FROMNEWYORKINTONEWENGLAND
Thereis，ofcourse，almostaworld’sdifferencebetweenEnglandandtheContinentanywhere;butIdonotrecalljustnowanytransitionbetweenContinentalcountrieswhichinvolvesamoredistinctchangeinthesuperficialaspectofthingsthanthepassagefromtheMiddleStatesintoNewEngland。ItisallAmerican，butAmericanofdiverseideals;andyouarehardlyovertheborderbeforeyouaresensibleofdiverseeffects，whicharethemoreapparenttoyouthemoreAmericanyouare。IfyouwantthecontrastatitssharpestyouhadbetterleaveNewYorkonaSoundboat;forthenyousleepoutoftheMiddleStatecivilizationandwakeintothecivilizationofNewEngland，whichseemstogiveitsstamptonatureherself。Astoman，hetakesitwhethernativeoralien;andifheisforeign—bornitmarkshimanotherIrishman，Italian，Canadian，Jew，ornegrofromhisbrotherinanyotherpartoftheUnitedStates。
I。
Whenyouhaveatheoryofanykind，proofsofitareapttoseekyouout，andI，whoamratherfondofmyfaithinNewEngland’sinfluenceofthissort，hadasprettyaninstanceofitthedayaftermyarrivalasIcouldwish。AcoloredbrotherofMassachusettsbirth，asblackasamancanwellbe，andofamerelyanthropoidalprofile，wasdrivingmealongshoreinsearchofasea—sidehotelwhenwecameuponaweak—mindedyoungchickenintheroad。Thenaturalexpectationisthatanychickeninthesecircumstanceswillwaitforyourvehicle，andthenflyupbeforeitwithaloudscreech;butthischickenmayhavebeenovercomebytheheat（itwasalandbreezeanditdrewlikethebreathofafurnaceoverthehay—cocksandtheclover），oritmayhavemistimedthewheel，whichpassedoveritsheadandleftittoflopamomentinthedustandthenfallstill。Thepoorlittletragedywassufficientlydistressfultome，butIboreitwell，comparedwithmydriver。Hecouldhardlystoplamentingit;andwhenpresentlywemetayoungfarmer，hepulledup。
"Yougoin’pastJimMarden’s？""Yes。""Well，Iwishyou’dtellhimI
justrunoverachickenofhis，andIkilledit，Iguess。Iguessitwasaprettybigone。""Ohno，"Iputin，"itwasonlyabroiler。Whatdoyouthinkitwasworth？"Itookoutsomemoney，andthefarmernotedthelargestcoininmyhand;"Abouthalfadollar，Iguess。"OnthisIputitallbackinmypocket，andthenhesaid，"Well，ifachickendon’tknowenoughtogetoutoftheroad，Iguessyouain’ttoblame。"
Iexpressedthatthiswasmyownviewofthecase，andwedroveon。WhenwepartedIgavethehalf—dollartomydriver，andbeggedhimnottolettheownerofthechickencomeonmefordamages;andthoughhechuckledhispleasureinthejoke，Icouldseethathewasstillunhappy，andI
havenodoubtthathehasthatpulletonhisconscienceyet，unlesshehaspaidforit。Hewasofaracewhichelsewherehassoimmemoriallyplunderedhen—rooststhatchickensareasfreetoitastheairitbreathes，withoutanyconceivabletaintofprivateownership。ButthespiritofNewEnglandhadsodeeplyenteredintohimthattheimbecilebroilerofanother，slainbypureaccidentandbyitsowncontributorynegligence，wassaddeninghim，whileIwasoffinmytrainwithoutapangfortheownerandwithonlyanagreeablepathosforthepullet。
II。
Theinstanceisperhapsextreme;and，atanyrate，ithascarriedmeinapsychologicaldirectionawayfromthesimplerdifferenceswhichImeanttonoteinNewEngland。Theywereevidentassoonasourtrainbegantorunfromthesteamboatlandingintothecountry，andtheyhaveintensified，iftheyhavenotmultiplied，themselvesasIhavepenetrateddeeperanddeeperintothebeautifulregion。Thelandispoorerthanthelandtothesouthward——oneseesthatatonce;thesoilisthin，andoftensothicklyburdenedwithgranitebowldersthatitcouldneverhaveborneanyothercropsincethefirstPuritans，orPilgrims，cutawaytheprimevalwoodsandbetrayeditshopelesssterilitytothelight。Butwhereveryoucometoafarm—house，whetherstandingaloneorinoneofthevillagegroupsthatNewEnglandfarm—houseshavealwayslikedtogatherthemselvesinto，itisofaneatnessthatbringsdespair，andofarepairthatoughttobringshametothebeholderfrommoreeasy—goingconditions。Everythingiskeptupwithastrenuousvirtuethatimpartsanairofself—respecttothelandscape，whichthebleachingandblackeningstonewalls，wanderingoverthehill—slopes，divideintowoodlotsofwhitebirchandpine，stonypastures，andlittlepatchesofpotatoesandcorn。Themowing—landsalonearerich;andiftheNewEnglandyearisinthegloryofthelatestJune，thebreathofthecloverblowshoney——sweetintothecarwindows，andthefragranceofthenew—cuthayriseshotfromtheheavyswathsthatseemtosmokeinthesun。
Wehavestruckahotspell，oneofthosetorridmoodofcontinentalweatherwhichwehavetelegraphedusaheadtoheightenoursufferingbyanticipation。ButthefarmsteadsandvillagehousesaresafeintheshadeoftheirshelteringtreesamidthefluctuationofthegrassthatgrowssotallaboutthemthattheJuneroseshavetostrainupwardtogetthemselvesfreeofit。Behindeachdwellingisabillowymassoforchard，andbeforeittheGothicarchwayoftheelmsstretchesabovethequietstreet。ThereisnotreeintheworldsofullofsentimentastheAmericanelm，anditisnowheresogracefulasintheseNewEnglandvillages，whicharethemselves，Ithink，theprettiestandwholesomestofmortalsojourns。Byahappyinstinct，theirwoodenhousesareallpaintedwhite，toamarbleeffectthatsuitsourmeridionalsky，andthecontrastoftheirdark—greenshuttersisdeliciouslyrefreshing。Therewasanevilhour，theterriblemomentoftheaestheticrevivalnowhappilypast，whenwhitewallsandgreenblindswerethoughtinbadtaste，andthevillagehouseswereoftentingedadrearygroundcolor，oradolefulolive，oragloomyred，butnowtheyhavereturnedtotheirearlierlove。Notthefirstlove;thatwasapalebuffwithwhitetrim;
butIdoubtifitweregoodforallkindsofvillagehouses;theeyeratherdemandsthewhite。Thepalebuffdoesverywellforlargecolonialmansions，likeLowell’sorLongfellow’sinCambridge;butwhenyoucome，say，toseethegreatsquarehousesbuiltinPortsmouth，NewHampshire;earlyinthiscentury，andpaintedwhite，youfindthatwhite，afterall，isthethingforourclimate，eveninthetowns。
Insuchavillageasmycoloredbrotherdrovemethroughonthewaytothebeachitwasofanabsolutefitness;andIwishIcouldconveyaduesenseoftheexquisitekeepingoftheplace。Eachwhitehousewasmoreorlesscloselybeltedinwithawhitefence，ofpanelsorpickets;thegrassydoor—yardsglowedwithflowers，andoftenaclimbingroseemboweredthedoor—waywithitsbloom。Awaybackwardorsidewisestretchedthewoodshedfromthedwellingtothebarn，andshutthewholeunderonecover;theturfgrewtothewheel—tracksoftheroad—way，overwhichtheelmsroseanddrooped;andfromoneendofthevillagetotheotheryoucouldnot，asthesayingis，findastonetothrowatadog。
IknowHolland;IhaveseenthewivesofScheveningenscrubbingupforSundaytotheverymiddleoftheirbrickstreets，butIdoubtifDutchcleanlinessgoessofarwithout，orcomesfromsodeepascruplewithin，asthecleanlinessofNewEngland。IfeltsokeenlythefemininequalityofitsmotiveasIpassedthroughthatvillage，thatIthinkifIhaddroppedsomuchasapieceofpaperinthestreetImusthaveknockedatthefirstdoorandbeggedtheladyofthehouse（whowouldhaveopeneditinpersonafterwipingherhandsfromherwork，takingoffherapron，andgivingaglanceatherselfinthemirrorandatmethroughthewindowblind）toreportmetotheselectmenintheinterestofgoodmorals。
III。
IdidnotknowatoncequitehowtoreconcilethepresentfoulnessoftheNewEnglandcapitalwiththefairnessoftheNewEnglandcountry;andI
amstillsomewhatembarrassedtoownthatafterNewYork（evenundertherelaxingruleofTammany）Bostonseemedverydirtywhenwearrivedthere。
AtbestIwasnevermorethananaturalizedBostonian;butitusedtogivemegreatpleasure——sopenetratinglydoestheplacequalifyeventhesojourningWesterner——tothinkofthedefectofNewYorkinthevirtuethatisnexttogodliness;andnowIhadtohangmyheadforshameatthemortifyingcontrastoftheBostonstreetstothewell—sweptasphaltwhichIhadleftfryingintheNewYorksuntheafternoonbefore。Later，however，whenIbegantomeetthesortofBostonfacesIrememberedsowell——good，just，pure，butsetandsevere，withtheirlookofchallenge，ofinterrogation，almostofreproof——theynotonlyignoredthedisgracefuluntidinessofthestreets，buttheyconvincedmeofastateoftransitionwhichwouldleavetheplacesweptandgarnishedbehindit;
andcomfortedmeagainstthelitterofthewindingthoroughfaresandnarrowlanes，wherethedusthadblownupagainstthebrickwalls，andseemedpermanentlytohavesmutchedanddiscoloredthem。
InNewYorkyouseetheAmericanfaceasEuropecharacterizesit;inBostonyouseeitasitcharacterizesEurope;anditisinBostonthatyoucanbestimaginethestrenuousgrappleofthenativeforceswhichallalienthingsmustyieldtotilltheytaketheAmericancast。Itisalmostdismaying，thatphysiognomy，beforeitfamiliarizesitselfanew;
andinthebrieffirstmomentwhileitisyetobjective，youransackyourconscienceforanysinsyoumayhavecommittedinyourabsencefromitandmakereadytodopenanceforthem。IfeltalmostasifIhadbroughtthedirtystreetswithme，andwereguiltyofhavingleftthemlyingabout，soimpossibleweretheywithreferencetotheBostonface。
Itisafacethatexpressescare，eventothepointofanxiety，anditlookedintothewindowofourcarriagewiththeseriouseyesofourelderlyhackmantomakeperfectlysureofourdestinationbeforewedroveawayfromthestation。Itwasalittlerigorouswithus，asrequiringustohaveaclearmind;butitwasnotunfriendly，notunkind，anditwaspatientfromlongexperience。InNewYorktherearenoelderlyhackmen;
butinBostontheyabound，andIcannotbelievetheywouldbecapableofbadfaithwithtravellers。Infact，Idoubtifthisclassisanywhereaspredatoryasitispainted;butinBostonitappearstohavethepublichonorinitskeeping。Idonotmeanthatitwaslessmature，lessself—
respectfulinPortsmouth，wherewewerenexttoarrive;moresoitcouldnotbe;anequalsenseofsafety，ofease，beganwithitinbothplaces，andallthroughNewEnglanditisofnativebirth，whileinNewYorkitiscomposedofmenofmanynations，withaweightinnumberstowardstheCelticstrain。TheprevalenceofthenativeinNewEnglandhelpsyousensiblytorealizefromthefirstmomentthathereyouareinAmericaasthefirstAmericansimaginedandmeantit;andnowhereinNewEnglandistheoriginaltraditionmorepurelykeptthaninthebeautifuloldseaportofNewHampshire。Infact，withoutbeingquitepreparedtodefendathesistothiseffect，IbelievethatPortsmouthispreeminentlyAmerican，andinthisitdiffersfromNewburyportandfromSalem，whichhavesufferedfromdifferentcausesanequalcommercialdecline，and，thoughamongtheearliestofthegreatPuritantownsafterBoston，arenowlargelymadeupofaliensinraceandreligion;theseareactuallythemajority，Ibelieve，inNewburyport。
IV。
TheadversityofPortsmouthbeganearlyinthecentury，butbeforethattimeshehadprosperedsogreatlythathermerchantprinceswereabletobuildthemselveswoodenpalaceswithwhitewallsandgreenshutters，ofagrandeurandbeautyunmatchedelsewhereinthecountry。Idonotknowwhatarchitecthadhiswaywiththem，thoughhisnameisrichlyworthremembrance，buttheylethimmakethemhabitationsofsuchgracefulproportionandofsuchdelicateornamentthattheyhavebecomeshrinesofpiouspilgrimagewiththeyoungarchitectsofourdaywhohopetohouseourwell—to—dopeoplefitlyincountryorsuburbs。Thedecorationisoftenestspentonaporchorportal，orafriezeofpeculiarrefinement;
orperhapsitfeelsitswaytothecarvencasementsortothedelicateiron—workofthetransoms;therestisasimplicityandafaultlessproprietyofforminthestatelymansionswhichstandunderthearchingelms，withtheirgardenssloping，ordroppingbyeasyterracesbehindthemtotheriver，ortothebordersofotherpleasances。Theyareallofwood，exceptforthegranitefoundationsanddoorsteps，butthestoutedificesrarelyswayoutofthetruelinegiventhem，andtheylookasiftheymightkeepityetanothercentury。
Betweenthem，inthesun—shottenshade，liethequietstreets，whosegravelledstretchisprobablynevercleanedbecauseitneverneedscleaning。Eventhebusinessstreets，andthequaintsquarewhichgivesthemostAmericanoftownsanairsoforeignandOldWorldly，lookasifthewindandrainalonecaredforthem;buttheyarenotfoul，andthenarroweravenues，wherethesmallerhousesofgray，unpaintedwoodcrowdeachother，flushuponthepavements，towardsthewater——side，aredoubtlessunvisitedbythehoeorbroom，andmustbekeptcleanbyaNewEnglandconscienceagainstgettingthemuntidy。
Whenyougettotheriver—sidethereisonestretchofnarrow，high—
shoulderedwarehouseswhichrecallHolland，especiallyinafewwiththeirgablesbrokeninsteps，aftertheDutchfashion。These，withtheirmoulderingpiersandgrass—grownwharves，havetheirpathos，andthewholeplaceembodiesinitsarchitectureaninterestingrecordofthepast，fromthetimewhenthehomesickexileshuddledclosetothewater’sedgetilltheperiodofpost—colonialprosperity，whenproudmerchantsandopulentcaptainssettheirvastsquarehouseseachinitshandsomespaceofgardenedground。
Myadjectivesmightmisleadastosize，buttheycouldnotastobeauty，andIseekinvainforthosethatcandulyimpartthepeculiarcharmofthetown。Portsmouthstillawaitshernovelist;hewillfindarichfieldwhenhecomes;andIhopehewillcomeoftherightsex，foritneedssomeminuteandsubtlefeminineskill，likethatofJaneAusten，toexpressafitsenseofitslifeinthepast。OfitslifeinthepresentIknownothing。Icouldonlygobythosedelightful，silenthouses，andsighmylongingsoulintotheirdiminteriors。Whennowandthenayoungshapeinsummersilk，oragroupofyoungshapesindiaphanousmuslin，flutteredoutofthem，Iwasnowiser;anddoubtlessmyelderlyfancywouldhavebeenunabletodealwithwhatwentoninthem。Somegirlofthoseflittingthroughthewarm，odoroustwilightmustbecomethecreativehistorianoftheplace;IcanatleastimagineaJaneAustennowgrowingupinPortsmouth。
V。
IfMissJewettwereofalittlelongerbreaththanshehasyetshownherselfinfiction，ImightsaytheJaneAustenofPortsmouthwasalreadywithus，andhadmerelynotyetbeguntodealwithitspreciousmaterial。
OnedaywhenwecrossedthePiscataquafromNewHampshireintoMaine，andtookthetrolley—lineforarunalongthroughthelovelycoastcountry，wesuddenlyfoundourselvesinthemidstofherownpeople，whoarealittledifferentsortofNew—EnglandersfromthoseofMissWilkins。Theybegantoflockintothecar，youngmaidensandold，mothersandgrandmothers，andniceboysandgirls，withavery，veryfewfarmeryouthofmarriageableage，andmorerusticandseafaringelderslongpastit，allintheSundaybestwhichtheyhadworntothegraduationexercisesattheHighSchool，wherewetookthemmostlyup。Thewomenkindwereinanervoustwitteroftalkandlaughter，andthementolerantlygaybeyondtheirwont，"passingthetimeofday"withoneanother，andhelpingthemoretumultuoussextogetsettledintheovercrowdedopencar。Theycourteouslymaderoomforoneanother，andletthechildrenstandbetweentheirknees，ortookthemintheirlaps，withthatunfailingAmericankindnesswhichIamprouderofthantheAmericanvalorinbattle，observinginallthatAmericandecorumwhichisnobadthingeither。Wehadchanceduponthehighandmightyoccasionoftheneighborhoodyear，whenpeoplemightwellhavebeenalittleofftheirbalance，buttherewasnotaboisterousnoteinthesubduedaffair。Aswepassedtheschool—housedoor，threedear，prettymaidsinwhitegownsandwhiteslippersstoodonthestepsandgentlysmileduponourcompany。Onecouldseethattheywereinwardlyglowingandthrillingwiththeexcitementoftheirgraduation，butwerecontrollingtheiremotionstoacalmworthyoftheaugustevent，sothatnoonemighteverhaveittosaythattheyhadappearedsilly。
Thecarswepton，andstoppedtosetdownpassengersattheirdoorsorgates，wheretheyseverallyleftit，withaneasyairasofprivateownership，intosomesenseofwhichthetrolleypromptlyflatterspeoplealongitsobliginglines。Onecomfortablematron，inacinnamonsilk，wasjustsuchafigureasthatintheMissWilkins’sstorywherethebridegroomfailstocomeonthewedding—day;but，asIsay，theymademethinkmoreofMissJewett’speople。TheshorefolkandtheDown—Eastersarespecificallyhers;andthesewerejustsuchasmighthavebelongedin’TheCountryofthePointedFirs’，or’SisterWisby’sCourtship’，or’DulhamLadies’，or’AnAutumnRamble’，ortwentyotherentrancingtales。
Sometimesoneofthemwouldtryherfrontdoor，andthen，withabridlingtossofthehead，expressthatshehadforgottenlockingit，andsliproundtothekitchen;butmostoftheladiesmadetheirwaybackatoncebetweentherosesandsyringasoftheirgrassydoor—yards，whichwereasneatandprimastheirownpersons，orthebestchamberintheirwhite—
walled，green—shuttered，story—and—a—halfhouse，andasperfectlykeptastheverykitchenitself。
Thetrolley—linehadbeenopenedonlysincethelastSeptember，butinaneffectoffamiliaruseitwasasifithadalwaysbeenthere，anditclimbedandcrookedandclamberedaboutwiththeeasyfreedomofthecountryroadwhichitfollowed。Itisalandoflowhills，brokenbyfrequentreachesofthesea，anditismostamusing，mostamazing，toseehowfranklythetrolley—cartakesandovercomesitsdifficulties。Itscramblesupanddownthelittlesteepslikeacat，andwhisksroundasharpandsuddencurvewithafelinescreech，broadeningintoaloudcaterwaulasitdartsovertheestuariesonitstrestles。Itscoursedoesnotlackexcitement，andIsupposeitdoesnotlackdanger;butasyettherehavebeennoaccidents，anditisnotsodisfiguringasonewouldthink。Thelandscapehasalreadyacceptedit，andismakingthebestofit;andtothecountrypeopleitisaninestimableconvenience。
Itpasseseverybody’sfrontdoororbackdoor，andthefarmerscangetthemselvesortheirproduce（foritrunsanexpresscar）intoPortsmouthinanhour，twiceanhour，alldaylong。Insummerthecarsareopen，withtransverseseats，andstoutcurtainsthatquiteshutoutasquallofwindorrain。Inwinterthecarsareclosed，andheatedbyelectricity。
TheyoungmotormanwhomIspokewith，whilewewaitedonasidingtoletacarfromtheoppositedirectiongetby，toldmethathewascaughtoutinablizzardlastWinter，andpassedthenightinasnowdrift。"Butthecahwassowa’m，Inevasuff’edamite。"
"Well，"Isummarized，"itmustbeagreatadvantagetoallthepeoplealongtheline。"
"Well，youwouldn’t’a’thoughtso，fromthekicktheymade。"
"Isupposethecottagers"——thesummercolony——"didn’tlikethenoise。"
"Ohyes;that’swhatImean。The’swhe’thekickwas。Thenativeslikeit。Iguessthesummafolks’lllikeit，too。"
Helookedroundatmewithenjoymentofhisjokeinhiseye，forwebothunderstoodthatthesummerfolkscouldnothelpthemselves，andmustbowtothewillofthemajority。
THEARTOFTHEADSMITH
Theotherday，afriendofmine，whoprofessesalltheintimacyofabadconsciencewithmanyofmythoughtsandconvictions，cameinwithabulkybookunderhisarm，andsaid，"Iseebyaguiltylookinyoureyethatyouaremeaningtowriteaboutspring。"
"Iamnot，"Iretorted，"andifIwere，itwouldbebecausenoneofthenewthingshavebeensaidyetaboutspring，andbecausespringisneveranoldstory，anymorethanyouthorlove。"
"Ihaveheardsomethinglikethatbefore，"saidmyfriend，"andI
understand。Thesimpletruthofthematteristhatthisisthefag—endoftheseason，andyouhaverunlowinyoursubjects。Nowtakemyadviceanddon’twriteaboutspring;itwillmakeeverybodyhateyou，andwilldonogood。Writeaboutadvertising。"Hetappedthebookunderhisarmsignificantly。"Hereisathemeforyou。"
I。
HehadnosoonerpronouncedthesewordsthanIbegantofeelaweirdandpotentfascinationinhissuggestion。Itookthebookfromhimandlookediteagerlythrough。ItwascalledGoodAdvertising，anditwaswrittenbyoneoftheexpertsinthebusinesswhohaveadvanceditalmosttothegradeofanart，orahumanity。
"ButIseenothinghere，"Isaid，musingly，"whichwouldenableaself—
respectingauthortocometothehelpofhispublisheringivingdueholduponthepublicinterestthosecharmingcharacteristicsofhisbookwhichnooneelsecanfeelsopenetratinglyorcelebratesopersuasively。"
"Iexpectedsomesuchobjectionfromyou，"saidmyfriend。"Youwilladmitthatthereiseverythingelsehere？"
"Everythingbutthatmostessentialthing。Youknowhowweallfeelaboutit：thebitterdisappointment，theheart—sickeningsenseofinsufficiencythattheadvertisedpraisesofourbooksgiveuspoorauthors。Theeffectisfarworsethanthatofthereviews，forthereviewerisnotyourallyandcopartner，whileyourpublisher——"
"Iseewhatyoumean，"saidmyfriend。"Butyoumusthavepatience。
Iftheauthorofthisbookcanwritesoluminouslyofadvertisinginotherrespects，Iamsurehewillyetbeabletocastasatisfactorylightuponyourproblem。Thequestionis，Ibelieve，howtotranslateintoirresistibletermsallthatfondandexultantregardwhichawriterfeelsforhisbook，allhispervasiveappreciationofitssingularbeauty，uniquevalue，anduttercharm，andtransferittoprint，withoutinfringinguponthedelicateandshrinkingmodestywhichisthedistinguishingornamentoftheliteraryspirit？"
"Somethinglikethat。Butyouunderstand。"
"PerhapsaRoentgenraymightbegottodoit，"saidmyfriend，thoughtfully，"orperhapsthisauthormaybringhismindtobearuponityet。Heseemstohaveconsideredeverykindofadvertisingexceptbook—
advertising。"
"Themostimportantofall！"Icried，impatiently。
"Youthinksobecauseyouareinthatline。Ifyouwereinthelineofvarnish，orbicycles，orsoap，ortypewriters，orextractofbeef，orofmalt——"
"StillIshouldbeinterestedinbook——advertising，becauseitisthemostvitalofhumaninterests。"
"Tellme，"saidmyfriend，"doyoureadtheadvertisementsofthebooksofrivalauthors？"
"Brotherauthors，"Icorrectedhim。
"Well，brotherauthors。"
Isaid，No，candidly，Ididnot;andIforboretoaddthatIthoughtthemlittlebetterthanawasteofthepublishers’money。
II。
Myfrienddidnotpursuehisinquirytomypersonaldisadvantage，butseemedtopreferamoregeneralphilosophyofthematter。
"Ihaveoftenwondered，"hesaid，"attheenormousexpansionofadvertising，anddoubtedwhetheritwasnotmostlywasted。Butmyauthor，here，hassuggestedabrilliantfactwhichIwasunwittinglygropingfor。WhenyoutakeupaSundaypaper"——Ishuddered，andmyfriendsmiledintelligence——"youaresimplyappalledatthemilesofannouncementsofallsorts。Whocanpossiblyreadthem？Whocareseventolookatthem？Butifyouwantsomethinginparticular——tofurnishahouse，orbuyasuburbanplace，ortakeasteamerforEurope，orgo，tothetheatre——thenyoufindoutatoncewhoreadstheadvertisements，andcarestolookatthem。Theyrespondtothemultifariouswantsofthewholecommunity。Youhavebeforeyouthelivingoperationofthatlawofdemandandsupplywhichithasalwaysbeensuchaboretohearabout。
Asoftenhappens，thesupplyseemstocomebeforethedemand;butthat’sonlyanappearance。Youwantedsomething，andyoufoundanoffertomeetyourwant。"
"Thenyoudon’tbelievethattheoffertomeetyourwantsuggestedit？"
"Iseethatmyauthorbelievessomethingofthekind。Wemaybefullofallsortsofunconsciouswantswhichmerelyneedthevivifyinginfluenceofanadvertisementtomakethemspringintoactivebeing;butIhaveafeelingthatthemoneypaidforadvertisingwhichappealstopotentialwantsislargelythrownaway。Youmustwantathing，orthinkyouwantit;otherwiseyouresenttheprofferofitasakindofimpertinence。"
"Therearesomekindsofadvertisements，allthesame，thatIreadwithouttheslightestinterestinthesubjectmatter。Simplythebeautyofthestyleattractsme。"
"Iknow。Butdoesitevermoveyoutogetwhatyoudon’twant？"
"Never;andIshouldbegladtoknowwhatyourauthorthinksofthatsortofadvertising：theliterary，ordramatic，orhumorous，orquaint。"
"Hedoesn’tcontemnit，quite。ButIthinkhefeelsthatitmayhavehaditsday。Doyoustillreadsuchadvertisementswithyourearlyzest？"
"No;thezestfornearlyeverythinggoes。Idon’tcaresomuchforTourgueniefasIused。Still，ifIcomeuponthejauntyandlaconicsuggestionsofacertainwell—knownclothing—house，concerningtheseason’swear，Ireadthemwithameasureofsatisfaction。Theadvertisingexpert——"
"Thisauthorcallshimtheadsmith。"
"Delightful！Adisaloathlylittleword，butwemustcometoit。It’saslegitimateaslunch。ButasIwassaying，theadsmithseemstohavecaughttheAmericanbusinesstone，asperfectlyasanyofournovelistshavecaughttheAmericansocialtone。"
"Yes，"saidmyfriend，"andheseemstohaveprosperedasrichlybyit。
Youknowsomeofthosechapsmakefifteenortwentythousanddollarsbyadsmithing。Theyhaveputtheirartquiteonalevelwithfictionpecuniarily。"
"Perhapsitisabranchoffiction。"
"No;theyclaimthatitispurefact。Myauthordiscouragestheslightestadmixtureoffable。Thetruth，clearlyandsimplyexpressed，isthebestinanad。
"Itisbestinawof，too。Iamalwayssayingthat。"
"Wof？"
"Well，workoffiction。It’sanothernewword，likelunchorad。"
"Butinawof，"saidmyfriend，instantlyadoptingit，"myauthorinsinuatesthatthefashionofpaymenttemptsyoutoverbosity，whileinanadtheconditionsobligeyoutothegreatestpossiblesuccinctness。
Inonecaseyouarepaidbytheword;intheotheryoupaybytheword。
Thatiswheretheadsmithstandsuponhighermoralgroundthanthewofsmith。"
"Ishouldthinkyourauthormighthavewrittenarecentarticlein’The—————————，reproachingfictionwithitsunhallowedgains。"
"Ifyoumeanthatforasneer，itismisplaced。Hewouldhavebeenincapableofit。Myauthorisnomorethefriendofhonestyinadsmithingthanheisofpropriety，Hedeprecatesjocosityinapothecariesandundertakers，notonlyasbadtaste，butasbadbusiness;
andheisassevereasanyonecouldbeuponadsthatseizetheattentionbydisgustingorshockingthereader。
"Heistobepraisedforthat，andfortheotherthing;andIshouldn’thavemindedhiscriticisingthereadywofsmith。Ihopeheattackstheuseofdisplaytype，whichmakesournewspaperslookliketheposter—
plasteredfencesaroundvacantlots。InNewYorkthereisonlyonepaperwhoseadvertisementsarenottypographicallyashocktothenerves。"
"Well，"saidmyfriend，"heattacksfoolishandineffectivedisplay。"
"Itisallfoolishandineffective。Itislikeacrowdofpeopletryingtomakethemselvesheardbyshoutingeachatthetopofhisvoice。
Apaperfullofdisplayadvertisementsisanimageofourwholecongestedanddeliriousstateofcompetition;butevenincompetitiveconditionsitisunnecessary，anditisfutile。CompareanyNewYorkpaperbutonewiththeLondonpapers，andyouwillseewhatImean。OfcourseIrefertotheadpages;therestofourexceptionisasoffensivewithpicturesandscareheadsasalltherest。Iwishyourauthorcouldrevisehisopinionsandcondemnalldisplayinads。"
"Idaresayhewillwhenheknowswhatyouthink，"saidmyfriend，withimaginablesarcasm。
III。
"Iwish，"Iwenton，"thathewouldgiveussomephilosophyoftheprodigiousincreaseofadvertisingwithinthelasttwenty—fiveyears，andsomeconjectureastotheendofitall。Evidently，itcan’tkeeponincreasingatthepresentrate。Ifitdoes，therewillpresentlybenoroomintheworldforthings;itwillbefilledupwiththeadvertisementsofthings。"
"Beforethattime，perhaps，"myfriendsuggested，"adsmithingwillhavebecomesofineandpotentanartthatadvertisingwillbereducedinbulk，whilekeepingallitsenergyandevenincreasingitseffectiveness。"
"Perhaps，"Isaid，"somesilentelectricalprocesswillbecontrived，sothattheattractionsofanewlineofdress—goodsorthefascinationofaspringorfallopeningmaybeimpartedtoalady’sconsciousnesswithouteventheagencyofwords。Allotherfactsofcommercialandindustrialinterestcouldbedealtwithinthesameway。Afinethrillcouldbemadetogofromthelastnewbookthroughthewholecommunity，sothatpeoplewouldnotwillinglyresttilltheyhadit。Yes，onecanseeanindefinitefutureforadvertisinginthatway。Theadsmithmaybethesupremeartistofthetwentiethcentury。Hemayassembleinhisgrasp，andemployatwill，alltheartsandsciences。"
"Yes，"saidmyfriend，withasortoffallinhisvoice，"thatisverywell。Butwhatistobecomeoftheracewhenitispenetratedateveryporewithasenseoftheworld’sdemandandsupply？"
"Oh，thatisanotheraffair。Iwasmerelyimaginingthepossibleresourcesofinventioninprovidingfortheincreaseofadvertisingwhileguardingtheintegrityoftheplanet。Ithink，verylikely，ifthethingkeepson，weshallallgomad;butthenweshallnoneofusbeabletocriticisetheothers。Orpossiblythethingmayworkitsowncure。Youknowtheingenuityofthepoliticaleconomistsinjustifyingtheegotismtowhichconditionsappeal。Theydonotdenythatthesefostergreedandrapacityinmercilessdegree，buttheycontendthatwhenthewealth—
winnerdropsoffgorgedthereisakindofmiraclewrought，andgoodcomesofitall。Inevercouldseehow;butifitistrue，whyshouldn’tasortofultimateimmunitycomebacktousfromtheveryexcessandinvasionoftheappealsnowmadetous，anddestinedtobemadetousstillmorebytheadsmith？Come，isn’ttherehopeinthat？"
"Iseeagreatopportunityforthewofsmithinsomesuchdream，"saidmyfriend。"Whydon’tyouturnittoaccount？"
"Youknowthatisn’tmyline;Imustleavethatsortofwofsmithingtotheromanticnovelist。Besides，Ihavemywell—knownpanaceaforalltheillsourstateisheirto，inacivilizationwhichshalllegislatefoolishandviciousanduglyandadulteratethingsoutofthepossibilityofexistence。Mostoftheadsmithingisnowemployedinpersuadingpeoplethatsuchthingsareuseful，beautiful，andpure。Butinanycivilizationtheyshallnotevenbesufferedtobemade，muchlessfoisteduponthecommunitybyadsmiths。"
"Iseewhatyoumean，"saidmyfriend;andhesighedgently。"Ihadmuchbetterletyouwriteaboutspring。"
THEPSYCHOLOGYOFPLAGIARISM
AlateincidentinthehistoryofaverywidespreadEnglishnovelist，triumphantlyclosedbythestatementofhisfriendthatthenovelisthadcasuallyfailedtoaccreditagivenpassageinhisnoveltotherealauthor，hasbroughtfreshlytomymindacuriousquestioninethics。
Thefriendwhovindicatedthenovelist，or，rather，whocontemptuouslydismissedthematter，notonlyconfessedthefactofadoption，butdeclaredthatitwasoneofmanywhichcouldbefoundinthenovelist’sworks。Thenovelist，hesaid，wasquiteinthehabitofsousingmaterialintherough，whichheimpliedwaslikeusinganyfactorideafromlife，andhedeclaredthatthenovelistcouldnotbothertoanswercriticswhoregardedtheseexploitationsasasortofdepredation。Inamannerhebrushedtheimpertinentaccusersaside，assuringthegeneralpublicthatthenovelistalwaysmeant，athisleisure，andinhisownway，dulytoticketthefliespreservedinhisamber。
I。
WhenIreadthishaughtyvindication，IthoughtatfirstthatifthecaseweremineIwouldratherhaveseveraldeadlyenemiesthansuchafriendasthat;butsince，Ihavenotbeensosure。Ihaveaskedmyselfuponacarefulreviewofthematterwhetherplagiarismmaynotbefranklyavowed，asinnowisedishonest，andIwishsomeablercasuistwouldtaketheaffairintoconsiderationandmakeitclearforme。Ifwearetosupposethatoffencesagainstsocietydisgracetheoffender，andthatpublicdishonorarguesthefactofsomesuchoffence，thenapparentlyplagiarismisnotsuchanoffence;forinevenveryflagrantcasesitdoesnotdisgrace。Thedictionary，indeed，definesitas"thecrimeofliterarytheft";butasnopenaltyattachestoit，andnolastingshame，itishardtobelieveiteitheracrimeoratheft;andtheoffence，ifitisanoffence（onehastocallitsomething，andIhopethewordisnotharsh），issomesuchharmlessinfractionofthemorallawaswhite—
lying。
Themuch—pervertedsayingofMoliere，thathetookhisownwherehefoundit，isperhapsintheconsciousnessofthosewhoappropriatethethingsotherpeoplehaverushedinwithbeforethem。Butreallytheyseemtoneedneitherexcusenordefencewiththeimpartialpubliciftheyarecaughtintheactofreclaimingtheirpropertyordespoilingtherashintruderupontheirpremises。Thenovelistinquestionisbynomeanstheonlyrecentexample，andisbynomeansaflagrantexample。WhiletheratificationofthetreatywithSpainwaspendingbeforetheSenateoftheUnitedStates，amemberofthatbodyopposeditinaspeechalmostwordforwordthesameasasermondeliveredinNewYorkCityonlyafewdaysearlierandpublishedbroadcast。Hewaspromptlyexposedbytheparallel—columnsystem;butIhaveneverheardthathisstandingwasaffectedorhisusefulnessimpairedbytheoffenceprovenagainsthim。A
fewyearsagoaneminentdivineinoneofourcitiespreachedashisownthesermonofabrotherdivine，nolongerliving;he，too，wasdetectedandpromptlyexposedbytheparallel—columnsystem，butnothingwhateverhappenedfromtheexposure。Everyonemustrecalllikeinstances，moreorlessremote。IrememberonewithinmyyouthfullerknowledgeofajournalistwhousedashisownallthedenunciatorypassagesofMacaulay’sarticleonBarrere，andappliedthemwithchangesofnametothecharacterandconductofalocalpoliticianwhomhefeltithisdutytodevotetoinfamy。Hewascaughtinthefact，andbymeansoftheparallelcolumnpilloriedbeforethecommunity。Butthecommunitydidnotminditabit，andthejournalistdidnoteither。Heprosperedonamidthosewhoallknewwhathehaddone，andwhenheremovedtoanothercityitwastoalargerone，andtoapositionofmorecommandinginfluence，fromwhichhewaslongconspicuousinhelpingshapethedestiniesofthenation。
Sofarasanyeffectfromtheseexposureswasconcerned，theywereasharmlessasthoseexposuresoffraudulentspiritisticmediumswhichfromtimetotimearesupposedtoshakethespiritisticsuperstitiontoitsfoundations。Theyreallydonothingofthekind;thetable—tippings，rappings，materializations，andlevitationskeeponasbefore;andIdonotbelievethattheexposureofthenovelistwhohasbeenthelatestvictimoftheparallelcolumnwillinjurehimajotintheheartsorheadsofhisreaders。
II。
Iamverygladofit，beingadisbelieverinpunishmentsofallsorts。
Iamalwaysgladtohavesinnersgetoff，forIliketogetofffrommyownsins;andIhaveabadmomentfrommysenseofthemwheneveranother’shavefoundhimout。ButasyetIhavenotconvincedmyselfthatthesortofthingwehavebeenconsideringisasinatall，foritseemstodepravenomorethanitdishonors;orthatitiswhatthedictionary（withveryunnecessarybrutality）callsa"crime"anda"theft。"Ifitiseither，itisdifferentlyconditioned，ifnotdifferentlynatured，fromallothercrimesandthefts。Thesemaybemoreorlessartfullyandhopefullyconcealed，butplagiarismcarriesinevitabledetectionwithit。Ifyoutakeaman’shatorcoatoutofhishall，youmaypawnitbeforethepoliceovertakeyou;ifyoutakehishorseoutofhisstable，youmayrideitawaybeyondpursuitandsellit;
ifyoutakehispurseoutofhispocket，youmaypassittoapalinthecrowd，andeasilyproveyourinnocence。Butifyoutakehissermon，orhisessay，orevenhisappositereflection，youcannotescapediscovery。
Theworldisfullofidlepeoplereadingbooks，andtheyareonlytoogladtoactasdetectives;theypleasetheirmiserablevanitybyshowingtheiralertness，andareproudtohearwitnessagainstyouinthecourtofparallelcolumns。Youhavenosafetyintheobscurityoftheauthorfromwhomyoutakeyourown;thereisalwaysthatmostterriblereader，thereaderofonebook，whoknowsthatveryauthor，andwillthemoreindecentlyhastentobringyoutothebarbecauseheknowsnoother，andwishestodisplayhiserudition。Amanmayescapeforcenturiesandyetbefoundout。InthenotoriouscaseofWilliamShakespearetheoffenderseemedfinallysecureofhisprey;andyetonepoorlady，whoendedinalunaticasylum，wasabletodetecthimatlast，andtorestorethegoodstotheirrightfulowner，SirFrancisBacon。
Inspite，however，ofthisalmostabsolutecertaintyofexposure，plagiarismgoesonasithasalwaysgoneon;andthereisnoprobabilitythatitwillceaseaslongastherearenovelists，senators，divines，andjournalistshardpressedforideaswhichtheyhappennottohaveinmindatthetime，andwhichtheyseegoingtowasteelsewhere。Nowandthenittakesamoreviolentformandbecomesarealmania，aswhentheplagiaristopenlyclaimsandurgeshisrighttoawell—knownpieceofliteraryproperty。WhenMr。WilliamAllenButler’sfamouspoemof"NothingtoWear"achieveditsextraordinarypopularity，ayounggirldeclaredandapparentlyquitebelievedthatshehadwrittenitandlosttheMS。inanomnibus。Allherfriendsapparentlybelievedso，too;andthefriendsofthedifferentgentlemenandladieswhoclaimedtheauthorshipof"BeautifulSnow"and"RockMetoSleep"werereadytosupportthembyaffidavitagainsttherealauthorsofthoseprettyworthlesspieces。
Fromallthesefactsitmustappeartothephilosophicreaderthatplagiarismisnotthesimple"crime"or"theft"thatthelexicographerswouldhaveusbelieve。Itarguesastrangeandpeculiarcourageonthepartofthosewhocommititorindulgeit，sincetheyaresureofhavingitbroughthometothem，fortheyseemtodreadtheexposure，thoughitinvolvesnopunishmentoutsideofthemselves。Whydotheydoit，or，havingdoneit，whydotheymindit，sincethepublicdoesnot？Theirtemerityandtheirtimidityarethingsalmostirreconcilable，andthewholepositionleavesonequitepuzzledastowhatonewoulddoifone’sownplagiarismswerefoundout。Butthisisamerequestionofconduct，andofinfinitelylessinterestthanthatofthenatureoressenceofthethingitself。
PURITANISMINAMERICANFICTION
Thequestionwhetherthefictionwhichgivesavividimpressionofrealitydoestrulyrepresenttheconditionsstudiedinit，isoneofthoseinquiriestowhichthereisnoveryfinalanswer。Themostbafflingfactofsuchfictionisthatitstruthsareself—evident;
andifyougoabouttoprovethemyouareinsomedangerofshakingtheconvictionsofthosewhomtheyhavepersuaded。Itwillnotdotoaffirmanythingwholesaleconcerningthem;ahundredexamplestothecontrarypresentthemselvesifyouknowtheground，andyouareleftindoubtoftheveritywhichyoucannotgainsay。Themostthatyoucandoistoappealtoyourownconsciousness，andthatisnotprooftoanybodyelse。
Perhapsthebesttestinthisdifficultmatteristhequalityoftheartwhichcreatedthepicture。Isitclear，simple，unaffected？Isittruetohumanexperiencegenerally？Ifitisso，thenitcannotwellbefalsetothespecialhumanexperienceitdealswith。
I。
NotlongagoIheardofsomethingwhichamusingly，whichpathetically，illustratedthesenseofrealityimpartedbytheworkofoneofourwriters，whoseartisofthekindImean。Aladywasdrivingwithayounggirlofthelighter—mindedcivilizationofNewYorkthroughoneofthoselittletownsoftheNorthShoreinMassachusetts，wherethesmall;
woodenhousesclingtotheedgesoftheshallowbay，andtheschoonersslip，inandoutonthehiddenchannelsofthesaltmeadowsasiftheywereblownaboutthroughthetallgrass。Shetriedtomakeherfeeltheshycharmoftheplace，thatalmostsubjectivebeauty，whichthosetothemannerbornaresokeenlyawareofinold—fashionedNewEnglandvillages;
butshefoundthatthegirlwasnotonlynotlookingatthesad—coloredcottages，withtheirweather—wornshinglewalls，theirgrassydoor—yardslitbypatchesofsummerbloom，andtheirshutterlesswindowswiththeirclose—drawnshades，butshewasresolutelyavertinghereyesfromthem，andstaringstraightforwarduntilsheshouldbeoutofsightofthemaltogether。Shesaidthattheywereterrible，andsheknewthatineachofthemwasoneofthosedrearyoldwomen，ordisappointedgirls，orunhappywives，orbereavedmothers，shehadreadofinMissWilkins’sstories。
Shehadbeentoolittlesensibleofthehumorwhichformsthereliefofthesestories，asitformsthereliefofthebare，duteous，conscientious，deeplyindividualizedlivesportrayedinthem;andnodoubtthiscannotmakeitsfullappealtotheheartofyouthachingfortheirstoicalsorrows。Withoutbeingsoveryyoung，I，too，havefoundthehumorhardlyenoughattimes，andifonehasnotthehabitofexperiencingsupportintragedyitself，onegetsthrougharemoteNewEnglandvillage，atnightfall，say，ratherlimpthanotherwise，andinquitethemoodthatMissWilkins’sbleakerstudiesleaveonein。Atmid—
day，orinthebrightsunshineofthemorning，itisquitepossibletoflingoffthemelancholywhichbreathesthesamenoteinthefactandthefiction;andIhaveevenhadsomepleasureatsuchtimesinidentifyingthisor，thatone—storycottagewithitslean—toasaMaryWilkinshouseandinplacingoneofhermuteddramasinit。Onecannotknowthepeopleofsuchplaceswithoutrecognizinghertypesinthem，andonecannotknowNewEnglandwithoutowningthefidelityofherstoriestoNewEnglandcharacter，though，asIhavealreadysuggested，quiteanothersortofstoriescouldbewrittenwhichshouldasfaithfullyrepresentotherphasesofNewEnglandvillagelife。
Tothealieninquirer，however，Ishouldbebynomeansconfidentthattheirtruthwouldevinceitself，forthereasonthathumannatureisseldomonshowanywhere。IamperfectlycertainofthetruthofTolstoyandTourguenieftoRussianlife，yetIshouldnotbesurprisedifIwentthroughRussiaandmetnoneoftheirpeople。IshouldberathermoresurprisedifIwentthroughItalyandmetnoneofVerga’sorFogazzaro’s，butthatwouldbebecauseIalreadyknewItalyalittle。Infact，I
suspectthatthelastdelightoftruthinanyartcomesonlytotheconnoisseurwhoisaswellacquaintedwiththesubjectastheartisthimself。Onemustnotbetoosevereinchallengingthetruthofanauthortolife;andonemustbringagreatdealofsympathyandagreatdealofpatiencetothescrutiny。Typesareverybackwardandshrinkingthings，afterall;characterisofsuchamimosansensibilitythatifyouseizeittooabruptlyitsleavesareapttoshutandhideallthatisdistinctiveinit;sothatitisnotwithoutsomerisktoanauthor’sreputationforhonestythathegiveshisreaderstheimpressionofhistruth。
II。
Thedifficultywithcharactersinfictionisthatthereadertherefindsthemdramatized;notonlytheiractions，butalsotheiremotionsaredramatized;andtheverysamesortofpersonswhenonemeetstheminreallifearerecreantlyundramatic。OnemightgothroughaNewEnglandvillageandseeMaryWilkinshousesandMaryWilkinspeople，andyetnotwitnessascenenorhearawordsuchasonefindsinhertales。Itisonlytooprobablethattheinhabitantsonemetwouldsaynothingquaintorhumorous，orbetrayatallthenaturethatsherevealsinthem;andyetIshouldnotquestionherrevelationonthataccount。ThelifeofNewEngland，suchasMissWilkinsdealswith，andMissSarahO。Jewett，andMissAliceBrown，isnotonthesurface，ornotvisiblyso，excepttotheaccustomedeye。ItisPuritanismscarcelyanimatedatallbythePuritanictheology。Onemustnotbeverypositiveinsuchthings，andI
maybetooboldinventuringtosaythatwhilethebeliefofsomeNewEnglandersapproachesthistheologythebeliefofmostisnowfarfromit;andyetitspenetratingindividualismsodeeplyinfluencedtheNewEnglandcharacterthatPuritanismsurvivesinthemoralandmentalmakeofthepeoplealmostinitsearlystrength。Conductandmannerconformtoadeadreligiousideal;thewishtobesincere，thewishtobejust，thewishtoberighteousarebeforethewishtobekind，merciful，humble。Apeoplearenotachosenpeopleforhalfadozengenerationswithoutacquiringaspiritualpridethatremainswiththemlongaftertheyceasetobelievethemselveschosen。Theyareoftenstiffenedintheneckandtheyareoftenhardenedintheheartbyit，tothepointofmakingthemangularandcold;buttheyareofaninveterateresponsibilitytoapowerhigherthanthemselves，andtheyarestrengthenedforanyfate。Theyarewhatweseeinthestorieswhich，perhaps，holdthefirstplaceinAmericanfiction。
Asamatteroffact，thereligionofNewEnglandisnotnowsoPuritanicalasthatofmanypartsoftheSouthandWest，andyettheinheritedPuritanismstampstheNewEnglandmanner，anddifferencesitfromthemannerofthestraightestsectselsewhere。Therewas，however，alwaysarevoltagainstPuritanismwhenPuritanismwasseverestandsecurest;thisresultedintypesofshiftlessnessifnotwickedness，whichhavenotyetbeendulystudied，andwhichwouldmakethefortuneofsomenovelistwhocaredtodoafreshthing。Thereisalsoasentimentality，orpseudo—emotionality（Ihavenottherightphraseforit），whichawaitsfullrecognitioninfiction。Thisefflorescencefromthedustofsystemsandcreeds，carriedintonaturesleftvacantbytheancestraldoctrine，hasscarcelybeennoticedbythepaintersofNewEnglandmanners。ItisoftenalaststateofUnitarianism，whichprevailedinthelargertownsandcitieswhentheCalvinistictheologyceasedtobedominant，anditisoftenaneffectofthespiritualismsocommoninNewEngland，and，infact，everywhereinAmerica。Then，thereisawide—spreadloveofliteratureinthecountrytownsandvillageswhichhasingreatmeasurereplacedtheoldinterestindogma，andwhichformswithusanauthor’sclosestappreciation，ifnothisbest。Butasyetlittlehintofallthishasgotintotheshortstories，andstilllessofthatlargerintellectuallifeofNewEngland，orthatexaltedbeautyofcharacterwhichtemptsonetosaythatPuritanismwasablessingifitmadetheNew—Englanderswhattheyare;thoughonecanalwaysbegladnottohavelivedamongtheminthedisciplinaryperiod。
Boston，thecapitalofthatNewEnglandnationwhichisfastlosingitselfintheAmericannation，isnolongerofitsoldliteraryprimacy，andyetmostofourrightthinking，ourhighthinking，stillbeginsthere，andqualifiesthethinkingofthecountryatlarge。Thegoodcauses，thegenerouscauses，arefirstbefriendedthere，andinawholesomesorttheNewEnglandculture，aswellastheNewEnglandconscience，hasimparteditselftotheAmericanpeople。
Eventhepowerofwritingshortstories，whichwesupposeourselvestohaveinsuchexcellentdegree，hasspreadfromNewEngland。Thatis，indeed，thehomeoftheAmericanshortstory，andithastherebeenbroughttosuchperfectionintheworkofMissWilkins，ofMissJewett，ofMissBrown，andofthatmostfaithful，forgottenpainterofmanners，Mrs。RoseTerryCook，thatitpresentsuponthewholeatruthfulpictureofNewEnglandvillagelifeinsomeofitsmoreobviousphases。IsayobviousbecauseImust，butIhavealreadysaidthatthisisalifewhichisverylittleobvious;andIshouldnotblameanyonewhobroughttheportraittothetestofreality，andfounditexaggerated，overdrawn，andunnatural，thoughIshouldbeperfectlysurethatsuchacriticwaswrong。
THEWHATANDTHEHOWINART
Oneofthethingsalwaysenforcingitselfupontheconsciousnessoftheartistinanysortisthefactthatthosewhomartistsworkforrarelycarefortheirworkartistically。Theycareforitmorally，personally，partially。Isuspectthatcriticismitselfhasratheramuddledpreferenceforthewhatoverthehow，andthatitisalwayshauntedbyaphilistinequestionofthematerialwhenitshould，aestheticallyspeaking，beconcernedsolelywiththeform。
I。
TheothernightatthetheatreIwaswitnessofacuriousandamusingillustrationofmypoint。Theywereplayingamostsoul—fillingmelodrama，ofthesortwhichgivesyouassurancefromtheveryfirstthattherewillbenotroubleintheend，buteverythingwillcomeoutjustasitshould，nomatterwhatobstaclesopposethemselvesinthecourseoftheaction。Anover—rulingProvidence，longaccustomedtotheexigenciesofthestage，couldnotfailtointerveneatthecriticalmomentinbehalfofinnocenceandvirtue，andthespectatorneverhadtheleastoccasionforanxiety。Notunnaturallytherewasablack—heartedvillaininthepiece;soveryblack—heartedthatheseemednottohaveasinglegoodimpulsefromfirsttolast。Yethewas，inthekeepingofthestageProvidence，asharmlessasablankcartridge，inspiteofhisdeadlyaims。Heaccomplishednomoremischief，infact，thanifallhisintentshadbeenofthebest;exceptforthesatisfactionaffordedbytheedifyingspectacleofhisdefeatandshame，heneednothavebeenintheplayatall;andonemightalmosthavefeltsorryforhim，hewassocontinuallybaffled。Butthiswasnotenoughfortheaudience，orforthatpartofitwhichfilledthegallerytotheroof。Perhapshewassuchanuncommonlyblack—heartedvillain，sovery，verycold—bloodedinhiswickednessthatthejusticeunsparinglydealtouttohimbythedramatistcouldnotsuffice。Atanyrate，thegallerytooksuchavividinterestinhispunishmentthatithadouttheactorwhoimpersonatedthewretchbetweenalltheacts，andhissedhimthroughouthisdeliberatepassageacrossthestagebeforethecurtain。Thehisseswerenotatallfortheactor，butaltogetherforthecharacter。Theperformancewasfairlygood，quiteasgoodastheperformanceofanyvirtuouspartinthepiece，andeasilyuptothelevelofothervillanousperformances（I
neverfindmuchnatureinthem，perhapsbecausethereisnotmuchnatureinvillanyitself;thatis，villanypureandsimple）;butthemereconceptionofthewickednessthisbadmanhadattemptedwastoomuchforanaudienceoftheaveragepopulargoodness。Itwasonlyafterhehadtakenpoison，andfallendeadbeforetheireyes，thatthespectatorsforboretovisithimwithalivelyproofoftheirabhorrence;apparentlytheydidnotcareto"givehimarealizingsensethattherewasapunishmentafterdeath，"asthemaninLincoln’sstorydidwiththedeaddog。
II。
Thewholeaffairwasveryamusingatfirst，butithassinceputmeuponthinking（Iliketobeputuponthinking;theeighteenth—centuryessayistswere）thattheattitudeoftheaudiencetowardsthisdeplorablereprobateisreallytheattitudeofmostreadersofbooks，lookersatpicturesandstatues，listenerstomusic，andsoonthroughthewholelistofthearts。Itisabsolutelydifferentfromtheartist’sattitude，fromtheconnoisseur’sattitude;itisquiteirreconcilablewiththeirattitude，andyetIwonderifintheenditisnotwhattheartistworksfor。Artisnotproducedforartists，orevenforconnoisseurs;itisproducedforthegeneral，whocanneverviewitotherwisethanmorally，personally，partially，fromtheirassociationsandpreconceptions。