The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-08
Attitudes.

tirely serious in upholding the worth Of contempo
rary American writing. We are aware that the
aesthetics will find this hard to believe and are con-
scous that they will be exercised over the attitude
they should adopt toward us.
Speaking broadly, there are four possible att-
tudes which may be taken. The people who think
present American writing contemplate thing are
at liberty (D to pity us or (2) to hate us or (3)
10 treat us condescendingly or az to rdicule us.
Each of these attitudes will be remarkable
failure.
1t is no use plying us, because the pity will be
wasted. Absorbed in the newest novel by BOOTH
HARRINGTON, we shall be completely unconscious of
the fact that we are being pitied; and this the
pitiers will find intolerablc.
good hard hate of us would be more effective
but perhaps not in way to be desired for hate is
highly corrosive to the hater.
Condescension unfortunately seems to be out Of
the question: since it takes two to effect conde-
scenson, and shall decline to adopt the requisite
attitude of inferiOrity.
Ridicule? A wonderful weapon, but have you
never observed that when you make thing really
ridiculous you endear it to the human heart! 1t
then becomes legend, a tradition of enduring
power. For men, without remembering what it
was they laughed at in thing, remember only that
they laughed. And they are grateful.
Edith Wharton.
L D1TH WHARTON has always stood alone
L. The distinguishing thing about her is the
Distinguishing thing about her work-+aloneness,
which is not the same thing as aoofness. She is
not aloof. AT Sc she is working in France, doing
that which her hand finds to do. Her aloneoess
arises from the facts of her life. Never were so
many favoring stars clustered together as for her
when she was born. She had everything.
She was born in New York (item ~ in 1862,
EDITH NEwBoLD JONES, the daughter of FREDERIC
JONES and LUcRETA STEVENS RHINELANDER JONES
item p. She was educated at home Gtem 81 and
married to EDWARD WHARTON Of Boston in
1885 (item mo! countless items of luck had al
ready interviewed ,.
This and This and This
In other words Mrs. WHARTON, granddaughter Of
Gen. EBENEzER STEVENS of Revolutionary fame,
came of distinguished family, was the child Of ex-
tremely we'll to do parents, had every advantage
that careful instruction. generous travel and cult
waited surroundings could confer upon her.
Much of her life has been spent in Italy; per-
feet acquaintance with great paintings and archi-
lecture, everywhere discernble in her work, has
always with her been the customary thing. Private
tutors in America and abroad spared her the level
ling processes Of forty lines of Virgil day and
ten mathematical sums each night. They touched
her sculptor touches his clay, firmly and caress
ngy and only to bring out her peculiar exceences,
only to help her native genius to expression.
Think of it-ltaly and all the other rich back
grounds, means, social position, fine traditions, the
right surroundings, the right mentors, the right
tastes and considerable gift to begin with. What
mould! 1t is exquisite, perhaps unmatched in
the instance of any other novelist 1t is what we
dream of for genius and it is what genius would
smash to fragments The very fact that Mrs.
WHARTON had a mould is the best evidence that she
is not genius in the most discriminating of
most Unfortunately used word,
She Meets a Genius.
She is not genius, but she moves and always
has moved in world Of geniuses. From childhood
she had, of course, easy familiarity with French
German and Italian. The ordinary bounds upon
reading-the only way of keeping the company of
the supremely great of earth--were thus swept a
measurcless distance away French, German and
Italian well English literature were accessible
bo, tho linda fha RncS Of