第1章

Itisconsolingasoftenasdismayingtofindinwhatseemsacataclysmaltideofacertaindirectionastrongdrifttotheoppositequarter。Itissodivinable，ifnotsoperceptible，thatitspresencemayusuallyberecognizedasabeginningoftheturnineverytidewhichissure，soonerorlater，tocome。Inreform，itisthemenaceofreaction；inreaction，itisthepromiseofreform；wemaytakeheartaswemustloseheartfromit。Afewyearsago，whenamovementwhichcarriedfictiontothehighestplaceinliteraturewasapparentlyofsuchonwardandupwardsweepthattherecouldbenoreturnordescent，therewasacounter-currentinitwhichstayeditatlast，andpulleditbacktothatlamentablelevel

wherefictionisnowsunk，andtheword"novel"isagainthesynonymofallthatismorallyfalseandmentallydespicable。Yetthatthis，too，ispartlyapparent，Ithinkcanbeshownfromsomephasesofactualfictionwhichhappentobeitsverylatestphases，andwhichareofasignificanceashopefulasitisinteresting。Quiteassurelyasromanticismlurkedattheheartofrealism，somethingthatwemaycall"psychologism"hasbeenpresentintheromanticismofthelastfourorfiveyears，andhasnowbeguntoevolveitselfinexampleswhichitisthepleasureaswellasthedutyofcriticismtodealwith。

Nooneinhisdayhasdonemoretopopularizetheromanticism，nowdecadent，thanMr。GilbertParker；andhemadewayforitatitsworstjustbecausehewassomuchbetterthanitwasatitsworst，becausehewasapoetofundeniablequality，andbecausehecouldbringtoitsintellectualsqualorthegracesandthepowerswhichcharm，thoughtheycouldnotavailtosaveitfromfinalcontempt。Hesaveshimselfinhislatestnovel，because，thoughstillsolargelyromanticistic，itsprevalenteffectispsychologistic，whichisthefineranalogueofrealistic，andwhichgaverealismwhateverwasvitalinit，asnowitgivesromanticismwhateverwillsurviveit。In"TheRightofWay"Mr。

Parkerisnotinaworldwheremeredeterminismrules，wherethereisnothingbutthehappeningofthings，andwherethisoneorthatoneisimportantorunimportantaccordingasthingsarehappeningtohimornot，buthasinhimselfnoclaimuponthereader"sattention。Oncemorethenovelbeginstorisetoitshigherfunction，andtoteachthatmenaresomehowmastersoftheirfate。HisCharleySteeleis，indeed，asunpromisingmaterialfortheexperiment，incertainways，ascouldwellbechosen。OneofthefewmemorablethingsthatBulwersaid，whosaidsomanyquotablethings，wasthatpureintellectualityisthedevil，andonhisplaneCharleySteelecomesnearbeingpureintellectual。Heapprehendsallthingsfromthemind，anddoestheeffectsevenofgoodnessfromtheprideofmentalstrength。

Addtotheseconditionsofhispersonalitythatpathologicallyheisfromtimetotimeadrunkard，withalwaysthedangerofremainingadrunkard，andyouhaveafigureofwhichsomuchmaybedespairedthatitmightalmostbecalledhopeless。Iconfessthatinthebeginningthisbrilliant，pitilesslawyer，thisconsciencelesslypowerfuladvocate，atoncemockerandposeur，allbutfailedtointerestme。AlittleofhimandhismonoclewentsuchagreatwaywithmethatIthoughtIhadenoughofhimbytheendofthetrial，wherehegetsoffamanchargedwithmurder，andthencruellysnubsthehomicideinhisgratitude；andIdonotquiteknowhowIkeptontothepointwhereSteeleinhisdrunkennessfirstdazzlesandtheninsultsthegangofdrunkenlumbermen，andbeginshissecondlifeintheriverwheretheyhavethrownhim，andwherehisformerclientfindshim。

FromthatpointIcouldnotforsakehimtotheend，thoughI

foundmyselfmorethanonceintheworldwherethingshappenofthemselvesanddonothappenfromthetemperamentsofitsinhabitants。Inabetterandwiserworld，thehomicidewouldnotperhapsbeathandsoopportunelytosavethelifeoftheadvocatewhohadsavedhis；butoneconsentstothis，asoneconsentstoagreatdealbesidesinthestory，whichisimaginablythesurvivalofaformermethod。Theartist"saffairistoreporttheappearance，theeffect；andintherealworld，theappearance，theeffect，isthatoflawandnotofmiracle。

Natureemploysthemiraclesoverysparinglythatmostofusgothroughlifewithoutseeingone，andsomeofuscontractsuchaprejudiceagainstmiraclesthatwhentheyareperformedforuswesuspectatrick。WhenIsufferedfromthissuspicionin"TheRightofWay"IwasthemorevexedbecauseIfeltthatIwasinthehandsofaconnoisseurofcharacterwhohadnoneedofmiracles。

IhavelikedMr。Parker"streatmentofFrench-Canadianlife，asfarasIhaveknownit；andinthisnovelitisoneoftheprincipalpleasuresforme。Hemaynothavehishabitant，hisseigneurorhiscuredowncold，buthemakesmebelievethathehas，andIcanasknomorethanthatofhim。Inlikemanner，hemakestheambient，physicalaswellassocial，sensiblearoundme:thecoldrivers，thehard，clearskies，thesnowywoodsandfields，thelittlefrozenvillagesofCanada。Inthisbook，whichishistoricalofthepresentratherthanthepast，hegivesonearealizingsenseoftheCanadians，notonlyinthecountrybutinthecity，atleastsofarastheyaffecteachotherpsychologicallyinsociety，andmakesonefeeltheirinterestingtemperamentaldifferencefromAmericans。HisMontrealersarestillEnglishmenintheirstrenuousindividuality；butinthefrankexpressionofcharacter，ofeccentricity，CharleySteeleislikeatypeoflawyerinourWest，ofanepochwhenpeoplewerenotyetcontenttowitnessidealsofthemselves，butwhentheywishedtobetheirpoetryratherthantoreadit。Inhissecondlifehehasthecharmfortheimaginationthatadisembodiedspiritmighthave，ifitcouldbemadeknowntousinthecircumstancesofanotherworld。

Hehas，indeed，madealmostascleanabreakwithhispastasifhehadreallybeendrownedintheriver。When，afterthetermofoblivion，inwhichheknowsnothingofhispastself，heisrestoredtohisidentitybyafamoussurgeontooopportunelyoutofParis，onavisittohisbrother，thecure，theproblemishowheshallexpiatetheerrorsofhispast，workouthisredemptioninhisnewlife；andtheauthorsolvesitforhimbyappointinghimtoalifeofunselfishlabor，illuminedbyactionsofpositivebeneficence。ItissomethinglikethesolutionwhichGoetheimaginesforFaust，andperhapsnootherisimaginable。Incontrivingit，Mr。Parkerindulgestheweakerbrethrenwithanabundanceofaccidentandaluxuryofcatastrophe，whichthereaderinterestedinthepsychologyofthestorymaytakeaslittleaccountofashelikes。Withoutsomuchofthemhemighthavemadeasculpturesqueromanceasclearlyandnoblydefiniteas"TheScarletLetter"；withthemhehasmadeamostpicturesqueromanticnovel。Hiswork，asIbeganbysaying，orhinting，istheworkofapoet，inconception，andIwishthatinsomedetailsofdictionitwereaselectastheauthor"sverseis。

Butonemustnotexpecteverything；andinwhatitis，"TheRightofWay"satisfiesareasonabledemandonthesideofliterature，whileitmorethanmeetsareasonableexpectationonthesideofpsychologicalinterest。Distinctlyitmarksanepochincontemporarynoveling，andmountsfarabovetheaveragebesttowardthedayofbetterthingswhichIhopeitisnotrashtoimagedawning。

II。

IamsureIdonotmerelyfancytheaurorallightinagroupofstoriesbyanotherpoet。"TheRulingPassion，"Dr。HenryVanDykecallshisbook，whichrelatesitselfbyadoubletietoMr。

Parker"snovelthroughkinshipofCanadianlandscapeandcharacter，andthroughtheprevalenceofpsychologismoverdeterminisminit。Inthesituationsandincidentsstudiedwithsentimentthatsavesitselffromsentimentalitysometimeswithgreaterandsometimeswithlessease，butsavesitself，theappealisfromthesoulinthecharactertothesoulinthereader，andnotfrombruteeventtohissensation。IbelievethatIlikebestamongthesecharmingthingsthetwosketches——theyarehardlystories——"AYearofNobility"and"TheKeeperoftheDight，"thoughifIwereaskedtosaywhy，Ishouldbepuzzled。PerhapsitisbecauseIfindinthetwopiecesnamedagreaterdetachmentthanIfindinsomeothersofDr。VanDyke"sdelightfulvolume，andgreaterevidencethathehashimselfsothoroughlyandfinallymasteredhismaterialthatheisnolongerindangerofbeingundulyaffectedbyit。Thatisadangerwhichinhisveryqualityoflyricalpoetheismostliableto，forheisaboveallalyricalpoet，andsuchdramaasthechorususuallycommentsisthedramanexthisheart。Thepieces，infact，aresomanyidyls，andtheirrealismisaneffectwhichhehasfeltratherthanreasonedhiswayto。

Itisimplicationalratherthanintentional。Itisnonetheworsebutallthebetteronthataccount，andIcannotsaythatthepsychologismistheworseforbeingfrankly，howeveruninsistently，moralized。Ahumor，delicateandgenuineasthepoetryofthestories，playsthroughthem，andthemildemachtofsympathywitheverythinghumantransferstothepleasantpagestheforestersandfishermenfromtheirnativewoodsandwaters。Canadaseemsthehomeofprimitivecharacter；theseventeenthcenturysurvivesthereamongthehabitants，withtheirsteadfastfaith，theirpicturesquesuperstitions，theiroldworldtraditionsandtheirnewworldcustoms。Itisthelandnotonlyofthehabitant，butofhisoversoul，thegoodcure，andhisoverlordtheseigneur，nowfadedeconomically，butstilllingeringsociallyinthesceneofhislargepossessions。Theirpersonalityimpartsacharmtothemanybooksaboutthemwhichatpresentthereseemstobenoendtothemakingof；andsuchafinetouchasDr。VanDyke"sgivesusalikenessofthem，whichifitisidealizedisidealizedbyreservation，notbyattribution。

III。

Mr。WilliamAllenWhite"smethodisthereverseofDr。VanDyke"s。Ifhehasheldhishandanywherethereaderdoesnotsuspectit，foritseems，withitsrelentlesspowerofrealization，tobelaiduponthewholepoliticallifeofKansas，whichitkeepsinaclutchsopenetrating，socomprehensive，thatthereaderdoesnotquitefeelhisownvitalsfreefromit。Verylikely，itdoesnotgraspthewholesituation；afterall，itisapicture，notamap，thatMr。Whitehasbeenmaking，andthephotographitself，thoughitmayinclude，doesnotrepresenteverything。Someyearsagotherewasasillyattempttoreproachthetruepaintersofmannersbycallingthemphotographic，butI

doubtifeventhenMr。Whitewouldhavemindedanysuchcensureofhisconscientiouswork，andIamsurethatnowhewouldcountithonor。Hecannotbetheadmirableartistheiswithoutknowingthatitistheinwardnessaswellastheoutwardnessofmenthathephotographs，andifthereaderdoesnotknowit，theworseforthereader。Heisnotthesortofreaderwhowillrisefromthisbookhumiliatedandfortified，asanyreaderworthyofitwill。

Theauthorhasputhisbestfootforwardintheopeningstory，"TheManonHorseback，"which，whenIreaditafewyearsagointhemagazinewhereitfirstappeared，seemedtomesoperfectinitswaythatIshouldnothaveknownhowtobetterit。Ofcourse，thisisagooddealforacritictosay；itissomethinglikeabdicatinghisoffice；butIrepeatit。Ittakesrathermorecourageforamantobehonestinfictionthanoutofit，forpeopledonotmuchexpectitofhim，oraltogetherlikeitinhim；butin"TheManonHorseback"Mr。Whiteisateverymomenthonest。Heishonest，ifnotsoimpressivelyhonest，intheotherstories，"AVictoryforthePeople，""ATriumph"sEvidence，""TheMercyofDeath，"and"AMostLamentableComedy；"

andwherehefailsofperfectjusticetohismaterial，Ithinkitisbecauseofhisunconsciouspoliticalbias，ratherthananythingwilfuller。

Inthestorylastnamedthisbetraysitselfinhistreatmentofatypeofmanwhocouldnotbefaithfultoanysortofmovement，andwhoseunfaithfulnessdoesnotnecessarilycensurethemovementMr。Whitedislikes。WonderfullygoodastheportraitofDanGreggis，itwantsthefinaltouchwhichcouldhavecomeonlyfromalittlekindness。Hisstorymighthavebeencalled"TheManonFoot，"bythesortofantithesiswhichIshouldnotblameMr。Whiteforscorning，andI

shouldnotsayanythingofitworsethanthatitispitilesslyhard，whichthestoryof"TheManonHorseback"isnot，oranyoftheotherstories。Sentimentalityofanykindisalientotheauthor"snature，butnottenderness，especiallythatsparingsortwhichgiveshislifetothemanwhoisdown。

MostofthemenwhomMr。Whitedealswitharedown，asmostmeninthestruggleoflifeare。Fewofuscanbeontopmorally，almostasfewascanbeontopmaterially；andprobablynothingwillmoresurprisethesaintsatthejudgmentdaythantofindthemselvesinsuchasmallminority。Butprobablynotthesaintsalonewillbesaved，anditissomesuchhopethatMr。Whitehasconstantlyinmindwhenmakinghisconstantappealtoconscience。

Itis，ofcourse，adramatic，notadidacticappeal。HepreachessolittleandissoeffectivelyreticentthatIcouldalmostwithhehadleftouttheprefaceofhisbook，goodasitis。Yes，justbecauseitissogoodIcouldwishhehadleftitout。Itisaperfectjustificationofhispurposeandmethods，buttheyaretheirownjustificationwithallwhocanthinkaboutthem，andtheothersarethemselvesnotworththinkingabout。Thestoriesaresobravelyfaithfultohumannatureinthatpoliticalaspectwhichisbutonephaseofourwholeaveragelifethattheyaremagnificentlyaboveallneedofexcusingordefending。Theyformasubstantialbodyofpoliticalfiction，suchaswehavesolongsighedfor，andsuchassomeofuswillstillgoonsighingforquiteasifithadnotbeensupplied。Someotherswillbeawarethatithasbeensuppliedinaformasartisticallyfineasthematerialitselfiscoarseandcommon，ifindeedanysortofhumanityiscoarseandcommonexcepttothosewhothemselvesareso。

Themeaningthatanimatesthestoriesisthatourpoliticalopportunityistrammelledonlysofaraswehavetrammelleditbyourgreedandfalsehood；andinthisaspectthepsychologyofMr。

WhiteoffersthestrongestcontrasttothatofthelatestRussianmasterinfiction。MaximGorky"swhollyhopelessstudyofdegeneracyinthelifeof"FomaGordyeeff"accusesconditionswhichwecanonlyimaginewithdifficulty。AsoneadvancesthroughthemoralwasteofthatstrangebookoneslowlyperceivesthatheisinalandofNoUse，inanambientofsuchironfixityandinexorableboundsthatperhapsFoma"swillingnesstorotthroughviceintoimbecilityisaswiseasanythingelsethere。

Itisabookthatsaturatesthesoulwithdespair，andblightsitwiththenegationwhichseemstheonlypossibletruthinthecircumstances；sothatonequestionswhethertheRussianinwhichTurgenieffandTolstoy，andevenDostoyevsky，couldanimatethevolitionandtheexpectationofbetterthingshasnotsunktodepthsbeyondanycounselofamelioration。TocomeupoutofthatBottomlessPitintothemeasurelessairofMr。White"sKansasplainsislikewakingfromdeathtolife。Wearestillamongdreadfullyfalliblehumanbeings，butwearenolongeramongthedamned；withtheworstthereisapurgatorialpossibilityofParadise。EventheperditionofDanGreggthenseemsnottheworstthatcouldbefallhim；hemightagainhavebeengovernor。

IV。

IfthehumanbeingsinDr。WeirMitchell"sveryinterestingnovelof"Circumstance"donotseemsohumanasthoseRussiansofGorkyandthoseKansansofMr。White，itisbecausepeopleinsocietyarealwayshumanwithdifficulty，andhisPhiladelphiansaremostlyinsociety。Theyarealmostreproachfullyexemplary，insomeinstances；anditiswhentheygivewaytothenaturalman，andespeciallythenaturalwoman，thattheyareconsolingandedifying。WhenMaryFairthornebeginstoscoldhercousin，KittyMorrow，atthepartywhereshefindsKittywearingherdeadmother"spearls，andeventakesholdofherinawaythatmakesthereaderhopesheisgoingtoshakeher，sheisdelightful；andwhenKittycomplainsthatMaryhas"pinched"her，sheisadorable。Oneisreallyinlovewithherforthemoment；andinthatmomentofnaturethethickairofgoodsocietyseemstoblowawayandletonebreathefreely。Thebadpeopleinthebookarebetterthanthegoodpeople，andthegoodpeoplearebestintheirworsttempers。Theyaresoexclusivelywellbornandwellbredthatthefitnessofthemedicalstudent，Blount，fortheirsocietycanbeascertainedonlybyhisreferencetoaNewEnglandancestryofthehighantiquitythatcanexcuseevendubiouscuffsandfinger-nailsinadescendantofgoodprinciplesandgenerousinstincts。

ThepsychologicalproblemstudiedinthebookwithsuchartisticfinenessandscientificthoroughnessispersonallyacertainMrs。

Hunter，whomanagesthroughtheweak-mindedandselfishKittyMorrowtoworkherwaytoauthorityinthehouseholdofKitty"suncle，whereshedisplacesMaryFairthorne，andmakestheplaceodioustoallthekithandkinofKitty。Intellectually，sheisacleverwoman，orrather，sheisawomanofgreatcunningthatrisesattimestosagacity；butsheislimitedbyabadheartandanabsenceofconscience。Sheisbolduptoapoint，andthensheistimid；shewillgotolengths，butnottoalllengths；andwhenitcomestopoisoningFairthornetokeephimfromchanginghismindaboutthebequesthehasmadeher，shehasnotquitethecourageofherconvictions。Shehesitatesanddoesnotdoit，anditisinthispointshebecomessoaestheticallysuccessful。

Theguiltoftheuncommittedcrimesismoreimportantthantheguiltofthosewhichhavebeencommitted；andtheauthordoesagoodthingmorallyaswellasartisticallyinleavingMrs。Hunterstillsomethingofaproblemtohisreader。Inmostthingssheisalmosttooplainacase；sheissly，andvulgar，anddepravedandcruel；sheisallthatamurderessshouldbe；but，inhesitatingatmurder，shebecomesandremainsamystery，andthereaderdoesnotgetridofherashewouldifshehadreallydonethedeed。Intheinferiorexigenciesshestrikesfearlessly；andwhenthemanwhohasdivorcedherloomsupinherhorizonwithdoominhispresence，shegoesandmakeslovetohim。Sheisnotthelesssuccessfulbecauseshedisgustshim；heagreestoletheralonesolongasshedoesnomischief；shehas，atleast，madehimunwillingtofeelhimselfherpersecutor，andthatisenoughforher。

Mrs。Hunterisastudyofextremeinterestindegeneracy，butI

amnotsurethatKittyMorrowisnotararercontributiontoknowledge。Ofcourse，thatsortofselfishgirlhasalwaysbeenknown，butshehasnotmettheopenrecognitionwhichconstitutesknowledge，andsoshehasthepreciousnessofafind。Sheisatoncetiresomeandvivacious；sheiscold-heartedbutnotcold-blooded，andwhensheletsherselfgoinanoutburstofpassionforthecelibateyoungritualist，Knellwood，shebecomesfascinating。Shedoesnotletherselfgowithouthavingassuredherselfthathelovesher，andsomehowoneisnotshockedathermakinglovetohim；oneevenwishesthatshehadwonhim。Iamnotsurebutthecasewouldhavebeenalittletruerifshehadwonhim，butasitisIamrichlycontentwithit。PerhapsIamthemorecontentbecauseinthecaseofKittyMorrowIfindaconcessiontorealitymoreentirethanthecaseofMrs。Hunter。

Sheisoftheheredityfromwhichyouwouldexpectherdepravity；

butKittyMorrow，wholetsherselfgosorecklessly，is，foralloneknows，aswellbornandaswellbredasthoseotherPhiladelphians。Inmyadmirationofher，asaworkofart，however，ImustnotfailofjusticetothehigherbeautyofMaryFairthorne"scharacter。Sheisreallyagoodgirl，andsavedfromtheunrealitywhichalwaysthreatensgoodnessinfictionbythoselimitationsoftemperwhichIhavealreadyhinted。