The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-06-19

lie. The author conformed to no set
rules which no one of mediocre ability
could afford to disregard. o. Henry,
on the other hand, being such a genius
born to story telling used the only
rule, please yourself"
O. Henry draws his material from
modern n ordinary life. He finds
material or his stories from the
partly humorous and partly serious
side of life in which there is some
idealism %ennObling it. In his freedom
of writing, he surely pleased himself
and followed his one rule faithfully by
using slang, coming words, writing
with unusual dashes, parentheses, eX-
vlamatiOn points, making false illus
ions Intentionally, breaking into
stories with side remarks, mixing the
serious and the burlesque. Still this
is forgiven in his stories, or he did
OF so surprisingly and with such
abandon of carefree ability that the
reader recognizes him as a genius
born to the story telling art.
o. Henry's contributions to the
short story were relating to the mod
ern, virile and ordinary life of Ameri-
can and freedom from restraint. 1.-THE
Gift of the Magic" makes the reader
very conscious of the further develop
ment of the short story by o. Henry.
Romance has always had it's well
cOme appeal and it always will. This
is a romantic age but it is very diff
ferent from the romantic ages of the
past. That romano was characterized
by the impossible, the improbable, the
vague and the remote, but our authors
of today by keen and sympathetic OBJ
%servatiOn see the true omance in real
life. They see the noble ideals, the
great aspirations and longings which
lift the common people of today above
the ordinary, the monOtonous.
Richard Harding Davis "a Wasted
Day. is a typical example of present
day realism and romance. While this
story shows outward, realities, the in
ner nobility of mans soul ~over-towers
it. 1t is realistic in detail but idealis-
tic in theme. From o. Henry and
Mr.. Davis, the short story has re-
ceived an added dignity and worth;
therefore. not merely depending upon
artistic form. The characters intro
duced in "a Wasted Day give the
a a striking impression of this
ruth. There is the millionaire think
ing of 100000 COrregiO's of landscape
gardening, the control of a railroad,
a Japanese loan. the building of an
art gallery and affairs of Petersburg
and Vienna, who learns a greater les
son.: THAT the individual however
AuiliDlts - a WOIlll subject ana lldl
wealth and power are subject to law"
Then the judge ordinary in his own
personality, gathers strength and sane
judgment when invested with the
dignity of the law. Then again, there
is the criminal who sends flowers to
his mother These characters make
r he eader realize the hopeful theme
of the story: THAT people are at
heart forgiving. kindly and eager to
= hn1n thaf GOOD oxs~f- - -..o-. t.,Ao
of man and knowledge of life creates
sympathy" This is wise, hopeful
: creative idealism founded on fact
/, That is what we call the higher type
: of realism. The American short story
8 bounded a mighty step when this char
= acteristic made it richer and fuller
: Mary wilkins Freeman has brought
the short story to the highest point
q that it has ever gone. She has bathed
it with the glory and independence OF
}, modern ~womanhood. Heretofore. the
= representative stories have been writ
+ ten by men. The short story could
a never be complete without the touch
o of gentle and noble women. Mrs. Free
@ mans 1.-THE Revolt of Mother" SHOULD
touch every heart. A noble woman
and mother who dared to stand III
o for herself is the chief character il
y Eliminating the whole story. The mar
f rative is so intimate, so familiar an,
yet in its appeal. it is so idealisti'
n in it's nature that it surprises on
d what delight can be found in common
things.
>, The local color of New England i
found in this story. The plot is sim
pie but powerful and it leaves 20
with = reverep~e and love Of nohI
wDmanhood. Mrs. Freeman's stor
ends the development of the shor
n story for the present day. Irwin
brought the tale to higher excellenc,