INFLUENCES IN LITERATURE. 113 
fore any otherfiction than Mr. James’s very 
pleasant sort will beindemand. He is master 
of his method, and has made the most of his 
theory. But, without finding fault with Mr, 
James’s charming novels, it may be asked if 
they would not be better were it possible for 
the author to inject into them something of 
William Black’s knowledge of out-door things, 
and to give them the color and atmosphere de, 
manded by the places where their scenes are 
laid. Social atmosphere he does give to per- 
fection; but of the air his people breathe he 
knows nothing. He never sets his story in a 
landscape ; its extourage is always an artificial 
one; he frames it, like an artist, with a frame ex- 
actly suited to its tone; but it would look as 
well in one place as another. In reading his 
stories we are thoroughly charmed, and would 
not know where to change a word; but we 
know all along that we are reading a story. 
He does not take us away from the spot where 
we are reading; but he chains us to our chair 
with the spell of his “representations of life ” 
until the end is reached. . 
Now, a little different treatment would 
change allthis. The color and the atmosphere 
of the place should be added, as with the brush 
of the painter, so that we would find ourselves 
on the spot, feel the air, smell the perfumes, 
see the varied features of the region round 
about, as well as talk with the people and 
share their life. Let it be understood that I 
do not criticise Mr. James. He is a prince of 
novelists. I merely attempt to show that he 
might add to his charming stories the freshness 
of the breezes, the bird-songs, and the flowers, 
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