Apparentlyitwastheirturntobesurprised，fortheyexclaimed:\"Whatanidea！Why，wehaveseenhimhundredsoftimes。\"
Theyhadseemhimhundredsoftimes，yettheyhadwaitedhalfanhourinthegloomandthebittercold，inthemidstofajamofpatientsfromthesameasylum，onthechanceofseeinghimagain。Itwasastupefyingstatement，butoneisobligedtobelievetheEnglish，evenwhentheysayathinglikethat。I
fumbledaroundforaremark，andgotoutthisone:
\"Ican’tunderstanditatall。IfIhadneverseenGeneralGrantIdoubtifIwoulddothateventogetasightofhim。\"
Withaslightemphasisonthelastword。
Theirblankfacesshowedthattheywonderedwheretheparallelcamein。Thentheysaid，blankly:\"Ofcoursenot。HeisonlyaPresident。\"
Itisdoubtlessafactthataprinceisapermanentinterest，aninterestnotsubjecttodeterioration。Thegeneralwhowasneverdefeated，thegeneralwhoneverheldacouncilofwar，theonlygeneralwhoevercommandedaconnectedbattlefronttwelvehundredmileslong，thesmithwhoweldedtogetherthebrokenpartsofagreatrepublicandreestablisheditwhereitisquitelikelytooutlastallthemonarchiespresentandtocome，wasreallyapersonofnoseriousconsequencetothesepeople。Tothem，withtheirtraining，myGeneralwasonlyaman，afterall，whiletheirPrincewasclearlymuchmorethanthatabeingofawhollyunsimilarconstructionandconstitution，andbeingofnomorebloodandkinshipwithmenthanarethesereneeternallightsofthefirmamentwiththepoordulltallowcandlesofcommercethatsputteranddieandleavenothingbehindbutapinchofashesandastink。
Isawthelastactof\"Tannh:auser。\"Isatinthegloomandthedeepstillness，waitingoneminute，twominutes，Idonotknowexactlyhowlongthenthesoftmusicofthehiddenorchestrabegantobreatheitsrich，longsighsoutfromunderthedistantstage，andbyandbythedropcurtainpartedinthemiddleandwasdrawnsoftlyaside，disclosingthetwilightedwoodandawaysideshrine，withawhiterobedgirlprayingandamanstandingnear。Presentlythatnoblechorusofmen’svoiceswasheardapproaching，andfromthatmomentuntiltheclosingofthecurtainitwasmusic，justmusicmusictomakeonedrunkwithpleasure，musictomakeonetakescripandstaffandbeghiswayroundtheglobetohearit。
TosuchasareintendingtocomehereintheWagnerseasonnextyearIwishtosay，bringyourdinnerpailwithyou。Ifyoudo，youwillneverceasetobethankful。Ifyoudonot，youwillfinditahardfighttosaveyourselffromfamishinginBayreuth。
Bayreuthismerelyalargevillage，andhasnoverylargehotelsoreatinghouses。TheprincipalinnsaretheGoldenAnchorandtheSun。Ateitheroftheseplacesyoucangetanexcellentmealno，Imeanyoucangothereandseeotherpeoplegetit。
Thereisnochargeforthis。Thetownislitteredwithrestaurants，buttheyaresmallandbad，andtheyareoverdrivenwithcustom。Youmustsecureatablehoursbeforehand，andoftenwhenyouarriveyouwillfindsomebodyoccupyingit。Wehavehadthisexperience。Wehavehadadailyscrambleforlife;andwhenIsaywe，Iincludeshoalsofpeople。Ihavetheimpressionthattheonlypeoplewhodonothavetoscramblearetheveteransthediscipleswhohavebeenherebeforeandknowtheropes。Ithinktheyarriveaboutaweekbeforethefirstopera，andengageallthetablesfortheseason。Mytribehadtriedallkindsofplacessomeoutsideofthetown，amileortwoandhavecapturedonlynibblingsandoddsandends，neverinanyinstanceacompleteandsatisfyingmeal。Digestible？No，thereverse。
TheseoddsandendsaregoingtoserveassouvenirsofBayreuth，andinthatregardtheirvalueisnottobeoverestimated。
Photographsfade，bricabracgetslost，bustsofWagnergetbroken，butonceyouabsorbaBayreuthrestaurantmealitisyourpossessionandyourpropertyuntilthetimecomestoembalmtherestofyou。Someofthesepilgrimsherebecome，ineffect，cabinets;cabinetsofsouvenirsofBayreuth。ItisbelievedamongscientiststhatyoucouldexaminethecropofadeadBayreuthpilgrimanywhereintheearthandtellwherehecamefrom。ButIlikethisballast。Ithinka\"Hermitage\"scrapupateightintheevening，whenallthefaminebreedershavebeenthereandlaidintheirmementoesandgone，isthequietestthingyoucanlayonyourkeelsonexceptgravel。
THURSDAY。Theykeeptwoteamsofsingersinstockforthechiefroles，andoneoftheseiscomposedofthemostrenownedartistsintheworld，withMaternaandAlvaryinthelead。I
supposeadoubleteamisnecessary;doubtlessasingleteamwoulddieofexhaustioninaweek，foralltheplayslastfromfourintheafternoontilltenatnight。Nearlyallthelaborfallsuponthehalfdozenheadsingers，andapparentlytheyarerequiredtofurnishallthenoisetheycanforthemoney。Iftheyfeelasoft，whispery，mysteriousfeelingtheyarerequiredtoopenoutandletthepublicknowit。OperasaregivenonlyonSundays，Mondays，Wednesdays，andThursdays，withthreedaysofostensiblerestperweek，andtwoteamstodothefouroperas;buttheostensiblerestisdevotedlargelytorehearsing。Itissaidthattheoffdaysaredevotedtorehearsingfromsometimeinthemorningtilltenatnight。Aretheretwoorchestrasalso？Itisquitelikely，sincethereareonehundredandtennamesintheorchestralist。
Yesterdaytheoperawas\"TristanandIsolde。\"Ihaveseenallsortsofaudiencesattheaters，operas，concerts，lectures，sermons，funeralsbutnonewhichwastwintotheWagneraudienceofBayreuthforfixedandreverentialattention。Absoluteattentionandpetrifiedretentiontotheendofanactoftheattitudeassumedatthebeginningofit。Youdetectnomovementinthesolidmassofheadsandshoulders。Youseemtositwiththedeadinthegloomofatomb。Youknowthattheyarebeingstirredtotheirprofoundestdepths;thattherearetimeswhentheywanttoriseandwavehandkerchiefsandshouttheirapprobation，andtimeswhentearsarerunningdowntheirfaces，anditwouldbearelieftofreetheirpentemotionsinsobsorscreams;yetyouhearnotoneutterancetillthecurtainswingstogetherandtheclosingstrainshaveslowlyfadedoutanddied;
thenthedeadrisewithoneimpulseandshakethebuildingwiththeirapplause。Everyseatisfullinthefirstact;thereisnotavacantoneinthelast。Ifamanwouldbeconspicuous，lethimcomehereandretirefromthehouseinthemidstofanact。
Itwouldmakehimcelebrated。
ThisaudienceremindsmeofnothingIhaveeverseenandofnothingIhavereadaboutexceptthecityintheArabiantalewherealltheinhabitantshavebeenturnedtobrassandthetravelerfindsthemaftercenturiesmute，motionless，andstillretainingtheattitudeswhichtheylastknewinlife。HeretheWagneraudiencedressastheyplease，andsitinthedarkandworshipinsilence。AttheMetropolitaninNewYorktheysitinaglare，andweartheirshowiestharness;theyhumairs，theysqueakfans，theytitter，andtheygabbleallthetime。Insomeoftheboxestheconversationandlaughteraresoloudastodividetheattentionofthehousewiththestage。InlargemeasuretheMetropolitanisashowcaseforrichfashionableswhoarenottrainedinWagnerianmusicandhavenoreverenceforit，butwholiketopromoteartandshowtheirclothes。
Canthatbeanagreeableatmospheretopersonsinwhomthismusicproducesasortofdivineecstasyandtowhomitscreatorisaverydeity，hisstageatemple，theworksofhisbrainandhandsconsecratedthings，andthepartakingofthemwitheyeandearasacredsolemnity？Manifestly，no。Then，perhapsthetemporaryexpatriation，thetedioustraversingofseasandcontinents，thepilgrimagetoBayreuthstandsexplained。Thesedevoteeswouldworshipinanatmosphereofdevotion。Itisonlyherethattheycanfinditwithoutfleckorblemishoranyworldlypollution。Inthisremotevillagetherearenosightstosee，thereisnonewspapertointrudetheworriesofthedistantworld，thereisnothinggoingon，itisalwaysSunday。Thepilgrimwendstohistempleoutoftown，sitsouthismovingservice，returnstohisbedwithhisheartandsoulandhisbodyexhaustedbylonghoursoftremendousemotion，andheisinnofitconditiontodoanythingbuttolietorpidandslowlygatherbacklifeandstrengthforthenextservice。Thisoperaof\"TristanandIsolde\"lastnightbroketheheartsofallwitnesseswhowereofthefaith，andIknowofsomewhohaveheardofmanywhocouldnotsleepafterit，butcriedthenightaway。Ifeelstronglyoutofplacehere。SometimesIfeellikethesanepersoninacommunityofthemad;sometimesIfeelliketheoneblindmanwhereallotherssee;theonegropingsavageinthecollegeofthelearned，andalways，duringservice，Ifeellikeahereticinheaven。
ButbynomeansdoIeveroverlookorminifythefactthatthisisoneofthemostextraordinaryexperiencesofmylife。I
haveneverseenanythinglikethisbefore。Ihaveneverseenanythingsogreatandfineandrealasthisdevotion。
FRIDAY。Yesterday’soperawas\"Parsifal\"again。Theotherswentandtheyshowmarkedadvanceinappreciation;butIwenthuntingforrelicsandremindersoftheMargravineWilhelmina，sheoftheimperishable\"Memoirs。\"Iamproperlygratefultoherforher（unconscious）satireuponmonarchyandnobility，andthereforenothingwhichherhandtouchedorhereyelookeduponisindifferenttome。Iamherpilgrim;therestofthismultitudehereareWagner’s。
TUESDAY。Ihaveseenmylasttwooperas;myseasonisended，andwecrossoverintoBohemiathisafternoon。Iwassupposingthatmymusicalregenerationwasaccomplishedandperfected，becauseIenjoyedbothoftheseoperas，singingandall，and，moreover，oneofthemwas\"Parsifal，\"buttheexpertshavedisenchantedme。Theysay:
\"Singing！Thatwasn’tsinging;thatwasthewailing，screechingofthirdrateobscurities，palmedoffonusintheinterestofeconomy。\"
Well，Ioughttohaverecognizedthesigntheold，suresignthathasneverfailedmeinmattersofart。WheneverI
enjoyanythinginartitmeansthatitismightypoor。Theprivateknowledgeofthisfacthassavedmefromgoingtopieceswithenthusiasminfrontofmanyandmanyachromo。However，mybaseinstinctdoesbringmeprofitsometimes;Iwastheonlymanoutofthirtytwohundredwhogothismoneybackonthosetwooperas。
WILLIAMDEANHOWELLS
Isittruethatthesunofaman’smentalitytouchesnoonatfortyandthenbeginstowanetowardsetting？DoctorOslerischargedwithsayingso。Maybehesaidit，maybehedidn’t;I
don’tknowwhichitis。Butifhesaidit，Icanpointhimtoacasewhichproveshisrule。Provesitbybeinganexceptiontoit。TothisplaceInominateMr。Howells。
IreadhisVENETIANDAYSaboutfortyyearsago。IcompareitwithhispaperonMachiavelliinalatenumberofHARPER，andIcannotfindthathisEnglishhassufferedanyimpairment。ForfortyyearshisEnglishhasbeentomeacontinualdelightandastonishment。Inthesustainedexhibitionofcertaingreatqualitiesclearness，compression，verbalexactness，andunforcedandseeminglyunconsciousfelicityofphrasingheis，inmybelief，withouthispeerintheEnglishwritingworld。SUSTAINED。
Ientrenchmyselfbehindthatprotectingword。Thereareotherswhoexhibitthosegreatqualitiesasgreatlyashedoes，butonlybyintervaleddistributionsofrichmoonlight，withstretchesofveiledanddimmerlandscapebetween;whereasHowells’smoonsailscloudlessskiesallnightandallthenights。
InthematterofverbalexactnessMr。Howellshasnosuperior，Isuppose。Heseemstobealmostalwaysabletofindthatelusiveandshiftygrainofgold，theRIGHTWORD。Othershavetoputupwithapproximations，moreorlessfrequently;hehasbetterluck。Tome，theothersareminersworkingwiththegoldpanofnecessitysomeofthegoldwashesoverandescapes;
whereas，inmyfancy，heisquicksilverraidingdownarifflenograinofthemetalstandsmuchchanceofeludinghim。Apowerfulagentistherightword:itlightsthereader’swayandmakesitplain;acloseapproximationtoitwillanswer，andmuchtravelingisdoneinawellenoughfashionbyitshelp，butwedonotwelcomeitandapplauditandrejoiceinitaswedowhenTHE
rightoneblazesoutonus。Wheneverwecomeupononeofthoseintenselyrightwordsinabookoranewspapertheresultingeffectisphysicalaswellasspiritual，andelectricallyprompt:
ittinglesexquisitelyaroundthroughthewallsofthemouthandtastesastartandcrispandgoodastheautumnbutterthatcreamsthesumacberry。Onehasnotimetoexaminethewordandvoteuponitsrankandstanding，theautomaticrecognitionofitssupremacyissoimmediate。Thereisaplentyofacceptableliteraturewhichdealslargelyinapproximations，butitmaybelikenedtoafinelandscapeseenthroughtherain;therightwordwoulddismisstherain，thenyouwouldseeitbetter。Itdoesn’trainwhenHowellsisatwork。
Andwheredoeshegettheeasyandeffortlessflowofhisspeech？anditscadencedandundulatingrhythm？anditsarchitecturalfelicitiesofconstruction，itsgracesofexpression，itspemmicanqualityofcompression，andallthat？
Borntohim，nodoubt。Allinshininggoodorderinthebeginning，allextraordinary;andalljustasshining，justasextraordinarytoday，afterfortyyearsofdiligentwearandtearanduse。Hepassedhisfortiethyearlongandlongago;butI
thinkhisEnglishoftodayhisperfectEnglish，Iwishtosay
canthrowdowntheglovebeforehisEnglishofthatantiquetimeandnotbeafraid。
IwillgotbacktothepaperonMachiavellinow，andaskthereadertoexaminethispassagefromitwhichIappend。Idonotmeanexamineitinabird’seyeway;Imeansearchit，studyit。
And，ofcourse，readitaloud。Imaybewrong，stillitismyconvictionthatonecannotgetoutoffinelywroughtliteratureallthatisinitbyreadingitmutely:
Mr。Dyerisratheroftheopinion，firstluminouslysuggestedbyMacaulay，thatMachiavelliwasinearnest，butmustnotbejudgedasapoliticalmoralistofourtimeandracewouldbejudged。HethinksthatMachiavelliwasinearnest，asnonebutanidealistcanbe，andheisthefirsttoimaginehimanidealistimmersedinrealities，whoinvoluntarilytransmutestheeventsunderhiseyeintosomethinglikethevisionaryissuesofreverie。TheMachiavelliwhomhedepictsdoesnotceasetobepoliticallyarepublicanandsociallyajustmanbecauseheholdsupanatrociousdespotlikeCaesarBorgiaasamirrorforrulers。
WhatMachiavellibeheldroundhiminItalywasacivicdisorderinwhichtherewasoppressionwithoutstatecraft，andrevoltwithoutpatriotism。WhenamiscreantlikeBorgiaappeareduponthesceneandreducedbothtyrantsandrebelstoanapparentquiescence，hemightverywellseemtosuchadreamerthesaviorofsocietywhomacertainsortofdreamersarealwayslookingfor。MachiavelliwasnolesshonestwhenhehonoredthediabolicalforcethanCarlylewaswhenatdifferenttimesheextolledthestrongmanwhodestroyslibertyincreatingorder。
ButCarlylehasonlyjustceasedtobemistakenforareformer，whileitisstillMachiavelli’shardfatetobesotrammeledinhismaterialthathisnamestandsforwhateverismostmalevolentandperfidiousinhumannature。
Youseehoweasyandflowingitis;howunvexedbyruggednesses，clumsinesses，brokenmeters;howsimpleandsofarasyouorI
canmakeoutunstudied;howclear，howlimpid，howunderstandable，howunconfusedbycrosscurrents，eddies，undertows;howseeminglyunadorned，yetisalladornment，likethelilyofthevalley;
andhowcompressed，howcompact，withoutacomplacencysignalhungoutanywheretocallattentiontoit。
Therearetwentythreelinesinthequotedpassage。Afterreadingitseveraltimesaloud，oneperceivesthatagooddealofmatteriscrowdedintothatsmallspace。Ithinkitisamodelofcompactness。WhenItakeitsmaterialsapartandworkthemoverandputthemtogetherinmyway，IfindIcannotcrowdtheresultbackintothesamehole，therenotbeingroomenough。I
finditacaseofawomanpackingaman’strunk:hecangetthethingsout，buthecan’tevergetthembackagain。
Theprofferedparagraphisajustandfairsample;therestofthearticleisascompactasitis;therearenowastewords。
Thesampleisjustinotherways:limpid，fluent，graceful，andrhythmicalasitis，itholdsnosuperiorityintheserespectsovertherestoftheessay。Also，thechoicephrasingnoticeableinthesampleisnotlonely;thereisaplentyofitskindistributedthroughtheotherparagraphs。Thisisclaimingmuchwhenthatkinmustfacethechallengeofaphraseliketheoneinthemiddlesentence:\"anidealistimmersedinrealitieswhoinvoluntarilytransmutestheeventsunderhiseyeintosomethinglikethevisionaryissuesofreverie。\"Withahundredwordstodoitwith，theliteraryartisancouldcatchthatairythoughtandtieitdownandreduceittoaconcretecondition，visible，substantial，understandableandallright，likeacabbage;buttheartistdoesitwithtwenty，andtheresultisaflower。
Thequotedphrase，likeathousandothersthathavecomefromthesamesource，hasthequalityofcertainscrapsofversewhichtakeholdofusandstayinourmemories，wedonotunderstandwhy，atfirst:allthewordsbeingtherightwords，noneofthemisconspicuous，andsotheyallseeminconspicuous，thereforewewonderwhatitisaboutthemthatmakestheirmessagetakehold。
ThemossymarblesrestOnthelipsthathehasprestIntheirbloom，AndthenameshelovedtohearHavebeencarvedformanyayearOnthetomb。
Itislikeadreamystrainofmovingmusic，withnosharpnotesinit。Thewordsareall\"right\"words，andallthesamesize。Wedonotnoticeitatfirst。Wegettheeffect，itgoesstraighthometous，butwedonotknowwhy。Itiswhentherightwordsareconspicuousthattheythunder:
TheglorythatwasGreeceandthegrandeurthatwasRome！
WhenIgotbackfromHowellsoldtoHowellsyoungIfindhimarrangingandclusteringEnglishwordswell，butnotanybetterthannow。Heisnotmorefelicitousinconcretingabstractionsnowthanhewasintranslating，then，thevisionsoftheeyesoffleshintowordsthatreproducedtheirformsandcolors:
InVenetianstreetstheygivethefallensnownorest。ItisatonceshoveledintothecanalsbyhundredsofhalfnakedFACCHINI;andnowinSt。Mark’sPlacethemusicofinnumerableshovelssmoteuponmyear;andIsawtheshiveringlegionofpovertyasitengagedtheelementsinastruggleforthepossessionofthePiazza。Butthesnowcontinuedtofall，andthroughthetwilightofthedescendingflakesallthistoilandencounteredlookedlikethatwearykindofeffortindreams，whenthemostdeterminedindustryseemsonlytorenewthetask。Theloftycrestofthebelltowerwashiddeninthefoldsoffallingsnow，andIcouldnolongerseethegoldenangeluponitssummit。
ButlookedatacrossthePiazza，thebeautifuloutlineofSt。
Mark’sChurchwasperfectlypenciledintheair，andtheshiftingthreadsofthesnowfallwerewovenintoaspellofnovelenchantmentaroundthestructurethatalwaysseemedtometooexquisiteinitsfantasticlovelinesstobeanythingbutthecreationofmagic。Thetendersnowhadcompassionatedthebeautifuledificeforallthewrongsoftime，andsohidthestainsanduglinessofdecaythatitlookedasifjustfromthehandofthebuilderor，bettersaid，justfromthebrainofthearchitect。Therewasmarvelousfreshnessinthecolorsofthemosaicsinthegreatarchesofthefacade，andallthatgraciousharmonyintowhichthetemplerises，ormarblescrollsandleafyexuberanceairilysupportingthestatuesofthesaints，wasahundredtimesetherealizedbythepurityandwhitenessofthedriftingflakes。Thesnowlaylightlyonthegoldenglovesthattremblelikepeacockscrestsabovethevastdomes，andplumedthemwithsoftestwhite;itrobedthesaintsinermine;anditdancedoverallitsworks，asifexultinginitsbeautybeautywhichfilledmewithsubtle，selfishyearningtokeepsuchevanescentlovelinessforthelittlewhilelongerofmywholelife，andwithdespairtothinkthateventhepoorlifelessshadowofitcouldneverbefairlyreflectedinpictureorpoem。
Throughthewaveringsnowfall，theSaintTheodoreupononeofthegranitepillarsofthePiazzettadidnotshowsogrimashiswontis，andthewingedlionontheothermighthavebeenawingedlamb，sogentleandmildhelookedbythetenderlightofthestorm。Thetowersoftheislandchurchesloomedfaintandfarawayinthedimness;thesailorsintheriggingoftheshipsthatlayintheBasinwroughtlikephantomsamongtheshrouds;
thegondolasstoleinandoutoftheopaquedistancemorenoiselesslyanddreamilythanever;andasilence，almostpalpable，layuponthemutestcityintheworld。
ThespiritofVeniceisthere:ofacitywhereAgeandDecay，faggedwithdistributingdamageandrepulsivenessamongtheothercitiesoftheplanetinaccordancewiththepolicyandbusinessoftheirprofession，comeforrestandplaybetweenseasons，andtreatthemselvestotheluxuryandrelaxationofsinkingtheshopandinventingandsquanderingcharmsallabout，insteadofabolishingsuchastheyfind，asittheirhabitwhennotonvacation。
IntheworkingseasontheydobusinessinBostonsometimes，andacharacterinTHEUNDISCOVEREDCOUNTRYtakesaccuratenoteofpatheticeffectswroughtbythemupontheaspectsofastreetofoncedignifiedandeleganthomeswhoseoccupantshavemovedawayandleftthemapreytoneglectandgradualruinandprogressivedegradation;adescentwhichreachesbottomatlast，whenthestreetbecomesaroostforhumbleprofessionalsofthefaithcureandfortunetellingsort。
Whataqueer，melancholyhouse，whataqueer，melancholystreet！Idon’tthinkIwaseverinastreetbeforewhenquitesomanyprofessionalladies，withEnglishsurnames，preferredMadamtoMrs。ontheirdoorplates。Andthepooroldplacehassuchadesperatelyconsciousairofgoingtothedeuce。Everyhouseseemstowinceasyougoby，andbuttonitselfuptothechinforfearyoushouldfindoutithadnoshirtonsotospeak。Idon’tknowwhat’sthereason，butthesematerialtokensofasocialdecayafflictmeterribly;atipsywomanisn’tdreadfulerthanahaggardoldhouse，that’soncebeenahome，inastreetlikethis。
Mr。Howells’spicturesarenotmerestiff，hard，accuratephotographs;theyarephotographswithfeelinginthem，andsentiment，photographstakeninadream，onemightsay。
Asconcernshishumor，Iwillnottrytosayanything，yetI
wouldtry，ifIhadthewordsthatmightapproximatelyreachuptoitshighplace。Idonotthinkanyoneelsecanplaywithhumorousfanciessogracefullyanddelicatelyanddeliciouslyashedoes，norhassomanytoplaywith，norcancomesonearmakingthemlookasiftheyweredoingtheplayingthemselvesandhewasnotawarethattheywereatit。Fortheyareunobtrusive，andquietintheirways，andwellconducted。Hisisahumorwhichflowssoftlyallaroundaboutandoverandthroughthemeshofthepage，pervasive，refreshing，healthgiving，andmakesnomoreshowandnomorenoisethandoesthecirculationoftheblood。
ThereisanotherthingwhichiscontentinglynoticeableinMr。Howells’sbooks。Thatishis\"stagedirections\"thoseartificeswhichauthorsemploytothrowakindofhumannaturalnessaroundasceneandaconversation，andhelpthereadertoseetheoneandgetatmeaningsintheotherwhichmightnotbeperceivedifentrustedunexplainedtothebarewordsofthetalk。Someauthorsoverdothestagedirections，theyelaboratethemquitebeyondnecessity;theyspendsomuchtimeandtakeupsomuchroomintellingushowapersonsaidathingandhowhelookedandactedwhenhesaiditthatwegettiredandvexedandwishhehadn’tsaiditall。Otherauthors’directionsarebriefenough，butitisseldomthatthebrevitycontainseitherwitorinformation。Writersofthisschoolgoinrags，inthematterofstatedirections;themajorityofthemhavingnothinginstockbutacigar，alaugh，ablush，andaburstingintotears。Intheirpovertytheyworkthesesorrythingstothebone。Theysay:
\"……repliedAlfred，flippingtheashfromhiscigar。\"
（Thisexplainsnothing;itonlywastesspace。）
\"……respondedRichard，withalaugh。\"（Therewasnothingtolaughabout;thereneveris。Thewriterputsitinfromhabitautomatically;heispayingnoattentiontohiswork;orhewouldseethatthereisnothingtolaughat;often，whenaremarkisunusuallyandpoignantlyflatandsilly，hetriestodeceivethereaderbyenlargingthestagedirectionandmakingRichardbreakinto\"frenziesofuncontrollablelaughter。\"Thismakesthereadersad。）
\"……murmuredGladys，blushing。\"（Thispooroldshopwornblushisatiresomething。WegetsowewouldratherGladyswouldfalloutofthebookandbreakherneckthandoitagain。
Sheisalwaysdoingit，andusuallyirrelevantly。Wheneveritisherturntomurmurshehangsoutherblush;itistheonlythingshe’sgot。Inalittlewhilewehateher，justaswedoRichard。）
\"……repeatedEvelyn，burstingintotears。\"（Thiskindkeepabookdampallthetime。Theycan’tsayathingwithoutcrying。TheycrysomuchaboutnothingthatbyandbywhentheyhavesomethingtocryABOUTtheyhavegonedry;theysob，andfetchnothing;wearenotmoved。Weareonlyglad。）
Theygavelme，thesestaleandoverworkedstagedirections，thesecarbonfilmsthatgotburntoutlongagoandcannotnowcarryanyfaintestthreadoflight。Itwouldbewelliftheycouldberelievedfromdutyandflungoutintheliterarybackyardtorotanddisappearalongwiththediscardedandforgotten\"steeds\"and\"halidomes\"andsimilarstagepropertiesoncesodeartoourgrandfathers。ButIamfriendlytoMr。Howells’sstagedirections;morefriendlytothemthantoanyoneelse’s，I
think。Theyaredonewithacompetentanddiscriminatingart，andarefaithfultotherequirementsofastatedirection’sproperandlawfuloffice，whichistoinform。SometimestheyconveyasceneanditsconditionssowellthatIbelieveIcouldseethesceneandgetthespiritandmeaningoftheaccompanyingdialogueifsomeonewouldreadmerelythestagedirectionstomeandleaveoutthetalk。Forinstance，ascenelikethis，fromTHEUNDISCOVEREDCOUNTRY:
\"……andshelaidherarmswithabeseechinggestureonherfather’sshoulder。\"
\"……sheanswered，followinghisgesturewithaglance。\"
\"……shesaid，laughingnervously。\"
\"……sheasked，turningswiftlyuponhimthatstrange，searchingglance。\"
\"……sheanswered，vaguely。\"
\"……shereluctantlyadmitted。\"
\"……buthervoicediedwearilyaway，andshestoodlookingintohisfacewithpuzzledentreaty。\"
Mr。Howellsdoesnotrepeathisforms，anddoesnotneedto;
hecaninventfreshoneswithoutlimit。Itismainlytherepetitionoverandoveragain，bythethirdrates，ofwornandcommonplaceandjuicelessformsthatmakestheirnovelssuchawearinessandvexationtous，Ithink。Wedonotmindoneortwodeliveriesoftheirwares，butasweturnthepagesoverandkeeponmeetingthemwepresentlygettiredofthemandwishtheywoulddootherthingsforachange。
\"……repliedAlfred，flippingtheashfromhiscigar。\"
\"……respondedRichard，withalaugh。\"
\"……murmuredGladys，blushing。\"
\"……repeatedEvelyn，burstingintotears。\"
\"……repliedtheEarl，flippingtheashfromhiscigar。\"
\"……respondedtheundertaker，withalaugh。\"
\"……murmuredthechambermaid，blushing。\"
\"……repeatedtheburglar，burstingintotears。\"
\"……repliedtheconductor，flippingtheashfromhiscigar。\"
\"……respondedArkwright，withalaugh。\"
\"……murmuredthechiefofpolice，blushing。\"
\"……repeatedthehousecat，burstingintotears。\"
Andsoonandsoon;tillatlastitceasestoexcite。I
alwaysnoticestagedirections，becausetheyfretmeandkeepmetryingtogetoutoftheirway，justastheautomobilesdo。Atfirst;thenbyandbytheybecomemonotonousandIgetrunover。
Mr。Howellshasdonemuchwork，andthespiritofitisasbeautifulasthemakeofit。IhaveheldhiminadmirationandaffectionsomanyyearsthatIknowbythenumberofthoseyearsthatheisoldnow;buthisheartisn’t，norhispen;andyearsdonotcount。Lethimhaveplentyofthem;thereisprofitinthemforus。
