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the more extensive scope。 But I rebel at an unheralded ghostland；
and declare frankly that your tale is incredible。 And I must
confess that I would as lief have ghosts kept out altogether； their
stories make a very good library in themselves； and have no need to
tag themselves on to what is really another department of fiction。
Nevertheless； when a ghost story is told with the consummate art of
a Miss Wilkins； and of one or two others on our list； consistency
in this regard ceases to be a jewel； art proves irresistible。 As
for adventure stories； there is a fringe of them that comes under
the riddle…story head； but for the most part the riddle story
begins after the adventures have finished。 We are to contemplate a
condition； not to watch the events that ultimate in it。 Our
detective； or anyone else； may of course meet with haps and mishaps
on his way to the solution of his puzzle； but an astute writer will
not color such incidents too vividly； lest he risk forfeiting our
preoccupation with the problem that we came forth for to study。 In
a word； One thing at a time！
The foregoing disquisition may seem uncalled for by such rigid
moralists as have made up their minds not to regard detective； or
riddle stories； as any part of respectable literature at all。 With
that sect； I announce at the outset that I am entirely out of
sympathy。 It is not needed to compare 〃The Gold Bug〃 with
〃Paradise Lost〃； nobody denies the superior literary stature of the
latter； although； as the Oxford Senior Wrangler objected； 〃What
does it prove？〃 But I appeal to Emerson； who； in his poem of 〃The
Mountain and the Squirrel；〃 states the nub of the argument； with
incomparable felicity； as follows：you will recall that the two
protagonists had a difference； originating in the fact that the
former called the latter 〃Little Prig。〃 Bun made a very sprightly
retort； summing up to this effect：
〃Talents differ； all is well and wisely put；
If I cannot carry forests on my back；
Neither can you crack a nut。〃
Andes and Paradises Lost are expedient and perhaps necessary in
their proper atmosphere and function； but Squirrels and Gold Bugs
are indispensable in our daily walk。 There is as fine and as true
literature in Poe's Tales as in Milton's epics； only the elevation
and dimensions differ。 But I would rather live in a world that
possessed only literature of the Poe caliber； than shiver in one
echoing solely the strains of the Miltonian muse。 Mere human
beings are not constructed to stand all day a…tiptoe on the misty
mountain tops； they like to walk the streets most of the time and
sit in easy chairs。 And writings that picture the human mind and
nature； in true colors and in artistic proportions； are literature；
and nobody has any business to pooh…pooh them。 In fact； I feel as
if I were knocking down a man of straw。 I look in vain for any
genuine resistance。 Of course 〃The Gold Bug〃 is literature； of
course any other story of mystery and puzzle is also literature；
provided it is as good as 〃The Gold Bug；〃or I will say； since
that standard has never since been quite attained； provided it is a
half or a tenth as good。 It is goldsmith's work； it is Chinese
carving； it is Daedalian； it is fine。 It is the product of the
ingenuity lobe of the human brain working and expatiating in
freedom。 It is art； not spiritual or transcendental art； but solid
art； to be felt and experienced。 You may examine it at your
leisure； it will be always ready for you； you need not fast or
watch your arms overnight in order to understand it。 Look at the
nice setting of the mortises； mark how the cover fits； how smooth
is the working of that spring drawer。 Observe that this bit of
carving； which seemed mere ornament； is really a vital part of the
mechanism。 Note； moreover； how balanced and symmetrical the whole
design is； with what economy and foresight every part is fashioned。
It is not only an ingenious structure； it is a handsome bit of
furniture； and will materially improve the looks of the empty
chambers； or disorderly or ungainly chambers that you carry under
your crown。 Or if it happen that these apartments are noble in
decoration and proportions； then this captivating little object
will find a suitable place in some spare nook or other； and will
rest or entertain eyes too long focused on the severely sublime and
beautiful。 I need not； however； rely upon abstract argument to
support my contention。 Many of the best writers of all time have
used their skill in the inverted form of story telling； as a glance
at our table of contents will show； and many of their tales depend
for their effect as much on character and atmosphere as on the play
and complication of events。
The statement that a good detective or riddle story is good in art
is supported by the fact that the supply of really good ones is
relatively small； while the number of writers who would write good
ones if they could； and who have tried and failed to write them； is
past computation。 And one reason probably is that such stories；
for their success； must depend primarily upon structurea sound
and perfect plotwhich is one of the rare things in our
contemporary fiction。 Our writers get hold of an incident； or a
sentiment； or a character； or a moral principle； or a hit of
technical knowledge； or a splotch of local color； or even of a new
version of dialect； and they will do something in two to ten
thousand words out of that and call it a short story。 Magazines
may be found to print itfor there are all manner of magazines；
but nothing of that sort will serve for a riddle story。 You cannot
make a riddle story by beginning it and then trusting to luck to
bring it to an end。 You must know all about the end and the middle
before thinking； even； of the beginning； the beginning of a riddle
story； unlike those of other stories and of other enterprises； is
not half the battle； it is next to being quite unimportant； and；
moreover； it is always easy。 The unexplained corpse lies weltering
in its gore in the first paragraph； the inexplicable cipher
presents its enigma at the turning of the opening page。 The writer
who is secure in the knowledge that he has got a good thing coming；
and has arranged the manner and details of its coming； cannot go
far wrong with his exordium； he wants to get into action at once；
and that is his best assurance that he will do it in the right way。
But O！ what a labor and sweat it is； what a planning and trimming；
what a remodeling； curtailing； interlining； what despairs succeeded
by new lights； what heroic expedients tried at the last moment； and
dismissed the moment after； what wastepaper baskets full of
futilities； and what gallant commencements all over again！ Did the
reader know； or remotely suspect； what terrific struggles the
writer of a really good detective story had sustained； he would
regard the final product with a new