Apparentlyitwastheirturntobesurprised，fortheyexclaimed:"Whatanidea！Why，wehaveseenhimhundredsoftimes。"
　　Theyhadseemhimhundredsoftimes，yettheyhadwaitedhalfanhourinthegloomandthebittercold，inthemidstofajamofpatientsfromthesameasylum，onthechanceofseeinghimagain。Itwasastupefyingstatement，butoneisobligedtobelievetheEnglish，evenwhentheysayathinglikethat。I
　　fumbledaroundforaremark，andgotoutthisone:
　　"Ican’tunderstanditatall。IfIhadneverseenGeneralGrantIdoubtifIwoulddothateventogetasightofhim。"
　　Withaslightemphasisonthelastword。
　　Theirblankfacesshowedthattheywonderedwheretheparallelcamein。Thentheysaid，blankly:"Ofcoursenot。HeisonlyaPresident。"
　　Itisdoubtlessafactthataprinceisapermanentinterest，aninterestnotsubjecttodeterioration。Thegeneralwhowasneverdefeated，thegeneralwhoneverheldacouncilofwar，theonlygeneralwhoevercommandedaconnectedbattlefronttwelvehundredmileslong，thesmithwhoweldedtogetherthebrokenpartsofagreatrepublicandreestablisheditwhereitisquitelikelytooutlastallthemonarchiespresentandtocome，wasreallyapersonofnoseriousconsequencetothesepeople。Tothem，withtheirtraining，myGeneralwasonlyaman，afterall，whiletheirPrincewasclearlymuchmorethanthatabeingofawhollyunsimilarconstructionandconstitution，andbeingofnomorebloodandkinshipwithmenthanarethesereneeternallightsofthefirmamentwiththepoordulltallowcandlesofcommercethatsputteranddieandleavenothingbehindbutapinchofashesandastink。
　　Isawthelastactof"Tannh:auser。"Isatinthegloomandthedeepstillness，waitingoneminute，twominutes，Idonotknowexactlyhowlongthenthesoftmusicofthehiddenorchestrabegantobreatheitsrich，longsighsoutfromunderthedistantstage，andbyandbythedropcurtainpartedinthemiddleandwasdrawnsoftlyaside，disclosingthetwilightedwoodandawaysideshrine，withawhiterobedgirlprayingandamanstandingnear。Presentlythatnoblechorusofmen’svoiceswasheardapproaching，andfromthatmomentuntiltheclosingofthecurtainitwasmusic，justmusicmusictomakeonedrunkwithpleasure，musictomakeonetakescripandstaffandbeghiswayroundtheglobetohearit。
　　TosuchasareintendingtocomehereintheWagnerseasonnextyearIwishtosay，bringyourdinnerpailwithyou。Ifyoudo，youwillneverceasetobethankful。Ifyoudonot，youwillfinditahardfighttosaveyourselffromfamishinginBayreuth。
　　Bayreuthismerelyalargevillage，andhasnoverylargehotelsoreatinghouses。TheprincipalinnsaretheGoldenAnchorandtheSun。Ateitheroftheseplacesyoucangetanexcellentmealno，Imeanyoucangothereandseeotherpeoplegetit。
　　Thereisnochargeforthis。Thetownislitteredwithrestaurants，buttheyaresmallandbad，andtheyareoverdrivenwithcustom。Youmustsecureatablehoursbeforehand，andoftenwhenyouarriveyouwillfindsomebodyoccupyingit。Wehavehadthisexperience。Wehavehadadailyscrambleforlife;andwhenIsaywe，Iincludeshoalsofpeople。Ihavetheimpressionthattheonlypeoplewhodonothavetoscramblearetheveteransthediscipleswhohavebeenherebeforeandknowtheropes。Ithinktheyarriveaboutaweekbeforethefirstopera，andengageallthetablesfortheseason。Mytribehadtriedallkindsofplacessomeoutsideofthetown，amileortwoandhavecapturedonlynibblingsandoddsandends，neverinanyinstanceacompleteandsatisfyingmeal。Digestible？No，thereverse。
　　TheseoddsandendsaregoingtoserveassouvenirsofBayreuth，andinthatregardtheirvalueisnottobeoverestimated。
　　Photographsfade，bricabracgetslost，bustsofWagnergetbroken，butonceyouabsorbaBayreuthrestaurantmealitisyourpossessionandyourpropertyuntilthetimecomestoembalmtherestofyou。Someofthesepilgrimsherebecome，ineffect，cabinets;cabinetsofsouvenirsofBayreuth。ItisbelievedamongscientiststhatyoucouldexaminethecropofadeadBayreuthpilgrimanywhereintheearthandtellwherehecamefrom。ButIlikethisballast。Ithinka"Hermitage"scrapupateightintheevening，whenallthefaminebreedershavebeenthereandlaidintheirmementoesandgone，isthequietestthingyoucanlayonyourkeelsonexceptgravel。
　　THURSDAY。Theykeeptwoteamsofsingersinstockforthechiefroles，andoneoftheseiscomposedofthemostrenownedartistsintheworld，withMaternaandAlvaryinthelead。I
　　supposeadoubleteamisnecessary;doubtlessasingleteamwoulddieofexhaustioninaweek，foralltheplayslastfromfourintheafternoontilltenatnight。Nearlyallthelaborfallsuponthehalfdozenheadsingers，andapparentlytheyarerequiredtofurnishallthenoisetheycanforthemoney。Iftheyfeelasoft，whispery，mysteriousfeelingtheyarerequiredtoopenoutandletthepublicknowit。OperasaregivenonlyonSundays，Mondays，Wednesdays，andThursdays，withthreedaysofostensiblerestperweek，andtwoteamstodothefouroperas;buttheostensiblerestisdevotedlargelytorehearsing。Itissaidthattheoffdaysaredevotedtorehearsingfromsometimeinthemorningtilltenatnight。Aretheretwoorchestrasalso？Itisquitelikely，sincethereareonehundredandtennamesintheorchestralist。
　　Yesterdaytheoperawas"TristanandIsolde。"Ihaveseenallsortsofaudiencesattheaters，operas，concerts，lectures，sermons，funeralsbutnonewhichwastwintotheWagneraudienceofBayreuthforfixedandreverentialattention。Absoluteattentionandpetrifiedretentiontotheendofanactoftheattitudeassumedatthebeginningofit。Youdetectnomovementinthesolidmassofheadsandshoulders。Youseemtositwiththedeadinthegloomofatomb。Youknowthattheyarebeingstirredtotheirprofoundestdepths;thattherearetimeswhentheywanttoriseandwavehandkerchiefsandshouttheirapprobation，andtimeswhentearsarerunningdowntheirfaces，anditwouldbearelieftofreetheirpentemotionsinsobsorscreams;yetyouhearnotoneutterancetillthecurtainswingstogetherandtheclosingstrainshaveslowlyfadedoutanddied;
　　thenthedeadrisewithoneimpulseandshakethebuildingwiththeirapplause。Everyseatisfullinthefirstact;thereisnotavacantoneinthelast。Ifamanwouldbeconspicuous，lethimcomehereandretirefromthehouseinthemidstofanact。
　　Itwouldmakehimcelebrated。
　　ThisaudienceremindsmeofnothingIhaveeverseenandofnothingIhavereadaboutexceptthecityintheArabiantalewherealltheinhabitantshavebeenturnedtobrassandthetravelerfindsthemaftercenturiesmute，motionless，andstillretainingtheattitudeswhichtheylastknewinlife。HeretheWagneraudiencedressastheyplease，andsitinthedarkandworshipinsilence。AttheMetropolitaninNewYorktheysitinaglare，andweartheirshowiestharness;theyhumairs，theysqueakfans，theytitter，andtheygabbleallthetime。Insomeoftheboxestheconversationandlaughteraresoloudastodividetheattentionofthehousewiththestage。InlargemeasuretheMetropolitanisashowcaseforrichfashionableswhoarenottrainedinWagnerianmusicandhavenoreverenceforit，butwholiketopromoteartandshowtheirclothes。
　　Canthatbeanagreeableatmospheretopersonsinwhomthismusicproducesasortofdivineecstasyandtowhomitscreatorisaverydeity，hisstageatemple，theworksofhisbrainandhandsconsecratedthings，andthepartakingofthemwitheyeandearasacredsolemnity？Manifestly，no。Then，perhapsthetemporaryexpatriation，thetedioustraversingofseasandcontinents，thepilgrimagetoBayreuthstandsexplained。Thesedevoteeswouldworshipinanatmosphereofdevotion。Itisonlyherethattheycanfinditwithoutfleckorblemishoranyworldlypollution。Inthisremotevillagetherearenosightstosee，thereisnonewspapertointrudetheworriesofthedistantworld，thereisnothinggoingon，itisalwaysSunday。Thepilgrimwendstohistempleoutoftown，sitsouthismovingservice，returnstohisbedwithhisheartandsoulandhisbodyexhaustedbylonghoursoftremendousemotion，andheisinnofitconditiontodoanythingbuttolietorpidandslowlygatherbacklifeandstrengthforthenextservice。Thisoperaof"TristanandIsolde"lastnightbroketheheartsofallwitnesseswhowereofthefaith，andIknowofsomewhohaveheardofmanywhocouldnotsleepafterit，butcriedthenightaway。Ifeelstronglyoutofplacehere。SometimesIfeellikethesanepersoninacommunityofthemad;sometimesIfeelliketheoneblindmanwhereallotherssee;theonegropingsavageinthecollegeofthelearned，andalways，duringservice，Ifeellikeahereticinheaven。
　　ButbynomeansdoIeveroverlookorminifythefactthatthisisoneofthemostextraordinaryexperiencesofmylife。I
　　haveneverseenanythinglikethisbefore。Ihaveneverseenanythingsogreatandfineandrealasthisdevotion。
　　FRIDAY。Yesterday’soperawas"Parsifal"again。Theotherswentandtheyshowmarkedadvanceinappreciation;butIwenthuntingforrelicsandremindersoftheMargravineWilhelmina，sheoftheimperishable"Memoirs。"Iamproperlygratefultoherforher（unconscious）satireuponmonarchyandnobility，andthereforenothingwhichherhandtouchedorhereyelookeduponisindifferenttome。Iamherpilgrim;therestofthismultitudehereareWagner’s。
　　TUESDAY。Ihaveseenmylasttwooperas;myseasonisended，andwecrossoverintoBohemiathisafternoon。Iwassupposingthatmymusicalregenerationwasaccomplishedandperfected，becauseIenjoyedbothoftheseoperas，singingandall，and，moreover，oneofthemwas"Parsifal，"buttheexpertshavedisenchantedme。Theysay:
　　"Singing！Thatwasn’tsinging;thatwasthewailing，screechingofthirdrateobscurities，palmedoffonusintheinterestofeconomy。"
　　Well，Ioughttohaverecognizedthesigntheold，suresignthathasneverfailedmeinmattersofart。WheneverI
　　enjoyanythinginartitmeansthatitismightypoor。Theprivateknowledgeofthisfacthassavedmefromgoingtopieceswithenthusiasminfrontofmanyandmanyachromo。However，mybaseinstinctdoesbringmeprofitsometimes;Iwastheonlymanoutofthirtytwohundredwhogothismoneybackonthosetwooperas。
　　WILLIAMDEANHOWELLS
　　Isittruethatthesunofaman’smentalitytouchesnoonatfortyandthenbeginstowanetowardsetting？DoctorOslerischargedwithsayingso。Maybehesaidit，maybehedidn’t;I
　　don’tknowwhichitis。Butifhesaidit，Icanpointhimtoacasewhichproveshisrule。Provesitbybeinganexceptiontoit。TothisplaceInominateMr。Howells。
　　IreadhisVENETIANDAYSaboutfortyyearsago。IcompareitwithhispaperonMachiavelliinalatenumberofHARPER，andIcannotfindthathisEnglishhassufferedanyimpairment。ForfortyyearshisEnglishhasbeentomeacontinualdelightandastonishment。Inthesustainedexhibitionofcertaingreatqualitiesclearness，compression，verbalexactness，andunforcedandseeminglyunconsciousfelicityofphrasingheis，inmybelief，withouthispeerintheEnglishwritingworld。SUSTAINED。
　　Ientrenchmyselfbehindthatprotectingword。Thereareotherswhoexhibitthosegreatqualitiesasgreatlyashedoes，butonlybyintervaleddistributionsofrichmoonlight，withstretchesofveiledanddimmerlandscapebetween;whereasHowells’smoonsailscloudlessskiesallnightandallthenights。
　　InthematterofverbalexactnessMr。Howellshasnosuperior，Isuppose。Heseemstobealmostalwaysabletofindthatelusiveandshiftygrainofgold，theRIGHTWORD。Othershavetoputupwithapproximations，moreorlessfrequently;hehasbetterluck。Tome，theothersareminersworkingwiththegoldpanofnecessitysomeofthegoldwashesoverandescapes;
　　whereas，inmyfancy，heisquicksilverraidingdownarifflenograinofthemetalstandsmuchchanceofeludinghim。Apowerfulagentistherightword:itlightsthereader’swayandmakesitplain;acloseapproximationtoitwillanswer，andmuchtravelingisdoneinawellenoughfashionbyitshelp，butwedonotwelcomeitandapplauditandrejoiceinitaswedowhenTHE
　　rightoneblazesoutonus。Wheneverwecomeupononeofthoseintenselyrightwordsinabookoranewspapertheresultingeffectisphysicalaswellasspiritual，andelectricallyprompt:
　　ittinglesexquisitelyaroundthroughthewallsofthemouthandtastesastartandcrispandgoodastheautumnbutterthatcreamsthesumacberry。Onehasnotimetoexaminethewordandvoteuponitsrankandstanding，theautomaticrecognitionofitssupremacyissoimmediate。Thereisaplentyofacceptableliteraturewhichdealslargelyinapproximations，butitmaybelikenedtoafinelandscapeseenthroughtherain;therightwordwoulddismisstherain，thenyouwouldseeitbetter。Itdoesn’trainwhenHowellsisatwork。
　　Andwheredoeshegettheeasyandeffortlessflowofhisspeech？anditscadencedandundulatingrhythm？anditsarchitecturalfelicitiesofconstruction，itsgracesofexpression，itspemmicanqualityofcompression，andallthat？
　　Borntohim，nodoubt。Allinshininggoodorderinthebeginning，allextraordinary;andalljustasshining，justasextraordinarytoday，afterfortyyearsofdiligentwearandtearanduse。Hepassedhisfortiethyearlongandlongago;butI
　　thinkhisEnglishoftodayhisperfectEnglish，Iwishtosay
　　canthrowdowntheglovebeforehisEnglishofthatantiquetimeandnotbeafraid。
　　IwillgotbacktothepaperonMachiavellinow，andaskthereadertoexaminethispassagefromitwhichIappend。Idonotmeanexamineitinabird’seyeway;Imeansearchit，studyit。
　　And，ofcourse，readitaloud。Imaybewrong，stillitismyconvictionthatonecannotgetoutoffinelywroughtliteratureallthatisinitbyreadingitmutely:
　　Mr。Dyerisratheroftheopinion，firstluminouslysuggestedbyMacaulay，thatMachiavelliwasinearnest，butmustnotbejudgedasapoliticalmoralistofourtimeandracewouldbejudged。HethinksthatMachiavelliwasinearnest，asnonebutanidealistcanbe，andheisthefirsttoimaginehimanidealistimmersedinrealities，whoinvoluntarilytransmutestheeventsunderhiseyeintosomethinglikethevisionaryissuesofreverie。TheMachiavelliwhomhedepictsdoesnotceasetobepoliticallyarepublicanandsociallyajustmanbecauseheholdsupanatrociousdespotlikeCaesarBorgiaasamirrorforrulers。
　　WhatMachiavellibeheldroundhiminItalywasacivicdisorderinwhichtherewasoppressionwithoutstatecraft，andrevoltwithoutpatriotism。WhenamiscreantlikeBorgiaappeareduponthesceneandreducedbothtyrantsandrebelstoanapparentquiescence，hemightverywellseemtosuchadreamerthesaviorofsocietywhomacertainsortofdreamersarealwayslookingfor。MachiavelliwasnolesshonestwhenhehonoredthediabolicalforcethanCarlylewaswhenatdifferenttimesheextolledthestrongmanwhodestroyslibertyincreatingorder。
　　ButCarlylehasonlyjustceasedtobemistakenforareformer，whileitisstillMachiavelli’shardfatetobesotrammeledinhismaterialthathisnamestandsforwhateverismostmalevolentandperfidiousinhumannature。
　　Youseehoweasyandflowingitis;howunvexedbyruggednesses，clumsinesses，brokenmeters;howsimpleandsofarasyouorI
　　canmakeoutunstudied;howclear，howlimpid，howunderstandable，howunconfusedbycrosscurrents，eddies，undertows;howseeminglyunadorned，yetisalladornment，likethelilyofthevalley;
　　andhowcompressed，howcompact，withoutacomplacencysignalhungoutanywheretocallattentiontoit。
　　Therearetwentythreelinesinthequotedpassage。Afterreadingitseveraltimesaloud，oneperceivesthatagooddealofmatteriscrowdedintothatsmallspace。Ithinkitisamodelofcompactness。WhenItakeitsmaterialsapartandworkthemoverandputthemtogetherinmyway，IfindIcannotcrowdtheresultbackintothesamehole，therenotbeingroomenough。I
　　finditacaseofawomanpackingaman’strunk:hecangetthethingsout，buthecan’tevergetthembackagain。
　　Theprofferedparagraphisajustandfairsample;therestofthearticleisascompactasitis;therearenowastewords。
　　Thesampleisjustinotherways:limpid，fluent，graceful，andrhythmicalasitis，itholdsnosuperiorityintheserespectsovertherestoftheessay。Also，thechoicephrasingnoticeableinthesampleisnotlonely;thereisaplentyofitskindistributedthroughtheotherparagraphs。Thisisclaimingmuchwhenthatkinmustfacethechallengeofaphraseliketheoneinthemiddlesentence:"anidealistimmersedinrealitieswhoinvoluntarilytransmutestheeventsunderhiseyeintosomethinglikethevisionaryissuesofreverie。"Withahundredwordstodoitwith，theliteraryartisancouldcatchthatairythoughtandtieitdownandreduceittoaconcretecondition，visible，substantial，understandableandallright，likeacabbage;buttheartistdoesitwithtwenty，andtheresultisaflower。
　　Thequotedphrase，likeathousandothersthathavecomefromthesamesource，hasthequalityofcertainscrapsofversewhichtakeholdofusandstayinourmemories，wedonotunderstandwhy，atfirst:allthewordsbeingtherightwords，noneofthemisconspicuous，andsotheyallseeminconspicuous，thereforewewonderwhatitisaboutthemthatmakestheirmessagetakehold。
　　ThemossymarblesrestOnthelipsthathehasprestIntheirbloom，AndthenameshelovedtohearHavebeencarvedformanyayearOnthetomb。
　　Itislikeadreamystrainofmovingmusic，withnosharpnotesinit。Thewordsareall"right"words，andallthesamesize。Wedonotnoticeitatfirst。Wegettheeffect，itgoesstraighthometous，butwedonotknowwhy。Itiswhentherightwordsareconspicuousthattheythunder:
　　TheglorythatwasGreeceandthegrandeurthatwasRome！
　　WhenIgotbackfromHowellsoldtoHowellsyoungIfindhimarrangingandclusteringEnglishwordswell，butnotanybetterthannow。Heisnotmorefelicitousinconcretingabstractionsnowthanhewasintranslating，then，thevisionsoftheeyesoffleshintowordsthatreproducedtheirformsandcolors:
　　InVenetianstreetstheygivethefallensnownorest。ItisatonceshoveledintothecanalsbyhundredsofhalfnakedFACCHINI;andnowinSt。Mark’sPlacethemusicofinnumerableshovelssmoteuponmyear;andIsawtheshiveringlegionofpovertyasitengagedtheelementsinastruggleforthepossessionofthePiazza。Butthesnowcontinuedtofall，andthroughthetwilightofthedescendingflakesallthistoilandencounteredlookedlikethatwearykindofeffortindreams，whenthemostdeterminedindustryseemsonlytorenewthetask。Theloftycrestofthebelltowerwashiddeninthefoldsoffallingsnow，andIcouldnolongerseethegoldenangeluponitssummit。
　　ButlookedatacrossthePiazza，thebeautifuloutlineofSt。
　　Mark’sChurchwasperfectlypenciledintheair，andtheshiftingthreadsofthesnowfallwerewovenintoaspellofnovelenchantmentaroundthestructurethatalwaysseemedtometooexquisiteinitsfantasticlovelinesstobeanythingbutthecreationofmagic。Thetendersnowhadcompassionatedthebeautifuledificeforallthewrongsoftime，andsohidthestainsanduglinessofdecaythatitlookedasifjustfromthehandofthebuilderor，bettersaid，justfromthebrainofthearchitect。Therewasmarvelousfreshnessinthecolorsofthemosaicsinthegreatarchesofthefacade，andallthatgraciousharmonyintowhichthetemplerises，ormarblescrollsandleafyexuberanceairilysupportingthestatuesofthesaints，wasahundredtimesetherealizedbythepurityandwhitenessofthedriftingflakes。Thesnowlaylightlyonthegoldenglovesthattremblelikepeacockscrestsabovethevastdomes，andplumedthemwithsoftestwhite;itrobedthesaintsinermine;anditdancedoverallitsworks，asifexultinginitsbeautybeautywhichfilledmewithsubtle，selfishyearningtokeepsuchevanescentlovelinessforthelittlewhilelongerofmywholelife，andwithdespairtothinkthateventhepoorlifelessshadowofitcouldneverbefairlyreflectedinpictureorpoem。
　　Throughthewaveringsnowfall，theSaintTheodoreupononeofthegranitepillarsofthePiazzettadidnotshowsogrimashiswontis，andthewingedlionontheothermighthavebeenawingedlamb，sogentleandmildhelookedbythetenderlightofthestorm。Thetowersoftheislandchurchesloomedfaintandfarawayinthedimness;thesailorsintheriggingoftheshipsthatlayintheBasinwroughtlikephantomsamongtheshrouds;
　　thegondolasstoleinandoutoftheopaquedistancemorenoiselesslyanddreamilythanever;andasilence，almostpalpable，layuponthemutestcityintheworld。
　　ThespiritofVeniceisthere:ofacitywhereAgeandDecay，faggedwithdistributingdamageandrepulsivenessamongtheothercitiesoftheplanetinaccordancewiththepolicyandbusinessoftheirprofession，comeforrestandplaybetweenseasons，andtreatthemselvestotheluxuryandrelaxationofsinkingtheshopandinventingandsquanderingcharmsallabout，insteadofabolishingsuchastheyfind，asittheirhabitwhennotonvacation。
　　IntheworkingseasontheydobusinessinBostonsometimes，andacharacterinTHEUNDISCOVEREDCOUNTRYtakesaccuratenoteofpatheticeffectswroughtbythemupontheaspectsofastreetofoncedignifiedandeleganthomeswhoseoccupantshavemovedawayandleftthemapreytoneglectandgradualruinandprogressivedegradation;adescentwhichreachesbottomatlast，whenthestreetbecomesaroostforhumbleprofessionalsofthefaithcureandfortunetellingsort。
　　Whataqueer，melancholyhouse，whataqueer，melancholystreet！Idon’tthinkIwaseverinastreetbeforewhenquitesomanyprofessionalladies，withEnglishsurnames，preferredMadamtoMrs。ontheirdoorplates。Andthepooroldplacehassuchadesperatelyconsciousairofgoingtothedeuce。Everyhouseseemstowinceasyougoby，andbuttonitselfuptothechinforfearyoushouldfindoutithadnoshirtonsotospeak。Idon’tknowwhat’sthereason，butthesematerialtokensofasocialdecayafflictmeterribly;atipsywomanisn’tdreadfulerthanahaggardoldhouse，that’soncebeenahome，inastreetlikethis。
　　Mr。Howells’spicturesarenotmerestiff，hard，accuratephotographs;theyarephotographswithfeelinginthem，andsentiment，photographstakeninadream，onemightsay。
　　Asconcernshishumor，Iwillnottrytosayanything，yetI
　　wouldtry，ifIhadthewordsthatmightapproximatelyreachuptoitshighplace。Idonotthinkanyoneelsecanplaywithhumorousfanciessogracefullyanddelicatelyanddeliciouslyashedoes，norhassomanytoplaywith，norcancomesonearmakingthemlookasiftheyweredoingtheplayingthemselvesandhewasnotawarethattheywereatit。Fortheyareunobtrusive，andquietintheirways，andwellconducted。Hisisahumorwhichflowssoftlyallaroundaboutandoverandthroughthemeshofthepage，pervasive，refreshing，healthgiving，andmakesnomoreshowandnomorenoisethandoesthecirculationoftheblood。
　　ThereisanotherthingwhichiscontentinglynoticeableinMr。Howells’sbooks。Thatishis"stagedirections"thoseartificeswhichauthorsemploytothrowakindofhumannaturalnessaroundasceneandaconversation，andhelpthereadertoseetheoneandgetatmeaningsintheotherwhichmightnotbeperceivedifentrustedunexplainedtothebarewordsofthetalk。Someauthorsoverdothestagedirections，theyelaboratethemquitebeyondnecessity;theyspendsomuchtimeandtakeupsomuchroomintellingushowapersonsaidathingandhowhelookedandactedwhenhesaiditthatwegettiredandvexedandwishhehadn’tsaiditall。Otherauthors’directionsarebriefenough，butitisseldomthatthebrevitycontainseitherwitorinformation。Writersofthisschoolgoinrags，inthematterofstatedirections;themajorityofthemhavingnothinginstockbutacigar，alaugh，ablush，andaburstingintotears。Intheirpovertytheyworkthesesorrythingstothebone。Theysay:
　　"……repliedAlfred，flippingtheashfromhiscigar。"
　　（Thisexplainsnothing;itonlywastesspace。）
　　"……respondedRichard，withalaugh。"（Therewasnothingtolaughabout;thereneveris。Thewriterputsitinfromhabitautomatically;heispayingnoattentiontohiswork;orhewouldseethatthereisnothingtolaughat;often，whenaremarkisunusuallyandpoignantlyflatandsilly，hetriestodeceivethereaderbyenlargingthestagedirectionandmakingRichardbreakinto"frenziesofuncontrollablelaughter。"Thismakesthereadersad。）
　　"……murmuredGladys，blushing。"（Thispooroldshopwornblushisatiresomething。WegetsowewouldratherGladyswouldfalloutofthebookandbreakherneckthandoitagain。
　　Sheisalwaysdoingit，andusuallyirrelevantly。Wheneveritisherturntomurmurshehangsoutherblush;itistheonlythingshe’sgot。Inalittlewhilewehateher，justaswedoRichard。）
　　"……repeatedEvelyn，burstingintotears。"（Thiskindkeepabookdampallthetime。Theycan’tsayathingwithoutcrying。TheycrysomuchaboutnothingthatbyandbywhentheyhavesomethingtocryABOUTtheyhavegonedry;theysob，andfetchnothing;wearenotmoved。Weareonlyglad。）
　　Theygavelme，thesestaleandoverworkedstagedirections，thesecarbonfilmsthatgotburntoutlongagoandcannotnowcarryanyfaintestthreadoflight。Itwouldbewelliftheycouldberelievedfromdutyandflungoutintheliterarybackyardtorotanddisappearalongwiththediscardedandforgotten"steeds"and"halidomes"andsimilarstagepropertiesoncesodeartoourgrandfathers。ButIamfriendlytoMr。Howells’sstagedirections;morefriendlytothemthantoanyoneelse’s，I
　　think。Theyaredonewithacompetentanddiscriminatingart，andarefaithfultotherequirementsofastatedirection’sproperandlawfuloffice，whichistoinform。SometimestheyconveyasceneanditsconditionssowellthatIbelieveIcouldseethesceneandgetthespiritandmeaningoftheaccompanyingdialogueifsomeonewouldreadmerelythestagedirectionstomeandleaveoutthetalk。Forinstance，ascenelikethis，fromTHEUNDISCOVEREDCOUNTRY:
　　"……andshelaidherarmswithabeseechinggestureonherfather’sshoulder。"
　　"……sheanswered，followinghisgesturewithaglance。"
　　"……shesaid，laughingnervously。"
　　"……sheasked，turningswiftlyuponhimthatstrange，searchingglance。"
　　"……sheanswered，vaguely。"
　　"……shereluctantlyadmitted。"
　　"……buthervoicediedwearilyaway，andshestoodlookingintohisfacewithpuzzledentreaty。"
　　Mr。Howellsdoesnotrepeathisforms，anddoesnotneedto;
　　hecaninventfreshoneswithoutlimit。Itismainlytherepetitionoverandoveragain，bythethirdrates，ofwornandcommonplaceandjuicelessformsthatmakestheirnovelssuchawearinessandvexationtous，Ithink。Wedonotmindoneortwodeliveriesoftheirwares，butasweturnthepagesoverandkeeponmeetingthemwepresentlygettiredofthemandwishtheywoulddootherthingsforachange。
　　"……repliedAlfred，flippingtheashfromhiscigar。"
　　"……respondedRichard，withalaugh。"
　　"……murmuredGladys，blushing。"
　　"……repeatedEvelyn，burstingintotears。"
　　"……repliedtheEarl，flippingtheashfromhiscigar。"
　　"……respondedtheundertaker，withalaugh。"
　　"……murmuredthechambermaid，blushing。"
　　"……repeatedtheburglar，burstingintotears。"
　　"……repliedtheconductor，flippingtheashfromhiscigar。"
　　"……respondedArkwright，withalaugh。"
　　"……murmuredthechiefofpolice，blushing。"
　　"……repeatedthehousecat，burstingintotears。"
　　Andsoonandsoon;tillatlastitceasestoexcite。I
　　alwaysnoticestagedirections，becausetheyfretmeandkeepmetryingtogetoutoftheirway，justastheautomobilesdo。Atfirst;thenbyandbytheybecomemonotonousandIgetrunover。
　　Mr。Howellshasdonemuchwork，andthespiritofitisasbeautifulasthemakeofit。IhaveheldhiminadmirationandaffectionsomanyyearsthatIknowbythenumberofthoseyearsthatheisoldnow;buthisheartisn’t，norhispen;andyearsdonotcount。Lethimhaveplentyofthem;thereisprofitinthemforus。