New-York tribune., 1920-05-12

three novels In hand at once. But in
this extraordinary productiveness there
was never trace Of haste or Of
scamped or slipshod work. His style
was always as finished as it was facile.
and while it was not As superrefined
and over elaborated rs that of his
friend Henry James, whom he admired
above all other contemporaries, it had Il
grace, a distinction and n charm which
easily gave his works place In the front
rank Of contemporary English liter
aturc.
His works comprised novels, chiefly
of American life; critical and other cs-
says, plays and few poems. Among
his dramatic writings were various de
lightful farces, contributed to "Har-
per's MaVazihe," in which his exquisite
humor found perhaps its finest express
sion. These made charming reading,
and were also highly effective on the
stage. He wrote in 1877 "A Counterfeit
Presentment" for Lawrence Barrett. II
was first published in "The Atlantic
Monthly" and then, in the fall of that
year, was produced by Barrett in Gin
einnnti' In April 1878, it was played in
Boston and met with some favor. The
final judgment upon it was, however,
that it was better to read than to act.
Howclls, while one Of the most
amiable of men, had particularly posi-
tive notions of literary art which he
expressed with. the utmost frankness
He strove to be, and considered himself {
to be, a "realist" or naturalist" )"
though that did not mean that he had
anything in common with Zoa OF Tol-
stoy. He had pronounced antipathy
against overcolored, exaggerated and
artificial romances, such as were too
common in his earlier years. In his
campaign against them he ran a-tilt
against some of the greatest names in
English fiction, and did not hesitate to
speak slightingly of the popular and
national taste which would not only ac-
cept, but also exalt and admire such
writings. The result was that he found
himself for years at the storm centre
of literary controversy, in which not
only were his judgments of Dickens
Thackeray, Scott and other great mas
ters challenged but also his own style
of fiction was sharply attacked.
The Man and His Friends
He was married in Paris. in 1862, to
Miss Elinor G. Mead. q sister of Larkin
&. Mead, the eminent sculptor, and
their home was always a scene Of felic-
ity and culture. Many personal and
social tributes were paid to him as
passing time increased not only the
number of his years. but also the vol
ume Of his contributions to the best
literature Of the day. His seventy-hfth
birthday anniversary in 1912, was the
occasion of remarkable array Of
printed testimonials from leaders Of
American thought and letters and of a
notable dinner in New York, at which
the President of the United States Mr.
Taft, who had come from Washington
for the purpose, was speaker and de-
clared him to be "the greatest living
American writer and novelist" Three
years later the National Institute Of
Arts bestowed upon him its gold medal
the first time it was ever given to a
novelist.
zone familiar face" said The Trib
une of March %, 1947. "was missing
among the several hundred at the cele-
bration OF Mr.. Howcils's cightieth
/ birthday last evening at the National
Arts Club. Mr.. Howells didn't come'
Mr. Howels had fed to Tryon, n. G..
| two months previously. He had hearc
! of preparations for the birthday cele-
| bration, which was to have been hello
| l., but was deferred in the hope he
might be induced to be present A
! characteristic letter, apprcciative ant
/ gently whimslc lcal, was read from Mr.
! Howells. Tributes from President Will
son and ex-Ptesident Roosevelt were
among the hundreds Of congratuIatory
| messages received.
Many academic honors were also con
| ferred upon him, though he had never
| been so much as a high school student
! Harvard gave him an honorary A. NJ. il
| 1867 and Yale the same IN 1881; anC
Lift D. came to him from Yale in 1901
Oxford in 1904 and Columbia in 1906
and LII. d. from Adelbert in 1904 II
1909 he was chosen president Of th'
American Academy of Arts and Letters
The catalogue of his published work
is voluminous. 1t comprises, no fewc
than sevcnty-two titles in the ifty-fv
years from 1861 to 1915 as follows