The

Ph ilo so ph yo f t he Sh o rt -
y
st o r
 The

Ph ilo s o phy o f t h e

Sho rt -
stor
y
Br

Bra n d er M att hews D C L , . . .

Pr f
o essor of DarKati Lit rat
e i C l m bia
e u re n o u

L on gm an s , G ree n an d C o .

Fourth Avenue an d 30th Street, New York

Lon don , B ombay, Calcutto an d/
Madras
191 7
 Goyaig u ,
-
1 9 0 1

I ! Louo u aus , G as es , arm C o .

Fi rs t E d iti Ja ary
on , nu , 1 9 0 1

Re p i t d Ap i l 9
rn e , r , 1 0:

J a ay 9
nu r , 1 12

May . 1917
 Pre fato ry No t e

C ERTAI N of the opi n io n s put forw ar d

in the follow i ng pages w ere rs t ex
pres s ed briey (an d an o n y m ou s ly) in
the col u m n s of the Saturday R ev iew of
Lo n do n in the s u m m er of 1 8 8 4 The .

L pres en t paper in w hich thes e opi n io ns

,

w ere m ore ela b o ratel y s et forth a nd ,

w ith a grea ter variety o f il lu s tratio n ,

wa ori gi n al l y pri n ted in L ippincott :

s

Magaz ine for O ctob er 1 8 8 5 After a

, .

w hile it w a s i n cl u d e d in a vo l u m e called

Pe n and I n k : E s s ay s o n s ubj ect s o f

m ore or l e s s i m portan ce publi s hed

in the fa ll of 1 8 8 8 (New York an d

Lo n d o n : Lo n gm an s Gree n
, ,
Co) .

I n the n al te n years o f the n i n e

tee n th ce n tu ry an i n creas i n g atte n tio n
[7]
 PR E FA T OR Y NO TE

ha
s bee n pai d to the hi s tory of ctio n
an d to the pri n cip l es of n arrative art .

I n m a n y of the l ea d i ng Am erican u n i
versitie s the m o d er n n ove l ha s b ee n

s ervi n g a s the s u bj ect fo r l ecture s a nd

a s the m aterial fo r private s tudy in the ,

cours e of w hich the Short s tory received -

afair s hare of co ns i d eratio n No dou b t .

,

it is in co n s eq u e n ce of thi s i n cess a n t
dis cus s io n of m oder n ctio n an d of its
m e t ho ds that the au thor an d the pu b
lis hers have b ee n m ade aw are o f a d e
m an d fo r the p re s e n t e ss ay w ith s uc h ,

revi s io n an d a n n otatio n as m ight re nder

it m ore u s e ful n o t o nly to the earn es t
,

s tu d e n t b ut al s o to the ca
, s ual reader .

B M . .

C OLU MBI A U m v s asm .

f ain ter
] t 1 9 0 1

[ 8 ]
 The Ph ilo so ph yo f the
Sh o rt st o r
y
-

I
F it cha n ce that arti s ts fal l to talkin g
about their art it is the critic s
,

p l ace to l i s te n that he m ay pick

,

up a little k n ow ledge O f la te certai n

.
,

of the n oveli s ts of Great Britai n a nd

the U n ited State s have been di sc u ss i n g

the pri n ciples an d the practi c e of the
art o f w ritin g s tories Mr H ow ell s
. .

declared his w arm appreciatio n of M r .

H e n ry Ja m es s n ove l s ; M r Steve ns o n

.

m ade pu bl ic a d e l ightful p l ea for R0

m a n ce ; M r Be s a n t lectu red g racefu ll y
.

o n the Art of Fic t io n ; a n d Mr Ja m es .

[ H ]
 THE SHOR T STORY -

m odes tly pres e n ted his view s by w ay

1
of s upp l e m e n t a n d critici s m The di s .

cu ss io n took a w i de ra n ge With m ore .

or l es s ful n es s it covered the prO per

aim an d i n te n t of the n oveli s t his ,

m aterial an d his m ethod s his s ucce s s , ,

his rew ard s s ocial and pecu n iary an d

, ,

the m orali ty o f his w ork and of his art .

But w ith all its exte n s io n the di s cu s

, ,

s io n did n ot i n c l ude o n e i m portan t

bran ch o f the art of ctio n : it di d n ot .

co n s i der at all the m i n or art o f t he

M B a t l t w a p bl i h d i a pam
1 r. es n

s ec ure s u s e n

phl t (L d Chatt a d Wi d ) M J am
e on on : o n n us . r
. es s

ay m ay b f
e ss d i hi Patial P trait (L
e ou n n s r or s on

d a d N w Y k M a m i ll a 8 C )
on n e M St
or : c n : o . r . eve n

H m bl R m t a a w ll a hi g at
'
s on s u e e on s r n c e , s e s s co n :

G i p R ma
oss ona i l d d i th
o l m
n ce,

re nc u e n e vo u e

call d M m i a d P t ait
e e
(N w
or e s Y k S inb or r s e or er

n er; L d Chatt a d Wi d ) Th b ta
on on o n n us . e su s nc e

f M H w ll d ti a b f d i tly

o r . o e s s oc r n es c n e ou n s u c c nc se t

f h i hi l i t l b k all d C it i i m a d Fi t i
o rt n s t e oo c e r c s n c on

(N w Y k
e H a p i 8
or B h ) r e

: rot e rs .

[ 1 3
]
 THE SHOR T STOR Y -

Sho rt tory
-
s Al t hough n eit her M r
. .

H ow e ll s n o r M r Jam es M r Be s a n t
.
, .

n or M r Steve n s o n s pecic al l y l i m ite d

.

his re m ark s to tho s e lo n ger an d in the , ,

picture dealer s s e n s e of the w ord m ore

-

WW
,

!
i m portan t tale s k n ow n as Novel s
, ,

an d a l though o f cours e their ge n eral

, ,

c ritici les o f
p
the art ctio n a
o f ppl ied q uite as w ell
t o t he Short s to ry a s to the Novel yet
-
,

all their co n crete exa m ple s w ere full

l e n gth Novel s ; an d the Short s tory as -
,

s u ch received n o recog n itio n at al l

, .

[ A n d here occa s io n s erve s to record

w ith regret the fact that eve n in the

m ore rece n t volu m e s o n the hi s tory
o f ctio n pu bl i s hed s i n ce the origi n al

appeara n ce of the pre se n t e s s ay in t 8 8 5 ,

v al uab l e as they are an d m o s t w e]

c o m e to al l lovers o f literature there ,

is a s tra nge n eglect o f the Short s tory -

.

[ 1 3 ]
 TH E SH OR T STORY -

The rel atio n o f the Short s to ry t o -

the Nove l and the i n ue n ce w hich t he

,

o ne m a y at an
y ti m e have e x erte d upo n

the deve l op m e nt o f the other thes e ,

are topics not take n up in Pro fes s or

W al ter R al eig h s The E ngli s h Novel

or in Pro fe s s or W L C ross s Deve l

. .

o m e n t of the E n gli s h Novel i

p or n ,

Pro fess or F H Stoddar s Evo lu tio n

. .

of the E n gl i s h Novel

They are n o t
.

di s cu s s ed eve n in Mr H e n ry Wi ls o n s
.

a n n otate d editio n o f Du nl op s H is to ry

o f Pro se Fictio n in w hich there is

a ge nui n e e ffort to co nsider all t he

as pects of the art o f the s tory tel l er ] -
.

[ r4 ]
 II
TH E di ffere n ce b etw ee n a Novel and
a Nove let is o n e o f le ngth o n l y : a
Novel et is a b rief Novel But the .

di ffere n ce b etw ee n a Nove l an d a

Short s tory is a differe n ce of ki n d
-
.

A true Short s tory is s o m ethi n g other

-

an d s o m ethi ng m ore tha n a m ere s tory

w hich is s hort
differ s fro m

the N
A true Short s to ry
ov e l c hie

es s e n ti al u n itL o f im
w
h

re s s io n
.

y in

I n
its
a

-

p __
.

far m ore exact an d preci s e u se o f the

w ord a Short s tory has u n ity as a
,
-

Novel ca n n ot have it 1
O fte n it m a .
,

1 In alette r to afr en i d , w
St even s on l a s d o y n t he

law wit h his u su al di re ct n e ss : Mak a th e no er e n d

t o it A h, ye s , but hat t

s n ot th w ayI w it
e r e the

wh ol e tale is i m pl i d ; I
e neve r u s e a ff t w h
n e ec en I

[ I s ]
 THE SHOR T S TD) !Y -

be n ote d by the w ay the Short s tory ,

-

full s the three fal s e u n itie s o f the

Fre n ch c l as s ic dra m a : it s hows o n e
actio n in o n e pl ace , o n o n e day
, A .

Short s tory deal s w ith a s i ngl e char

-

acter a s i ngl e eve n t a Si ngle em otio n

, , ,

or the series of em oti o n s Failed forth

b y a single s i gnatio n Poe s parad ox

t hat a poe m ca n n ot greatly exceed a

hu n d red lines in le ngth u n der pe nalty

can h lp it l it p pa th ff t that a t
e , u n ess re res e e ec s re o

f ll w ; that
o o what a t y
i t i T m ak
s s or c on s s s n. o e

a thno d that i t m ak th b gi i g all w

er en s g o e e e nn n ron

y i thi g it i j
,
.

Th de a mm t f a l g
e n ue o on st or s no n , s us t

a f ll l u whi h y m ayapp a h a d a m
c ose,

c ou ro c n cco

pa y a y pl a it i a da t a
n s ou e se t ial s co , no n esse n

m mbe i th hyert hm ; b n th b dy a d
e r d f a ut e o n en o

sh t t yi b
or -s or f th b s a d b l d f th bl d
on e o e on e n oo o e oo

of t h b gi i g
e
" e V ai l i m a L t r
nn n l i p e te s ,

vo 1
.
47 . .
, . .

1 S hi ay
ee Th Phi l
s phy f C m
ess on e oso o o

p iti
os t b f
on , d i th i th l m f th

o e ou n n e s x vo u e o e

coll t d diti f hi w k p par d by M

St d m a a d
e
ec e

db y
n
e

n
on

W o

oo e rr
s

.
or s , re e ess rs .

[ 1 5 ]
 TH E S HOR T -
STOR Y
th e di ffere n ce betw ee n the Short s tory

an d the Novel ; an d the Rave n an d

H ow w e b rought the good n ew s fro m

Ghe n t to Aix are n o t m ore u n like the
Lady o f the Lak an d Paradi s e

Los t in form an d in s pirit tha n the

,

Luck o f R oari n g C am p an d the ,

Man w itho u t a Co u n try tw o typical ,

Short s tories are u n like Van ity Fair

-
,

an d the H eart o f Midlothia n

tw o ,

typical Nove l s .

A n other gre a t di ffere n ce b etw ee n the

Short s tory an d the Novel lies in the
-

fact that the Novel n o w aday s at leas t , ,

m u s t be a love ta le w hile the Short

-
,

s tory n eed n o t de a l w itt at all .

Although there are to be fo u n d bydili

ge n t s earch a few Novel s w hich are n o t
"
l ove tales an d of cours e Ro bi n s o n
Cru s oe is the exam p l e that s w i m s at

o n ce i n to recollectio n yet the im

[ 1 3 ]
 TH E SHOR T STOR Y -

m e ns e m ajority of
Nov e ls hav e the
te n d er pas s i o n either a s the m otive

po w er o f their m achi n ery or as the

pivot o n w hich their pl ots turn Al .

thou g h Va n ityF air w as a Novel w ith

out a hero n early every other Novel
,

has a hero an d a h eroi n e ; an d the

n oveli s t ho w ever u n w illi n gly m u s t c on
, ,
.

cern hi m s el f in their love affairs -

.

But the w riter of Short s tories is u n -

der n o bo n d s o f thi s s ort O f cours e .

he m aytel l a tale of l ove if he choose ,

an d if love e n ters i n to his tale n atu ra ll y

and to its e n richih g ; but he n eed n ot
b other w ith love at all u n le s s he p l eas e .

So m e of the bes t o f Short s tories are -

l ove s tories too

-
Mr Aldrich s Mar
, .

gery Daw fo r i n stan ce Mr S ti m s o n s

,

, .

Mrs K nbllys Mr Bu n n et s Love

.
,

.

in O ld C lo athe s ; but m ore o f th em

are n o t love s torie s at all

-
I f w e w e re .

[ 1 9 ]
 THE SHOR T STOR Y
-

to pick out the te n bes t Short s tori es -

,

I thi n k w e s hou l d fi n d that few er tha n

ha l f of the m m a d e an ym e n tio n at a ll

o f l ove I n the S n ow I m age an d
.

in the A m b itiou s Gue s t in the Go l d

Bug an d in the Fall o f the H ou s e o f

U s her in My Double and ho w he

,

U n did m e in Devil Puzz l ers in the

,

-
,

Outcas ts of Poker F l at in Jea n ah

-
,

Poqueli n in A Bu n d le of Letters
,

there is l ittle or n o m e n tio n o f the love

of m
m om a n w hich is g e n eral ly

W
,

the chief topic "of co nvers atio n in a

Novel

W
.

Whi l e the n no t
g
" et on .

eas ily w ithoL b hort

m -

ca n. Sin ce l ove s ee m s to be alm os t

ti ! o nly thi ng w hich w i l l give i n tere s t

to a lo ng s tory the w riter of Novel s ,

has to get l ove i n to his tale s as b e s t he

m ay eve n w he n the subject rebel s an d
,
 TH E SHOR T S TOR Y -

w he n he hi m s elf is too ol d to take any

delight in the m ati ng of Joh n an d Joan .

But the Short s tory b ei ng b rie f does -

, ,

n o t n eed a lo v e i n tere s t to ho l d its parts -

to gether an d the w riter of Short s tories

, ,

has thu s a greater freedo m ; he m aydo

as he p l eas es ; fro m him a l ove tale is -

l
n o t expected .

I a
1 n ay n Th L al Sh t t y
ess on e oc or - s o r c on

t ib
r d t h I d p d t f Ma h
u te o t e n 89e en en or rc 1 r, 1 2,

C l l T W H iggi
o on e . pit . th di ad a ns on o n s out e s v n

ta g th es li t lab
e nove d wh h k w that
s ou rs u n er en e no s

hi w k i t b p bli h d i i tal m t ; a d h
s or s o e u s e n ns en s n e

d la t hat thi p ibl ial p bl i at i

ec re s s aff d
os s e se r u c on or s

th j e t i a
usti f th h t t y
c on o F h at l ate s or - s or . or e re , e s ,

w e ha th ve d it i e f p f t at ; t h
c on i on s o er ec r ere s no

su b di i i
- f i t
v s on o t ; t h a th a t ik d i
n e res tly e u or c n s r e re c

i
n, with t p fa a m with d t m i d t p
ou re ce, c n ov e e er ne s e

t wa d a
o r l i ad a
c o n c u s on , 0 hi gh t p i i l g ! n c n es rv e e

t p wh
s o h i d en F th m
e p f t
s one . or e ost e r ec ex

am p l f th h t t y th
es o e s f D Ma p a a t
or -s o r os e o e u ss n ,

for i ta th ad f l if h a p a t
ns nc e e re er ee s , e c n u se o

t hi k t ha
n t th y m
, t ha b
e d at a itti g
us ve ee n on e s n , so

co m pl t i th g ap th
e e s i gl g ap p th
e rs , e s n e r s , u on e
 TH E SH OR TSTORY
But other thi n gs are required of a
w riter o f Short s tories w hich are n ot -

required of a w riter of Nove l s T he .

n ove l i s t m a take h i ti m e he h a
y s ; s

abu n dan t roo m to turn a b out T he .

w riter o f Short s e s m u s t b e co n c i s e -
,

co m pres
s io n is es , For him m ore t ha n ,

m i d Thi m pl t
n . s th cod ; th y e en ess secu re s e en e

n ee d tb no at i a l b a th
e s ens i ity on , ec u se e re s no n eces s

o f k pi g p a
ee i f iti g m i i id t ;
n u ser es o exc n n or nc en s

gh A d th y

th m a
e i i id t i n nc en s en ou . roun e ver c en

t
re o f m ti a i aw hi lw i d t h
o on , m ayb a p
s n r n , ere e er

f t q i t a q i t w hi h i f m i dabl i it
ee u e , u e c s or e n s ver

p
re os e I D Ma pa a t t
. n i t y f C ri a
e u ss n

s e rr c s or o o s c n

v en ga U
e nc e , V d tta i whi h th l at
ne en e ,

n c e so e c or

i al
s l y ld w m a w h t ai a r d g that
on e o o n o r ns e ce o so

h e l im a ly k i ll h
u t te my
th a th r im p l y
s er en e , e u o s

t ll
e at th
s u s, d tha t thi q i t d f d tr
e en , s u e en o es uc

ti w t p a f lly h m a d w t t l p Ell
on en e ce u o e n en o s ee . e

dorm it bias, re m em it - la The

. y
c c l on e has s ent
p
it s e lf, and the s il en ce it has l eft be hi nd it is m ore
form i dabl tha e n the c c l on e y .
!

[ 23 ]
 TH E S HOR T - STORY
fo r an yo ne els e the hal f is m ore th an
,

the w ho l e Agai n the n ovel i s t m ay be

.
,

c o m m o n p l ace he m ay be n d his b es t
,

e n ergies to the photographic repro

du ctio n of the actu al ; if he s how u s a
c ross s ec tio n o f real l i fe w e are co n te n t ;
-

b ut the w riter o f Short s tories m u s t-

have origi nal ity an d i n ge n uity I f to

.

cor n
e an d i n ge n uity

h e add al s o a touch of fa n tas y s o m uch ,

t he b etter .

I n fact it m ay be s aid that n o o n e

W
,

ha s ever s uccee ded a s a w riter o f Short

s tories w ho had n ri i
o
na lit y an d c o
, at m os t
o f tho s e w ho have s ucceeded in thi s
l i ne had al s o the touch o f fa n tas y But .

t here are n ot am ] n oveli s ts

l acki n g n ot o n ly in fan tas y an d c om
,

press io n b ut al s o in i ngen uity an d orig

,

in a lity; they had other qual ities n o ,

 TH E SHOR T STORY -

d ou b t b ut thes e the y had n ot I f an

, .

exam ple m u s t b e gi ve n the n am e o f ,

A n tho n y T ro ll ope w i l l occur to a ll .

Fan tas y w as a thi ng he ab horred ; c o m

pres s io n he k n ew n o t ; an d origi n al ity
an d i n ge n uity c an be co n cede d to him
o nl y b y a s tro ng s tretch o f the ordi n ary
m eani ng o f the w ord s O ther qualitie s .

he had in p l e n t y but n o t thes e An d

, .
,

n o t havi n g the m he w as n o t a w riter

,

of Short s tories -
Judgi n g fro m his
.

l
es s ay on H aw thorn e o n e m ay eve n ,

go s o far as to s aythat Trollope did

n ot k n o w a good Short s tory w he n he -

sa w it .

I have w ritte n Short s tories with a -

!

1 T hi s i i l pap f
c r t ca er o Trol lp
o

e s on The
G en i us o f N atha i l H aw h
n e t orn e was c ont r ib ut e d to

the North American Rev iew for Se pt m b

e e r, 1 8 79 .

Apparent l y , like m an y tho er o f his y

es sa s , it has n ot

be en pi
re rn t ed .

[ 24
]
 TH E S HOR TSTORY

m ere l y a m p lied an ecdo tes or el s e ia

cide n ts w hich m i g ht hav e bee n u s e d in

a Novel ju s t as w ell as n ot .

Now it c ann ot b e s aid too em phat

,

ic ally that the ge n ui n e Short s tory ab -

hors the idea of the Novel I t n ei ther .

ca n b e co n ceived a s part o f a Nove l ,

n or ca n it be elaborated a n d expa n ded

so a s to form a Nove l A good Short .

s tory is no m ore the s y nm s o f a -

Novel tha n it is an episode fro m

1
a Novel A s l ight Nov el or a N ovel
.
,

cu t d o w n is a Nove l et : it is n ot a
,

I 1 m am bl i g
n so te r Th Sh t t y
n no es on e or - s or

t ib t d t
c on r u eth Ni t th C t y f Ma h
o e n e een en u r or rc ,

1 8 9 8 M F d i k W dm
, r. it at
re e r c tai f e ore re er es c er n o

th p i t m a
e d i t hi
o n s ay F e t hi g h d
n s e ss . or on e n , e e

c la tha
res t ag d Sh t t ry a oo b a l
or - s o c n nev e r e no v e

i a
n t h ll
nu it
-s ea t p ibly b a p i a
c nn o os s e r c s,

sy p i a a i a it w
no s s , scen r o, f a l It i a
s ere , o n ov e . s

se paat thi g a paat alm t a th S t i

r e n s se r e, os , s e on n e s

f m th Epi it i
ro e l th c, i al m t f a
nv o ves e exe rc s e os o

diff t at
eren r .

3 6 ]
 TH E SH OR T S TORY -

W
S hort tory Mr H o w e lls s Their
-
s . .

eddin g Journ ey an d Mi ss H ow
ard s O n e Su m m er are Nov e le ts

l ittle Novels Mr Ans teys Vice. .

Vers a Mr Bes an t s Cas e of Mr
, .

.

L u craft H ugh Co nw ay s Ca l led

j
,

B ack Mr Julia n H aw thor n e s Arch

, .

ihald Mal m ai s o n an d Mr Steve n s o n s

.
,

Strange Cas e of Dr Jekyll an d Mr . .

H yde are Short s torie s in co n ceptio n

-
,

althou gh they are w ithout the com pre s

s io n w hich the Short s tory require s -
.

It m ay b e re m e m b ered that in the

acute an d l earn ed e s s ay o n ver: de : oeit

w hich he prexed to his adm irable

Lyra Elegan tiaru m Mr Frederick ,

.

Locker declared that the tw o charac

t eris tic s o f the b es t ver: de : oeit '

w ere b revi ty a n d b ri ll ian cy an d that

"
,

the R ape of the Lock w ou l d be

the t ype a n d m ode l o f the b e s t ver: de

!

[ 27
]

TH E SH OR T S TOR I

: oeit if it ere n o t ju s t a little too

w

l on g So it is w ith the Cas e o f M r

.

.

L u c raft w ith Vice Vers a w ith Archi

, ,

b ald Mal m ai s o n they are ju s t a little

too l o n g .

[ 28
]
 II I

I T is to b e n oted as a cu riou s coinci

de n ce that there is n o ex act w ord in
E n g lis h to des ig n ate ei t her were de : 0
e it or the Short s tory a -
n d yet in n o
,

l a n guage are there b etter ver: de : oeit

'

o r Short s torie s-
tha n in E n gl i s h It .

m ay b e rem ark ed al s o that there is a

c ertai n like n e s s bet w ee n ver: de : oeie t!

an d Short s torie s : fo r o n e thi n g both

-
,

s ee m eas y to w rite a n d are har d An d .

t he typi ca l qualicatio n s of each m ay

apply w ith al m o s t equal force to the
o ther : ver: de : oeit s hoil ld revea l c o m
'

press io n i nge n uity an d origi n ality an d

, , ,

Short s tories s hould have b revity an d

-

brilll an cy n no c a
. ss 0 w riti n g are

[ 29
]
 W
TH E S H OR T S TO R Y -

n eatn es s m tio n a
on d po l i s h o f

ex e c u t i e d tha n in the w u t

in g o f p er: de : oeit an d o f Short s torie s -

.

The w riter have

the s e n s e 0 w hich ha s w e ll b ee n

called the highes t an d l as t attribute

!

o f a creative w riter The c o n s tru c
.

tio n m u s t alw ay s be l o gical adequate , ,

harm o n ious .

H ert i ; t he w eak s pot in Mr W H . . .

Bi s hop s O n e of the Thirty Piece s

,

the fu n dam e n tal idea of w hich that

fatality aw aits every s ucce s s ive po s s es so r
o f every o n e o f the coi n s o n ce paid to

Judas fo r his betray al o f Jes u s has

ge n ui n e s tre n gth n o t fu lly developed
,

in the s tory But other o f Mr Bi s hop s

. .

s torie s the Battl e o f B u n k erlo o fo r ,

i n s tan ce are ad m irab le in all w ay s ,

co n ceptio n an d executio n havi n g an

eve n excelle n ce A gai n H u gh Con
.
,

[ 3 0 ]
 TH E SH O RT S T R Y O

w ay s Daughter o f the Stars is a

Short s tory w hich fail s fro m s heer de

- !

c ie n c yo f s tyl e : here is o n e o f t he v e ry

o -
n es t Short s t ry id e as the s tartli n g
an d fas ci n ati n g fa n ta s y that bv s h e er
force o f w il l a m an m ight h ave bee n able
to draw dow n from the depth s o f the s k y
a lovely as tral m aid to s hare his n ite
h u m a n li fe e v e r giv e n to an ym or tal ,

but the ha n d li n g is at be s t barely su ffi

CI e n t . To do ju s tice to t he co n ceptio n
w ould ta x the executio n o f a po e t We .

could m erely w o n d e r w hat the tal e

w oul d have b e e n had it occurre d t o

H aw thorn e to Poe or to Th eophil e

, ,

Gautier An 9a l o gically deve loped

.

by o n ep os s es u s e o f fo r m a nd

w hat w e l o ok fo r in

the Short s tory -

.

But, al th ough the s e n s e o f form an d

the gi ft of s tyle are es s e n tial to the w ri t
[ 3 1 ]
 TH E S H OR T S TOR Y -

ing o fa good Short s tory theyare s e

-
,

c o n da r to the idea to the con ce ptio n

y
!

, ,

to the subject Th os e w ho ho ld w ith

.
,

n ove l i s t that it is n o ,

m atte r w hat yo u have to s ay but o n ly ,

how you s ay it n eed n o t atte m pt the

,

Short s tory ; fo r the Short s tory far

- -
,

m ore tha n the Novel eve n de m a n d s a ,

s ubject The Short s tory is n othi n g if

i

-
.

there is n o s tory to tell o n e m ight

al m o s t s aythat a Short s tory is n othi ng -

if it has n o plot ,except that plot
m ays ugge s t to s o m e reader s a co m p l i
cati o n an d an e laboratio n w hich are n o t
really n e ed ul But a plan if thi s
f .

w ord is l e s s l iable to m i s co n ceptio n tha n

!
plot a pla n a Short s tory m u s t -

have w hile it w ould be eas y to cite

,

Novel s of e m i n e n ce w hich are w holly

a m orphou s fo r exa m ple T ris tra m ,

Sha n d y!
[ 3 2 ]
 W
TH E SH O RT -
S TOR Y
s tory is o f m ore i m porta n ce yet ha t.

y ou have to te l s o fg
gre at e r i n tere s t

tha n ho w yo u te ll it I o n ce heard a .

clev er A m e rica n n o ve li s t p o ur s arcas tic

prai s e upo n a n ot he r A m e rica n n oveli s t ,

fo r n oveli s ts ev e n A m e rica n n ove l

,

is ts do n o t al w ay s dw ell together in
,

u n ity The s ubj e ct o f the eulogy w as

.

the chie f o f tho s e w ho had co m e to be

k n ow n as the I n tern atio n al Nove li s ts ;

an d he w as prai s e d b e cau s e he had in

v e n te d an d m ad e p o s s ible a fth plot .

H ith e rto d e cla re d the eulogi s t o n ly

, ,

fo ur te r m i n atio n s o f a n ov el have b e e n
k n ow n to the m o s t e n thu si as tic an d n u
t i ri n g s tud e n t o f ctio n Firs t they are
.
,

m arried ; or s e co n d s he m arri e s s o m e
,

o n e el s e ; or t hirdly he m a
, ,
rri es s o m e
o n e e ls e ; or fourthl y an d la s tly s he
, ,

dies No w co n ti n ued the pa n egyri s t

.
, ,

a fth term in atio n has bee n s how n to be

[ 34 ]
 TH E SH OR TS TOR Y
practicab le : they are n ot m ar ried s he ,

does n o t die he does n o t die , an d n o ,

thi n g happe n s at all As a Short s tory .

-

n eed n o t be a love s tor y it is o f n o c on -

,

s eque n ce a t all w heth e r th e y m arry or die ;

but a Short s tory in w hi ch n othi n g hap

-

pe n s at all is an ab s olute i m poss ibility

W
.

Perhap s the di ffere n ce betw ee n a

Short s tory an d a Sketch c an bes t b e
-

i n dicated b y s M tc h
m a Short s tory s o m e
thi n g al w ays happe n s K Sk e tc m ay
'

be an ou tll n e o f ch arac ter or eve n a pic ,

ture o f a m o o d o f m i n d but in a Short ,

s tory th e re m u s t be s o m e thi n g do n e ,

there m u s t be an actio n Ye t the dis .

1

1 Thi di ffs i i d d b i y by M F
e re n c e s c on s e re re r
. .

B P ki i h haa t i ti ally l
. er ns n t e c p fa t r c ers c c e v er re ce o

th
e vo u l m f hi i g i Sh t t i whi h t ak
e o s n en o u s or -
s or es , c es

it t it l f m th
s e ro t ad b t e D il P l
rs n es ev -
u zz e rs

( N ew Y k G
or P P: t am S.
) . u n

s o ns .

[ 35 ]
 TH E SHOR T S TOR Y -

ti n ctio n like that b etw ee n the N o vel

,

an d the R o m a n ce is n o lo nger o f vi tal ,

i m porta n ce I n the pre face to the

.

H ou s e o f the Seve n Gab les H aw ,

thorn e s ets forth the di ffere n ce betw ee n

the Novel an d the Rom a n ce an d clai m s ,

fo r him s el f the privilege s of the ro m a n c e r .

1
M r H e n ry Jam es fail s to s ee thi s dif
.

fe re n c e L The fact is that the Short

.
,

s tory a n d the Sketch the N o vel a n d the ,

R o m a n ce m elt an d m erge o n e i n to the

,

other an d n o m an m aym ete the b ou n d

W
,

aries o f each though their extre m e s lie

,

far apar t ith the m ore co m plete u n

.

de rs tan din g o f the pri n cip l e o f d evelop

m e n t an d evol u tio n in literar y art as in ,

phy s ical n ature w e s e e the futili ty o f a

,

s trict a n d rigid clas s icatio n i n to re

p

1 I n t he na w b t gg ti b i g ap hy
rro u su es ve o r o f H aw
h
t orn e c on r t ib t d t
u e M J h M l y
o r. o n or e

s En gl i h
s

Men of L tte e rs .

[ 3 6 ]
 TH E SH OR T S TOR Y
-

c is e l d e n ed ge n era an d s pecie s All

y .

that is n eed ful fo r u s to re m ark n ow is

that the Short s tory has li m itles s o ss i
-

bilitie s : it m ay b e as the
m o s t ro s aic n ovel or a s fa n ta s tic a
, s t he

m ost

[ 37 ]
 IV
As a touch of fa n tas y how ever s li g h t
, ,

is a w elco m e i n gredie n t in a Short s tory -

,

an d as the A m erican tak e s m ore thought

o f thi n g s u n s ee n th an the E n gli s h m a n ,

we m a y have here an i n co m plete ex

pl a n atio n o f the superiority o f t he
Am erica n Short s tory over the Briti s h
-
.

!
Joh n B u ll has s u ffe re d the ide a of the
I n vi s ible to be very m uch fatte n ed out

o f him s ay s M r Low ell : J o n athan
!
.
,

is co n s ciou s s till that he liv es in t he

World o f the U n s ee n as w ell as o f the

Se e n
. It is n o t e n ough to catch a
gho s t w hite ha n ded an d to hale him
-

i n to the full gl are o f the electric light .

A b rutal m i s u s e o f the super n atural is

perh ap s the very low es t degradatio n o f
the art o f cti o n But to m i n gle
.

[ 3 8 ]
 TH E SH OR T S TOR Y
-

the m arvellou s rather as a s light d eli ,

cate an d eva n es ce n t avour tha n as

,

an y actual port io n o f t he s ub s tan ce ,

to quote fro m the p re fac e to the

H ou s e o f the S e ve n G able s this

is, or s hould b e the aim o f the

,

w riter o f Short s torie s w he n e ver his

-

fe et lea v e the rm grou n d o f fact as

he s trays in the u n sub s ta n tial real m s
o f fa n ta s y .

I n n o o n e s w riti ngs it s ee m s to m e

, ,

1 s thi s better exem pli ed tha n in H a w

thorn e s

, n o t eve n in Poe s There

.

is a propri e t y in H aw thor n e s fa n tas y

to w hich Poe coul d n o t attai n H aw .

I w here Pge s

tt o ra ,

are m erel y phys ical The s ituatio n .

an d its logical develop m e n t an d t he ,

e ffe cts to be got ou t o f it are all Poe ,

thi n k s o f I n H aw thor n e t he s i tu ati o n

.
,

how ever s tran ge an d w e ird is o n ly the ,

[ 39 ]
 TH E SH OR T S TOR Y -

outw ard an d vi sible s ig n of an i nw ard

an d s piritu al s tru ggle Ethical co u s e
.

q u e n ces are al w ay s w orr y i ng H aw

thorn e s s oul : but Poe did n ot k n o w

that the re w ere an yethics .

There are literary evolutio n i s ts w ho ,

in their w hi m o f s e e i n g in ev e ry origi n al
w rite r a copy o f s o m e pre dece ss or have ,

decl ared that H aw thor ne is derived

fro m Tieck an d Poe fro m H o ffm a n n
, ,

ju s t as Dicke n s m od e lled hi m s el f on
S m ollett an d Th ackeray follow ed in t he
,

foots tep s o f Fieldi n g I n all four cas es

.

t he pupil s urp a ss ed the m as ter ,if -

h aply Tieck an d H o ffm an n can be c o n

s ide re d a s ev e n re m otely the m a s te r s o f

H aw thor n e an d Po e W he n Coleridge
.

'

wa s told that K lo s to c k w a s the G e r

p
m an Milto n he a s s e n te d w ith the
,
d
r
y
add e n du m A v e ry Ge r m a n Milto n
, .

So is H o ffm an n a very Ge rm an Poe ;


TH E SH OR T S TOR Y -

l
w ou ld de n y Poe as cu n n i ng an art i
.
,

c e r o f gold s m ith s w ork a nd a

s adroit -

in its ve n di n g as w as ever M Jo s s e .
,

dec l ared that H aw thorn e s di s ti n ctiv e

trait is i n ve n tio n creatio n i m agi n atio n , , ,

origi n al i ty a trait w hich in the l iter

,

ature o f ctio n is p os iti v ely w ort h all

the res t B u t w ith the m oral bas i s o f
.

H aw thorn e s w ork w hich had ow ered

in the crevic e s an d cran n i e s o f Ne w

E n gl and Puritan i s m Poe did n o t c o n ,

c e r n hi m s e l f I n Poe s ha n d s t he s tory
.

o f t he A m biti ou s Gu es t m ight hav e

1 i w f Hawt h
In his re v e ali
o ta l orne s

e r er es , c o n

trib t d igi ally t G aham Mag a i a d t b

u e or n o r

: z n e, n o e

l d w i th
c on s u t e no th n l m f th i i al di
e se ve n vo u e o e crt c e

i p p a d by M
t on re re St d m a a d W db y
e s s rs . e n n oo e rr .

I i b th i
t s o i g ad i
n t e re st n ti m par thi
n n st ru c ve t o co e s

a i l
rt c e H aw h
on i whi h P
t a t th
o rn e n p c oe v u n s e su e

i i y f th Sh t t y
r or t o e th N l w it h t h
or -
s or ove r e ov e e

pm
,

pap th
e r on Phil e l i i
os o i w hi h os t on ,

n c

h m ak a i m i l a l ai m f
es h Ly i rc th E i or t e r c o ve r
e s
p e c. l

[ 4 2
]
 TH E SH OR T S TOR Y
-

th rilled u s w ith a m ore pow erful horror ,

but it w o uld have l acked the ethical

b e auty w hich H aw thor n e gav e it an d
w hich m ake s it s ig n ic an t beyo n d a

m e re feat o f verbal legerd e m a i n An d

.

the s ubtile s i m plicity o f the Great

Sto n e Face is as far fro m Poe as t he

pathetic iro n y o f the A m bitiou s Gues t

siesja
.

I n all his m o s t d yi n g fant a w

thor n e 3 n atural ; an d though he m ay

,

n d the b ou n

darie n o w here d o e s he viol a te

the law s o f n ature H e had at all
.

ti m e s a w hol e s o m e s i m plicity an d he
,

n e ver s ho w ed a trace o f the m o rbid

n
y
tai n t w c ris e s n early all P oe s

w ork . e o n e m ay ve n ture
,

t o sa had he broad s a n i t y o f g e n iu s
y , t ,

w hile w e s houl d u n ders ta n d an y o n e

w ho m ight d e clare tha t Po e had m e n tal

di s eas e rai s ed to the

[ 43 ]
 THE SH OR T S TOR Y -

A lthough it m aybe doubted w hethe r

the ery and tu m ultuou s ru s h o f a
volca n o w hich m i ght b e take n to t ypi fy
,

Poe is as po w erfu l or i m press ive in t he

,

e nd a s t he cal m a n d i n evitable ro re s
p g
s io n o f a g l acier to w hich fo r the pur
, ,

pos es o f thi s co m pari s o n o n ly w e m ay ,

like n H aw thorn e yet the w eight an d

,

i n ue n ce o f P oe s w o rk are in dis pu t a

ble O n e m ight haz ard the ass erti o n

.

that in all Lati n cou n tries he is the be st

k n ow n o f A m erica n aut hors Certai n ly .

n o A m erica n w rite r ha s bee n s o w ide l

y
accepted in Fran ce Nothi n g b e tter o f
.

its ki n d has ever bee n do n e tha n t he

Pit an d t he Pe n dulu m or tha n t he ,

Fall o f the H ou s e o f U s her (w hich

has be e n co m pared aptly w ith Brow n

i n g s Childe R ol an d to the Dark

To w er cam e fo r its pow er o f sugge st

in g i n tellectual de s ol atio n) Nothi ng .

[ 44 ]
 1 %ME S H OR FJVDR Y

b etter o f its ki n d has ever b ee n d o n e

than the Gold Bug or tha n the Pu r ,

l oi n ed Letter or tha n the Murd e rs ,

in the R u e Morgue

.

The Murders in the Ru e Morgue

is i n deed a s tory o f the m o s t m arv e ll o u s
s k i l l : it w as the rs t o f it s ki n d a n d to ,

thi s day it re m ai n s a m odel n o t o n ly ,

l
u n s u rpas s ed but u n appro ac hable
, It .

wa s the rs t o f dete ctive s t o rie s ; a n d it

has had thou s a n d s o f i m itatio n s an d n o

rival The origi n ality the i nge n uit y
.
, ,

t he v eri s i m ili t u de o f thi s tale an d o f its

fe llow s are be y o n d all prai s e Poe had .

a facu l t y w hich o ne m aycall i m agi n ative

1 For exam pl e,hat all
it is n ot u nf i
ar t o su gg e st t

th m a if ld f a f D C a D yl y l
e n o e ts o r . on n o e s ver c e ve r

Sh l k H l m a la t i a th f

e r oc o es re t en n on e or no er o

th e setal fP es o M D pi b i g th p
oe s ,

yp . u n e n e rot ot e

o f H lm o him lf a d th a b i g aphi a mm
es se , n e u to o r c n rr

t a di g i am a i d f w d i g adm i ;
'
s n n h n t e s e tt tu e o on er n ts

ti ont hat D Wa ak i th B i i h i
r
. t s on t es n e rt s s e r es .

[ 45 ]

TH E SH OR T S TOR Y -

ra i ci n atio n to a degree b eyo n d all

t o
1
other w riters o f c tio n H e did n o t at .

all ti m e s keep up to the hi g h level in ,

o n e s t y l e o f the Fal l o f the H ou s e o f

,

U s her an d in a n other o f the Mur

,

, ,

d e rs in the Ru e Morgu e an d it w as ,

n o t to be expected that he s hould .

O n ly t oo o fte n did he s i n k to the grade

o f the ordi n ar y Tale fro m B lackw ood

w hich he hi m s e l f s atiri s ed in his u s ual

sa v age vei n o f hu m our .

ta
An d ye t there is n o de n yi n g that
eve n in his im s ie s t an d m os t ta w dry
l e s w e s ee the tru th o f Mr Low el l s
.

1
y gg ti t dy f P i N w
I n his v er su es ve s u o oe n
e

E ay
ss w a d a i i al m h d
s to r M J M R b
crt c et o ,

r . . . o e rt

s on q f m h Sp a i h
u ot es it i La da h a
ro t e n s cr c n t e st te

m t ha P
en t ha bt th oe y w it s ee n e rst s t or -
r er to

pl it h ld f i i th d p a t m t f t h

ex o t e e o s c en c e n e e r en o e

a d h ha f th b th
ga
n w ll e ou s n t e s ur er ee n e rs t o

l it th m a ll i m b i d p y h l gy w ith
i p
ex o e rv e ou s n or s c o o

id i
en t a (pc rt
!
.

[ 4 6 ]
 TH E SHO R T T R Y
S O
a s s ertio n that Poe had tw o o f the !

pri m e quali tie s o f ge n iu s a faculty ,

o f vigorou s yet m i n ute a n aly s i s a nd a ,

w o n derful fecu n dity o f i m agi n atio n .

M r L ow eil s aid al s o th at Poe c om

.

bin e d in a very r e m arkable m a n n er

!

t w o faculties w hic h are s eldo m fou n d

u n ited a po w e r o f i n u e n ci n g the
,

m i n d o f the reader by the i m palpable

s hado w s o f m y s tery a n d a m i n ute n e s s ,

o f detail w hich doe s n o t leav e a in

p
or a butto n u n n oticed Both are in
.
.

truth the na tural res u lts o f the pre

,

do m i n ati n g quality o f his m i n d to ,

w hich w e have be fore alluded a n al ,

1
s is I n Poe s ha n d s ho ever the

y . w , ,

e n u m eratio n of pin s an d butto n s the ,

1 I t is to be g
re rett e d that L w ll a t iti i m
o e

s cu e cr c s

of Poe is n ot to be fou n d i th m pl t d iti f

n e co e e e on o

his ow n w ork s , but onl y i a a l y a d i m pl t

n n e r n nc o e e

e d iti on of Poe

s.

[ 47 ]
 THE SHOR T S TOR Y
-

exact i m itatio n o f the pros aic facts o f

hu m dru m l ife in thi s w orkaday w orld ,

is n o t an e n d b ut a m ean s o n ly
, ,

w hereby he co n s tructs a n d i n te n s ie s

the s had ow of m y s tery w hich b roods

over the thi ngs thu s real i s tical ly por
trayed .
 TH E SHOR T STOR Y -

have an y literature at all it had good

l
Sh o rt s to ries It is quite w ithi n te n
-
.
,

or at the m os t tw e n ty years that t he ,

A m erica n n ovel has com e to the fro n t

an d forc e d the ack n ow ledg m e n t o f its
equ ali ty w ith the Briti s h n ovel an d the
Fre n ch n ovel ; but fo r fty years the
A m erica n Short s tory has had a s u -

1 with t i t t t all th fa t hat

It is n ot ou n eres o rec e c t

I i g Sk t h B k w a th al i t w k f
rv n

s e c oo

s e e r es or o

Am i a a th hip t gai p p laity i G at

er c n u o rs o n o u r n re

B itai a d tha it igi ally app a d i pat i

r n, n t or n e re n rs n

1 8 9 1 th 20,y t pa tai i g R ip a
e ve r rs rt con n n
v n

Wi k l a p f t p i m f h Am i a Sh t
n e,

er ec s ec en o t e er c n or

t y wi th it
s or d l ightf l bl d i g f fa tay a d
s e u en n o n s n

hm u A d i a l tt w itt
ou r . t af i
n d i Nw
n e er r en o r en n e

Y k h t ly af
or s th p bl i a
or ti f h Tal
t er fa e u c on o t e es o

Ta l i I i g p i t d t with q al

r v e e r, n rv n o n e ou , e u

sh wd re a d m d ty th
ne ss a n why th Sh t o es , e re son s e or

t y
s or m d t him m
see dif lt tha th N l
e o o re cu n e ov e ,

a d al
n di d hi w m th d f m p it i
so s c u ss e s o n e o o co os on .

( L
i f a d Lett f W a
n hi g t I i g
e N w
e rs o s n on rv n

s e

Y k G P P am S l ii p

or : . 8 69 . u tn s ons , 1 , vo . . .

[ 5 0 ]
 THE SHOR TS TOR Y
re m ac y wh
ich a n
y co m pete n t critic
p
c ould n ot but ack n o w ledge . I n deed ,

the pres en t excelle n ce of the A m erica n

n ovel is due in great m eas ure to the

Short s to ry for n early every o n e o f the

-

A m erica n n oveli s ts w ho s e w ork s are

n o w read by the w hole E n gli s h s peak -

in g race began as a w riter o f Short

s t o rie s .

Although as a form of ctio n the

S hort s tor y is n o t i n ferior to the Novel
-
,

an d although it is n o t eas ier all thi n gs

,

c o n s idered yet its brevi t y m akes its

,

c o m po s itio n s i m pl e r fo r the pren tice

h an d . Though the Short s torie s o f

-

the begi n n er m ayn o t be good yet in ,

t h e w riti n g o f Short s torie s he s hall

-

l e ar n how to tell a s tor y he s hall dis

,

c over b ex erie n ce the e l e m e n ts of the

y p
art o f ctio n m ore re adi l y an d above ,

all m, th an if he had begu n


TH E SH OR TS TORY
on a l o ng an d exhau s ti n g n ove l T he .

phys ical s trai n of w riti ng a rll s tze d -

n ovel is far greater tha n the reader

ca n w ell i m agi n e To thi s s trai n the
.

begi n n er in ctio n m ay gradu ally

accu s to m hi m s e l f by the co m po s i tio n
o f Short s torie s
-
.

( H ere i
,
f the di g re ss io n m a be par
y
don ed occas io n s erve s to s ay t hat if
,

our w ri t ers o f plays had the s a m e

c ha n ce that our w riters o f n ovel s have ,

w e m ight n o w have a s chool o f A m er

ica n dra m ati s ts o f w hich w e s houl d b e

as proud as o f our s chool o f A m eri c a n
n ove l i s ts . I n dram atic co m po s iti o n ,

the equiv al e n t o f the Short s tory is -

the on e act p l ay be it dra m a or co m

-
,

edy or co m edietta or farce As the .

n ove l i s ts have l ear n ed their trade b y

the w riti n g o f Short s tories s o the -
,

dra m ati s ts m ight lear n their trade far ,

[ 5 2
]

THE SHOR T -
STORY
m ore di icu lt a
s it is an d m ore co m

p li ca ted by,
t he w riti ng o f one - act
p l ays B u t w hile the m agazi n es o f
.
,

the U n ited States are hu ngry for good

Short s tories an d s i ft carefully al l that
-
,

are s e n t to the m in hope o f happe n

,

i n g o n a treas ure the theatre s o f the

,

U nited States are cl os ed to o n e act i -

p l ays an d the d ra m ati s t is de n ied the

,

opportu n ity o f m aki n g a hu m bl e and

te n tative begi n n i ng The co nditio n s.

o f the theatre are s uch that there is

littl e hope o f a chan ge for the better in

t hi s re s pect ,m ore 3 t he pity The
.

m a n ager ha s a traditio n that a broke n

bi ll as it is called a progra m co n tai n
, ,

i ng m ore tha n o n e p l ay is a c o n fe s ,

s io n o f w eak n e s s an d he pre fers so ,

far a s po s s ib l e to kee p his w eak n es s

,

c o n cea l e d ) .

Whe n w e read the roll of A m erican

[ 53 ]
 TH E SHOR T S TOR Y -

n ovel i s ts w e s ee that n earl y all o f

,

the m bega n as w riters of Short s tories -

.

So m e o f the m Mr Bret H arte for ,

.
,

i n s tan ce an d Dr Edw ard Everett

, .

H ale n ever got an y farther or at

, , ,

leas t if they w rote n ovel s their n ovel s

, ,

did n o t receive the full arti s tic appre c ia

tio n an d the a m ple popular
bes to w ed on their Short s tories Even -
.

Mr Cab l e s ad m irable Gran diss im es

.

has n o t m ade his m a n y readers forget

his Po s s o n Jo n e ; n or has Mr Al


.

dric h s uee o f She b a char i ng

! m

n ,

as s he is drive n fro m our m e m ory

,

his Margery Daw (as d e l ight fu l an d

as captivati n g as that other n o n exi s te n t -

heroi n e Mr Au s ti n Dob s o n s Doro

, .

Mrs Burn ett Mi s s Wool s o n

.
, ,

an d Mi s s Mu r ee put forth volu m e s

o f Shor t s torie s be fore the atte m pte d
y
-

the m ore su s tai n ed ight o f the fu l l

[ 54 ]

THE SHO RT -
S TOR Y
d ed Nove l
g e Mi Je w ett Mr . ss , .

er M Bi hop
B l nu r s an d Mr Julia n
, .
, .

H aw thorn e w rote Short s torie s be fore -

they w rote novel s ; an d Mr Jam e s .

has n ever gathered i n to a book fro m

the back n um b ers o f m agazi n e s the

ha l f of his earlier e fforts .

l

1 whi h aq tati ha al ady

I n the arti c le from c uo on s re

b m ad ( a t
e en e pp in C l l H iggi
no e on . e r o on e n son

c all d att t i
e t th en k i ll w it h w hi h t h
on o l al e s c e oc

sh at t y i th
r - s or ha d f i m abl w it
n e f n s o nnu er e r ers o

b h ot i all part
s ex es f th U i d Stat
n ha b s o e n te es s e en

m ad t yi ld th e o y f m ad l
e fe ve r y or n c o ou r o ever s ec

ti f
on oimm ou r t y ; ad h m ak t ha
en se t c ou n r n e re r s

th api d m l tip l i ati

e r f th p tabl k dak ha
u c on o e or e o s

sc a ly pa d th w ift g wt h f l al w i t
rc e s ur ss e e s ro o oc r ers ,

e a h appa tl y h a i g th am
c ren q ipm t f d i t
v n e s e e u en o rec

n ess a d ig nAll th a i d l m t f
v or . e v re e e en s o ou r

a b i g api dl y re ght t a d hib it d

e n r s ou ou n ex e .

T b gi o the i l l g t w ght Mi Wi l
n on e so on es rou , ss e

m ha p d
'

s d a i f m al pi
s ro u c e a t se r e s o or c t ures , s ru e

ada t n a a y thi g i l it at
s erse s th
n gh h ha n n er u re , ou s e s,

un happily l ft ath , t f ight th m

e r lt i at d
e r ou o s e ore c u v e

ada n t a l ap t
n ces r f N w E gl a d l if t w hi h
s ec s o e n n e, o c

j
,

h w o Mi J w tt ha d
eve r, ss am pl e ti e s on e er us ce .
!

[ 55 ]
 TH E SH OR T S TORY-

In thes e refere n ces to the A m eri c an

m agazi n e I b e l ieve I have s u gges ted
the real reas o n o f the superiority o f the
Am erica n Short s tories over the B riti s h
-
.

I t is n o t o n l y that the eye o f pat riot

is m m ay detect m ore fa n tas y m ore ,

hu m our a n er feel i n g fo r art in these

, ,

you n ger U n ited States b ut there is a,

m ore e m phatic an d m aterial reas o n fo r

the A m erican procie n cy There is in .

the U n ited States a de m an d for Short

s torie s w hich doe s n ot exi s t in Great

Britai n or at an yrate n ot in the s am e

,

d e gree The Short s tory is o f ve ry reat

g
-

( .

i m portan ce to the A m erica n m agazi n e .

But in the Briti s h m agazi n e the s erial

Novel is the o n e thi ng of co n s eque n ce ,

an d al l el s e is t e rm ed paddi n g
!
In .

E ngla n d the w riter of three volu m e Nov -

e ls is the b e s t p aid o f l ite rary labourers .

So it is to be n oted that w hoe ver

[ 5 6 ]
 TH E SH OR T S TOR Y -

the three volu m e li m it has bee n dw e l t

-

o n u n cea s i n gl y b y Briti s h critic s .

The three volu m e s ys te m is pecu l iar

-

to Great Britai n : it does n o t obtai n

either in Fra n ce or the U n ited State s .

As a co n s e que n ce the Fre n ch or ,

Am erica n w riter o f ctio n is le ft free to

treat his s ubject at the le n gth it de
m a n ds n o m ore a
,
n d n o l es s I t is .

pleas a n t to n ote that there are s ig n s o f

the begi n n i n g of the b reak u p o f the -

s s te m eve n in E n gla n d ; a
y i
r d the pro
tes ts o f the chief Briti s h criti cs agai n s t
l
it are loud an d freque n t .

I t w as thi s three vo lu m e s y s tem w hic h -

I i
1 ati fa t y t
t s s d s t hat t
c or
hg m e
o re c or n ow
'

l m systg l ha disa a at l a t a d all y i

vo u e
pp d s e re s , n n , n

lap d ing; thi pa ag ap h w a

!

t h y a th a t ha
e rs ve e se s r r

e s s

or igi ally p d It ti ti m d M R d
n en n e . s ex nc on ov e r . u

ya d K ipli g t ha t it q i m i as riesn a
r n o c n ti i a l
s re u e n e s rc

ta a all d Th Th D k ad w t b
s nz s , c e e re e- ec e r, n no o e

fou n d with hi th la ly i i Th S s o er t er r cs n e ev en

Seas J

.
5 8
 TH E SH OR T S TOR Y -

w as res po n s ible in great m eas ure for the

i n ve n tio n an d protectio n o f the Britis h
m achi n e fo r m aki n g Briti s h Novel s o f ,

w hich Mr Warn er told u s in his e n ter

.

t ai n i n g es s ay o n ctio n We all k n ow
W
.

t he ork o f this m achi n e an d w e all ,

recogn i s e t he trade m ark it i m pri n ts in

-

the corn er But Mr War n er failed to

. .

te l l u s w hat n evertheles s is a fact that

, ,

thi s Briti s h m achi n e c an be geared do w n

so a s to tur n out the Briti s h s hort s tory .

Now the Briti s h s hort s tor y as the

, ,

m achi n e m ake s it an d as w e s ee it in
m o s t Britis h m a gazi n es is o n ly a littl e ,

Briti s h Novel or an i n cid e n t or epi

,

s ode fro m a Briti s h Nov e l I t is thu s .

the exact arti s tic oppo s ite o f the A m er

ica n Short s tory o f w hich as w e hav e
-
, ,

s ee n the chie f characteri s t ic s a

,
re origi

na lit y i n g e n uity co m pre s s io n an d n o t

, , , ,

in fre q u eh tly a touch o f fa n tas y

, I do .

[ 59 ]
 THE SH OR T STOR Y -

sa cour seof
that the g oo d and
n ot y , ,

gen ui n e Short s to ry is n ot w ritten in

-

I
E nglan d n ow an d the n for if I w ere ,

to m ake an ys uch ass ertio n s o m e o f the

b es t work o f Mr Steve n s o n of Mr .
, .

Bes a n t an d o f Mr A n s te y w ould ris e u p

, .

to co n tradict m e ; but thi s is m erel y an

accide n tal grow th an d n o t a s tap l e o f
,

productio n As a rul e in E n glan d the

.
,

artis t in ctio n does n ot care to hide his ,

l ight u n der a bu s hel an d he puts his ,

b es t w ork w here it w ill be s ee n o f all

m en
,
that is to s ay not in a Sho rt ,

s tory So it happe n s that the m o s t o f

.

the brief tale s in the Britis h m agazi n e s

are n ot true Short s torie s at al l an d -
,

that they b el o n g to a low er form o f the

art o f c tio n in the depart m e n t w ith
,

the a m p l ied an ecdote It is the three .

vol u m e Novel w hich has ki ll ed the

Short s to ry in E ngl a n d
-
.

I 60 ]

THE SH OR T S TOR Y -

C ertai n of the rem arks in the pres e n t

p aper I put forth rs t a n o n m ou s l y in
y
t h e co l u m n s o f the Sat urda y R e v iew ,

o f Lo n d o n To m y i n te n s e surpri s e
.
,

t he y w ere co n troverted in the Na tion ,

o f New York
1
The critic b ega n by
.

as s u m i n g that the w riter had s aid that

Am erica n s pre ferred Short s tories to -

Nove l s What had really b een s aid

wa s that there w as a s teady d em a n d
fo r Short s tories in A m erica n m aga
-

z i n e s w herea s in E n gla n d the de m a n d

,

wa s rather fo r s erial Novel s .

!
I n the rs t place s aid the critic , ,

A m erican s do n o t prefer Short s tories -

,

as is s how n by the e n or m ou s n u m be r
o f Briti s h Nove l s circulated a m o n g u s

an d in the s eco n d p l ace tal e s of the quiet , ,

1 The or igi n al art i l w il l

c e be fou n d in the Satu r
da
y Re v ie w for Se pt . an d t he a v erse d i
c rt

icis m app eare d in the Nation for Ju ly 5 , : 885 .

[ 6 1
]
 TH E SH OR T S TOR Y -

d o m es t ic ki n d w hich form the s taple ,

o f periodical s like All t he Tea r R ound

an d Chambers : y

ourna l have here thou ,

sa n d s o f re a de rs w here n ative produc

tio ns how ever clever an d origi n al have
, ,

o n l y hu n dreds s i n ce the for m er are ,

re pri n te d bythe cou n try p ap e rs an d in

the Su n day e ditio n s o f citypapers as
rapidl y an d regularly as they are pro
du ce d at h o m e

Now the a n s w er to .
,

this is s i m ply that thes e Briti s h Nov el s

an d Briti s h s tori e s are repri n ted idely W
in the U n it e d State s n o t becau s e the ,

A m e rica n pe o ple pre fe r the m to an y

thi n g el s e but becau s e ow i n g to the
, ,

ab s e n c e o f i n ter natio n al cop yright they ,

l
co s t n othi n g That the A m eric an peo .

1 It i pl a a t t b abl t
s e s m a k th at th
n py
o e e o re r e co

right a t f 8 9 m d th p m i m f h ap
c o 1 1 re ov e e re u o c e ness

f m th B i i h tal
ro e a d that th Am i a w it
rt s es , f n e er c n r er o

Sh t t i
or - i
s o r es l g m p ll d t
s no p d i on er c o e e o ro uce n

co m p ti i
e w it h l g d
t on st o en oo s .

[ 62 ]
 THE SHO R T- S TOR Y
p le
p re fer to read A m erica n s torie s

w he n t hey can get the m is s ho w n b y the

e n orm ou s circulatio n o f the periodica ls

w hich m ake a s peciality o f A m erica n
ctio n
.

[ 63 ]
 VI
I FI ND I have left m y s el f l ittle s pace
to s p eak o f the Short s tory as it exi s ts
-

hin other l iteratures tha n thos e o f Great

Britai n an d the U n ited States The .

co n d i tio n s w hich have killed the Short

s tory in E n gla n d do n o t obtai n el s e

w here ; a n d el s ew her e there are n o t a

few goo d w riters o f Short s tories Tur

-

j
.

e n e f B orn s e n Sacher Ma s oc h Frey

g
-
, , ,

tag Li n dau are the n a m es w hich o ne

, ,

recall s at o n ce an d w ithout e ffort as
m as ters in the art an d m y s tery o f the
Short s tory Tu rgen e f s Short s torie s
-
.

-
,

in particu lar it w ou l d b e di f cult to

,

co m m e n d too w arm ly But it is in .

Fran ce that the Short s tory ouri s hes-

[ 64 ]
 TH E SH OR T S TOR Y -

bor purpo s e to w ri te Short s tories

n on -
.

( g
T u r e n e f carrie d h is de s ire fo r Co n ci s e
n e s s s o fa r that he s ee m s a l w a s to b e
y
experi m e n ti n g to s ee how mu ch o f his
s tor
y he m ay le ave out ) .

O n e o f the fore m o s t w riters o f center

is Ed m o n d A b out w ho s e c harm i n g
,

hu m our is k n ow n to all readers o f the

Man w ith the Broke n Ear a Sho rt
-

s tor
y in co n ceptio n though , u nd uly

exte n ded in executio n Few of the .

charm i n g center of M Alpho n s e Dau .

det or o f the earlier Short s tories o f

,
-

M Em ile ! ola have bee n tran s late d

.
,

i n to E n gli s h ; an d the poetic tales o f

M Fra n cois C o pp e are likew i s e u n du l y
.

n eglecte d in thi s cou n t ry The A b b .

Co n s ta n ti n o f M Ludovic H ale v y

.

has b ee n read by m a n y but the Ga l lic ,

s a tire o f his m ore Pari s ia n Short s torie s -

has b ee n pas s ed by perhap s w i s ely in

, ,

I 66 J
 TIH E SHOR S ORY
T T

sp ite o f their broad hu m our an d their

l
s harp w it I n the very s i n gu l ar col
.

l e ctio n of s to ries w hich M Jea n Ri c he .

i n ha s called the Mort s Bizarre s w e

p
n d a m oder n co n ti n uatio n o f the Poe

traditio n al w ay s m ore pote n t in Fra n ce

,

tha n el s ew here

W
.

[ H ere I ca n cel a cas ua l s e n te n ce

w rit te n in 1 8 8 5 be fore Gu y Li/ e Ma , n ;

a s san Lh el revealed h i ex
p y s

tra ordin a ry gi fts a nd his m arvellou s

crafts m a n s hip H is S hort s torie s are
.
-

m as terpiece s of the art o f s t ory telli n g -

,

b ec au s e he had a Greek s e n s e o f form ,

a Lati n po w er o f co n s tructio n an d a ,

Fre n ch felici ty o f s tyle They are .

1 ft y a i
In the thi ay w a
een te rs s n c e s ess s rs

p i t
rn e d hi p a,h tha b
s re m d a
ro c d th b t s e en re o ve ,
n e es

of th Sh t t i
e f Da d f M C app a d f
o r - s o r es o u et , o . e n o

M Hale y ha b
. v l i gly d d i t E gli h
ve ee n ov n ren e re n o n s

by A m i a t a l at
er c n r ns o rs .

[ 67 ]
 TH E S H OR T S TOR -

s i m ple m o s t o f the m direct s w i ft in

, , ,

evitable an d i n exorable in their s trai ght

,

forw ard m ov e m e n t I f art co n s i s ts in 1

j
.

t he s u p re ss g n o f n o n e s s e n tial s there
p
-

h ave b e e n fewgre ater artis ts in ctio n

tha n Maup as s a n t I n his Shor t s tories .
-

there is n e ve r a w ord w as ted an d there ,

is n e ver an excurs u s Nor is there .

an yfeeble n e s s or fu m bli ng What he .

w a n t e d to do he did w ith the u n erri n g ,

certai n ty o f Leathers tocki n g hitti ng the ,

bull s eye agai n an d agai n H e ha d

-
.

t he abu n d a n ce a n d the ea s e o f the very

great arti s ts ; an d the hal f doze n or -

the h al f s core o f his bes t s tories are

-

a m o ng the very bes t Short s tories in -

1
an y la n guage] .

lat tal th i t b t d a t d y

1 I n his er es e re s o e no e en en c

t w ad th p y h l gy f t h m
o r s e bid Th t h ght
s c o o o e or . e ou

of d ath a d t h d ad f m tal d i a
e n m d t
e re o en se se s ee e o

p him
os s es s I L H la f .am pl wn d e or ,

or e x e, e n

[ 63 ]
 TH E SH OR T S TOR Y -

Mau passant ki g f hi
ta n
'

or s ow n j
Fit z am es O B rien
s

u nc ann ym t
on s e r, i i iblnv s e an d yet tan e gibl an d the
F hm a
ren c n ve h ft
ga th tal
dd d e e an a e t ou c o e rro r

b y m ak i g th f t at
n i t im d i
e t hat th
u n or u n e v c s c ove r e

at
c re h f a d had a t
u re e g will tha hi w
e re s ro n er n s o n,

a d th at h w a b i g hyp t i d t hi d m by a
n e s e n no se o s oo

b i g wh m h
e n ld t
o b t wh
e c ou p h no s ee , u os e re s e nc e e

c ould f l O B ri
ee . y t atl i g tal What

en s

v er s r n e,

w a it !
s i t b f

d i th l m f hi Sh t
s o e ou n n e vo u e o s or

t i al l d Th Diam d L
s or e s c e
(N w Y ek on e ns

e or s

S ri b r)
c ne .

[ 69 ]
 VI I
Tm : Short s tory s houl d
-
id n ot be vo

w hate ve r t he gg t hor please

m
or w ithout form b ut its fo r m ay be
H e has ,

an ab s olute libert yo f choice It m ay .

be a pers o n al narrative like Poe s De ,

!

s ce n t i n to the Mael s tro m o r Mr

.

H al e s My Double an d how he

U n did m e ; it m aybe i m pers o n al like

Mr Frederick B Pe rk in s s Devi l
. .

Puzzlers or Colo n el W De Fore s t s

.

Brigade Co m m a n der ; it m ay be a

co n u n dru m like Mr Stockto n s in

, .

s oluble query the La dy or the Tiger !

,

it m aybe A Bu n dle of Letters l ike

,

Mr H e n ry Ja m e s s s tory or A Letter
.

an d a Paragraph like M r B u n n e r s ;

.
,

it m aybe a m edley of l etters an d tele

gram s an d n arrative like Mr Al d rich s

, .


W
n e w form
'
; it
TH E

an y on e o f thes e form s or in a c om
m

b i n atio n of all of them or in a w ho ll y

if haply su ch m ay yet b e
,
aDaw
y be ca
SHOR T S TOR Y
s t i

n
-

,
,

fou n d by di l ige n t s earch Whatever .

its form it s houl d ha , gg s y m m etry o f

des ign I f it have al s o w it or hu m our
.
,

p a t ho s o
i p o et r
y an d e s eciall
p y a d i s , w

tin ct a n d u n m is ta o f i n di
1
v idu a lity s o m , the b etter But .

I a hatty a d
1 n c m w ha t iti al pap
n so e u nc r c er on

y t i b t d by M

th e Ri f th Sh t
se o e o r - s tor c on r u e r.

B t H a t t th

i
z ne
re

Lit at
f
er

or
re I
a d p b l i h d al
ure

u
ati al Lib ay f Fam
n
o

i th C
J ly 8 9 9 w d th a t i that th 1
e

u
nt e rn

ill Mag a
s e

e
so

n
on

e
e
r r

orn t /
o

s se r o n
ou s

e
, ,

sec ret f h Am o i a Sh t t y i th t atm t

t e er c n or - s or s e re en

of haa t i t i Am ri a l if w ith ab l t k wl
c r c er s c e c n e, so u e no

edg ef it p o l ia i t i
s a d ym pathy w ith it
ecu r es n s s

m th d
e with fati di ig i g f it ati al
o s, no s ou s nor n o s n on

p i
ex res s on , or th i h at p t y that m ayb f d e nc o e oe r e ou n

hidd i it la g ; wit h
en ev en n m al d
s s m i at i
n no or et e r n on

exc ept that whi h m ayb th l git im at c m f e e e e ou t c o e o

th t y it l f ; w it h
e s or se m l i m i at i th a m ano y o re e n on n

b e ay f
n ece ss r th at i i or pti a d e r st c c on c e on , n n ev e r

r7! )
 THE SHOR T S TOR Y -

t he chief req uis ites are co m pres s io n ,

ori n ali in e n u igy an d n ow an d aga

'

in ,

a touch o f fa n tas y So m eti m es w e m ay .

detect in a w riter of Short s tories a t e n -

de n ey tow ard the over el aboratio n o f -

i n ge n ui t y tow ard the exhi bitio n of in

,

g e n u it
y f o r its ow n s ake as in a C hi n es e ,

puzzle But m ere clevern ess is in com

.

patib le w ith greatn es s an d to co m m e n d ,

a w riter as very cle v er is n ot to give

him high prai s e Fro m thi s fault o f .

s upers ubtl e t y w o m e n are free for the ,

m o s t part They are m ore likely th an

.

m e n to rely o n broad hu m a n e m otio n ,

an d their te n de n cy in error is to w ar d
the m orbi d a n alys i s of a high s tru ng -

m oral s ituatio n .

f m th f a f t h f i h f i ali m T hi !
ro e e ro e et s o c onven t on s . s

i
s l ly ph a d ; b it i p
c ev e r th
r se bi ut s o en to e o v ou s

o bjti tha i i t m h a ad q at d it i
ec on t t s no so uc n e u e e n on

o f th Sh e t y a af m a it i ad f
o rt - s or f h s or s s e enc e o t e

s p ial ki d f Sh t t y M B t Hat him lf

ec n o o r - s or r
. re re se

ha h s c t wi
ose n
7 J o r te .
2
 TH E SHOR T STOR Y
-

dis ti n ct an e n tity as the Epic as Trag ,

edy as Co m edy Now the Nove l is

,
.

n o t a form o f the s am e s harp l y de n ed

i n dividuality ; it is or at l eas t it m ay
be an ythi n g It is the chil d of the
.

Epic and the heir of the Dram a ; but

it is a h ybrid An d o n e of the fore m o s t
.

o f livi n g A m erica n n oveli s t s w ho hap ,

pe n s al s o to be o ne o f the m o s t acute
an d s ym pathetic o f A m eri can critic s ,

has told m e that he w as o fte n di s tracte d

by the k n ow ledge o f thi s fact even
w hile he w a s e n gaged in w ri ti ng a
1
n ovel .

I n the hi s tory o f literature the Short

A
s tory w a s developed lo n g be fore the
Novel w hich i n deed is but a creature o f
,

yes terday an d w hich w as n o t re all y

,

es tab l is hed in popular es tee m as a

1 Thi paag aph a d t h
s r f ll w i g w
r n t e on e o o n e re n o

i th
n igi al ay
e or n es s .

[ 74 ]
 THE SHOR T S TO R Y -

w or thy rival of the d ram a u n ti l aft er

the w i des pread s ucces s o f the Waverl ey
Novel s in the early years o f the n i n e
te e n th ce n tury . The Short s tory a l so -

s ee m s m uch ea s ier o f acco m pli s h m e n t

tha n the Novel if o n ly becau s e it is

, .

b riefer An d yet the li s t o f the m as

.

te rs o f the Short s tory is far les s crow ded

-

i ha n the li s t o f the m a s te rs o f the lo n g er

for m . T here are a s core or m ore very
great n oveli s ts recorded in the hi s tory
of ctio n ; but there are s carcely m ore

tha n hal f a s core Short s tory w riters of-

an equa l e m i n e n ce .

Fro m Chaucer an d Boccaccio w e

m u s t s pri ng acro s s the ce n turie s u n til
w e co m e to H a w thor n e a n d Poe a l m os t
w ithout n di n g a n other n a m e that in
s i s ts upo n e n ro l m e n t I n thes e ve
.

hu n dred years there w ere great n ove l i s ts

n o t a few , but there w as n o g reat
[ 75 ]
 THE SHOR T STORY
-

w riter o f Short s tories A l ittl e l ater

-
.

than H aw thorn e an d Poe an d i n deed

,

al m o s t co n te m pora n eou s w ith the m are

,

Me ri m e e an d Tu rgen ef w hos e title to
,

b e record ed there is n o n e to d i s pute .

Now at the e n d of the n i n etee n th ce n

tury w e n d tw o m ore that n o co m pe
ten t critic w ould dare to o m it
, Guy
de Maupas s a n t an d Rudyar d Kipl i ng .
 Appe n dix

r a
So fa s t he au thor is aware , he had no

pre e c d
e ss or in asse rt i n g t a h
t t he Sh o rt-
stor y

d i ffers from t he Nove l es s e n t i ll y
a ,
an d n ot
m e re ly in t he matte r of len gt h . So far as
he kn ow s it w as in the presen t pape r the
,

su
gg e st i o n w as rs t m a d e tha t t he Sh ort

s t ory is in re a lity a g r a separate ki n d a

en e, ,

e n u s by i t se l f B ut a lt h u h t hi s dist in c
g .
g o

tio n m a n ot h a v e b ee n m a d e e pl ic it l y b y
y x

an y earl i e r c rit i c t h e re is l itt le d oubt t h at

,

Pe n if he d i d n o fo rm l a te it in
t
u

s e t term s . It se e m s t o be i m pl i c it in m ore
th a n o ne o f his ri t i c a
c l e s say s m ore part ie ,

u la rl
y in th a t on H a w t h orn e s T a l es

.

An d it is fr m t hi s es say t hat t he follow i ng

o

q uot at i s a
on re t ak n e

[ 77 ]
 APPE NDI X

The ordi ayn r n ov e l is bjt i abl

o ec on e

fro m it s l en
gth , for re aso n s al ad y tat d i
re s e n

su b ta
s nce. As it can n ot b ead a t re one

i i
s tt n
g, it e
pri d
v e s

d
i t s e f, o f
m e n se fo rc e e ri v a e fro m totality
c o u rs

bl
e l
,

i nt eres ts i n te rve n i ng d u ri ng the pause s o f

. Wldly
o f t he

or
im

l d l

p e r u s a m o i fy an n,u o r c o n t r
,a c t in a ,

re a t e r o r l e s s d e re e t he i m pre ss io n s o f the
g g ,

book B ut s im ply c es sation in read i ng w ould

.
,

o f i t se l f be, su f c ien t t o d est roy t he t rue

u n i ty . In t he b ri e f tale how ev er t he , ,

au th o r is e nabl e d t o c arry ou t the fu l ne ss of

his i n te n t i on be it w h at it m ay Du ri ng
, .

t he h ou r o f pe ru s a l the sou l o f the reader

is at t he w ri t er s c o n trol


T here are no .

e x t e rn a l or ext rin si c i n ue n c es re s ulti ng

fro m w eari n es s o r i n t e rru ption .

A s ki lfu l li te rary artist has c onstruc ted

a t al e . I f w i s e he has n ot fas hion e d hi s
,
t

t h o ugh t s t o a c c o m m od a t e his i n c i d e n t s ; but

h av i n g co nc e i v ed w i t h d e l ibe rate c are a

c e rt a

o ut ,
,

i n u n iq u e o r si ngl e ! eet to be w rou ght

he t h e n i nv e n t s su c h i n c id ents he
,
-

[ 78 ]
 APPE NDI X

he n c om bi n es suc h e v ents as m a y be st aid

im
r in e s ta bl i hi s n
g t his prec o n c ei v e e E ec t d .

if his ry in i tial sen te nc e ten d not to the

ve

an t b ring in g of thi s e ffec t t h en he ha

-
s fa i led
,

n his rst st e p In t he w ho le c om pos i

.
1

i o n t h ere sho ld be no w ord w ri tten of

u

whic h t he t en d enc y d ire c t or i n d i rec t is n ot

, ,

to t he on e pre es ta bl i she d d es ign As by

-
.

su c h m e a ns w it h su c h c a
, re a n d s k ill a ,

i t u re is a t len t h pa i te d w hi c h l ea i
p c g n v es n

the m i n d o f him w ho c on te m pl a t es it w i th a

kin d red art a se nse of t he fu lle st sati s fact ion .

The i de a o f t he tale has be en pre sen ted

un bl e m is h ed bec ause u nd i sturbe d ; an d this
,

is an en d nattai nable by t he n ove l

u U n du e
bre v ity is j
.

u st a s e x c e pt io n a ble he re as in the
p oe m ; b t uu n d u e l e n
g t h is
y et m o re t o be

vo i d e d

a .

Altho gh n o later essay has added m u c h

u

to our kn ow led e o f the es se nt ia l na t r f

g u e o

1 It i i t
s ti g t
n e res m pa wh at P
n o co ay h re oe s s e re

wit h St ta f th am p i ipl

e ve nson s t m t
s e en o e s e r nc e

alr a
e dy q t d i th
uo e nt a
p g e
5 no e on e 1 .

[ 79 ]
 APPENDI X

t he Sh ort -
sto r y an d of its n ec e s s ray h arac
c

t e rist ic s , t he re a e r d may be
gl ad to h a ve

coll d he c te e re re fe re n c e s t o ot h e r atte m pts to

bj
d al w it h th
is
e

Ray m on

Sh o rt -

d
st o r
e

y
su

Wi i ec t .

rt n
g,
Ph B
The

N
by M
m ost
r

Yo rk
.
e lab
C h ar es
o ra

l
The
te

B arrett , . .
( ew :

B ak e r and T ay l or Cc .
, hic h an
of w

ear er e

A h ut
li
ors
di i

t on

an d Wi Whad b
r t e rs
ee n

i ss u e d b y the C hic ago
U n io n To a l i tt le

W
.

b k oo

On t he Art of rit i n
g F i c t i on

(L on d on : ll d
e s, G ar ner Dart on Co .

1 89 t he au th M d i
o re s s o f a em o se ll e Ix c
c on t r i b ut e d h ap a
on c Sho rt st ory
te r t he -
.

Ho w t o w rit e a Sh o rt st ory is the ge n e ral -

t i t l e gi v e n t o fo u r rat h er pe rs on a l papers by
Mr Robert B arr Mr Harold Fre d eric Mr
.
, .
,
.

Art hur M orriso n an d Mi ss Jane B arlo w , ,

c o ntri bu t e d to the A m e ri c a n ed i t i o n o f 7 7
B o kman f r M arc h 1 8 9 7
o o To be re c o rded
al s o are art i c le s by Mr Fre d e ri c k
in t he Ninetee tb C t ury fo r M arc h 1 8 9 8
n
,

e d m o re

en
.
.

W
, ,

an d by Mr B ret H art e in t he Cornbill Maga

.

z in e fo r J u ly 1 899 fro m e ac h o f w hi c h
, ,

[ so ]