Life — April 26, 1883 — page 7: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A RIVAL OF MR. JAMES. F Mr. Henry James intends to retain his pre- eminence as the International Novelist, it be- hooves him, without question, to exert himself. If he has read “ Mr. Isaacs " he will not need to be told that he has a rival who seems not ill-fitted to supplant him in the literary affections of his countrymen... If any one doubts this, let him set up the author of Mr. Isaacs alongside of Mr, James and compare the two. Mr. James, to begin, was his father’s son, but Mr. Crawford, we are told, -not only had parents, but is the nephew both of his uncle and his aunt. Had Mr. James ever an aunt? Not that we know of. Both gentlemen were of American descent. This is an accident of birth and neither can be held accounta- ble for it; but Mr, Crawford's parents did what they could for their son by choosing Italy for the land of his nativity, thus giving him a better international start than that of Mr. James, who being unable to influence his parents, was born in America, and may never get over it. Mr. Crawford, too, was educated in lands in which Mr, James’s eager spirit was not able to lurk until he had passed the period when the mind is most susceptible to the influences of its environment. The effect of Mr. Crawford's early advantages may be seen in the extent of his literary range and in the marked originality of treatment which marks his deal- ings with his characters. Mr. James confines himself to analysis of the mental processes of the Young-Man-Who-Might-Have-Done- Something, the Young-Man-Who-Is-Afraid-He-Will- Do-Something, the Girl-Who-Is-Anxious-To-Have- Him-Do-Something, His-Friend, Who-Don’t-Want-To- Do-Anything-And-Never-Did; their relations male and female, English lords of assorted sizes, German pro- fessors and couriers, But Mr. Crawford, in his one book, has not only the disinfected Yankee and the British Lord, which he shares with Mr. James, but Parthians, Medes and Elamites and dwellers in Meso- potamia—let alone spooks—who dream dreams and see visions, and talk of incomprehensible things in a diverting variety of tongues. None of Mr. James’ people eyer actually do anything except eat and change their clothes, but Mr. Isaacs and his friends have as much restless enterprise as freshmen at college, and, at a pinch, Mr Crawford does not hesitate to call upon the moon to come down and make faces for his reader's amusement. Enterprise like this is apt to be rewarded. Let Mr. James bestir himself. THE SCHOOL OF THE FUTURE, LONG felt want has been supplied at last. We take pleas- ure in calling attention to the following advertisement : Doctors Maché and Gouger’s Select School for Young Men, Prepares for Business or College. Instruction given in Base-ball, Boating and Boxing, the three “ B's’ of Modern Education. A special class in Dudeology for students desiring to enter Har- vard, The Cornell yell taught in three rounds. Monsieur Gillaume Le Tough has been engaged at great ex- pense to instruct the Yaleclass, A well stocked bar, including - LIFE: just behind him, Nothing accelerates the nervous man's pace so much as hearing a ton of coal being discharged on the sidewalk the finest apparatus for the study of Farology, has been provided for those preparing for Princeton. To students desiring to enter business, special instruction is iven by the Professor of Embezzlement, False-Entry, Book- Keeping and the cognate arts. Terms: $50 weekly in advance. Discount of 75 per cent. for two brothers. No allowance for absence except in case of death. No extras, except for gloves, balls, bats, foils, use of gymnasiunr and bar, fuel, lights, cigars and attendance. TESTIMONIALS. Myson, James Henry, passed the entrance examination to the foot-ball team at Yale with the, loss of but three teeth and ‘one eye. I attribute his success entirely to your admirable teach- ing. You may refer to me, J. H. Sxooks, Oshkosh, Wis. My son's business career has been singularly successful, Al- though but twenty-four years old, he has already accumulated a large fortune. I cordiaily commend the methods of your Com- ‘mercial Department. his Joun X_ Brown. ~ mark, My son, Samuel, spent two. years at your school. He has often said they were the most memorable of his life. They cer- tainly were of mine. I should take pleasure in recommending your school to any parent desiring to fit hisson for life. My own dear boy has been enabled, by your instruction, to live with but little expense to himself, while at the present time he is serving most nobly his country and his state. Yours truly, e You will pardon me for not giving my name in full. comicbooks.com