HENRY JAMES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 52, 1 March 1916, Page 4

HENRY JAMES.

Of Henry James, whose death is announced to-<lay, an unkind American, paper invented the following story: A university class in English were reading one of his books, and ait the end of the" lecture a student asked how much they should prepare for next time. "Down to the first eemircolon," was the reply. The story is typical of many jests at the expense of the James style, which had the individuality of a very remarkable mind, if not of genius. Henry James was both a joko and a source of pride to Americanß. He was the most distinguished American writer of his time, and his work and his personality represented the fine flower of American culture. H's •was not populiar, and never will be. The line between those who admire hie novels and thoee who do not is even more sharply drawn *han in the ease of Meredith, with whom 'he had something in common. In the novel of .manners he showed' very remarkable subtlety and insight, a rare and delicate sense of humour, and a keen eye for character. In stories dealing with the -occult he could, by psychological methods, create an extraordinary umpreseion of terror. The trouble was that he was too subtle; tliab h<! often .said in. .a: hundred word* what, eotjld' have, be'en.j.saidi more effectively- -in -. .twenty, • -and-.-..that : ..lie sometimes gave . the reader the, impresekm <ot clever vord-epianing a,bout a>

subject that Teally was not of great : atap'OTtance.'-- This-etyle. hae been much : parodied. "Mary had a little lamb," | done into James, would occupy half a column of the "Star," and perhaps not contain, one short and definite statement. Of Mary's lamb it might be said, not that it was "white as snow," but that "in colour it approximated to the purest shade of summer cloud, not to say white." British people have an interest in Henry James apart from his brilr liant work in their language. During the war he became a British citizen. He had lived long in England, had many friends among distinguished people, and had become warmly attached to English life and character. He felt that in the greatest crisis in England's history, when the existence of the nation to which he owed so much, which he had come to love, and which was fighting for the noblest of causes, was at stake, it was his duty to stand in the ranks of Englishmen and share their fate. This is what he said when he announced his decision, but his friends believed that there was another reason, the failure of his own country to draw the sword for righteousness.