Is now being advanced
The world has suddenly found out tina,
or All war sufferers woman suffers most :
that without making war she pays for il.
Ihat does not appear a difficult matter
TO think out, yet so far as | can learn
the thought has never before been gen.
eral throughout the world in war tim.
/ That is one sign which makes me hone.
ful and at this time | like to think n,
hopeful signs.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-17
~ IDA TAR BELL.

! have been away from my desk foc
several days and returning lind your
letter OF March 81. ! am sorry that
there has been such n delay, II is too
late for me now to send The few words
mat YOU ask, to-day being the l2th,
All that | can do IL to reechu Mr. Noyes's
opinion that this war Is going 10 have a
strong and deep effect on English lIterl-
turc I believe that there are alread,
signs Of very deep stirring. II has been
long since the artist has had material
for such fundamental dealing with If"
as that which is being laid before him
every day believe that they are
going to rise to II and that in the next
twenty years We shall have such q
literary production as We have not seen
for many decades.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-17

the accidental. the traditional 10 hung
aside.
Enduring literature. ever rejecting the
moral issues Of the world, will be forced
10 show tho significance Of all this mas
sacre and misery In terms OF the ideal.
out OF the great sad spectacle OF nations
fighting one another with every aid OF
50. "nce, out OF this supreme suspense and
sorrow of myriads, | foresee the birth
of a new spirit of humanity.
The great lesson OF war in conserving
health and food. In caring for an. will
be applied to men and lands not at war.
but at work. And so will come to this
world n greater vision than men have
ever before beheld-"Lo In the multitude
Of business the dream" SO will arise
the World Republic Of Brothers and the
splendid world science and world litera-
ture OF peace
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-17
HERE IL a house at Crowborough'


a
sussex England a broad, low.
i .,,.,o,,s nous. with luSurlant
Aa,riross which
EhIu'ls "'lu an ~ '...arh,, ,H.t ,hn owner
SeSses's w Nv ,,,,, ~, active
u. ~ 100 g. H. ,bc bau hangs
'"'. s,,',,,,,-,,1 cr,.Le, hs,. in one
= ,.."u .t,,.or s,ot,s,,e NJ Lord Rob
Io,''. 20 - g. ,ho oyrar ~ tho house
~. 80, ~ surrcons in recognition OF
~ - 80 dJd IN the Roer war. and
w W, ,,,.ad ha,aolrcr taken from
" ~ s,a,r IN h,t,I. plctures Of
49,, h,,sa frssl feet OF the
~ .",o.t,, I,-,,,rodon taken from the
,a.,. 6o,.rs ,tat stretch for miles be-
s,rc tho door. a library crammed with
49,
,d az ,hoao things books and
.,,,.,,3.s ~ enor, and relics of terrible
,,.art,rn i,dirate what SORT Of lira has
80, ,o1 ~, Tho owner Of the house Sir
,,,,.,r Co,,, Dovlc creator of sherlock
~ y, - ~ pro, f,n,rIcpeer. Of Brig
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-17
ACTIVE LIFE OF SHERLOCK
HOLINESS CREATOR

sake OF Staying. He has kept his phys
ical eyes as clear as his mental vision
he has kept his digestion and his CHEEKY
optimism and his enthusiastic youth and
his essential modos'y.
In the more difficult world Of public
affairs Conan Doylc's active participa-
ton Is historical. When George Edalji
was urjustly convicted. when Oscar
Slater was without proof imprisoned OH
a charge of murder, Conan Doyle de-
Tended them quite as Sherlock Holmes
might have done. He has stood for
Parliament. by his widely read book,
The Crime of the Congo" he helped
vastly In gaining justice for that sore
sm!tten land. and he followed the book
by brilliant public speaking on behalf
OF the distressed natives
And to-day with article and speech
he IL defending the cause Of the Allies
in the great war. His articles have
been quoted all over America. and have
indeed been published in book form un-
der the alto OF The Great War"
rs a puhliCist Conan Doyle has done
sufficiently distinguished public service
so that his name would live for that
reason alone Yet few think of him in
thar light, so decidedly is Sir Arthur
Conan povlo 20 most people first and
|tSt the creator ~ sherlock Holmes. pr
Watson, Prof Moritrty and other char
actors now reappcarnE IN The Valley
Of Fear
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-17
Theory In writing Fiction.

He hRs not attained his marvellous
reputation H. writing hit or miss, as ap.
paren,ly many popular writer's have
4 ne. For all his active outdoor life
and his tendency to rove in strang.
lands ne is decidedly scholar with
broad knowledge Of literature and
with sound points OF view on his
fsvorites
Recently he prepared statemen,
Of the principles underlying his own
writing, which Is az follows
our treatment may be as wide as
the heavens and as broad AZ the earth
II II does but attain the essential end
Of interest. All methods and schools
romance and realism, symbolism ana
udtur1lism have tho one object IN
Nicw-to Interest. They arc all good ~
far as they attain that and all useless
when they coas" to d, so.
Within tho bounds OF morality all
methods are legitimate You are right
10 make your book adventurous. YOU are
right to make It theological, YOU arc
right to make II informative, or con,
troy ersal or idyllic or humorous or
grave, or what YOU Will. but YOU mus,
make II interesting. That Is essential
an the rest is detail
Rut there comes the obvious retort,
You say interesting 70
whom The difficulty is not really
great one. The higher and moro per-
maucnt work has always been interest
ing t. all The work which is the cult
of a clique too precious for general use
must No wanting IN some quality Take
the most houored names I'm our li'cra.
tulc, Scott Thackcray, Dickens, Readc.
Foe, they do not interest one or other
social stratum, hut they appeal equally
to all educated readers II you were
to make a list Of the works Of fiction
which have proved Their greatness by
their permancnce and by tine common
consensus of mankind YOU would find
thdt no narrow formula would cover
them The Only point which they have
Ia common Is that each Of them holds
the attention Of the reader
The life of writer 81 fiction has
It's own troubles, tho weary waiting
for Ideas, the black reaction when
they have been used, worst ~ all the
despair when the thought which had
seemed 50 bright and new goes duh and
dark IN the telling Rut surely he has
IN return some claim to hope that II
lie can but Interest his readers he fuIfls
tho chief end OF man in leaving others
a little happier than he found them
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-17
ny w. J.. GEORGE.

do not think II at all impossible to
estimate the probable results OF the war
upon literature obviously. the only
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-17
NOVELIST'S PICTURE OF
AN AUTHOR AT WORK

Beng an au'hnr actually At WORK.
and not an author being photographed
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-10-06
reception OF inns letter.

reception or TINS letter.
The fear that was within her por-
trayed something which would leap TO
a vivid showing OF hate. And Arkeld
had not turned this imagery Of hers
into a concrete thing.
He had made the astounding offer OF
his friendship.
1t was eight years since she had
seen Arkeld.
When the Listens had arrived In
town a few weeks ago ArkeId had
called. but found them out. an expert
ence reversed on their return call.
Then followed this invitation to din
ner. Could one refuse an olive branch?
Eight years was a long time.
The talk was trivial. f1ippant. Stella
laughed at her own vOicing of mani
ties.
She was glad when she could escape
to the room of dim gray and leave the
men TO their cigars.
She felt that this room voiced some
thing. was full of suggestions.
She thought of this room as an out
ward showing of the mind of Arkeld.
She wondered what part of him
found expression in the flame of the
flowers. Anger. hatred. desire to
punish
On the chimney piece stood the little
Chinese gods.
stella moved over to them, staring
at them. The grotesque faces return
ed her gaze.
Suddenly she knew fear. was gripped
IL II This was Arkeld's room, and he
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-10-06

Liston and his wife moved automat-
ically, puppets moving at the bidding
of Arkeld.
The entrance hall, the stairs, their
own room when they reached it, were
not SO near to Stella as the room OF
dim gray with the massed, outrageous
blooms.
She was still there, was wrapped
about by it's yelled suggestions of the
thoughts OF Arkeld.
She faced Liston, stared at him.
His eyes, not meeting hers, fell upon
the crumpled letter in her hand.
She opened her fingers, and the let
ter drifted to the floor. She pushed it
toward him with her foot. There was
another woman!
She seemed to hear the laughter Of
Arkeld Surely he had laughed when
he fingered the little god.
This revenge was of greater subtlety
than the poisoned fumes of which he
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-10-06
The Chinese
God
Part 1t Played In a Rejected
Lovers Revenge
By RALPH COBINO
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.

Arkeld moved about his room study
ing detail. The arrangement of the
flowers did not please him, and he rang
for his man.
''This is right in coloring," he said
to the servant, mot in design. Oh,
your best doubtless He checked
apologies with gesture. Now work
under my supervision"
The result was bizarre, startling; a
mass of outrageous bloom in a quiet
room, for the room was quiet; it
breathed repose and stiffness, limited
even at mOnOtony.
Arkeld nodded to himself, well pleas
ed with the effect.
His eyes fell upon the only orna-
ments in the room, two small models
of Chinese gods which stood upon the
chimney piece.
His hand caressed one OF the grin
ming models. With a whimsical move.
ment he stopped and whispered to It.:
Tell Stella that there is another wo'
man in the heart and mind of Godfrey
Liston. Be sure and give Stella the
message"
Then his guests-a Mr.. and Mrs. God
frey Liston-were announced.
They were a handsome couple, dis
tinguished in manner.
The lady's eyes took in at one glance
the arrangement of the room and OF
the flowers. She said quickly:
Here you have artistic charm. Only
why introduce alien things"
You mean the fowers?"
'eThese particular flowers and their
arrangement"
Dinner was announced, and the talk
became trivial, leaving subtleties.
The meal was excellently cooked and
served. Stella noted the details, ap-
proving them.
She thought Of the days when she
had been engaged to Arkeld. She
thought also Of the day when she had
met Godfrey Liston.
Love had swept her off her feet
when she met Liston. Whereas Ar
keld-she had always feared Arkeld!
Fear had gone masked as love. Fear
had been 10 all her thoughts Of Ar
keld when she wrote to tell him that
she could not marry HMM fact, that
she was going to marry Lston.
She had imagined to herself Arkeld's
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-10-06
'.1ET's STILL HIS LAUGHTER" He SAID.

LETS STILL HIS LAUGHTER, HI SAID.
spoke. Poison could but kill the body;
this letter scared the soul Of her.
Liston stopped, touching the paper
as though he feared it. The date star
ed him in the face.
She read his thoughts.
$50 recently Her words tripped,
vague things.
Realizing, with a stab of something
that was like physical pain, the mock
cry of her marriage, she ended with a
sentence that was not vague.
''Then you married me merely for
my money, foOling me with honeyed
words?"
Suddenly she realized the subtlety of
this vengeance of Arkeld's. He had
hung a weight about her neck which
she could not cast off. He knew her.
Loveless she would starve.
Liston spoke volubly, seeking eva
sion.
He bit In two a sentence which ours
ed Arkeld for finding out this thing.
AS for the letter, he sought to cloak
it's damning contents by contempt for
Arkelds probable methods of obtain
ing it.
"She is poor" Stella reminded him.
She pointed to the letter. You be-
moan her poverty even while you cast
her off,
Her voice stung her again.
"Such woman would be glad of re-
onI y1oonou cho said
Her mind held the picture of Arkeld
paying with eager fingers sum Of
money for this instrument Of ven
geance.
She spoke again, repeating herself:
"You fooled me with hOneyed
words!' The intolerable thought was
that Arkeld knew this. He had seen
her gather dross, thinking it gold. The
knowledge was his revenge.
She had loved Liston, thinking him
unaffected, certainly not subtle-a very
| honest man. That which she had loved
had never had an existence save as a
creature of her mind.
Liston threw the letter into the fire.
They watched it burn. Flames leaped,
tongues voicing sorry things.
That part of Liston which was least
| ignoble watched this burning with
shamed eyes.
The part of him which was least ig-
noble crept to his lips, saying:
Forgive me?
She looked at him.
Her eyes seemed to entreat this part
of him which was not base to triumph,
| to burn up other things. The thought
came to her that this triumph would
lessen the power of Arkeld's revenge.
] Arkeld had conceived a very subtle
| form of vengeance. But subtlety was
| thing which might be of small ac-
count in the presence of a great natu-
ralneSS.
| ListOn said again:
"Forgive me. If not yet-then some
day.
Liston came toward her.
His fingers touched the hand that
hung Imply at her side. He pointed
to the laughing god.
Lets still his laughter" he said.
She felt her lips stiffen, refusing to
move easily She forced herself to
voice forgiveness. Forgiveness was a
| thing which would strike that jeering
god upon the mouth and silence-Ar-
keld!
Yes, it was the way out!
Listens fingers still touched hei
hand.
''There's a chance for us since you
forgive he said.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-10-06
CIofhInq IN ASIA MINOR.

There is a belief prevalent among
the natives of Asia Minor that the
thicker the clothing worn at all sea-
sons of the year the better it is for
the human body, protecting it alike
from the winter cold and the summer
heat. In Caucasia it Is not uncommon
to see people wearing huge bearskin
coats in the midst of summer, with the
thermometer standing at 100 degrees.
Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-10-06
Cutting an Acquaintance.

The mulatto girl was quarreling with
her erstwhiIe lover. who had become
angered at her federation of anOther's
suit
81 heard that you seq as yO' is goin'
to cut my acquaintance" pursued the
girl.
"Yassum, SEE that" defied the jilt-
ed one, land believe me, mum, I'm 60
In to cut i'm deep."-Columbia Jester.
The Denver star., 1915-01-23
CONSISTENCY, THOU ART
JEWEL.

The Star is grieved to know that,
for some reasons, our undertakers OF
color failed to get seven bodies of ne
groes who died this month. This is
our record as we have observed: /:
Olinger, 3; Horan, 2; Waters, 1; Hoff-
man, l. Suppose all of these bodies.
or part of them, were given to our
own undertakers, who will and do EN-
ploy negro labor, see how many dol
lars our race has missed Let US stick
to our race and build it up whether
YOU like the business man or not. You
build for the future. 1t takes a real
man or woman to deal with business
man or woman whom you don't like,
but it pays the race in the end in thor,
oughly establishing racial enterprises.
Patronize one or the other, there is no
excuse to act otherwise.
Mrs. N. Fairbanks and her son Vic
tor left for California Thursday. Mrs
Fairbanks was one of the active mem
bers of the Widows Club.