Life, 1907-03-21 · page 14 of 40
Life — March 21, 1907 — page 14: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains two profiles of prominent figures: **William Dean Howells** (left illustration): A celebrated American novelist and literary realist. The text praises him as a keen observer of ordinary American life—a "chemist" who examines average people and everyday situations without sentimentality. The satire gently mocks his refusal of grandiose subjects: he hasn't written the "Great American Novel," hasn't been called the "American Trollope," yet remains hugely influential through his modest, careful work. **James Bryce** (right portrait): Newly appointed British Ambassador to Washington. The text celebrates this as a major compliment to America—the British government elevated him from Chief Secretary for Ireland specifically for this post. He's praised as both a skilled diplomat and a cultured representative of "British civilization," worthy of a presidential-level salary. The page's satirical title, "The Human Zoo," suggests these are specimens of civilized accomplishment worth observing.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
LIFE Howells ILLIAM DEAN HOWELLS was captured in prehistoric Indiana be- fore the wise, or Ade age; he sprouted in Chit , blossomed in Boston, and came: to fruitaye at Harper's Ferry, Franklin New York; and in spite of en- vironment, association and allurement, he has remained an American, calm, modest and tolerant even of Anglo-Saxony, He is the chemist of American literature, his mind a laboratory where the motives, d activities of the the medioerity—are , identified, classified and cata logued with critical art and gentle pre ‘The chronicler of small beer, the painter of the average, ordinary and me we meet our friends and nei; hors between Squar passions, ambition: Ame n norm examine cision, sivere, s covers; and Mush envi portraits in his pages, we console our selves by saying: “A world of giants and xenuises, of heroes and hierarchs would make old carth a madhouse.”” HOWELLS knows the common tot; and we know he knows us. He is naturalist and realist ; he uses the micro: scope to discern and detect, not the may. nifying-lass to distort and deceive. ‘The flat, the tepid and the tawdry are not for him; he gives us familiar folk without soiled hands or linen; but he gives us art and real people. He has not written the Great American Novel; he has not perpetrated an histor- ical novel ; he has never elevated the ge; he has never told Bok how he did it; he has never been called the American Trollope. But he has attained his s enty s with so much of “sweetness. and light” that he looms very large in comparison with others. The path of Corey leads but to the yrave, There is a divinity that shapes our ends, Governor Hughes them as we will A New Ambassador SELECTING Me. James Bryce t0 British Ambassador at Washington. was one of the most substantial compli- ments that the British Government has ever paid to the United States. ‘To get him, the Government went outside of its diplomatic service and took him from his duties, ne , of Chief Secretary for Ireland. It sent him here as the man in all Great Britain best qualified to represent his country at Washington, and as the one likely to be most : here to persons whose sympathy and liking: were most important M RYCE’S official duty here is to see that Great Britain gets in all particulars what ought to be coming to her from the United States, and that all matters that may be in ‘dispute between the two countries are wiselyand justly set ted. But, besides that, he is a messenger of British civilization to our civilization ; awise and accomplished Scotchman, of i noble renown for learning, wide observa tion and elevation of thought [' an advantage to all Ai well as to Great: Britain to Bryce installed at the British Embassy in Washington. He is more than the repre: sentative of the British Government, for meri cat representative of civilization itself, and exceptionally qualified in mind and spirit to promote the spread of ri cousness in the earth. Not the least of his qualifications is that he is delightful com siven to hospitality, and more than edifying: in social discourse. And the pay of his office has been raised to a sum equal to the salary of our President. We are glad of that, because everything that helps to promote the influence of such a man is good for all hands. comicbooks.com