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。