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called on to express； and allow neither himself in the narrative
nor any character in the course of the dialogue； to utter one
sentence that is not part and parcel of the business of the story
or the discussion of the problem involved。 Let him not regret if
this shortens his book； it will be better so； for to add irrelevant
matter is not to lengthen but to bury。 Let him not mind if he miss
a thousand qualities； so that he keeps unflaggingly in pursuit of
the one he has chosen。 Let him not care particularly if he miss
the tone of conversation； the pungent material detail of the day's
manners； the reproduction of the atmosphere and the environment。
These elements are not essential： a novel may be excellent； and yet
have none of them； a passion or a character is so much the better
depicted as it rises clearer from material circumstance。 In this
age of the particular； let him remember the ages of the abstract；
the great books of the past； the brave men that lived before
Shakespeare and before Balzac。 And as the root of the whole
matter； let him bear in mind that his novel is not a transcript of
life； to be judged by its exactitude； but a simplification of some
side or point of life； to stand or fall by its significant
simplicity。 For although； in great men； working upon great
motives； what we observe and admire is often their complexity； yet
underneath appearances the truth remains unchanged： that
simplification was their method； and that simplicity is their
excellence。
II
Since the above was written another novelist has entered repeatedly
the lists of theory： one well worthy of mention； Mr。 W。 D。 Howells；
and none ever couched a lance with narrower convictions。 His own
work and those of his pupils and masters singly occupy his mind； he
is the bondslave； the zealot of his school； he dreams of an advance
in art like what there is in science； he thinks of past things as
radically dead； he thinks a form can be outlived： a strange
immersion in his own history； a strange forgetfulness of the
history of the race！ Meanwhile； by a glance at his own works
（could he see them with the eager eyes of his readers） much of this
illusion would be dispelled。 For while he holds all the poor
little orthodoxies of the day … no poorer and no smaller than those
of yesterday or to…morrow； poor and small； indeed； only so far as
they are exclusive … the living quality of much that he has done is
of a contrary； I had almost said of a heretical； complexion。 A
man； as I read him； of an originally strong romantic bent … a
certain glow of romance still resides in many of his books； and
lends them their distinction。 As by accident he runs out and
revels in the exceptional； and it is then； as often as not； that
his reader rejoices … justly； as I contend。 For in all this
excessive eagerness to be centrally human； is there not one central
human thing that Mr。 Howells is too often tempted to neglect： I
mean himself？ A poet； a finished artist； a man in love with the
appearances of life； a cunning reader of the mind； he has other
passions and aspirations than those he loves to draw。 And why
should he suppress himself and do such reverence to the Lemuel
Barkers？ The obvious is not of necessity the normal； fashion rules
and deforms； the majority fall tamely into the contemporary shape；
and thus attain； in the eyes of the true observer； only a higher
power of insignificance； and the danger is lest； in seeking to draw
the normal； a man should draw the null； and write the novel of
society instead of the romance of man。
Footnotes：
（1） 1881。
（2） Written for the 〃Book〃 of the Edinburgh University Union Fancy
Fair。
（3） Professor Tait's laboratory assistant。
（4） In Dr。 Murray's admirable new dictionary； I have remarked a
flaw SUB VOCE Beacon。 In its express； technical sense； a beacon
may be defined as 〃a founded； artificial sea…mark； not lighted。〃
（5） The late Fleeming Jenkin。
（6） This sequel was called forth by an excellent article in THE
SPECTATOR。
（7） Waiter； Watty； Woggy； Woggs； Wogg； and lastly Bogue； under
which last name he fell in battle some twelve months ago。 Glory
was his aim and he attained it； for his icon； by the hand of
Caldecott； now lies among the treasures of the nation。
（8） Since traced by many obliging correspondents to the gallery of
Charles Kingsley。
（9） Since the above was written I have tried to launch the boat
with my own hands in KIDNAPPED。 Some day； perhaps； I may try a
rattle at the shutters。
（10） 1882。
（11） This paper； which does not otherwise fit the present volume；
is reprinted here as the proper continuation of the last。
（12） 1884
（13） Now no longer so； thank Heaven！
End