New Britain herald., 1926-02-10
YALE MAN SCORNS
 AMERICAN WRITER'S
Only Two Admitted to Prof, Williams Hall of Fame

American novelist Of the present day did not faro very well at the hand of Prof Stanley T. Williams of Yale university In his speech 10 the Woman's club yesterday afternoon at St Marks Episcopal church, Only two, Sinclair Lewis and Villa Cath CT. were considered worthy of their time, and he spent most of his lee ture on English writers.
 Ho stated that he would conhne himself 10 only a few outstanding authors Of the day, because an at- tempt to mention all novelsts with out admitted faYoritos would be llko the tcndcrtoot on the western ranch rounding up Jackrabbits for lambs. Such selection would appear at first a colossal task. he said, but everyone is writing novels now with great ease and in many ways even better than the old ones, But few writers, Prof Williams asserted, can say with George Eliot, "l never write without first offering a prayer"
 Though there has been q loss in depth and power and character study, 1t is more than compensated for by analysis and solutions by book characters of many problems met in everyday life. The old reticence has worn away and free dom Of action, thought, and word i rules. Because of this it is frequent l ly hard to choose novels worth read | ing and some guides are necessary.
 Book reviews, Prof. Williams 1 stated, are of no assistance, as every book is hailed as the greatest since 1 the time of Dickens. The best pro- 1 cedure is neither to give up the old authors before 1900 nor to read eX- i clusiyely those books, saying as 1 Charles Lamb did, Every time q new book appears I read an old one" '" | IL is necessary to find q happy medi- um--knowledge Of the past with an open mind to compare with the re- cent transient authors.
 Professor Williams went on to eX- plain in details the five best English authors of the day. He considered Thomas Hardy, although not the best living novelist. had q fair chance of immortality. His fame is such that he never needs to travel to see the world. for 1t comes to him 10 the amazement of his fellow villagers. His idea that some blind purpose or chance, not God. rules the world is plainly dlscernble in his two greatest books" Tess of the D'Urbervilles" and Far from the Madding Crowd"
 Tho antithcsis of Hardy is II. G. Wells, of purely Darwinian kind. A pure scientist Of analytical, cold, clear. efficient mind. life to him is fun and not blind chance.
 Third, Joseph Conrad shows in his writings, Professor Williams said, his origin. that of the most medita- tive and thoughtful race, the Slavs. After sailing 10 every port in the world for % years, his experience and knowledge of human beings is profound and his books must be read slowly and carefully. In ny phoon" the authors philosophy of life is portrayed; he is free think CT, one to whom the game Of living is difficult and yet worth while. be cause of q few ready to lend a help ing hand.
 Arnold Bennett wrote first in mediocre fashion, Professor Williams went on. but from inspiration gained at q French cafe. he brought out "The old Wives Tale" and showed himself photographer of novels, always telling about his story rather than giving just a narration of facts,
 To his last English author, John Galsworthy, Professor Williams paid highest tribute as modern author whose admirable and intelligent use of tho new frankness and who's" strength and careful style peculiarly it him for reading by young people of today His Forsythe Sage is an understanding picture of the con ycntional EnGlishman of property 10 which class he himself was born and bred. His dramas are interest ing chiefly from inc viewpoint of the r, former. for after two or thr"c ; years of travel ho came back 10 Eng,
 land with q keen realization of tho .iimiculti"s Of the lower class. and
 'hoso plays ar" an attempt 10 bring
 abuses Of labor and capital 10 pub
 licity.
 Other English authors were touch.
 ol on lightly. A. $ AL Hutchinson alone having a Dickensonian quality