Henry James'S 'The American Scene'

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Content HENRY JAMES'S THE AMERICAN SCENE
by
S id n e y Howard W hite
A D i s s e r t a t i o n P re s e n te d to th e
FACULTY OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In P a r t i a l F u l f i ll m e n t o f th e
R e q u ire m e n ts f o r th e D egree
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
( E n g lis h )
Ju n e 1962
UNIVERSITY O F SO U TH ERN CALIFORNIA
GRADUATE SCHOOL
UNIVERSITY PARK
LOS ANGELES 7. CALIFORNIA
?h o £ I:- wsse
- This dissertation, written by
................... S i d a e .y .H .o .w .9 L c d .. W l x it f e .....................
under the direction of hx&....Dissertation Com
mittee, and approved by all its members, has
been presented to and accepted by the Dean of
the Graduate School, in partial fulfillment of
requirements for the degree of
D O C T O R O F P H I L O S O P H Y
.........................
Dean
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF THE 1904-1905 TRIP TO AMERICA . i l l
C h a p te r
I . THE AMERICAN SCENE . ...................................................... . 1
P u b l i c a t io n ......................................................................... 1
The M aking o f th e B o o k ......................... 4
The 1946 Auden E d i t i o n .................................................' 14
Im p o rta n c e and V alue . . . . . ............... 18
The P r e s e n t N e e d ..................................................... 25
I I . THE 1904-1905 TRIP TO AMERICA: FAMILIAR GROUND 34
P r e p a r a t i o n ................................................. 34
"The R e s to re d A b sen tee" ............................................ 54
L e c t u r e r ........................................... 66
I I I . THE 1904-1905 TRIP TO AMERICA: TOURIST AT LARGE 79
The New A m e r i c a ........................................ 79
The B ryn Mawr A ddress . . . . . . . . . . . 93
D e p a r t u r e .........................................................106
IV . HENRY JAMES AS WRITER ON T R A V E L ................................... 109
The E a r l i e r T ra v e l Books ............................................ 109
The Two N e w p o r ts ..................................................................... 118
The Problem o f S ty le i n The A m erican Scene . 131
V. VIEWS OF AMERICA..........................................................................143
The L i t e r a r y P a s t ........................................... 143
The " B u ild e d S t a t e " ........................................................... 153;
The S o c ia l Q u e s tio n .............................................^ O 1
The A m erican W om an................................................ 164
"The G re a t 'E t h n i c ' Q u e stio n " . . . . . . . 173
The S outh . ..........................................................................180
V I. CONCLUSION....................................... 187
The Ja m e sia n D e t a c h m e n t ..................................................187
The P ro c e s s . . ................................................................ 195
The Common G r o u n d ................................................................206
R e la tio n to th e P r e f a c e s .................................. 214
BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . ......................................................................... 221
ii
CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OP THE 1904-1905 TRIP TO AMERICA1
12Q4
A ugust 24 . . . ..............................
A ugust 30 ............................................
S ep tem b er 2 to ( l 6 ) . . . . .
S ep tem b er (1 7 ) to O c to b e r (1 7 )
O c to b e r (1 7 ) to (2 7 ) . . . .
November 10 . . . .........................
November .................... ....................
November to m id-D ecem ber . .
E a r ly D e c e m b e r ........................ .
Decem ber (2 0 ) to J a n u a ry ( 3 )
m i
J a n u a ry 9 ............................................
J a n u a ry 19 .......................................
L ate J a n u a r y ............................. ....
L eaves from S o u tham pton,
E n g lan d on th e K a is e r
W ilhelm I I .
A rriv e s a t H oboken,
New J e r s e y .
C hocorua, New H am pshire
(W illia m Ja m e s ).
B o sto n , New Y ork, C am bridge.
L enox, M ass. ( th e W hartons)
P u b lic a tio n o f The G olden
Bowl (New Y o r k ) .
C oncord, N ew port.
Cam bridge (W illia m Ja m e s ).
O c c a s io n a l New Y ork t r i p s
("A m erican tr a n s c e n d e n t
d e n t i s t r y , " L e t t e r s I I ,
2 5 ).
New Y o rk .
L e c tu re : C ontem porary C lu b ,
P h i l a d e l p h ia .
L e c tu re : B ryn Mawr C o lle g e ,
B ryn Mawr, P enna.
B a ltim o r e .
P a r e n th e s e s i n d i c a t e a p p ro x im a te d a te s , a c c o rd in g to
J a m e s 's own i n d i c a t i o n o f th e d u r a tio n o f h i s v i s i t s and
t r a v e l s . C h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y , Jam es h im s e lf a tte m p te d i n
h i s c o rre s p o n d e n c e to b e a c c u r a te i n r e f e r e n c e to d a te s ,
ev en to e x a c t h o u rs o f a r r i v a l and d e p a r t u r e .
iii
L a te J a n u a ry . . . ..................... W ash in g to n , D .C .j m eets
P r e s id e n t T heodore
R o o s e v e lt.
F e b ru a ry 2 . ............................. Richm ond.
F e b ru a ry ( 3 ) t o - (9 ) . . . . . A s h e v ille , N o rth C a r o lin a ,
"The B iltm o r e ."
F e b ru a ry ( 9 ) to (1 1 ) . . . . C h a r le s to n , S avannah.
F e b ru a ry (1 1 ) ................................. J a c k s o n v i ll e .
F e b ru a ry (1 2 ) to 1 8 .Palm B each , "The B r e a k e rs ."
F e b ru a ry 18 to 21 . . . . . . .. S t . A u g u stin e , H o te l Ponce
de L eon.
M arch 2 . .......................................A rriv e s i n "M idw est"
(C h ic a g o ? ).
March 7 .................................................L e c tu re : C ontem porary C lu b ,
S t. L o u is .
March 10 .................... . . . . . L e c tu re : T w e n tie th C e n tu ry
C lu b , C h icag o .
March 1 1 ............................................. L e c tu re : F o r t n i g h t l y and
F rid a y C lu b s, .C hicago.
March 1 4 .............................................L e c tu re : N o tre Dame
U n iv e r s ity , I n d ia n a .
M arch 15 . . ............................. Lor ado T a f t d in n e r ,
C h ic a g o .
March 1 7 ..................... . . . . L e c tu re : I n d ia n a L i t e r a r y
C lu b , I n d i a n a p o li s .
March 17 ............................................ L e c tu r e : I n d ia n a Contem
p o ra ry Club and th e
I r v in g to n A thenaeum ,
I n d i a n a p o li s .
M arch 1 9 .............................. L eaves C hicago f o r th e
W est.
March 2 2 ............................................. A rriv e s i n Los A n g e les.
iv
March 27 to A p r il 6
A p ril 6 ........................
A p ril 8 ........................
E a rly A p ril . . . .
A p ril (1 6 ) . . . .
A p ril (1 9 ) to 26 .
L ate A p r il . . . .
L a te A p ril . . . .
E a r ly May ....................
May 10 ........................
L a te May ...................
Ju n e 8 ........................
Ju n e 10 ........................
M id-June ...................
M id-June . . . . . .
L ate Ju n e ....................
C oronado B each ( n e a r San
D ie g o ), H o te l D el C oro
n ad o ; w o rk in g on end o f
''New E n g la n d : An Autumn
I m p r e s s io n ."
L e c tu r e : "fe m a le c u l t u r e
c lu b ," Los A n g eles
( L e t t e r s I I , 3 3 ) .
M o n te rey , H o te l D el M onte.
San F r a n c is c o .
A r r iv e s i n S e a t t l e (Edward
Jam es, nephew ).
R e tu rn s by way o f Canada
to New Y ork ("my w hole
u n a l t e r n a t e d t r a n s s h i p
m e n t," "La F a rg e L e t t e r s ,"
p . 1 8 8 ) .
L e c tu r e : New Y ork C ity .
L e c tu r e : W a sh in g to n , D.C.
L e c tu r e : Sm ith C o lle g e ,
M a s s a c h u s e tts .
L e c tu r e : P a c k e r C o l le g i a t e
I n s t i t u t e , B ro o k ly n .
L e c tu r e : H a rv ard U n iv e r s ity .
Commencement A d d re ss:
B ryn Mawr C o lle g e ,
B ryn Mawr, P en n a.
Commencement A d d re ss:
B ryn Mawr H igh S c h o o l.
B a ltim o r e .
K i t t e r y P o in t, Maine
(W illia m Dean H o w e lls ).
N ew port.
v
Ju n e 30 to J u l y 3
J u ly 4 ....................
L a te J u l y . . . .
1906
S ep tem b er 28 . .
2221
J a n u a ry 30 . . .
F e b ru a ry 7 . . .
L enox, M ass. ( th e W h arto n s)
D e p a rtu re from B o sto n on
th e I v e r n l a .
R e tu rn s to Lamb H ouse, R ye,
E n g la n d ; w o rk in g on The
A m erican S c e n e .
D ate o f P r e f a c e to The
A m erican S cen e.
P u b l i c a t i o n o f The A m erican
Scene (London"]7
P u b l i c a t i o n o f The A m erican
Scene (New Y o r k ) .
vi
CHAPTER I
THE AMERICAN SCENE
P u b l i c a t io n
I n A ugust 1904, a f t e r tw e n ty -o n e c o n tin u o u s y e a r s i n
E u ro p e, H enry Jam es th e A m erican r e t u r n e d home to h i s
n a ti v e la n d . F o r th e n e x t t e n m o n th s, th e e x te n t o f h i s
v i s i t , Jam es becam e th e a r d e n t t r a v e l e r and a v id t o u r i s t .
D e s p ite h i s m ore th a n s i x t y y e a r s , he t r a v e l e d to th e Deep
S o u th and a c r o s s th e c o n ti n e n t to th e P a c i f i c C o a s t. I n
th e f u l l e s t s e n s e , th e " re -e n g a g e m e n t'’ w ith A m erica was to
become one o f th e s i g n i f i c a n t e v e n ts o f h i s l i f e . The
d e c i s i o n to make th e " a d v e n tu re " h ad n o t b e e n e a s y to
r e a c h . A f te r lo n g m o n th s o f d e l i b e r a t i o n , he h ad f i n a l l y
a s s u r e d h im s e lf t h a t th e r i c h am ount o f o b s e r v a tio n i n
s t o r e f o r him i n th e new A m erica w ould more th a n j u s t i f y
th e in c o n v e n ie n c e s o f t r a v e l . He was n o t to be d i s a p
p o i n t e d . The abundance o f " m a te r ia l" t h a t he g a th e r e d f o r
jh im s e lf i n h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c way was to become th e s t o r e
h o u s e f o r h i s l a t e p r o d u c t i o n s , n o ta b ly , th e l a s t m ajo r
I
|n o v e ls , some s h o r t s t o r i e s , and h i s a u to b io g r a p h ic m em oirs.
i
I The r e c o r d o f h i s " e n c o u n te r" w ith A m erica, p e r s e , he
p o u re d i n t o The A m erican S c e n e , t r y i n g a s b e s t h e c o u ld
1
2
to k eep th e w e a lth o f m a t e r i a l u n d e r c o n t r o l . When he
f i n a l l y r e t u r n e d to Lamb House i n l a t e J u l y 1905> th e g r e a t
t a s k o f c o m p ilin g h i s t r a v e l book la y b e f o r e h im . A y e a r
and a h a l f l a t e r , th e book a p p e a re d .
The A m erican S c e n e 1 was p u b lis h e d f i r s t i n E n gland on
J a n u a ry 3 0 , 1907; a week l a t e r , F e b ru a ry 7, th e book a p -
2
p e a re d i n A m erica. The bo o k s w ere i d e n t i c a l i n c o n te n t
e x c e p t t h a t s e c t i o n V II o f th e l a s t c h a p te r , " F l o r i d a , ”
a p p e a re d o n ly i n th e E n g lis h e d i t i o n . Ten o f th e f o u r te e n
c h a p te r s ^ h ad a p p e a re d f i r s t i n m a g a z in e s , e i t h e r i n Amer
i c a o r E n g la n d , d u rin g th e p e r io d A p r il 1905 to November
'I 9 0 6 . W hile s t i l l i n A m erica d u r in g th e 1904-1905 t r i p ,
^Jam es h ad o t h e r t i t l e s i n m ind. He w ro te G eorge
H a rv ey , p r e s i d e n t o f H a rp e r and B r o th e r s i n O c to b e r 1904
j t h a t he " r e g r e t t e d d e e p ly t h a t Thomas H ardy h ad made i t
I im p o s s ib le f o r him to g iv e th e w ork th e c a p tio n , 'T he
[R etu rn o f th e N a t i v e ,' a s he w ould hav e l ik e d to d o ; and
[he s u g g e s te d i n s t e a d , c a l l i n g i t 'T he R e tu rn o f th e
N o v e l i s t , » i f t h a t w ould n o t seem to o l i g h t and a i r y o r
f r e e and e a s y ." "The R e s t l e s s A n a ly s t," a r e c u r r e n t p h ra s e
i n th e b o o k , was a n o th e r t i t l e Jam es c o n s i d e r e d .—W i l l i s
F l e t c h e r Jo h n s o n , G eorge H arvey (B o sto n , 1929) , p . 9 1 .
2
P u b lis h e d i n London by Chapman and H a l l, and i n New
[York b y H a rp e r and B r o th e r s . A ll c i t a t i o n s a re from th e
;A m erican e d i t i o n . " P u b l i c a t io n i n E n g lan d was d e la y e d to 1
ic o in c id e w ith th e b o o k 's a p p e a ra n c e i n A m erica"; n e v e r th e
l e s s i t a p p e a re d e a r l i e r — Leon E d e l and Dan L a u re n c e ,
1 A B ib lio g r a p h y o f H enry Jam es (L ondon, 1957)> p . 133. Here-*
[ a f t e r c i t e d a s b i b li o g r a p h y .
! J The re m a in in g f o u r a p p e a re d i n book form o n ly : "The
[Bowery and T h e re a b o u ts " (V ;, "C oncord and Salem " ( V I I I ) ,
[" C h a rle s to n " ( X I I I ) , and " F lo r id a " (X IV ).
3
Jam es was a b le to se e th e f i r s t p a r t o f th e f i r s t c h a p te r ,
I
"New E n g la n d : An Autumn Im p re s s io n " i n th e N o rth A m erican
R eview f o r A p r il 1905. E x c e p t f o r two e s s a y s w hich a p
p e a re d i n H a rp e r 1s M ag azin e, and "R ichm ond," w hich a p p e a re d
:i n th e E n g lis h p u b l i c a t i o n th e F o r t n i g h t l y R eview , a l l th e
o t h e r s a p p e a re d i n i t i a l l y i n th e N o rth A m erican R eview .^
"The S ense o f N ew port" was th e o n ly e s s a y to a p p e a r
w ith i l l u s t r a t i o n s . T h ese w ere b e a u t i f u l l y done by J u l e s
G u e rin , H. D. N ic h o ls , and M a rg u e rite Downing f o r H a rp e r1s
M ag azin e. I n l i g h t p a s t e l sh a d e s o f b l u e , g r e e n , and g o ld
th e y a re a s t r i k i n g c o n t r a s t to th e b r i g h t r e a l i s t i c p i c
t u r e s o f Howard P y le and W illia m H urd Law rence i n o t h e r
4
I t a p p e a re d i n t h r e e c o n s e c u tiv e i s s u e s : A p r il, May,
and J u n e ; 1 8 0 :4 8 1 -5 0 1 , 6 4 l- 6 6 o , and 8 0 0 -8 1 6 .
^The F o r t n i g h t l y R eview p u b lis h e d t h r e e o t h e r e s s a y s
I s im u lta n e o u s ly w ith t h e N o rth A m erican R eview . The com
p l e t e s e r i a l i z a t i o n l i s t f o llo w s : "New E n g la n d : An Autumn
llm p re s s io n ," N o rth A m erican R eview , 1 8 0 :4 8 1 -5 0 1 , 6 4 1 -6 6 0 ,
8 0 0 -8 1 6 ; A p r il, May, Ju n e 1965. ''"New Y ork and th e H udson:
A S p rin g I m p r e s s io n ," N o rth A m erican R eview , 1 8 1 :8 0 1 -8 3 3 ,
Decem ber 1905• "New Y o rk : S o c ia l N o te s. I , " N o rth A m erican
jR evlew , 1 8 2 :1 9 -3 1 , J a n u a r y 1906; and F o r t n i g h tl y R eview .
|8 5 :2 5 b -2 6 l, F e b ru a ry 1906. "New Y o rk : S o c ia l toot e s . i l , "
1 N o rth A m erican R eview , 1 8 2 :1 7 9 -1 9 3 , F e b ru a ry 1 9 0 6 . "New
Y ork R e v i s i t e d ," H a rp e r 1s M ag azin e. 1 1 2 :4oO -4o6, 603- 6 0 8 ,
9 0 0 -9 0 7 ; F e b ru a ry , M arch, May 1 9 0b. " B o s to n ," N o rth
A m erican R eview , 182:333-355* M arch 1906; and F o r t n i g h tl y
R eview , 8 5 :4 3 9 -4 5 9 , M arch 1906. " P h i l a d e l p h i a ,” tio rtE
A m erican R eview , 1 8 2 :5 4 2 -5 6 4 , A p r il 1 9 0 6 . " W a sh in g to n ,"
N o rth A m erican R eview , 1 8 2 :6 6 0 -6 7 5 , 896- 9 05; May, Ju n e
1906. "H ie £>ense o f N e w p o rt," H a rp e r 1 s M agazine, 1 1 3 : 343-
3 5 4 , A ugust 1 9 0 6 . " B a ltim o r e ," N o rth A m erican freview ,
1 8 3 :2 5 0 -2 7 1 , A ugust 1 9 0 6 . "R ichm ond, V i r g i n i a ," F o r t n i g h tl y
R eview , 8 5 :o 5 0 -8 7 0 , November 1 9 0 6 .
4
p a r t s o f th e i s s u e . As th e y a r e , th e p o r t r a i t s o f N ew port
s c e n e s p ro v id e J u s t th e r i g h t n o te o f n o s t a l g i c memory to
accom pany Jam es*s t e x t . I t i s u n f o r tu n a te t h a t H a rp e r* s
d id n o t i l l u s t r a t e "New Y ork R e v is ite d " i n a l i k e m anner.
N e a rly a l l o f J a m e s 's e s s a y s le n d th e m s e lv e s e a s i l y to i l
l u s t r a t i o n . Of c o u r s e , su ch a tr e a tm e n t was n o t e x p e c te d
i n th e more fo rm a l p a g e s o f th e N orth A m erican R eview . F o r
t h e i r book a p p e a ra n c e , Jam es made no r e v i s i o n s i n th e
e s s a y s . The o n ly d i f f e r e n c e i s th e e li m in a ti o n o f th e
s e c t i o n num bers w hich d iv id e d th e e s s a y s i n th e m a g a z in e s .
An i n t e r v a l o f b la n k sp a c e s e r v e s th e p u rp o se i n th e book
fo rm .
The M aking o f th e Book
W hile on h i s A m erican t r i p o f 1904 and 1905, Jam es
a tte m p te d to p u t down i n h i s jo u r n a l s h i s im p r e s s io n s . He
h ad b e e n i n E urope f o r tw e n ty -o n e y e a r s and w ish ed to
r e c o r d p r e c i s e l y w hat he saw and f e l t . The am ount o f
" f i r s t d r a f t " n o te s on th e s p o t m ust hav e b e e n a g r e a t d e a l
! g
l e s s th a n he h ad p la n n e d . Jam es was c o m p le te ly u n p re p a re d
6
By M arch 2 9 , 1905* se v en m onths a f t e r h i s a r r i v a l , he
f e l t h o p e le s s ly b e h in d : " I n e e d n 't ta k e p r e c io u s tim e w ith
m a rk in g and re -m a rk in g h e r e how th e above e f f o r t to c a tc h
up w ith my 'i m p r e s s i o n s ' o f th e e a r l y w in te r was condem ned
to sp e e d y f r u s t r a t i o n and c o l l a p s e . I s tr u g g le d b u t i t a l l
g o t beyond me— any o p p o r tu n ity f o r th e p r o c e s s o f t h i s
I l i t t l e p r e c i o u s , t h i s s a c re d l i t t l e r e c o r d and r e g i s t e r —
b u t th e h i s t o r y i s w r i t t e n i n my tr o u b le d and a n x io u s , my
!a lw ay s so s t r a n g e l y m ore o r l e s s a c h in g . . . h e a r t . " — The
!N otebooks o f H enry Ja m es, e d . F . 0 . M a tth ie s s e n and Kenneth
jfoarggck (New Y o rk , 19^1)» p . 3 1 7 . H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s N o te -
f o r th e g r e a t gouge i n h i s tim e t h a t A m erica was to m ake.
Numerous t r i p s a b o u t New E n g la n d , New Y o rk , and v i s i t s to
th e m a jo r c i t i e s o f th e E a s t and th e S o u th , a s w e ll a s th e
M idw est and th e P a c i f i c C o a st d r a in e d away n e a r l y a l l o f
i
ih is p h y s i c a l e n e r g i e s . Added to t h i s was th e u n e x p e c te d
d i f f i c u l t y i n j o t t i n g down ev en th e b r i e f e s t o f J u s t a p
p r a i s a l s . I t was d i f f i c u l t to b e s u r e o f "h is im p r e s s io n s
and d i f f i c u l t to e x p re s s them .
H ie im m e d ia te demand o f h i s c o n t r a c t w ith G eorge
!H arvey made i t n e c e s s a r y t h a t h e t r y to w ork up h i s n o te s
Ito some e x t e n t f o r th e N o rth A m erican R ev iew . E a r ly i n
D ecem ber 1904, Jam es b e g an to m u ll o v e r h i s j o u r n a l n o te s
( N o te b o o k s, p . 3 1 5 ). "A m arked m uchness o f m a t e r i a l" made
Ih is p ro b le m d i f f i c u l t . I n h i s j o u r n a l f o r M arch 2 9 , 1905*
we f i n d Ja m e s’ s f i r s t c o n je c t u r e s upon w hat was to becom e
th e u l t i m a t e p la n o f th e e s s a y s . W ritin g a t Coronado
B e ac h , C a l i f o r n i a , w here he h ad d e l i b e r a t e l y " h id d e n away"
i n o r d e r to c o m p le te "New E n g la n d : An Autumn I m p r e s s io n ,"
Jam es g ro p e d f o r a way o f d o in g j u s t i c e to th e c i t i e s t h a t
!
Im a tte re d m o st to him . He d e c id e d to le a v e B o sto n o u t o f
Ith e New E n g la n d e s s a y i n o r d e r to g ro u p i t l a t e r w ith two
i
jo th e r c i t i e s , P h i l a d e l p h ia and W ash in g to n :
T h ere i s a b s o l u t e l y no room h e re to sq u e e z e i n a s t i n t e d ,
s t a r v e d l i t t l e B o sto n p i c t u r e . Oh, th e d i v i s i o n i s g o o d ,
I s e e — th e " t h r e e " w i l l do b e a u t i f u l l y . . . . ( p . 31o)
6
When f i n a l l y c o m p le te d b a c k i n E n g la n d , th e " t h r e e , ” u n d e r
J a m e s 's " a r t f u l econom y," becam e s e p a r a t e e s s a y s e ach o f
n e a r ly t h i r t y p a g e s . C am bridge s t i l l re m a in e d a p ro b lem :
" . . . th e C am bridge f a n t a s t i c a t i o n seem s to h av e o n ly to o
jmuch to ' g i v e '— God H elp me! I t g iv e s and g iv e s . . . "
(p . 3 1 7 ). He d e c id e d to make i t th e l a s t p a r t o f th e New
E n g lan d e s s a y , c o m p ris in g s e c t i o n s V I I , V I I I , and IX .
I n many w ays, i t i s h a z a rd o u s to s p e a k to o f ir m ly o f
J a m e s 's o v e r - a l l p la n f o r The A m erican S c e n e . T h ree im p o r
t a n t f a c t o r s m ust b e k e p t i n m ind: f i r s t , th e d i f f i c u l t y
land e v e n tu a l i n a b i l i t y i n s u s t a i n i n g th e mood; se c o n d , th e
n e b u lo u s " p la n s " f o r a se co n d b o o k ; and t h i r d , th e com pet
in g a t t r a c t i o n o f h i s w ork o n th e New Y ork E d itio n w ith i t s
c h a lle n g in g r e v i s i o n s and p r e f a c e s .
We know t h a t when Jam es f i r s t r e t u r n e d to Lamb House
i n l a t e J u ly 1905 t h e r e was n o th in g t h a t he was more
a n x io u s to g e t to w ork on th a n h i s A m erican b o o k . A ccord
in g to P e rc y L ubbock, " I t grew a t su ch a r a t e t h a t he
p r e s e n t l y found he h a d f i l l e d a l a r g e volum e w ith o u t n e a r l y
7
e x h a u s tin g h i s m a t e r i a l . " 1 I t i s q u i t e l i k e l y t h a t t h i s
I
Ira p id o u tp o u rin g o f m a t e r i a l , in te rw o v e n a s i t m ust have
Ibeen w ith a g r e a t p r o f u s io n o f p e r s o n a l r e f l e c t i o n s ,
!
7
' The L e t t e r s o f H enry Ja m es, 2 v o l s . , e d . P e rc y
Lubbock (New Y o rk , 1 9 2 0 ) , IT , 4 . H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s
L e t t e r s .
7
q u ic k ly g o t beyond him and o u t o f h a n d . We w onder how many
j
tim e s a t h i s d e sk a t Lamb House Jam es r e c a l l e d th e t r u t h o f
w hat he w ro te th e p r e v io u s M arch i n A m erica:
B u t th e s e a*»e w anton la p s e s and im p o s s ib le e x c u r s io n s ;
i r r e l e v a n t s tra y in g B O f th e p e n , i n d e f ia n c e o f e v e ry
econom y. My s u b j e c t a w a its me, a l l to o c h a rg e d and to o
b r i s t l i n g w ith th e m o st a r t f u l economy p o s s i b l e . (N o te
b o o k s, p . 3 2 0 )
J a m e s 's p r i z e d " a r t f u l economy" was p ro b a b ly u n d e rg o in g i t s
m o st s e v e re t e s t d u r in g th e s e autum n m o n th s. Hie p r o f u s io n
;o f m a t e r i a l h ad to b e c a r e f u l l y w orked o v e r u n d e r th e
j t i g h t e s t o f r e i n s . I t was n o t J a m e s 's i n t e n t i o n h e re to
Q
jw r ite a u to b io g ra p h y ; i t was to b e e s s e n t i a l l y a book a b o u t
:A m erica, n o t h i m s e l f . The d iv id in g l in e , however, was n o t
i e a s i l y m a in ta in e d . The r i c h p e r s o n a l a s s o c i a t i o n s t h a t
f i l l e d J a m e s 's m ind h ad to be k e p t w ith in b o u n d s. Some
how, t h e r e h ad to b e a w o rk a b le p r o p o r tio n so t h a t th e
d e s i r e d r e s u l t w ould f o llo w — a j u s t , m odern a p p r a i s a l o f
A m erican l i f e .
On November 3 , 1905* i n a l e t t e r to h i s n ie c e M a rg a re t,
lJam es summed up th e s e p ro b le m s.
I h av e b e e n w o rk in g i n one way and a n o th e r w ith g r e a t
a s s i d u i t y , s q u e e z in g o u t my A m erican Book w ith a l l d e
s i r a b l e d e l i b e r a t i o n , and y e t i n a k in d o f p a n tin g d re a d
s o f th e m a tte r o f i t a l l m e ltin g and f a d in g from me b e -
| f o r e I hav e w orked i t o f f . I t d o es m e lt and f a d e , o v e r
h e r e , i n th e s t r a n g e s t way— and y e t I d i d , I t h i n k ,
j
; o
j Many o f th e im p re s s io n s he g a th e r e d , h o w ev er, w ere to
b e u s e d l a t e r i n h i s t h r e e a u to b io g r a p h ic a l m em oirs: A
S m a ll Boy and O th e rs (New Y ork, 1913 ) ; N o te s o f a Son and
B r o th e r (New Y o rk , 191*0; and th e u n f i n is h e d H ie M iddle
Y e a rs (New Y o rk , 1 9 1 7 ).
8
w h ile w ith y o u , so s u c c e s s f u l l y c u l t i v a t e th e im p re s s io n
and s a t u r a t i o n t h a t ev en my b a r e re sid u u m w o n 't be q u i t e
a v a in t h i n g . I r e a l l y f in d i n f a c t t h a t I h av e more
im p re s s io n s th a n I know w hat to do w ith ; so t h a t , e v i
d e n t l y , a t t h e r a t e I am g o in g , I s h a l l have pegged o u t
two d i s t i n c t volum es i n s t e a d o f o n e . I hav e a lr e a d y
p ro d u c e d a lm o s t th e s u b s ta n c e o f o n e —w hich I hav e b e e n
I se n d in g to "H a rp e r" and th e N .A .R ., a s p e r c o n t r a c t . . .
! ( L e t t e r s I I , 3 6 )
The s e r i o u s c o n s i d e r a ti o n o f a seco n d book o f im p r e s s io n s
imay h av e b e e n th e o n ly p o s s i b l e way o u t o f J a m e s 's dilem m a.
The c o rre s p o n d e n c e o f th e su c c e e d in g m onths a p p e a rs to a f -
q
firm th e se co n d book a s a v i r t u a l f a c t . ^ Even by S ep tem b er
o f th e n e x t y e a r , 1906, th e d a te o f J a m e s 's P re fa c e to
The A m erican S c e n e , th e seco n d book a p p e a re d a d e f i n i t e
p a r t o f th e o v e r - a l l " p l a n ." At th e end o f h i s P r e f a c e ,
Jam es comments on th e p e r p l e x i t y and q u a n t i t y o f th e
m a t e r i a l :
. . . I s h o u ld n o t f i n d such m a tte r s s c a n t o r s im p le .
I was n o t i n f a c t to do s o , and th e y b u t le d me on and
o n . How f a r t h i s m ig h t have b e e n my s e v e r a l c h a p te r s
show ; and y e t ev en h e re I f a l l s h o r t . I s h a l l have to
ta k e a few o t h e r s f o r th e r e s t o f my s t o r y , ( p . v i )
T h ere w ere to be no " o t h e r s " ; The A m erican Scene i s
:th e o n ly r e c o r d Jam es w ro te o f h i s A m erican t r i p . Any
im m ed iate w r i t in g p la n s f o r a tw o-volum e s e t o f im p re s
s io n s w ere made im p o s s ib le by th e dem ands o f h i s o t h e r
j HJ to W. E . N o r r i s , Decem ber 2 3 , 1905: " . . . th e r e
ja r e to be tw o. s e p a r a te and d i f f e r e n t l y - t i t l e d . . . "
I ( L e t t e r s I I , 4 6 ); and to h i s nephew Edward Ja m es, March
11 2 , 5.90b: " I f e a r th e r e m ust be tw o "— "H enry J a m e s 's
L e t t e r s to th e La F a r g e s ," e d . Jo h n La F a rg e , S . J . , New
E n g lan d Q u a r t e r l y . 2 2 :1 8 8 , Ju n e 1 9^9 . H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s
"La F a rg e L e t t e r s . "
9
■work. W e know t h a t by e a r l y Novembfer Jam es was a ls o d e e p ly
in v o lv e d w ith th e r e v i s i o n s and P r e f a c e s f o r th e New Y ork
E d i t i o n . 10 W e have th e r e c o r d i n J a m e s 's c o rre s p o n d e n c e
o f th e s e many m onths o f a b s o r p tio n w ith h i s w r i t in g
!'*a r r e a r s . ”11 I t i s p ro b a b le t h a t a s Jam es becam e m ore and
m ore in v o lv e d w ith h i s lo n g -p la n n e d s e l e c t i o n and a n a l y s i s
o f h i s b e s t f i c t i o n , th e A m erican book re c e d e d m ore and
m ore from h i s g r a s p . The one was a s r e a l and s a t i s f y i n g
a s th e o t h e r was e lu s iv e and f r u s t r a t i n g . Jam es w ro te to
W. E . N o r r is on D ecem ber 2 3 , 1905:
10HJ to M a rg a re t Jam es, November 3 , 1905: " . . . a l l th e
tim e I h a v e n 't b e e n d o in g th e A m erican B ook, I h av e b e e n
r e v i s i n g w ith e x tre m e m in u te n e s s t h r e e o r f o u r o f my e a r l y
iworks f o r th e E d itio n D e f i n i t i v e . . . 1 1 ( L e t t e r s I I , 3 6 -
3 7 ). I t was to be a trem en d o u s u n d e rta k in g ! A cco rd in g to
IF. W. D upee, ” . . . i t was th e p r e f a c e s t h a t w ere th e m o st
ja m b itio u s f e a t u r e o f th e E d it i o n . L ik e The A m erican S c e n e , i
I th e y a r e a k in d o f l a s t te s ta m e n t on a m a tte r o f th e
{ g r e a te s t im p o rta n c e to J a m e s ." —H enry Ja m e s, r e v . e d .
! (G arden C ity , 1 9 5 6 ), P« ( F i r s t e d i t i o n , 1951*
{American Men o f L e t t e r s S e r i e s . ) H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s D upee,
H J.
11
The book was " p ro d u c e d b y a lm o st a y e a r 's a b se n c e
and ( s u p e r f i c i a l l y , th e r e b y ) a y e a r 's i d l e n e s s . " HJ to
H. G. W e lls , November 19* 1905 ( L e t t e r s I I , 3 8 ) . 'D iere was
i n a d d it i o n th e p le d g e to do " a ro m a n tic a l - p s y c h o l o g ic a l -
p i c t o r i a l 's o c i a l ' London" f o r M a c m illa n s: " . . . 1 hav e
b e e n f e e l i n g so n e rv o u s o f l a t e a b o u t th e way A m erica h a s
crow ded me o f f i t , t h a t I have h a d , f o r a ssu a g em e n t o f my
n e r v e s , to b e g in , w ith p i e t y and p r a y e r , some o f th e v e ry
c o n s id e r a b le r e a d in g th e t a s k w i l l r e q u i r e o f m e ." — to
M a rg a re t Ja m es, November 3 , 1905 ( L e t t e r s I I , 3 7 ) . The
p r o j e c t was n e v e r c o m p le te d . R e lu c ta n t ly , he r e s i s t e d th e
te m p ta tio n i n Decem ber to m eet w ith N o r r is i n London:
:" . . . t h e r e a r e h o u rs and s e a s o n s — and I know th e fa c e o f
{them w e l l —when my n e ed to m ind my b u s in e s s h e r e , and to
jmind n o th in g e l s e , becom es a b s o l u te — London te n d in g r a t h e r
lo v er-m u ch , m o re o v e r, to s e t f r e q u e n t and f r e s h l y - b a i t e d
a (£ ||iy o ? i f u s § i ? t l b l e a n d e u l l e -
10
. . . t h e r e b e in g n o th in g l e f t f o r me b u t to ru n a r a c e
w ith an i l l u s i o n , th e i l l u s i o n o f s t i l l s e e in g i t , w hich
i s , a s i t r e c e d e s , so to sp e a k , a th o u sa n d l e n g th s ah ead
o f me. I s h a l l keep i t up a s a t o u r de f o r c e , and p r o
duce my copy somehow. . . . ( L e t t e r s I I , 46)
T h ree m onths l a t e r , i n M arch o f 1906, th e a b i l i t y to
"k eep i t up" to any d e g re e a p p e a re d s e r i o u s l y i n d o u b t.
Jam es w ro te to h i s nephew Edward Jam es i n S e a t t l e :
The w hole A m erican p h a n ta s m a g o ria te n d s e x t r a o r d i n a r
i l y . . . to lo s e i n t e n s i t y and r e a l i t y and v a p o riz e
aw ay. . . . I m ust th u s h o ld th e w hole th in g a s a r t i f i
c i a l l y h a rd and t i g h t a s p o s s ib l e i n o r d e r to g e t aro u n d
to th e d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f i t b e fo r e th e y le a v e me. Cka
F a rg e L e t t e r s , " p . 188)
!By th e n e x t m onth, a c c o rd in g to L ubbock, Jam es had th e
b a r e s t o f e n th u s ia s m s l e f t f o r th e A m erican book ( L e t t e r s
I I , 4 ) . Lubbock c i t e s th e San F ra n c is c o f i r e o f A p r il 18
a s a d i s t u r b i n g and c o n t r i b u t i n g f a c t o r . F or many d ay s
Jam es a w a ite d news o f h i s b r o t h e r W illia m and h i s w if e ,
who w ere i n th e San F ra n c is c o a r e a , a t S ta n f o r d , o n ly f o r t y
m ile s from th e e a r th q u a k e . By th e tim e h i s f e a r s w ere
s e t t l e d by th e news o f t h e i r s a f e t y , th e t e r r i f y i n g e v e n ts ,
r e a l o r im a g in e d , had d r iv e n " h i s own C a li f o r n ia n r e c o l
l e c t i o n s s t i l l f u r t h e r from h i s m in d ." P ro b a b ly now, a s a
m a tte r o f d u ty o n ly , Jam es to o k th e n e c e s s a r y tim e away
|from th e New Y ork E d itio n to do th e re m a in in g e s s a y s f o r
th e m a g a zin es and to w r i t e th e a d d i t i o n a l c h a p te r s f o r th e *
|c o l l e c t e d volum e.
T here i s n o t much to be g a in e d by s p e c u l a ti n g on w hat
f u r t h e r p la n s Jam es may hav e h ad f o r th e book i f he h ad been
11
a b le to d e v o te a l l h i s e n e r g ie s to i t . F u n d a m e n ta lly , th e
book e v o lv e d o u t o f th e dem ands o f s e r i a l i z a t i o n , and w ith
a few e x c e p tio n s th e o r d e r o f th e c h a p te r s fo llo w s t h e i r
m ag azin e a p p e a ra n c e s . T h ere s t i l l re m a in s , h o w ev er, th e
p r o v o c a tiv e m a tte r o f th e " se c o n d b o o k ." C ould t h i s
"se c o n d i n s ta lm e n t" o f h i s im p r e s s io n s have h ad any d i r e c t
e f f e c t on th e fo rm a t o f th e f i r s t ? How lo n g th e p r o j e c t
may hav e b e e n s e r i o u s l y u n d e r c o n s i d e r a ti o n i s d i f f i c u l t to
know. C e r ta in l y by O c to b e r 1907, th e m a tte r was c o m p le te ly
and i r r e v o c a b l y c lo s e d . Jam es e x p re s s e d h i s r e g r e t to
W illia m :
. . v my r e g r e t and p a in a t th e way th e f a t e s hav e b e en
a l l a g a i n s t ( a l l f i n a l l y and d e f i n i t e l y now) my h a v in g
b e e n a b le to c a r r y o u t my p la n and do a seco n d i n s t a l
m e n t, em bodying m ore and com p lem en tary im p r e s s io n s . Of
c o u rs e I h ad a p l a n — and th e se co n d v o l . w ould have
a tt a c k e d th e s u b j e c t (an d my g e n e r a l m ass o f im p re s s io n )
a t v a r io u s o t h e r a n g le s , th ro w n o f f v a r io u s o t h e r p i c
t u r e s , i n s h o r t c o n tr i b u te d much m ore. B ut th e th in g
was n o t to b e . . . . ( L e t t e r s I I , 8 3 -8 4 )
Jam es a p p e a rs to be a n sw e rin g W illia m 's (an d o u r) im p o rta n t
q u e s tio n when he s a y s , " o f c o u rs e I h ad a p l a n ." W e can
o n ly c o n je c tu r e on how much o f th e above p la n was i n
J a m e s 's m ind two y e a r s e a r l i e r i n 1905 when he w r e s tle d
iw ith th e p ro b le m s o f th e b o o k . T h ere i s a lr e a d y much
|e v id e n c e to i n d i c a t e t h a t Jam es w ent a s f a r w ith th e book
|i n 1905 and 1906 a s h i s i n t e r e s t and tim e a llo w e d , and th e n
j
I c a l l e d a h a l t , w ith o u t e v e r a c t u a l l y p la n n in g a co m p lete
; tw o-volum e schem e. I t a p p e a rs more l i k e l y t h a t a l l o f
5T .
* ' ■ :
12
Ja m e s’ s comments a b o u t a seco n d book a r e m ore i n th e n a tu r e
o f d e s p e r a tio n re m a rk s , p r i m a r il y s e lf - c o m f o r t f o r h i s i n - ,
a b i l i t y (an d la c k o f tim e ) to sa y i t a l l " c o m p le te ly ” r i g h t
i n th e one volum e he d id p ro d u c e .
Of f a r more im p o rta n c e th a n th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f a
seco n d book i s th e k in d o f book t h i s volum e w ould have
b e e n . C o n s id e r a tio n s o f t h i s o r d e r a re h e l p f u l i n d e t e r
m in in g Ja m es’ s a t t i t u d e to w ard th e A m erican m a t e r i a l s .
J a m e s 's d e s c r i p t i o n s o f th e se co n d book i n th e above l e t t e r
a re f a r d i f f e r e n t from th e k in d o f s u p p le m e n ta ry volum e
one w ould e x p e c t. S in c e he c o v e re d su ch a s m a ll p a r t o f
h i s i t i n e r a r y i n The A m erican S c e n e , i t was l o g i c a l l y a s
sumed t h a t a seco n d volum e w ould d e a l w ith th e Deep S o u th ,
12
th e M idw est, and th e P a r W est. I n h i s l e t t e r to W illia m ,
Jam es sp e a k s o n ly o f "co m p lem en tary im p re s s io n s " w hich
m ig h t im p ly o n ly an e l a b o r a t i o n and " c o r r e c t i o n " o f im p re s
s io n s a lr e a d y p u b lis h e d . I f we assum e t h a t J a m e s 's r e f e r
e n ce to " th e s u b je c t" (s e e ab o v e) i s th e s u b j e c t a lr e a d y
t r e a t e d , th e n th e a t t a c k " a t v a r io u s o t h e r a n g le s " i s a
s tu d y i n p o i n t o f v iew , an a p p ro a c h f a m i l i a r i n J a m e s 's
f i c t i o n s .
T h ere i s a ls o th e p o s s i b i l i t y t h a t th e r e f e r e n c e to
" th e s u b j e c t (an d my g e n e r a l m ass o f im p r e s s io n ) " r e f e r s to
1 ?
"The W est he r e s e r v e d f o r a seco n d volum e w hich n e v e r
g o t w r i t t e n , " (D upee, p . 2 3 7 ) . Many co m m en tato rs s h a re
IX tp ee's a s su m p tio n .
13
th e e n t i r e A m erican s u b j e c t , w r i t t e n o r u n w r i t te n ; and t h a t
I
h e p la n n e d a d i f f e r e n t a p p ro a c h to th e o t h e r m a t e r i a l from
w h at he u s e d i n The A m erican S c e n e . I am m ore i n c l i n e d to
b e l i e v e t h a t Jam es w anted a n o th e r ch an ce o v e r th e same
m a t e r i a l . T h is w ould a c c o u n t f o r th e n o te o f d e s p e r a t io n
i n w hich he was f i n a l l y f o r c e d to c o m p le te th e w o rk . I t
a ls o e x p la in s why Jam es c o u ld n o t come to an a g re em e n t w ith
h i s p u b l i s h e r s o v e r th e seco n d v o lu m e. I t w ould seem t h a t
th e p u b l is h e r s on b o th s id e s o f th e w a te r w ould be i n t e r
e s t e d i n a t r a v e l a c c o u n t o f th e b u rg e o n in g M idw est and th e
e x c i t i n g P a r W est. A book o f t h i s n a tu r e w ould h av e o b v io u s
co m m ercial a d v a n ta g e s . T ra v e l b o o k s a p p e a r to h av e b e en
one o f th e s t a p l e s i n book p u b lis h in g d u r in g t h e s e y e a r s . ^
J a m e s 's n e g o t i a t i o n s w ith h i s p u b l i s h e r s c o ll a p s e d , I b e
l i e v e , b e c a u s e o f h i s i n a b i l i t y to do th e k in d o f t r a v e l
book th e y w a n te d . By O c to b er 1907, th e " o t h e r ” m a t e r i a l
lb
m ust h av e seem ed ev en m ore d i s t a n t and u n w o rk a b le .
^ E s p e c i a l l y when w r i t t e n w ith th e a c r o s s - th e - w a te r
p o i n t o f v iew a s i n th e f o llo w in g : H. 0 . W e lls , F u tu re i n
iA m erica (L ondon, 1 9 0 6 ); P h i l l i p B u rn e -J o n e s , D o lla r s and
D em ocracy (New Y ork, 1 9 0 4 ); F r e d e r ic k H a r r is o n , M bm ories
and T h o u g h ts (New Y ork, 1906) ; A le x a n d e r F r a n c i s , A m ericans
(New Y o rk , I 9 0 9 ) ; S i r M aurice Low, A m erica a t Home (L ondon,
1905) and The A m erican P e o p le , 2 v o l s . (B o sto n . 1 9 0 9 -1 1 );
jDavid M acrae, A m erlca R e v is ite d (G lasgow . 1 9 0 8 ) ; and C h a rle s
|W hibley, A m erican S k e tc h e s (L ondon, 1908) .
^ W ith ev en few er " n o te s o n th e s p o t" ta k e n d u r in g th e
I h u rrle d W e ste rn t o u r . I t i s m ore l i k e l y t h a t w h a te v e r a d -
i d i t i o n a l n o te s o r f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r a ti o n s Jam es d id h a v e o f
Ih is A m erican t r i p e v e n tu a lly fo u n d t h e i r way i n t o h i s t h r e e
jbooks o f a u to b io g ra p h y and h i s l a t e f i c t i o n .
I t m ust a ls o b e rem em bered i n any d i s c u s s i o n o f a p la n
o r form t-at The A m erican Scene t h a t Jam es was n o t t e r r i b l y
c o n c e rn e d w ith th e o u t e r s t r u c t u r e o f th e w ork. H is a p
p ro a c h to th e c o l l e c t e d e s s a y s seem s to b e b a s i c a l l y th e
same a s w ith h i s fo rm e r t r a v e l v o lu m e s. Jam es a p p e a rs
q u i t e w i l l i n g to hav e h i s c o l l e c t i o n fo llo w a sim p le c h ro n o
l o g i c a l and g e o g r a p h ic a l o r d e r . The c e n t r a l d e s ig n —w hat
Jam es w r e s tle d w ith m o st— la y w ith in e a c h i n d i v i d u a l e s s a y .
E ach o f th e e s s a y s p r o v id e d th e f a m i l i a r p ro b le m s o f o b
j e c t i v i t y , d e ta c h m e n t, and p o i n t o f v iew w hich h a d to be
r e s o l v e d . I n tw e n ty - e ig h t c h a p te r s o r i n th e e v e n tu a l
f o u r t e e n , th e p ro b lem s re m a in e d e s s e n t i a l l y th e sam e: w hat
was to b e th e r e l a t i o n o f th e a n a l y s t to h i s m a t e r i a l s ?
I t was a com plex p ro b lem s in c e he w as, by n e c e s s i t y , i n
t im a te ly in v o lv e d w ith h i s im p r e s s io n s . P u re a u to b io g ra p h y :
t
o r f i c t i o n w ould hav e b e e n e a s i e r to c o n t r o l . The l i m i t a
t i o n s and b o u n d a rie s o f im a g in a tiv e f i c t i o n w ould have
p ro v id e d f o r th e A m erican m a t e r i a l th e " a r t f u l econom y"
he so d e s p e r a t e l y n e e d e d .
The 19^6 Auden E d it i o n
I n 19^6, S c r i b n e r ’ s b ro u g h t o u t a se co n d e d i t i o n o f
The A m erican Scene w ith an i n t r o d u c t i o n b y W . H. Auden.
T h is e d i t i o n in c lu d e d s e c t i o n VTI o f " F lo r id a " w hich h ad
p r e v io u s ly a p p e a re d o n ly i n th e London 1907 p u b l i c a t i o n .
I n a d d i t i o n , th e Auden e d i t i o n in c lu d e d th r e e e s s a y s ,
15
" S a r a t o g a ,” "N ew p o rt," and " N ia g a r a ," from th e 1883 P o r
t r a i t s o f P l a c e s . Of p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t w ere s i x t e e n
p a g e s o f c o n te m p o ra ry p h o to g ra p h s w ith c a p tio n s ta k e n from
Ja m e s’ s t e x t .
Taken a s a w h o le , A u d e n 's e d i t i o n i s a much more a t
t r a c t i v e volum e th a n th e o r i g i n a l e d i t i o n . T h ere a re many -
f e a t u r e s su ch a s th e l a r g e r and more r e a d a b le ty p e , w hich
s h o u ld make th e book m ore i n v i t i n g to a w id e r a u d ie n c e .
H ow ever, th e unw ary r e a d e r who a c c e p ts th e b o o k - ja c k e t
a d v e r tis e m e n t t h a t t h i s book i s "much e a s i e r to u n d e rs ta n d
and to e n jo y " th a n some o f J a m e s 's n o v e ls , w i l l , i n a l l
l i k e l i h o o d , b e g r o s s ly m is le d . T here a re many c o n d itio n s
to th e en jo y m en t o f t h i s b o o k , a s we s h a l l p r e s e n t l y s e e .
A m ost welcome f e a t u r e o f th e Auden e d i t i o n i s th e i n s e r
t i o n o f d e s c r i p t i v e t i t l e s a t th e h ead o f th e i n d i v i d u a l
p a g e s . T hese p r o v id e a c o n v e n ie n t ru n n in g in d e x and sum
m ary, e s p e c i a l l y n e c e s s a r y f o r a w ork i n w hich th e t a b l e
o f c o n te n ts m e re ly s e t s th e b a r e s t g e o g ra p h ic l i m i t s o f
J a m e s 's s u rv e y s and a n a l y s e s . The t i t l e s , u s u a l l y ta k e n
1 •
from th e t e x t i t s e l f , a r e j u d i c i o u s l y c h o se n ; many a p p e a r
to be th e r e s u l t o f a v e ry c a r e f u l and c r i t i c a l r e a d in g .
j
| I do n o t know i f Auden i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r th e t i t l e s . I t
i
;w ould seem t h a t he w ould b e s in c e on th e t i t l e page i t s a y s
" E d ite d w ith an I n t r o d u c t i o n by W. H. A uden," and I am u n
a b le to f in d any o t h e r e v id e n c e o f h i s e d i t i n g i n th e
16
text.1- ^
The b o o k -J a c k e t i s a ls o m is le a d in g when i t s a y s o f
th e book t h a t
. . . i t i s i n th e m ain a d e s c r i p t i o n o f l i f e i n
S a r a to g a , N ew port and o t h e r im p o r ta n t A m erican s o c i a l
and c u l t u r a l c e n t e r s o f th e 1870*8 and l 88o 's .
O nly th e t h r e e added e s s a y s w r i t t e n i n 1870 p ro v id e such
a v ie w . Jam es i s s p e c i f i c a l l y d e s c r ib in g th e A m erica o f
1904 and 1905* w ith o c c a s io n a l r e c o l l e c t i o n s o f fo rm er
d a y s . T here i s , o f c o u r s e , an o b v io u s co m m ercial a d v a n ta g e
i n h a v in g th e p o e t Auden, an E n g lis h e x p a t r i a t e , w r i t e an
- 1 f.
i n t r o d u c t i o n on an A m erican e x p a t r i a t e . H ow ever, i t i s
t h i s p a r t i c u l a r and e v e r - p e r v a s iv e a s p e c t o f t h e i r r e l a
t i o n s h i p w hich i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r th e s h o rtc o m in g s o f
A u d e n 's i n t r o d u c t i o n . Taken a s a w h o le, th e i n t r o d u c t i o n
I K 1 i
-"There a re two s t r i k i n g ex am p les i n A u d en 's i n t r o d u c - j
t i o n o f h i s c a r e l e s s n e s s to w a rd s q u o te d m a t e r i a l . On p age
i x x i i , Auden c i t e s a comment by C l i f t o n Fadim an on Ja m es' s
"The G re a t GoOd P la c e " : "The p la c e i s w hat o u r c i v i l i z a -
; t i o n c o u ld b e . . . . I t i s a h o t e l w ith o u t n o i s e , a c lu b
w ith o u t n e w sp a p e rs . You ev en h av e to pay f o r s e r v i c e ."
| T here i s no i n d i c a t i o n h e re t h a t th e m id d le s e n te n c e ( " I t
! i s . . . n e w sp a p e rs " ) i s a d i r e c t q u o ta tio n from J a m e s 's
! s t o r y . F a d im a n 's re m a rk s can b e fo u n d i n h i s n o te to
: J a m e s 's s t o r y i n The S h o rt S t o r i e s o f H enry Jam es (New
I Y o rk , 1 9 4 5)t P . 4 1 5 . At th e b o tto m o f pag e x x i i , Auden
| q u o te s from "The G re a t Good P la c e " le a v in g o u t s i x l i n e s
! o f p e r t i n e n t d ia lo g u e w ith o u t any i n d i c a t i o n o f th e
! o m is s io n .
! ■ 16 i
A u d e n 's t a l e n t s a r e p u t to a f a r b e t t e r a r t i s t i c
i a d v a n ta g e i r r h i s h ig h ly p e r c e p t i v e poem, "A t th e G rave o f
! H enry J a m e s ," r e p r i n t e d i n The Q u e stio n o f H enry Ja m e s.
! e d . F . W. Dupee (New Y o rk , 1 ^ 4 5 ), p . 246.
17
i s l e s s an " i n v i t a t i o n " to th e m a tte r s o f Jam es*s book
th a n i t i s sim p ly Auden ex p o u n d in g on some f a v o r i t e th e m e s.
W hat t h e r e i s o f a p r o p e r i n t r o d u c t i o n i s f i n e and
w e ll d o n e ; h o w ev er, i t form s l e s s th a n h a l f o f th e n in e te e n
|p a g e s o f A u d en 's " e s s a y ." The c o m p la in t i s t h a t h e d e p a r ts
|fro m th e s p e c i f i c s o f Jam es and h i s book to o so o n . What
fo llo w s i s a v e ry i n t e l l i g e n t and th o u g h t-p ro v o k in g e s s a y
;o f a d m itte d c o n c e rn to A m ericans and E u ro p e a n s. The b a s i s
*
o f A u d e n 's re m a rk s i s t h a t A m erican dem ocracy h a s s u f f e r e d
| i n i t s s a c r i f i c e o f a u t h o r i t y and v i r t u e b e f o r e th e r i n g in g
i
|dem ands o f l i b e r t y and e q u a l i t y . The r e s u l t h a s b e en a
d a n g e ro u s a m b iv a le n c e to w a rd m a t t e r s o f g r e a t im p o rta n c e .
I n t h a t A u d en 's p l e a dem ands a c o n c e rn f o r e s s e n t i a l
v a lu e s , i t i s c e r t a i n l y Ja m e sia n i n s p i r i t . The q u e s tio n
h e re i s n o t th e a p p r o p r ia te n e s s o f A u d e n 's w o rd s; w hat i s
b e in g q u e s tio n e d i s th e r e l a t i v e n e g le c t o f a p r i o r r e -
s p o n s i b i l i t y - - t h e a d e q u a te i n t r o d u c t i o n o f th e r e a d e r to
J a m e s 's b o o k . P r e s e n te d i n th e r i g h t p r o p o r tio n to a more
c o m p le te i n t r o d u c t i o n , s a y , te n p a g e s o u t o f a t o t a l o f
(
f o r t y , A u d e n 's "own" e s s a y w ould be ev en more e f f e c t i v e .
As i t i s , th e book i s more l i k e l y to be q u ic k ly p u t
down b e f o r e A u d e n 's re m a rk s can be p r o p e r ly a s s e s s e d . The
I p ro b le m , o f c o u r s e , l i e s i n th e u n e x p e c te d d i f f i c u l t y o f
j
th e s t y l e . F b r th e r e a d e r accu sto m ed to r o u t i n e t r a v e l
|e s s a y s , many many w ords o f e x p la n a tio n a s to J a m e s 's
p a r t i c u l a r p u rp o s e a re n e c e s s a r y — and p r o p e r ly due him .
Even m ore o f a p r o p r i e t a r y r i g h t i s due th e d e v o u t Ja m e sia n
who s ta n d s to b e n e f i t th e m ost from an in fo rm e d and r e l i
a b le i n t r o d u c t i o n . T h is b rin g s ^ u s to th e u n a v o id a b le
m a tte r o f r e l a t i v e im p o rta n c e . I n th e l i g h t o f o t h e r ,
b e t t e r known Jam es w o rk s, how im p o r ta n t i s The A m erican
S c e n e ? U l t im a te ly , o f c o u r s e , how v a lu a b le i s th e w ork
i n th e w id e s t and m o st l a s t i n g s e n s e ?
Im p o rta n c e and V alu e
To Ja m es, th e book was p r o b a b ly th e m ost im p o rta n t
p ie c e o f n o n - f i c t i o n h e was to d o . I n 1904, a f t e r l e s s
th a n two m onths "on th e sc e n e " i n A m erica, Jam es w ro te
o f th e p r o j e c t i n th e m o st g lo w in g te rm s to G eorge H arv ey ,
h i s p u b l i s h e r :
I am moved in w a rd ly to b e l i e v e t h a t I s h a l l b e a b le n o t
o n ly to w r i t e th e b e s t book ( o f s o c i a l and p i c t o r i a l
a n d , a s i t w e re , human o b s e r v a t i o n s ) e v e r d e v o te d to
t h i s c o u n tr y , b u t one o f th e b e s t — o r why d ra g i n "one
o f , " why n o t sa y f r a n k l y th e b e s t ? — e v e r d e v o te d to any
c o u n tr y a t a l l . (H a rv e y , p . 91)
By th e tim e Jam es w ro te th e P r e f a c e to th e f i n i s h e d book
n e a r ly a y e a r l a t e r , i n S ep tem b er 2 8 , 1906, h i s p r i d e i n
The A m erican S c e n e , d e s p l t e - - o r b e c a u s e o f —i t s d i f f i c u l
t i e s , h a d n o t d im in is h e d :
I w ould ta k e my s ta n d on my g a th e r e d im p r e s s io n s , s in c e
i t was a l l f o r them , f o r them o n ly , t h a t I r e t u r n e d ; I
w ould i n f a c t go to th e s ta k e f o r them — w hich i s a s ig n
o f th e v a lu e tl^ a t I b o th i n p a r t i c u l a r and i n g e n e r a l
a t t a c h to them and t h a t I h a v e e n d e a v o re d to p r e s e r v e
f o r them i n t h i s t r a n s c r i p t i o n , ( p p .x x v -x x v i)
The d e f ia n c e i n Ja m e s’ s c h a lle n g e ( " I w ould . . . go to
th e s t a k e ” ) h a s n o t b e e n ta k e n e m p h a tic a lly en o u g h —p e r
h a p s b e c a u s e o f h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c fo n d n e s s f o r m e ta p h o rs
I o f d i r e a c t i o n and a d v e n tu r e . I b e li e v e a lo n g w ith W rig h t
17
i M o rris t h a t Jam es h u r le d a s p e c i f i c c h a lle n g e i n t o th e
i
: fa c e o f o t h e r A m erican i n t e r p r e t e r s o f 1907 to s u r p a s s him
i f th e y c o u ld . F o r t h a t m a t t e r , i t was a c h a lle n g e to
: f u t u r e a n a l y s t s a s w e l l. In h i s own tim e , h o w ev er, v e ry
few a c c e p te d th e c h a lle n g e .
O th e rs , c lo s e to Ja m es, a p p e a re d to s h a re h i s f e e l i n g s
| to w a rd th e b o o k . A cco rd in g to H enry S e id e l C anby, " h is
i
nephew , H a rry Ja m es, so c lo s e to him i n h i s l a t e r y e a r s ,
th o u g h t i t was th e b e s t o f h i s b o o k s and m ig h t o u t l i v e
18
I h i s n o v e l s ." A lth o u g h W illia m h ad r e s e r v a t i o n s a b o u t
th e new s t y l e ( " i t s p e c u l i a r w a y "), he found th e book on
! th e w hole " su p re m e ly great. T h e p u b lic r e a c t i o n on
!
; b o th s i d e s o f th e c r a te r i n 1906 and 1907 c o n s i s t e d m o s tly
i 20
! o f th e c u sto m a ry p o l i t e and d i f f i d e n t re v ie w s . H. G.
D w ight, w r i t in g i n Putnam* s , gave Jam es a d e t a i l e d and
17"H enry Ja m e s’ s The A m erican S c e n e ," T exas Q u a r te r l y ,
I 1 : 3 2 , Summer-Autumn 19f>B. H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s M o rris .
^ T urn W est, T urn E a s t (C am b rid g e, 1951)* p . 280.
H e r e a f t e r c i t e d a s C anby.
19
^The L e t t e r s o f W illia m Ja m es, e d . H enry Jam es
(B o s to n , I 9 2 0 ) I I , 2 7 7 . H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s WJ L e t t e r s .
20
F o r a f u l l s u rv e y o f th e c o n te m p o ra ry A m erican
c r i t i c i s m s e e R ic h a rd F o le y , C r i ti c is m i n A m erican P e r i o d i
c a l s o f th e W orks o f H enry Jam es from l 8b6 - l 9 lb (W ash in g to n
1 9 4 4 ), p p . 1 1 5 -1 2 1 . H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s F o le y . I n th e
p r e s e n t s tu d y , th e m ain body o f c r i t i c i s m on The A m erican
S cene w i l l be g iv e n i n C h a p te rs IV , V, and V I.
20
a p p r e c i a ti v e nod o f a p p ro v a l: " n o th in g o f th e s o r t h a s b e e n
i
on
d o n e , w ith th e same d e g re e o f s y m p a th e tic p e n e t r a t i o n ."
I n m ore r e c e n t y e a r s , th e book h a s r e c e iv e d th e m ixed
p r a i s e o f b e in g c o n s id e re d im p o r ta n t th o u g h d i f f i c u l t .
|G e n e r a lly , i t h a s b e e n u n r e a d . I n 1916, W illia m Lyon
i
O O
P h e lp s r e f e r r e d to th e book a s J a m e s 's m a s te r p ie c e . I n
1930, M atthew Jo s e p h s o n d e s c r ib e d th e w ork a s f o llo w s :
The u n f l a t t e r i n g , d i f f i c u l t w ork, w hich h a s b e e n f o r
g o t t e n by a g e n e r a t i o n , b rim s w ith h i s a c c u m u la te d
im p r e s s io n s ; i t s a d m o n itio n s , i t s p r o p h e c ie s , a r e
so u n d . 23
i
; I n 1942, P . W. M a tth ie s s e n r e s p e c t f u l l y l a b e l l e d th e w ork,
ph.
"one o f th e c u r i o s i t i e s o f o u r l i t e r a t u r e . " I n 1958,
M orton Z a b e l c o n s id e r e d th e book to be "one o f th e t r a v e l
I c l a s s i c s o f m odern l i t e r a t u r e . " 2^ Leon E d e l, p ro b a b ly
| th e fo re m o s t Ja m e s ia n s c h o la r to d a y , h a s c a l l e d The A m eri-
I og
I c an Scene "one o f h i s g r e a t p ro s e w o rk s ."
f 21
"H enry J a m e s - 'in H is Own C o u n t r y ,'" P u tn am s' s ,
2 : 4 4 l , Ju n e 1907. T h is was p a r t two o f an a r t i c l e w hich
: b e g an i n th e May P u tn a m 's u n d e r th e same t i t l e , p p . 16 4 -
j 170. H e r e a f te r b o th a r t i c l e s a re c i t e d a s D w ight.
22
The Advance o f th e E n g lis h N ovel (New Y o rk , 1 9 1 6 ),
p . 174.
I ^ P o r t r a i t o f the_ A r t i s t a s A m erican (New Y o rk , 1 9 3 0 ) ,
p . 271" h e r e a f t e r c i t e d a s J o s e p h s o n .
24
H enry Jam es: The M ajor P hase (New Y o rk , 1 9 4 4 ), p .
| 107. h e r e a f t e r c i t e d a s f e e Ma.1or P h a s e .
| 2^ f Hie A rt o f T r a v e l (G arden C ity , 1 9 5 8 ), p . 4 3 0 .
i
H enry Ja m es, U n i v e r s i ty o f M in n e so ta P a m p h le ts on
i A m erican W r ite r s (M in n e a p o lis , i 9 6 0 ) , p . 3 6 . H e r e a f te r
c i t e d a s E d e l, HJ P a m p h le t.
21
More I m p o r ta n t, h o w ev er, th a n w ords o f p r a i s e and .,
r e s p e c t a lo n e , a r e th e many u s e f u l comm ents a b o u t th e s t y l e
and sco p e o f J a m e s 's b o o k . B e ca u se t h e s e c o n s i d e r a ti o n s
a re n e c e s s a r i l y in v o lv e d w ith J a m e s 's own i n t e n t i o n s , th e y
p ro v id e a som ewhat a c c u r a te g u id e to th e s u c c e s s f u l r e a d in g
o f th e b o o k . F i r s t o f a l l , th e r e a d e r m u st be p r e p a r e d to
f in d h im s e lf en gaged i n m a t t e r s f a r beyond th e l i m i t s o f a
c o n v e n tio n a l t r a v e l b o o k . A cco rd in g to Law rence L e ig h to n ,
w r i t in g i n 193^* Jam es " h a s c o m p le te ly fu s e d th e n o t w h o lly
d i v e r g e n t t a s k s o f th e a r t i s t and th e s o c i a l c r i t i c . " 2^
Auden s u g g e s te d t h a t th e book be a p p ro a c h e d a s
. . . a p ro s e poem o f th e f i r s t o r d e r . . . f o r i t i s
no m ore a g u id e book th a n th e 'O de to a N i g h tin g a le ' i s
an o r n i t h o l o g i c a l e s s a y , ( p . x )
Jam es b ro u g h t a l l o f h i s p e r c e p t i v e pow ers to b e a r on
h i s s u b j e c t , w ith th e r e s u l t t h a t , f o r th e r e a d e r , th e
re w a rd s a r e m a n ifo ld . I n v a ry in g d e g re e s th e book to u c h e s
on a l l o f th e f o llo w in g : s o c i a l h i s t o r y , e c o n o m ic s, r a c e
I
c o n s i d e r a t i o n s , r u r a l s t u d i e s , woman s u f f r a g e , a r c h i t e c
t u r a l n o t e s , and e v e n — a c c o rd in g to many c r i t i c s —p ro v o c a
t i v e and r e l i a b l e g la n c e s i n t o th e f u t u r e . Jam es f e l t
h im s e lf p e c u l i a r l y w e ll e q u ip p e d to do j u s t i c e to th e new i '
i
A m erican s c e n e . He w ro te i n th e P r e f a c e o f t h i s a d v a n ta g e :
27 ^
'"A rm or A g a in s t T im e," Hound and H o rn , Jam es Number,
A p r il- J u n e , 193^ j p . 3 7 ^ .
22
. . . I was to r e t u r n w ith much o f th e f r e s h n e s s o f e y e ,
o u tw a rd and In w a rd , w h ic h , w ith th e f u r t h e r c o n t r i b u t i o n
o f a s t a t e o f d e s i r e , I s commonly h e ld a p r e c io u s a g e n t
o f p e r c e p t i o n . I f e l t no d o u b t, I c o n f e s s , o f my g re& t
a d v a n ta g e on t h a t s c o r e ; s in c e I f I h a d h ad tim e to b e
come a lm o s t a s " f r e s h " a s an I n q u i r in g s t r a n g e r , I h ad
n o t on th e o t h e r h an d h ad enough to c e a s e to b e , o r a t
l e a s t to f e e l , a s a c u te a s an I n i t i a t e d n a t i v e . I made
no s c r u p le o f my c o n v ic tio n t h a t I s h o u ld u n d e rs ta n d and
s h o u ld c a r e b e t t e r and m ore th a n th e m o st e a r n e s t o f
v i s i t o r s , and y e t t h a t I s h o u ld v i b r a t e w ith m ore c u r i
o s i t y —on th e e x te n t o f g ro u n d , t h a t I s , on w hich I
m ig h t a s p i r e to I n tim a te I n t e l l i g e n c e a t a l l — th a n th e
p i l g r l i t w ith th e lo n g e s t l i s t o f q u e s t io n s , th e s h a r p e s t
a p p e t i t e f o r e x p la n a tio n s and th e l a r g e s t e x p o su re to
m is ta k e s , ( p . v)
Jam es s e t s p e c i f i c l i m i t a t i o n s on w hat he f e l t a b le to
h a n d le . O th e rs c o u ld rummage among th e m u l t i - r e p o r t s and
s t a t i s t i c s o f A m erican l i f e . To Ja m es, th e c lu e to A m erica
la y i n f a r d i f f e r e n t m a t t e r s :
T h ere a r e f e a t u r e s o f th e human s c e n e , t h e r e a r e
p r o p e r t i e s o f th e s o c i a l a i r , t h a t th e n e w sp a p e rs , r e
p o r t s , s u rv e y s and b lu e -b o o k s w ould seem to c o n fe s s
th e m s e lv e s p o w e rle s s to " h a n d le ," and t h a t y e t r e p r e
s e n te d to me a g r e a t e r a r r a y o f ite m s , a h e a v i e r e x p r e s
s io n o f c h a r a c t e r , th a n my own p a i r o f s c a l e s w ould e v e r
w e ig h , k eep them a s c l e a r f o r i t a s I m ig h t, ( p . v i )
Hie p ro b le m , th e n , f o r th e r e a d e r , i s to b e a b le to
se e a s Jam es s e e s . A cco rd in g to M a tth ie s s e n , Jam es le a v e s
th e r e a d e r c o m p le te ly on h i s own, s in c e Jam es c an o n ly com
m ent on w hat h e s e e s h i m s e l f . As i n h i s f i c t i o n s , Jam es
s e t s h i s sc e n e and th e n s t e p s b a c k ; "an d we h av e to p ie c e
t o g e t h e r f o r o u r s e lv e s th e m eaning o f s c e n e s b o th i n and
o u t o f h i s t o r i c a l fo c u s " (p . 1 0 7 ). A ll t h i s , o f c o u rs e ,
i s made more d i f f i c u l t , a c c o rd in g to J o s e p h s o n , by Ja m es’ s
p e n c h a n t f o r " i l l - o r g a n i z e d r u m in a tio n s and m e ta p h o rs"
(p . 2 7 3 ) . W h atev er th e d i f f i c u l t i e s o f Ja m e s’ s s t y l e —
and th e y becom e l e s s on r e - r e a d i n g — th e r e a d e r ’ s p r o f i t f a r
: s u r p a s s e s h i s e f f o r t . He m ust f i r s t , h o w ev er, be c o n v in c e d
i n a s u i t a b l e i n t r o d u c t i o n , w h ic h , i n e f f e c t , t h i s stu d y
I form s th e b a s i s f o r , t h a t th e e f f o r t i s w o rth u n d e r ta k in g .
T here i s one p a r t i c u l a r m a t t e r t h a t s h o u ld be c l a r i f i e d
i n su c h an i n t r o d u c t i o n . T h is i s th e m a tte r o f g e n re — n o t
: so much w h at g e n re a s a d i s c u s s i o n o f th e p o s s i b l e g e n re s
th e w ork c a n b e a lig n e d w ith . W here n e c e s s a r y , s u f f i c i e n t
; in f o r m a tio n s h o u ld b e p ro v id e d to e v a lu a te su ch v iew s a s
j
! th e f o llo w in g o f Canby w hich g r e a t l y d im in is h e s th e im p o r
ta n c e o f th e w o rk . Canby d o e s n o t a c o e p t The A m erican
i S cene a s an a r t i s t i c w hole ( p . 2 8 0 ). I f i t c a n b e p ro v e d , ;
; a s Canby b e l i e v e s , t h a t J a m e s 's book i s p r i m a r i l y u n -
! I
f i n i s h e d d r a f t n o te s f o r f u t u r e A m erican f i c t i o n s , th e n
; a g a in o u r p o i n t o f a p p ro a c h m u st n e c e s s a r i l y s h i f t . The
i ‘
w ork c o u ld n o t th e n b e ta k e n a s an o r g a n ic u n i t , w ith in
i
i t s e l f a r t i s t i c a l l y c o m p le te . The w ork, i n s t e a d , w ould
I f a l l i n t o th e l e s s e r , a lth o u g h im p o r ta n t c a te g o r y o f n o t e - ;
! i
! book and j o u r n a l m a t e r i a l . Our a p p r a i s a l s o f J a m e s 's
| " c o n c lu s iv e " re m a rk s on A m erica w ould p ro b a b ly become a s !
| t e n t a t i v e , c r i t i c a l l y , a s th e m a t e r i a l i t s e l f .
i 1
I t i s n o t d i f f i c u l t to s e e how Canby came t o h i s
1
| v ie w . F b r one t h i n g , I b e l i e v e he to o k Lubbock to o l i t -
i e r a l l y i n th e l a t t e r ' s a c c o u n t o f how Jam es "ab andoned"
24
th e w ork: "He l e f t The A m erican Scene a f r a g m e n t," Lubbock
s a i d (L e t t e r s I I , 4 ) , I-t I s u n l i k e l y t h a t Lubbock was
Im p ly in g a n y th in g m ore I n th e te rm " fra g m e n t" th a n an I n
d i c a t i o n o f th e d e g re e o f r e l u c ta n c e and f r u s t r a t i o n w ith
w hich Jam es f i n a l l y tu r n e d h i s f u l l a t t e n t i o n away from th e
w ork ( s e e a b o v e , p . 1 0 ). A cco rd in g to C anby, The A m erican
S cene i s p r o p e r ly a fra g m e n t b e c a u se Ja m e s’ s i n t e n t i o n s
w ith h i s m a t e r i a l w ere fu n d a m e n ta lly t e n t a t i v e and p r e
l im in a r y :
The A m erican S cene was a p r e lim in a r y n o t a f i n a l w ork—
and u n f i n is h e d a t t h a t — a m a g n if ic e n t c o l l e c t i o n o f
n o t e s d e s c r i p t i v e , n o te s a n a l y t i c a l , i n p r e p a r a t i o n ( a s
he im p lie s h im s e lf ) f o r an A m erican n o v e l o r n o v e ls . . . .
H is f i n a l p u rp o se was a w ork o f a r t o r w orks o f a r t
f o r w hich t h i s book o f A m erican i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s and i n
v e s t i g a t i o n s was n o t th e r e a l s u b j e c t , b u t th e fo u n d a
t i o n s upon w hich h e c o u ld t r e a d a s f ir m ly a s upon
E n g lis h g ro u n d , ( p . 280)
T h ere i s a s u f f i c i e n t b a s i s o f t r u t h i n C a n b y 's r e
m arks to r e q u i r e th e m ore am ple a re n a o f a c o m p reh en siv e
i n t r o d u c t i o n . W e a r e b e t t e r a b le to a g re e o r d is a g r e e
w ith Canby a f t e r we h a v e a d e q u a te ly c o n s id e r e d th e f u l l
n a tu r e and sc o p e o f The A m erican S c e n e . C e r ta in l y th e r e
a re im p o r ta n t r e l a t i o n s b e tw ee n t h i s w ork and J a m e s 's
l a s t f i c t i o n s . B ut w hat and how i s a m a tte r t h a t can n o t
be t r e a t e d i n a few p a r a g r a p h s . The c irc u m s ta n c e s s u r
ro u n d in g th e i n c e p ti o n and p r o d u c tio n o f t h i s book a re a s
i n t e r e s t i n g l y com plex a s Jam es h im s e lf .
Q u e s tio n s o f J a m e s 's i n t e n t i o n s , b e f o r e and a f t e r h i s
t r i p ; q u e s t io n s o f J a m e s 's s t y l e f o r t h i s p a r t i c u l a r w ork;
25
q u e s tio n s o f .J a m e s ’ s a c c e p ta n c e o r r e j e c t i o n i n A m erica—
th e s e and many many m ore q u e s tio n s m ust be s y s te m a t i c a ll y
s e t o u t and a d e q u a te ly t r e a te d '. The q u e s tio n o f g e n re ,
f o r ex am p le , w ith w hich we b e g a n , becom es p r i m a r il y a
m a t t e r o f s u g g e s tiv e d i s c u s s i o n and n o t an e x e r c i s e i n
p r e c i s e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . I t i s n o t so v e ry im p o r ta n t h e re
t h a t we be a b le to c l a s s i f y The A m erican Scene a s e x c lu
s i v e l y d r a f t n o t e s , t r a v e l e s s a y s , l i t e r a r y c r i t i c i s m , o r
s o c i o l o g i c a l s t u d i e s , s in c e so much o f Ja m e s’ s im p o r ta n t
n o n - f i c t i o n (an d much o f h i s m a jo r f i c t i o n ) en co m p asses
a l l o f th e s e m a t t e r s and a g r e a t d e a l m o re. W hat i s im
p o r t a n t i s t h a t we u n d e rs ta n d how a l l th e s e g e n re s i n t e r
r e l a t e i n The A m erican S c e n e . I t m ig h t a p p e a r from th e s e
p r e lim in a r y re m a rk s t h a t I h av e a lr e a d y p la c e d Ja m e s’ s
book i n t o an e x c lu s iv e n ic h e o f i t s own, beyond and above
s ta n d a r d m e a su re s o f c r i t i c i s m . P e rh a p s i t w ould be a p
p r o p r i a t e a t t h i s tim e to s e t o u t th e s p e c i f i c l i m i t a t i o n s
and sco p e o f t h i s s tu d y o f The A m erican S c e n e .
The P r e s e n t Need
I n th e p la n n in g f o r t h i s s tu d y , I hav e h ad two bo o k s
c o n t i n u a l l y i n my m ind. They a re Jam es W ork’ s e d i t i o n o f
T r is tr a m Shandy and C h a rle s H a r r o ld ’ s e d i t i o n o f S a r t o r
28
R e s a r t u s . I n common w ith The A m erican S c e n e , th e s e
^®New Y o rk , 19^0; New Y o rk , 1937.
26
m a s te r w orks o f S te r n e and C a r ly le r e q u i r e a c o m p le te ,
i
c r i t i c a l and a n n o ta te d p r e s e n t a t i o n I n o r d e r to b e b e t t e r
u n d e rs to o d . A ll t h r e e o f th e s e b o o k s a r e com plex i n
ila n g u a g e , i n c o n t i n u i t y o f s u b j e c t m a t t e r s , i n t h e i r u n
s y s te m a tic p h ilo s o p h iz in g o f " t h in g s i n g e n e r a l ." They
t
[have b e e n d e l i b e r a t e l y c o n c e iv e d w ith th e l o o s e s t o f
|f o r m a ts , w ith th e a r r o g a n t (th o u g h v a l i d , to my t h in k in g )
j
a ssu m p tio n t h a t th e r e a d e r w i l l f i n d h i s w ay. I n t h i s
s e n s e , th e y a re c e r t a i n l y n o t p o p u la r b o o k s. H ow ever, I
• b e lie v e th e y a re a l l g r e a t w orks o f g e n iu s , a l l v i t a l l y
!Im p o rta n t f o r o u r tim e — 196.2— and e ac h w ith i t s own
'p a r t i c u l a r wisdom and i n e x p l i c a b l e charm . B ecau se o f
t h e s e m y s te r ie s th e i n t e r e s t e d r e a d e r h a s b e n e f i t e d by th e
ih e lp t h a t th e Work and H a rro ld e d i t i o n s h av e a lr e a d y
1
p r o v id e d .
I n h a n d lin g The A m erican S c e n e , I hav e ta k e n my cue
from S t e r n e 's f r a n k adm onishm ent to h i s b e w ild e re d r e a d e r :
I h av e u n d e rta k e n , you s e e , to w r i t e n o t o n ly my l i f e ,
b u t my o p in io n s a l s o ; h o p in g and e x p e c tin g t h a t y o u r
know ledge o f my c h a r a c t e r , and o f w hat k in d o f m o r ta l
! I am, b y th e o n e , w ould g iv e you a b e t t e r r e l i s h o f
th e o t h e r : As you p ro c e e d f u r t h e r w ith me, th e s l i g h t
a c q u a in ta n c e w hich i s now b e g in n in g b e tw ix t u s , w i l l
I grow i n t o f a m i l i a r i t y ; and t h a t , u n l e s s one o f u s i s i n
f a u l t , w i l l te r m in a te i n f r i e n d s h i p . 0 diem p ra e c la ru m
[0 s p le n d id d a y ] — th e n n o th in g w hich h a s to u c h e d me
w i l l be th o u g h t t r i f l i n g i n i t s n a t u r e , o r te d io u s i n
i t s t e l l i n g , (p p . 1 0 -1 1 )
i
|T h e re a r e many p o i n t s i n t h i s p a s s a g e w hich c a n be i n t e r
e s t i n g l y com pared w ith Jam es. L e t u s ta k e one h e r e . The
27
| r e a d e r d o e s n 't "grow I n t o f a m i l i a r i t y " w ith Jam es a s e a s i l y
| a s w ith th e j o c u l a r and l i g h t - h e a r t e d , th o u g h e q u a lly
m y s tif y in g , S te r n e . T h ere a r e no p e r i o d i c re m in d e rs , a s i n
! S t e r n e , to th e r e a d e r to " b e a r w ith m e ,— l e t me go o n , and
i
! t e l l my s t o r y my own way" (p . 1 1 ) . Jam es i s n e v e r t h i s
I • . !
| s o r t o f f r i e n d to th e r e a d e r . The f a m i l i a r e ig h t e e n t h and
! n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu r y s t y l e o f le a d in g th e r e a d e r a lo n g by
; th e h a n d , w h e th e r f o r m a lly a s w ith T h ac k era y o r D ic k en s .
o r " w ild ly " a s w ith S te r n e , i s c e r t a i n l y n o t e x p e c te d
; h e r e . W ith Ja m es, i t i s th e r e a d e r who m ust e x te n d h im s e lf
and f i n d Jam es, an d —w hat to Jam es m a tte r e d m o st— to u l t i
m a te ly f i n d h im s e lf i n th e J a m e s ia n w o rld o f t h e s i s and
i a n t i t h e s i s , s p e c u l a ti o n and d o u b t, a n d , so m e tim es, a f -
| f i r m a ti o n .
I n many w ays, The A m erican Scene i s The L if e and '
29 !
I O p in io n s o f H enry Ja m e s. ^ H ow ever, one fu n d a m e n ta l d i f -
i I
! f e r e n c e s ta n d s o u t . S t e r n e 's w ork i s b a s i c a l l y an " e n t e r
ta in m e n t," w ild and s tr a n g e th o u g h i t may b e . S te rn e
! n e v e r in te n d e d to lo s e h i s a u d ie n c e f o r th e sa k e o f h i s
! I
I own a r t i s t i c i n t e g r i t y , o r h i s e s s e n t i a l i n d iv id u a lis m .
He in te n d e d to c a p i t a l i z e on h im s e lf a s t h a t " Y o rk s h ire !
f o o l , " and f o r t h a t r e a s o n be c o n t i n u a l l y p u l l s th e r e a d e r j
b a c k to him and m a in ta in s some k in d o f fo rm a l c o n tr o l o v e r j
29
^ A cco rd in g to IXipee, th e New Y ork E d it i o n P r e f a c e s
and The A m erican Scene a re a l i k e i n t h a t th e y b o th form
" a k in d o f l a s t te s ta m e n t on a m a tte r o f th e g r e a t e s t
im p o rta n c e to Jam es" ( p . 2 4 2 ).
28 ;
[ h is b u lk y m a t e r i a l . W itn e ss su ch re m a rk s to th e r e a d e r
ja s th e f o llo w in g : "an d a s we Jogg [ s i c ] o n , e i t h e r la u g h
|w ith me, o r a t me, o r i n s h o r t , do a n y th i n g ,—o n ly keep
i
|y o u r tem p er" ( p . 1 1 ). What he i s s a y in g i n e f f e c t i s
[la u g h w ith o r a g a i n s t me, b u t r e a d on and be e n t e r t a i n e d .
i
i
:Jam es n e v e r a s k s , a s S te r n e d o e s , t h a t th e e c c e n t r i c i t y
I o f th e w r i t e r b e th e m ain s o u rc e o f i n t e r e s t . Jam es was
I f a r to o d e ta c h e d e v e r to a llo w w hat was to him a s e v e re
t r a n s g r e s s i o n on th e e s t h e t i c c h a lle n g e o f w r i t i n g . Jam es
I
| i s n e v e r on d i s p l a y a s a " p e r s o n a l i t y ." The Ja m e s ia n
I
|m eth o d fo c u s e s on th e s u b s ta n c e o f th e w ork i t s e l f . S k i l l - !
i
j f u l l y , he e x p o s e s i t s many f a c e t s f o r u s to exam ine w ith
him ; t h i s a lo n e i s th e e s s e n t i a l " d i s p l a y ." O nly i m p l i c i t ] #
[i s Jam es e v e r th e s u b j e c t o f h i s own l i t e r a t u r e . Even i n
[The A m erican S c e n e , s p e c i f i c p o i n t s o f v iew a re m a i n ta in e d .'
, . ,
lJam es u s e s o t h e r i d e n t i t i e s — " th e r e s t l e s s a n a l y s t " o r
; " th e r e s t o r e d a b s e n te e " — f o r p a r t i c u l a r and n e v e r a r b i t r a r y !
i I
'p u r p o s e s . W ith w h a te v e r m eans n e c e s s a r y , Jam es k e e p s th e
b a s i s o f th e book A m erica.
N e a rly e v e ry im p o r ta n t b i o g r a p h i c a l and c r i t i c a l I
s tu d y o f Jam es fo c u s e s u l t i m a t e l y on h i s r e l a t i o n to i
A m erica. However a r t f u l l y d o n e , any " L if e and O p in io n s"
|
o f th e r e s t l e s s a n a l y s t i s , to a c e r t a i n e x t e n t , a s much I
Jam es a s T r is tr a m Shandy i s more c a n d id ly S te r n e . I n t h i s
I ;
j s e n s e , The A m erican Scene h a s a p la c e o f u n d e n ia b le im
p o r ta n c e , p r o v id in g a s i t d o e s , a s to re h o u s e o f c lu e s and
29
t a n g i b l e e v id e n c e to th e Ja m e s ia n p ro b le m . T h ere i s , how
e v e r , no su ch g e n e r a l a g re e m e n t a s to th e w o rth o f J a m e s 's
o p in io n s on A m erican l i f e a t th e t u r n o f th e c e n tu r y .
The q u e s tio n we a sk e d b e f o r e : "How im p o r ta n t i s i t to
know The A m erican S c e n e ?" d e p en d s u l t i m a t e l y on a n o th e r
q u e s t io n : How im p o r ta n t, i f a t a l l , a r e th e i d e a s and c o n
v i c t i o n s o f H enry Jam es? F u n d a m e n ta lly , th e q u e s t io n r e
v o lv e s a ro u n d th e k in d o f w r i t e r you ta k e H enry Jam es to
b e . I f you a r e i n a g re em e n t w ith C anby, you w i l l a c c e p t
Jam es w a r ily a s " b r i l l i a n t and p e r c e p t i v e ," b u t , n e v e r th e
l e s s , h o ld g r e a t d o u b ts a b o u t h i s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a b i l i t y
to make any r e l i a b l e Judgm ent o f A m erica ( p . 2 8 5 ) . T here
a r e many who o p e n ly s u s p e c t th e k in d o f i n t e l l e c t u a l
"m o tio n " Jam es r e p r e s e n t s . T h ere i s a lo n g t r a d i t i o n o f
b e l i e f t h a t Jam es i s p r i m a r i l y a d i l e t t a n t e i n a r t , e x
p o se d to b u t n o t s e r i o u s l y in v o lv e d w ith th e r e a l i t i e s o f
l i f e . Canby was c o n v in c e d o f J a m e s 's l i m i t a t i o n s i n The
A m erican S c e n e :
J a m e s 's book i s a s tu d y o f h i s own r e a c t i o n s , o n ly i n
a l i m i t e d s e n s e i s i t e v en a u s e f u l a c c o u n t o f A m erica
i n th e e a r l y n in e te e n - h u n d r e d s . H ere a re h i s f a v o r i t e
i d e a s g iv e n th e s p ic e o f a new s e t t i n g , b u t we l e a r n
much more o f H enry th a n o f th e c o u n tr y i n w hich he s a y s
t h a t th e E a s te r n r e g io n was d u l l b u t th e p e o p le s i g n i f i
c a n t , w h e rea s C a l i f o r n i a was s tu n n in g b u t th e p e o p le
t e r r i b l e ! ( p . 2 8 l)
A cco rd in g to C anby, th e c o m p le x itie s o f th e new
A m erica w ere f a r beyond J a m e s 's know ledge o r pow er to
r e p r e s e n t :
30 :
T h ere was to o l i t t l e t h a t h e u n d e rs to o d f o r r e a l
f i c t i o n . . . . And i t was to o l a t e to u n d e rs ta n d i t
ev en i n th e J a m e s ia n w ay. I t was to o b ig i n i t s
f a u l t s a s w e ll a s i t s v i r t u e s . I t w ould hav e r e
q u ir e d an e f f o r t n o t so much o f o b s e r v a tio n a s o f
c r e a t i o n o f new A m erican c h a r a c t e r ty p e s f o r w hich he
had n o t th e e n e rg y e v e n i f , w hich i s d o u b t f u l, h e h ad
i th e p o w er, ( p . 285)
I
j T here i s mudh to b e s a i d , c i t i n g from The A m erican S c e n e ,
!a b o u t th e " l i t t l e he u n d e r s to o d ." U n le s s i t c a n b e dem on-
i
|s t r a t e d w ith c o n v ic tio n t h a t J a m e s 's " i n t e l l e c t u a l i s m " i s
more a f a c t th a n a m y th , The A m erican S cene becom es o n ly
!a n o th e r exam ple o f J a m e s 's s t y l i s t i c m a s te r y . The p ro b lem
j f o r p r o s p e c tiv e Jam es r e a d e r s i s how to be c o n v in c e d , a s
|h i s c r i t i c s w ere n o t , t h a t Jam es knew a l l o f l i f e to a
g r e a t e r e x t e n t th a n so many o t h e r s u r f a c e o b s e r v e r s o f th e
! ’ |
A m erican sc e n e and th e w o rld a t l a r g e .
T h ere i s an im p o r ta n t n eed h e r e ( a s e ls e w h e re ) to j
| • i
: c o r r e c t —o r a t b e s t , d is c u s s a d e q u a te ly — th e p o p u la r b e - j
i l i e f m is le a d in g ly ta k e n from T. S . E l i o t 's rem a rk t h a t
Jam es "h ad a m ind so f i n e t h a t no id e a c o u ld v i o l a t e i t . " ^
; Taken b y i t s e l f , o u t o f c o n te x t, t h i s re m a rk h a s lo n g b e e n !
i • '
j p r o o f enough to many o f h i s c r i t i c s t h a t Jam es was more a t j
; i
|home i n a r t th a n i n l i f e . I n t r u t h , a s th e p r e v io u s fo u r
j • !
j l i n e s o f E l i o t 's re m a rk i n d i c a t e , E l i o t i s a c t u a l l y p a y in g !
j ;
I Jam es th e h i g h e s t co m p lim en ts i
j- • ' ;
i :
3 ° " H e n r y J a m e s ," The L i t t l e R eview , 5:^5* A ugust 1918.
R e p r in te d i n The Q u e s tio n o f H enry Ja m e s, p . 1 1 0 . H e re
a f t e r c i t e d a s E l i o t .
31
J a m e s 's c r i t i c a l g e n iu s com es o u t m o st t e l l i n g l y i n
h i s m a s te ry o v e r , h i s b a f f l i n g e s c a p e fro m , I d e a s ; a
m a s te ry and an e s c a p e w hich a r e p e rh a p s th e l a s t t e s t
o f a s u p e r i o r i n t e l l i g e n c e , ( p . 14)
O b v io u sly , E l i o t 's p r o v o c a tiv e re m a rk s , a s w e ll a s many
o t h e r s b y n o ta b le c r i t i c s on th e s u b j e c t o f J a m e s 's i n t e l
l e c t , d e s e rv e a d e q u a te c o n s i d e r a ti o n l a t e r i n t h i s s tu d y
( s e e b e lo w , p . 1 9 2 ). We c a n n o t e l a b o r a t e on th e s u f f i x
c ie n c y —o r e v en th e a p p r o p r i a te n e s s — o f J a m e s 's p e r c e p t i o n s
u n t i l we a re s i n c e r e l y c o n v in c e d o f th e so u n d n e ss o f
J a m e s 's i n t e l l e c t u a l i n s tr u m e n t.
T here i s a ls o a p r i o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n r e g a r d to
Jam es, w hich i s e q u a l ly t r u e o f many o t h e r " g i a n t s " o f th e
p a s t c e n tu r y . To m any, i t i s a lm o s t a m a tte r o f co n te m p o r
a ry " p r e ju d ic e " t h a t a lth o u g h we a re f a s c i n a t e d we a r e n o t
c o n v in c e d b y th e e x tre m e c o n fid e n c e o f Jam es and o t h e r s
who o b s e rv e d so " a l m i g h ti l y " th e w o rld a b o u t them . To
b e l i e v e , a s Jam es and o t h e r s o f h i s g e n e r a tio n d i d , t h a t
th e y w ere th e f a v o r e d , th e lu c k y (an d r e s p o n s i b l e ) o n e s ,
who m ust se e s t e a d i l y and se e a l l o f l i f e i n i t s p a r t s and
w h o le , i s a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f th e n i n e t e e n t h - c e n tu r y
tem peram ent w hich i s d i f f i c u l t to com prehend to d a y . I t i s
p r o b a b ly th e i m p l i c a t i o n o f an " e l e c t " s u p e r i o r i t y w hich
b o th e r s so m any, p a r t i c u l a r l y i n o u r d e m o c ra tic A m erica.
W e w onder, n e v e r t h e l e s s , and som etim es m a rv e l a t t h e i r
g r e a t t r u s t i n th e m s e lv e s , t h e i r suprem e c o n fid e n c e i n
32
t h e i r own p e r c e p t i o n s , so o f t e n i n s t i n c t i v e l y and a lm o st
m y s t i c a l l y " r i g h t . " Of c o u r s e , to d a y , much o f t h i s i s
d is m is s e d —o r " a c c e p te d " —u n d e r th e vague t i t l e o f
R o m a n tic .
I n sum m ary, we d e fe n d th e n eed f o r a c o m p lete i n t r o
d u c tio n — f o r w hich t h i s s tu d y i s p r e p a r a t o r y — a s f o llo w s :
The A m erican Scene i s a c e n t r a l book i n th e Ja m e sia n canon
b e c a u s e o f i t s v i t a l r e l a t i o n to h i s A m ericanism ; The
A m erican Scene i s c e n t r a l to any a d e q u a te c o n te m p o ra ry
e v a l u a t i o n o f A m erican l i f e ; and s p e c i f i c a l l y , th e r e a re
d i f f i c u l t i e s i n o b s e r v a tio n and s t y l e i n th e book t h a t
r e q u i r e a lm o s t a n n o ta te d a s s i s t a n c e . I n r e g a r d to th e
l a t t e r , I s a y " a lm o s t" b e c a u se I am o b v io u s ly u n a b le h e re
to p r o v id e su ch a n n o ta tio n f o r th e c o m p le te b o o k . H ow ever, |
th e a n n o ta tio n i s s t r e s s e d to i n d i c a t e th e d e g re e o f
i
c o m p le x ity i n h e r e n t i n th e book w hich h a s w orked a g a i n s t
i t s p o p u l a r i t y . I t was t h i s re s e m b la n c e to T r is tr a m Shandy!
and S a r t o r R e s a r tu s w hich p ro v id e d th e b a s i s o f my e a r l i e r !
re m a rk s . T here may, a t f i r s t , seem to be a g r e a t d i s p a r i t y ;
b e tw e e n th e n e e d s o f t h e s e e a r l i e r b o o k s and The A m erican ;
S c e n e . I f th e e i g h t e e n t h - c e n tu r y a l l u s i o n s o f S te r n e and
th e n i n e t e e n t h - c e n tu r y (an d e a r l i e r ) "w a n d e rin g s" o f
i
C a r ly le seem p r o p e r l y re m o te and i n n e ed o f a n n o ta tio n
com pared to th e f a i r l y r e c e n t w o rld o f Jam es, i t m ust be
33
k e p t i n m ind t h a t th e a s s o c i a t i v e p ow ers o f Jam es w ere o f
an am azing a u to b io g r a p h ic a l and p s y c h o lo g ic a l d e p th . As
i n h i s f i c t i o n , th e w o rld o f Jam es i s p r i m a r i l y a w o rld
w i t h in .
F o r a new e d i t i o n o f The A m erican S c e n e , th e c r i t i c a l
a n n o ta tio n s h o u ld p r o v id e a r e a s o n a b le am ount o f b io g r a p h
i c a l and e x p l i c a t i v e comment— enough n o t o n ly to en h an ce
th e book to J a m e s ia n s , b u t e s p e c i a l l y to p r o v id e a welcom e
e n tr e e to "n ew co m ers." I w ould a g re e w ith D w ight and
o t h e r s t h a t The A m erican S cene i s u n re a d b e c a u se we la c k
th e a b i l i t y — and ev en th e sim p le g e o g ra p h ic a l k n o w led g e—
to " s e e " f u l l y enough w hat Jam es saw i n A m erica. I n th e
f o llo w in g 1907 p ro p h e c y o f D w ig h t's , we s e e th e p r a c t i c a l
n e ed f o r a n n o ta te d a s s i s t a n c e i n r e a d in g Jam es— a n e ed
w hich i n fo rm e r d a y s o f Ja m e s ia n d i s i n t e r e s t ( o r w o rse ,
" c u ltls m " ) w ould h av e b e e n p re su m p tu o u s:
. . . Mr. J a m e s 's e x p e r ie n c e h a s b e e n f e d from so many
s o u r c e s a s y e t c lo s e d to u s t h a t we c an h a r d l y be e x
p e c te d to se e w ith h i s e y e s . O nly a l a t e r g e n e r a t i o n , j
r i c h i n a th o u s a n d th in g s w hich we to - d a y m ust go w ith
o u t and a b le to lo o k b a c k upon o u r tim e a s we lo o k b a c k
u pon th e d a rk a g e s o f th e e a r l y n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu r y ,
w i l l be i n a p o s i t i o n to ju d g e o f h i s a t t i t u d e , ( p . 4 4 l ) |
CHAPTER I I
THE 1904-1905 TRIP TO AMERICAS FAMILIAR GROUND
P r e p a r a tio n
We h av e am ple p r o o f i n Jam es*s f i c t i o n and n o n - f i c t i o n
t h a t A m erica re m a in e d much on h i s m ind a f t e r h i s p erm a n en t
e s ta b lis h m e n t i n E urope i n 1875. W e a r e a ls o a w a re , ev en
i n th e e a r l i e s t o f th e s e " a b s e n te e " y e a r s , t h a t Jam es was
c o n c e rn e d w ith th e a r t i s t i c n e c e s s i t y o f p e r i o d i c r e v i s i t s
and r e - e v a l u a t i o n s o f A m erica. " I know w hat I am a b o u t,"
he w ro te h i s b r o t h e r W illia m o n May 1 , 1878, "an d I h av e
a lw ay s my e y e s on my n a t i v e la n d " ( L e t t e r s I , 6 0 ) . I n th e
same l e t t e r he r e s i s t e d th e s u g g e s tio n t h a t he r e t u r n and
" p r o f i t " by h i s g row ing A m erican r e p u t a t i o n . He p r e f e r r e d ,^
i n s t e a d , to re m a in i n L ondon, g e t " a f o o tin g " t h e r e , and
i n " a c o u p le o f y e a r s h e n ce . . . go home f o r a y e a r . . .
and se e e v e r y th in g o f th e c o u n try I c a n , in c lu d in g
r
W a sh in g to n ."
The m anner o f o b s e r v a tio n t h a t was p e c u l i a r l y James* s-*-
th e s te e p in g o f o n e s e l f i n c o n ti n u a l im p r e s s io n s — dem anded I
a c a r e f u l and d e l i b e r a t e p ro g ram o f " s e e in g " th e c o u n tr y .
A ll th e w onders o f London w ere t h e r e b e f o r e him , w h e rea s
A m erica, s t i l l f r e s h i n h i s memory, c o u ld w a i t. " I ta k e
p o s s e s s io n o f th e o ld w o r ld ," h e h ad w r i t t e n h i s fa m ily i n
34
35
jl8 7 5 » tw e n ty - f o u r h o u rs a f t e r la n d in g a t L iv e r p o o l; " I
1 1
i n h a l e i t — I a p p r o p r ia te i t I " Even b y 1878, he was s t i l l i
u n d e rg o in g th e "L o n d o n iz in g p r o c e s s , ” s t i l l "a n o u t s i d e r
2
h e r e . ” TSiere was much f o r Jam es to do i n L ondon.
j
| I n November o f 1881, Jam es made h i s f i r s t r e - a p p r a i s a l :
| o f A m erica. I n th e s i x y e a r s t h a t h ad p a s s e d , much h ad
: h appened to th e l i t e r a r y f o r t u n e s o f Jam es to g iv e him th e
j s t a t u s o f a r e t u r n i n g l i t e r a r y c e l e b r i t y . He was a t t h i s
; tim e th e c l o s e s t to a p o s i t i o n o f p o p u l a r i t y ( o r a t l e a s t
| g e n e r a l d is c u s s io n ) t h a t he was e v e r to know. "D a isy
! M ille r " h ad made him an i n t e r n a t i o n a l f i g u r e i n 1 8 7 8 ,^ and
i ■ :
! th e H aw thorne e s s a y i n 1879 b ro u g h t much d i s c u s s i o n , m o s tly
I u n f a v o r a b le on th e q u e s tio n o f A m erica and E u ro p e . He h a d ,
! by t h i s tim e , p u b lis h e d R o d e ric k Hudson (l8 7 5 )> The A m eri- |
j c an (1 8 7 7), W atch and Ward ( 1 8 7 8 ) , The E u ro p ea n s ( 1 8 7 8 ) !
I and W ash in g to n S q u are (1 8 8 0 ); a s w e ll a s many s h o r t s t o r i e s ,
i '
i '
•^ The S e le c te d L e t t e r s o f H enry Jam es, e d . Leon E d e l i
(New Y o rk , 1955)» p . 4 b . H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s S e le c te d 1
L e t t e r s .
2To W illia m , May 1 , 1878, L e t t e r s I , 5 9 . A f te r a y e a rj
i n F ra n c e , Jam es to o k up p e rm a n en t r e s id e n c e i n London j
(B o lto n S t r e e t ) i n Decem ber 1 8 7 6 . |
i
•^In E n g lan d i t f i r s t a p p e a re d i n th e C o r n h ill Mag a - !
z i n e , J u n e - J u ly 1878. I n A m erica, two u n a u th o r iz e d p e r i - j
o d i c a l a p p e a ra n c e s i n L i t t e l P s L iv in g Age, J u l y 1878, and i
i n th e w eekly Home J o u r n a l , d u rin g J u ly and A ugust 1878 i
(B ib lio g r a p h y ) p . 3 9 ). was p u b lis h e d i n book form i n !
b o th c o u n t r i e s by 1879. H e r e a f te r a l l d a te s w i l l be book
p u b l i c a t i o n u n l e s s o th e r w is e i n d i c a t e d .
36
I t r a v e l s k e tc h e s , and c r i t i c a l e s s a y s . M ost im p o r ta n t o f
I a l l , h o w ev er, h i s f i r s t m a jo r s u c c e s s , The P o r t r a i t o f a
L ady, w hich h a d beg un s e r i a l l y , was com ing o u t now a s a
book i n E n g la n d and A m erica.
W illia m Dean H o w ells w ro te to Jo h n Hay i n M arch o f
i 1882 t h a t Jam es "h ad a p la n o f t r a v e l l i n g a l l a b o u t th e
c o u n try t h i s w i n t e r ." ^ Jam es d id v i s i t W ash in g to n and New
Y ork b u t th e su d d en d e a th o f h i s m o th e r i n F e b ru a ry p r e
v e n te d any f u r t h e r t o u r i n g . The p o i n t f o r c o n je c tu r e h e re
i s how e x te n s iv e w ould th e s e f o r a y s h av e b e en i f d e a th
I
; h a d n ’ t in te r v e n e d ? A cco rd in g to M atthew J o s e p h s o n , th e
p la n was n e v e r m ore th a n a w i s t f u l d ream .
P ic tu r e s q u e a s th e p e r io d seem s i n r e t r o s p e c t and e x
c i t i n g a s th e a d v e n tu re p ro m ise d to b e , Jam es may h av e
f e l t p r e m o n itio n s o f f a i l u r e . He may hav e f o r e s e e n th e
m is e ry and d e s o l a t i o n o f th e a c t u a l la n d s c a p e , th e
m onotony o f th e g r e a t i n t e r i o r p l a i n s ( a f t e r T uscany and
S u s s e x ), and so p u t o f f th e i n t e r e s t i n g schem e w ith
l i t t l e hope o f e v e r re su m in g i t . ( p . 143)
We g a th e r some i n s i g h t i n t o Ja m e s’ s i n t e n t i o n s i n A m erica
i f we e x p lo r e f o r a moment th e b a s i c a l l y d i f f e r e n t m o tiv e s
I f o r th e 1881 and th e 1904 v i s i t s .
i
I n t h i s f i r s t " r e - a p p r a i s a l " we m u st rem em ber t h a t
| much o f h i s A m erican c o n c e rn , a s he o f t e n p u t i t , was w ith
l e s m ie n s— th e c lo s e fa m ily t i e s . I n 1881 Jam es s t i l l had
| th e p l e a s a n t p r o s p e c t o f s e e in g h i s p a r e n t s , h i s s i s t e r ,
* 4
L if e i n L e t t e r s o f W illia m Dean H o w e lls, 2 v o l s . , e d .
i M ild re d H o w ells (G arden C ity , i 92b ) , 1 1 , 3I I . H e r e a f te r
| c i t e d a s L if e i n L e t t e r s .
and h i s b r o t h e r s a g a i n .^ The a r t i s t i c n e e d to g a in th e
o t h e r im p r e s s io n s o f A m erican l i f e and l o c a l e a r e t h e r e ,
c e r t a i n l y , b u t n o t to any e x t e n t a s p r e s s i n g upon him a s
th e y become i n 1904. One g e t s th e f e e l i n g i n h i s o b s e r v a -
t i o n s a b o u t A m erica i n 1881 t h a t he i s m e re ly r e - a s s e r t i n g
th e 1875 o b j e c t i o n s and r e s o l v e s a g a i n s t A m erican l i f e .
He n o te s o n ce m ore th e g e n e r a l c u l t u r a l d i s i n t e r e s t , th e
a e s t h e t i c b a r r e n n e s s , and m o st o f a l l , th e a b se n c e o f a
s t o r i e d and u s a b le p a s t c o m p a rab le to E u ro p e ’ s . He i s ,
a f t e r h i s s i x - y e a r " t r i a l , " m ore c e r t a i n th a n e v e r t h a t
h i s d e c i s i o n h a d b e e n a r i g h t o n e . The a t t i t u d e i n 1904,
h o w ev er, i s n o t so much a m a tte r o f c o n f ir m a tio n o f p r e
v io u s b e l i e f s , a s i t i s an e a r n e s t , a lm o s t p a s s i o n a te d e
s i r e , to g a in new and f r e s h im p r e s s io n s o f th e A m erican
s
s c e n e . T h in g s h a d tu r n e d s t r a n g e l y a ro u n d , he t o l d
W illia m i n 1903 , so t h a t A m erica now due to " tim e , a b se n c e I
and ch an g e" had become a s ro m a n tic and " b r i s t l i n g " w ith
t
6
im p r e s s io n s a s E urope h a d b e e n i n 1875•
We can u n d e r s ta n d t h i s i f we k eep i n m ind th e p a r
t i c u l a r dem ands and r e q u ir e m e n ts o f J a m e s 's m ethod a s a
I
"He h ad n o t b e e n e n t i r e l y w ith o u t le g m ie n s : W illia m
and A lic e h ad v i s i t e d him i n E n g la n d , W illia m i n th e summer
o f 1880 and A lic e i n th e summer b e f o r e h i s d e p a r tu r e i n
November 1881. H ow ever, w i t h in th e n e x t te n y e a r s , f o u r
o f th e Jam es fa m ily d i e d : h i s m o th e r, J a n u a ry 1882, h i s
f a t h e r , Decem ber 1882; th e y o u n g e r b r o t h e r G a rth W ilk in so n
i n 1883; and h i s s i s t e r A lic e i n 1 8 9 2 .
6May 2 4 , 1903, L e t t e r s I , 4 1 9 .
3 8
w r i t e r . S een i n t h i s l i g h t th e 1904 t r i p ta k e s o n th e
i
; com plex c h a r a c t e r o f an a r t i s t i c n e c e s s i t y . The Ja m e s ia n
1 m ethod em braced a d i s c i p l i n e d way o f lo o k in g a t and r e -
i c o rd in g l i f e , d i s c i p l i n e d i n th e s e n s e t h a t t h e r e was a l
ways an "econom y" to b e c o n s id e r e d i n th e c o n ti n u a l e x -
| p o s u re to a l l im p r e s s io n s . I n o p e r a t i o n , th e m ethod h ad
' w orked c o u n tl e s s tim e s f o r Ja m es; i t h ad p ro d u c e d f o r him
by 1904 e ig h te e n n o v e ls , o v e r a h u n d re d t a l e s , o v e r t h r e e
ih u n d re d t r a v e l e s s a y s and r e v ie w s , and a num ber o f p l a y s ,
j More and m o re, th ro u g h o u t t h e s e y e a r s , a s h i s a u d ie n c e
i
|r e c e d e d from h im , he fo u n d h i m s e l f w r i t i n g to h i s own h ig h
i
dem ands and s t a n d a r d s . He h a d s ta k e d h i s c a r e e r on h i s
I m eth o d , on h i s a b i l i t y to be th e A m erican and E n g lis h
!
I B a lz a c . I t h ad I n v o lv e d , f o r Jam es, m ore th a n th e one
h u n d re d and se v e n d in n e r s i n o n e s e a s o n ( 1879) h e w ro te
|G ra c e N o rto n o f ( L e t t e r s I , 6 9 ) ; i t h a d b e e n f a r more th a n j
j |
m ere e x p o s u re to th e s o c i a l m i l i e u . I t h a d b e e n — and was !
I i
now—h i s p r o f e s s i o n a s a n o v e l i s t t h a t he was s e r v i n g .
What h e n e ed e d m o st now, a f t e r t h i r t y y e a r s o f " in v o lv e
m ent" w ith th e E u ro p ea n s c e n e , was a re n e w a l o f th e !
i !
( 1
A m erican i n t e r e s t .
i
I n th e J a m e s ia n s t y l e book o r le x i c o n , th e w ord j
1
I n t e r e s t h ad a p a r t i c u l a r d e f i n i t i o n . I n th e Ja m e s ia n u s e , ;
i t m eant th e f i r s t s t e p I n th e w o rk in g In v o lv e m e n t o f th e
a r t i s t . No im p r e s s io n s w ere o f v a lu e to him w ith o u t t h i s
1
1 - '
i n t e r e s t . To Jam es i t w as a s n e c e s s a r y and fu n d a m e n ta l a
39
f i r s t s t e p a s s e t t i n g X o p p o s ite th e unknow n. A s u b j e c t
|
; was i n t e r e s t i n g i f i t h ad t h a t m y s te rio u s q u a l i t y w ith in
i t t h a t th e p r a c t i c e d a r t i s t c o u ld w ork w i t h .^ 'Hie m a t e r i a l
j h ad to b e p a lp a b l e , w o rk a b le , and above a l l —e v o c a b le i n
J th o s e u n p r e d i c ta b l e w ays t h a t o n ly th e im a g in a tio n o f th e
j a r t i s t c o u ld f o r e s e e . To Jam es i t was th e g r e a t e s t o f a l l
i g i f t s :
The pow er to g u e s s th e u n s e e n from th e s e e n , to t r a c e
th e i m p l i c a t i o n o f t h i n g s , to ju d g e th e w hole p ie c e by
th e p a t t e r n , th e c o n d itio n o f f e e l i n g l i f e i n g e n e r a l
so c o m p le te ly t h a t you a r e w e ll on y o u r way to know ing
any p a r t i c u l a r c o r n e r o f i t — t h i s c l u s t e r o f g i f t s may
1 a lm o s t be s a i d to c o n s t i t u t e e x p e r ie n c e , and th e y o c c u r
i n c o u n tr y and tow n. . .
i !
To a p p r a is e th e i n t e r e s t o f a s u b j e c t demanded a
I t a l e n t f o r f o r e s i g h t t h a t o n ly e x p e r ie n c e and a p p l i c a t i o n ;
I • I
|c o u ld d e v e lo p . As lo n g a s th e m a t e r i a l — th e l i f e i n j
! ■ j
iE n g la n d and th e C o n tin e n t—was f r e s h and new th e Ja m e s ia n j
• s
; m anner h e ld up e a s i l y . H ow ever, a s th e y e a r s p a s s e d , th e j
^An exam ple o f Ja m e s’ s u s e o f th e te rm i s i n h i s I
r e f u s a l to e v en comment on th e woman s u f f r a g e i s s u e . "The ;
q u e s tio n sim p ly o v e rw h e lm in g ly b o r e s me— " n o t "e v e n i n i t s j
a c u te p h a se h e r e , i n t e r e s t i n g — i t i s v a r io u s o t h e r th in g s
b u t i s n ’ t t h a t . One w ould h a v e th o u g h t a p r i o r i t h a t i t j
w ould b e — e v e r y th in g e l s e a b o u t women i s ; b u t t h i s i s to
me m o r ta ll y t e d i o u s ." THJ to H o w e lls, M arch 2 7 , 1912,
L if e i n L e t t e r s , p . 3 2 1 ). The s u b j e c t e v o k e s n o th in g f o r ;
Jam es; h e i s n e u t r a l to w a rd s th e s u b j e c t a lth o u g h o b
v io u s ly a g a i n s t th e i s s u e i t s e l f . An exam ple o f Ja m e s’ s
a b i l i t y to d e ta c h h i s ju d g m en t from h i s a r t i s t i c s e n s e . I
j See b e lo w , p . 195, f o r a f u l l a c c o u n t o f Ja m es’ s m ethod a s
I an o b s e r v e r .
! o
| "The A rt o f F i c t i o n . " The F u tu re o f th e N o v e l, e d .
| Leon E d e l (New Y o rk , 1 9 5 6 ), p . I 3 .
4o
e n c h a n tm e n t and rom ance o f th e i n t e r e s t b e g an to w ane.
P e r n e r Nuhn d e s c r ib e d t h i s a s th e i n e v i t a b l e r e s u l t s in c e
Jam es t h r i v e d on d i f f e r e n c e s and " o th e r n e s s and n e v e r on
s a m e n e s s . E u r o p e h ad o f f e r e d him a l l o f t h i s i n abun
d an ce u n t i l , a s Nuhn s a y s , " th e f o r e i g n seem ed to h av e b e -
| come f a m i l i a r " ( p . 8 9 ) j and now A m erica, r e j e c t e d b e f o r e
f o r i t s m onotonous sa m e n e ss, h e ld o u t th e e x c i t i n g p r o s
p e c t o f th e d i f f e r e n t and th e new.
I t i s t r u e , a s Nuhn p h r a s e s i t , t h a t t h i s i s " e n -
; c h a n tm e n t" and " e x o tic is m " on Ja m e s’ s p a r t b u t n o t i n th e
!
| n a iv e s e n s e Nuhn im p u te s to Ja m e s. The e n c h a n tm e n t, f o r
Ja m es, i s i n th e c h a lle n g e f o r a r t , n o t i n th e d re a m e r’ s
a v e r s io n to l i f e , a s Nuhn and o t h e r s b e lie v e d ( p . 1 6 2 ).
I What i s b e in g s u g g e s te d b y Nuhn i s a h o llo w echo o f Van
| i
j Wyck B ro o k s's v iew t h a t Jam es i s b a s i c a l l y an i n s e c u r e
! e x p a t r i a t e g r a s p in g f o r r a c i a l t i e s . ' 1 '0 Ja m es’ s new i n t e r - j
i :
e s t i n A m erica i n d i c a t e s , r a t h e r , how e x c l u s i v e l y d e v o te d
to th e e x a c tin g dem ands o f h i s a r t Jam es i s . The n eed to
j r e v i s i t A m erica i n 1904 t e l l s u s , more th a n any o t h e r one j
1 |
a c t i o n , w hat Jam es m eans when he t a l k s o f th e s e l f - s a c r i -
! I
! f i c e o f th e a r t i s t to h i s w o rk . T here w as, a s th e r e alw ays;
i s i n th e Ja m e s ia n f i c t i o n a l w o rld , a c h o ic e to be m ade.
T h ere w ere r e a s o n s , r e s e r v a t i o n s o f a p e r s o n a l a s w e ll a s
j ■
9The Wind Blew from th e E a s t (New Y ork, 1 9 4 2 ), p . 8 9 .
! ^0 The P ilg rim a g e o f H enry Jam es (New Y ork, 1925)>
PP. 1 5 5 -1 7 0 .
41
a g e n e r a l n a t u r e , f o r n o t m aking th e t r i p . On th e one
h a n d , Jam es c o u ld r e - d e d i c a t e h im s e lf to th e t a s k , a s he
h ad done i n 1 8 9 1 :
To l i v e i n th e w o rld o f c r e a t i o n — to g e t i n t o i t and
s t a y i n TF— to f r e q u e n t i t and h a u n t i t — to t h in k
! i n t e n t l y and f r u i t f u l l y — to woo c o m b in a tio n s and i n -
s p i r a t i o n s i n t o b e in g b y a d e p th and c o n t i n u i t y o f
a t t e n t i o n and m e d i t a t io n — t h i s i s th e o n ly t h i n g . —
( N o te b o o k s, p . 112)
And, th e n , on th e o t h e r h a n d , t h e r e w ere th e n a t u r a l human
f e a r s f o r th e "unknown" an d — to h i m - - i n d i f f e r e n t A m erica.
T hese r e s e r v a t i o n s a re o f t e n o v e rlo o k e d i n th e l i s t
; o f " lo n g in g " r e f e r e n c e s to A m erica from 1900 onw ard t h a t
! we f i n d i n J a m e s 's c o rre s p o n d e n c e and e ls e w h e re . The
c a s u a l re m a rk s t h a t g a in i n num ber a s we move c l o s e r to
1904 a r e n o t alw ay s accom panied by e x t e r n a l e v id e n c e s o f
th e " d e b a te " t h a t m ust have b e e n g o in g on i n h i s m ind
d u rin g th e s e y e a r s . The d e b a te , d i r e c t o r im p lie d , h a s
i s i g n i f i c a n c e b e c a u s e i t n o t o n ly ad d s to o u r know ledge o f
J a m e s 's tem p era m en t, b u t i t s e t s a d e f i n i t e p r e p a r a t o r y
to n e to th e " g r e a t a d v e n tu re " i t s e l f .
In J u ly 1900, r e p ly in g to Jam es, H ow ells comments
| s y m p a th e tic a lly on J a m e s 's " h u n g e r f o r New E n g la n d , i n
1 th e s e l a t e r y e a r s " ( L if e i n L e t t e r s I I , 1 3 2 ) . By 1902,
! J a m e s 's l e t t e r s b e g in to i n d i c a t e th e n o s t a l g i a f o r
i
j
i A m erica t h a t we a re f a m i l i a r w ith . The r e m in is c e n t mood
i s e v id e n t i n h i s l e t t e r o f O c to b e r 2 3 ' to M rs. C adw alader
Jo n e s i n New Y o rk .
42
I k in d o f make you o u t , "down t h e r e , ” I mean i n th e
p r e t t y , v e ry p r e t t y , a s i t u s e d to h e , New Y ork autum n,
and i n th e W ash in g to n S q u a re is h r e g io n tro d d e n by th e
s t e p s o f my c h ild h o o d , and I w onder i f you e v e r k ic k
th e O c to b e r le a v e s a s you w alk i n F i f t h A venue, a s I
c an to t h i s h o u r f e e l m y s e lf , h e a r m y s e lf , p o s i t i v e l y
s m e ll m y s e lf d o in g . ( L e t t e r s I , 401)
The p a s s a g e c o n tin u e s w ith w hat a p p e a rs to be p a r t o f th e
d e b a te i n h i s m ind a s to w h e th e r su c h a v i s i t w ould a c
c o m p lish any r e a l good beyond th e o b v io u s r e p l a y o f mem
o r y :
B u t p e rh a p s t h e r e a r e no le a v e s and no t r e e s now i n
F i f t h Avenue— n o th in g b u t P a t r i o t i c a r c h e s , A s to r
h o t e l s and V a n d e r b ilt p a l a c e s , ( p . 402)
W henever he r e f e r s now to New E n g la n d , i t i s n o t o n ly w ith
th e e x p e c te d n o te o f rem em brance, b u t a lw ay s w ith th e
" p r y in g ” n o te o f c u r i o s i t y a s to w hat i t i s b eco m in g .
Such i s th e to n e i n th e q u e s t io n he p u ts to H o w e lls:
Y our v i s i t to Cam bridge m akes me y e a rn a l i t t l e . . . .
D id th e g h o s t o f o t h e r w a lk s ( I 'm t o l d F re sh Pond i s
no lo n g e r a Pond, o r no lo n g e r F r e s h , o n ly s t a l e , o r
so m e th in g ) e v e r b ru s h you w ith th e hem o f i t s s o f t
sh ro u d ?1 1
By th e m id d le o f A p ril 1903, Jam es seem s to have
c r y s t a l l i z e d f o r h im s e lf b o th s i d e s o f th e " p r o s p e c t ” ; he
w ro te W illia m o f h i s p l a n s , s p e a k in g w ith "many m is
g i v in g s " :
I s h o u ld w ish to w r ite a book o f " im p re s s io n s " and
to t h a t end g e t q u i t e away from B o sto n and New Y ork—
■^HJ to H o w e lls, Decem ber 11, 1902, L e t t e r s I , 4 0 9 .
Jam es found F re s h Pond n e a r l y a b s o rb e d i n th e new P a rk
System — The A m erican Scene (New Y o rk , 1 9 0 7 ), p . 6 8 .
43 ;
r e a l l y se e th e c o u n try a t l a r g e . On th e o t h e r hand I
d o n ’ t se e m y s e lf p ro w lin g a lo n e I n W e ste rn c i t i e s and
h o te lB o r f in d in g my way a b o u t b y m y s e lf , and i t i s
a l l darksom e and t a n g l e d . Some l i g h t may b r e a k —b u t
m eanw hile n e x t W ednesday (a w fu l f a c t ) i s my 6 o th
B i r t h d a y .I 2
; Hie p r o s p e c t was d a rk e n e d by su c h s p e c u l a ti o n s on p o s s i b l e
I d is c o m f o r ts and c o n f u s io n s ; m o re o v e r, th e v e ry r e a l f a c t o r
i o f h i s s i x t y y e a r s c o u ld n o t b e d e n ie d . The p o r t l y Jam es
j o f 1903 had lo n g ago ta k e n th e p la c e o f th e young man o f
1875 who a t t h i r t y - t w o e a g e r ly em braced a f a m i l i a r E u ro p e ,
i W ith good r e a s o n , he h ad d o u b ts a b o u t b e in g a t o u r i s t
I a g a in , e s p e c i a l l y i n th e unknown and " w ild 1 1 W est. E ven
t u a l l y , i t was upon th e s e two p o i n t s — th e u n f a m i li a r
i A m erica and h i s grow ing y e a r s — t h a t he was to b u i l d f o r
| h im s e lf an in e s c a p a b le n eed and demand to make th e t r i p .
; W ith t y p i c a l Ja m e s ia n f o r m u la tio n , th e t a s k becam e a n o th e r j
! *
• one o f th o s e fo rm id a b le a r t i s t i c c h a lle n g e s t h a t m ust be
I ' ’ !
! m e t, no m a tte r w hat th e p e r s o n a l i n c l i n a t i o n . When a t ;
l a s t he was to s t a r t h i s p a c k in g , i t was more a s Jam es
: th e consum m ate a r t i s t th a n a s Jam es th e r e t u r n i n g b r o t h e r
! and u n c l e . I n th e m eantim e th e d e b a te c o n tin u e d . j
| Ja m es’ s f i r s t fo rm a l announcem ent o f h i s p la n s !
! b r o u g h t an im m ed iate r e p l y from W illia m . S e n sin g a nuiriber |
o f d i f f i c u l t i e s , W illia m a tte m p te d to w arn Jam es o f f . The
i
| l e t t e r o f May 3 , 1903— th e l e t t e r o f " b r o t h e r l y a d v ic e " —
12Q uoted b y W illia m ’ s so n , H enry Jam es (1 8 7 9 -1 9 4 7 )
I (WJ L e t t e r s I I , 1 8 8 ).
44
h i n te d a s much a t W illia m ’ s own " d is c o m f o rt" w ith A m erica
a s i t d id i n b r a v e ly f o r e t e l l i n g h i s b r o t h e r 's f u t u r e
d i s t r e s s .
. . . I f e e l m ore k e e n ly a good many o f th e d e s a g r e -
m en ts to w hich you w i l l i n e v i t a b l y b e s u b j e c t e d , ana
im a g in e th e s o r t o f p h y s i c a l l o a t h i n g w ith w hich many
f e a t u r e s o f o u r n a t i o n a l l i f e w i l l i n s p i r e y o u . I t
ta k e s a lo n g tim e to n o t i c e su c h t h in g s no lo n g e r . One
t h i n g , f o r ex am p le , w hich w ould r e c o n c i l e me m o st e a s i l y
to a b an d o n in g my n a t i v e c o u n try f o r e v e r w ould b e th e
c e r t a i n t y o f im m u n ity , when t r a v e l i n g , from th e s i g h t
o f my f e llo w b e in g s a t h o t e l s and d i n i n g - c a r s h a v in g
t h e i r b o i l e d e g g s b r o u g h t to them , b ro k e n by a n e g ro ,
two i n a c u p , and e a te n w ith b u t t e r . How i r r a t i o n a l
t h i s d i s l i k e i s , i s p ro v e d b o th by l o g i c , and by th e
p le a s u r e ta k e n i n th e custom by th e e l i t e o f m ankind
o v e r h e r e . . . . Y e t o f su ch i r r a t i o n a l sy m p a th ie s and
a v e r s io n s ( q u i t e c o n v e n tio n a l f o r th e m o st p a r t ) d o es
o u r p l e a s u r e i n a c o u n try d e p e n d , and i n y o u r c a s e f a r
more th a n i n t h a t o f m o st m en. The v o c a l i z a t i o n o f o u r
co u n try m en i s r e a l l y , and n o t c o n v e n tio n a lly , so ig n o b ly
a w fu l t h a t th e p r o c e s s o f h a rd e n in g o n e s e l f t h e r e t o i s
v e ry slo w , and w ould i n y o u r c a s e be im p o s s ib le . I t i s
sim p ly i n c r e d i b l y lo a th s o m e . I s h o u ld h a te to have you
come an d , a s a r e s u l t , f e e l t h a t you h ad now done w ith I
A m erica f o r e v e r , e v en i n an i d e a l and im a g in a tiv e s e n s e , ;
w hich a f t e r a f a s h io n you c an s t i l l in d u lg e i n . (WJ !
L e t t e r s I I , I 8 8 - I 8 9 . !
S om ething i n th e i n f e r e n c e o f t h a t l a s t p h r a s e , "which!
a f t e r a f a s h io n you c an s t i l l In d u lg e i n , " may h av e i r
r i t a t e d Jam es and added to th e sm a rt t h a t he f e l t and i n
d i c a te d when he r e p l i e d to W illia m . I b e li e v e Jam es c a u g h t
i n t h i s " k in d " re m a rk a n o th e r n o te o f W illia m 's b e l i e f
t h a t , u n d e rn e a th i t a l l , b r o t h e r H enry was p r i n c i p a l l y i n
v o lv e d w ith u n r e a l im a g e s . T h ere was a ls o i n th e rem a rk !
I
a re m in d e r o f W illia m 's many c o m p la in ts o f J a m e s 's l a t e s t j
s t y l e , c o m p la in ts w hich Jam es seem s to h av e e a s i l y
sh ru g g e d o f f . H ow ever, th e f u l l i m p l i c a ti o n h e re a p p e a rs
45 !
j t o c o n s i s t o f a c o n d e sc e n d in g c o n t r a s t b e tw ee n th e r i g o r s
I o f W illia m 's r e a l w o rld o f A m erican m a te r ia lis m and H e n ry 's :
i ;
I s a f e r w o rld o f an im a g in e d and i d e a l i z e d A m erica, s e e n
|
from th e h a v en o f E u ro p e — a l l i n a l l , a " m e ta p h y s ic ia n 's
t o u c h ," a s J o s e p h s o n q u i t e a p p r o p r i a t e l y l a b e l s th e e n t i r e
re m a rk (p . 2 6 9 ) .
On May 2 4 , 1903, H enry an sw ered W illia m 's l e t t e r a t
g r e a t le n g th ( o v e r e i g h t p a g e s , L e t t e r s I , 4 1 5 -4 2 3 ). A f te r
; f i r s t e x p la in in g h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c n e e d " to t h r e s h th e
| i d e a o u t s u f f i c i e n t l y to hav e a d i r e c t i o n to te n d to m ean-
! w h ile , and an aim to w ork a t , " he becom es c o n v in c e d " t h a t
I ■
| I s h a l l w ant to " make th e t r i p i f " I d o n 't p u t i t o f f f o r
I much m ore th a n a y e a r ." A f te r t h a t , Jam es c o m p la in s , he
I 1
i w i l l " lo s e th e im p u lse " b e c a u s e o f a d v a n c in g age (p . 4 l 6 ) .
i
| As to th e sh o c k s t h a t W illia m w arn s him o f , Jam es i n d i c a t e s
I j
! a c h a r a c t e r i s t i c , ro m a n tic e a g e r n e s s f o r them . j
S im ply and s u p in e ly to s h r i n k — on m ere g ro u n d s o f g e n
e r a l f e a r and e n c o u ra g e d s h o c k a b i l i t y —h a s to me a l l |
th e a i r o f g iv in g u p , c h u c k in g away w ith o u t a s t r u g g l e ,
I th e one c h a n c e t h a t re m a in s to me i n l i f e o f a n y th in g
j t h a t can b e c a l l e d a m ovem ent: my one l i t t l e ew e-lam b
1 o f p o s s i b l e e x o t i c e x p e r ie n c e , su ch e x p e r ie n c e a s may j
c o n v e r t i t s e l f , th ro u g h th e s e n s e s , th ro u g h o b s e r v a -
j t i o n , im a g in a tio n and r e f l e c t i o n now a t t h e i r m a t u r it y ,
! i n t o v i v id and s o l i d m a t e r i a l , i n t o a g e n e r a l re n o v a
t i o n o f o n e 's to o m o n o to n ise d g r a b - b a g . ( p . 417) 1
46
I n an a lm o s t p e t u l a n t to n e ( " I hav e p r a c t i c a l l y n e v e r
i
t r a v e l l e d a t a l l " ) , Jam es com pares h i s l i m i t e d t r a v e l s —
; l i m i te d e c o n o m ic a lly 1^ to th e "so many m ovem ents" o f
W illia m :
I 'v e o n ly g o n e , f o r s h o r t p e r i o d s , a f e i r tim e s — so much
fe w e r th a n I 'v e w a n te d — to I t a l y : n e v e r anyw here e l s e
t h a t I 'v e s e e n e v e ry one a b o u t me h e re (who i s , o r w as,
a n y o n e) p e r p e t u a l l y m aking f o r . T hese v i s i o n s I 'v e h a d ,
one by o n e , a l l to g iv e u p — S p a in , G re e c e , S i c i l y , any
g lim p se o f th e E a s t, o r i n f a c t o f a n y th in g ; ev en to th e
e x t e n t o f rum m aging a b o u t i n P ra n c e ; ev en to th e e x te n t
o f tr u d g in g a b o u t, a l i t t l e , i n S w itz e r la n d . C o u n tin g
o u t my few d ip s i n t o I t a l y , t h e r e h a s b e e n no tim e a t
w hich any " a b ro a d " was f i n a n c i a l l y c o n v e n ie n t o r p o s
s i b l e ." ^ T p . 4 1 8 )
i
| The " a b ro a d " t h a t Jam es d e s i r e s to know now, h o w ev er, i s
; n o t E urope o r th e E a s t. T hese w ould be "m ere a g re e a b le
j l u x u r i e s " com pared to th e n e c e s s i t y w hich i n t e r e s t s him
i
m ost,, t h a t i s , "human A n g lo -S ax o n ism , w ith th e A m erican
e x te n s io n " ( p . 4 l 8 ) . Jam es i n s i s t e d t h a t th e A m erican
t r i p i s a " p r o f e s s i o n a l " and " a b s o l u te ly econom ic" m a tte r
i
' to h im . T h is w ould be u n d e r s ta n d a b le o n ly i f W illia m was
. . . a c c e s s i b l e to th e im p re s s io n o f my h a v in g any
I 'p r o f e s s i o n a l s t a n d in g 1 l a b a s [down t h e r e ] b ig enough
| to b e im p ro v ed o n . ( p . 419)
Jam es h i n t s a t a " s p e c i a l " p r o f e s s i o n a l re a s o n f o r
th e t r i p . I n h i s c i r c u i t o u s m an n er, he a p p e a rs to be
■^From h i s e a r l y tw e n tie s Jam es e a rn e d h i s way e n
t i r e l y by h i s p e n . He tu r n e d a s m a ll i n h e r i t a n c e from th e
I once l a r g e fa m ily f o r tu n e o v e r to h i s i n v a l i d s i s t e r A lic e -
j Leon E d e l, H enry Ja m es: The U n tr ie d Y e a rs ( P h i l a d e lp h i a ,
! 1953)> P* H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s E d e l, H J.
1 ,7
r e f e r r i n g to th e p o s s i b i l i t y — " th e • s p e c ia l* p o s s i b i l i t y
t h a t s h in e s b e f o r e me" ( p . 4 2 1 )—o f th e c o n t r a c t w ith
14
H a r p e r 's to w r ite a book o f A m erican im p r e s s io n s . E v i
d e n tl y , th e c o n t r a c t was to c o v e r a good p a r t o f h i s
e x p e n s e s , b e in g t h e r e f o r e th e o n ly way Jam es c o u ld a f f o r d
th e t r i p a t a l l . T here w ould s t i l l be a s i z e a b le c o s t, a s
i
I he re m in d s W illia m :
I
They [th e m onths o f t r a v e l ] a re th e o n ly " s t i r " I s h a l l
e v e r be a b le to a f f o r d , b e c a u s e , th o u g h th e y w i l l c o s t
so m e th in g , c o s t even a good b i t , th e y w i l l b r in g i n a
g r e a t d e a l m ore, i n p r o p o r t io n , th a n th e y w i l l c o s t .
(p . 420)
i
i
i The f e r v o r and d e s p e r a tio n i n J a m e s 's rem a rk s had
I t h e i r im m ed iate e f f e c t on W illia m . I n h i s l e t t e r o f Ju n e
| 6 , 1903, W illia m r e t r a c t e d h i s "dam pening rem a rk s" now
; t h a t he " u n d e rs to o d th e m o tiv e s f u l l y " (Wj L e t t e r s I I ,
j
! 1 9 5 ). W illia m had assum ed t h a t H e n ry 's m o tiv e s i n com ing
| w ere p r i m a r il y " f r a t e r n a l p i e t y and p a t r i o t i c d u ty ." Now,
; he jo in e d i n h i s b r o t h e r 's e n th u s ia s m , happy to f in d him
"so y o u n g - f e e lin g , r e c e p t i v e and h u n g ry f o r more raw
m a t e r i a l and e x p e r ie n c e ." W illia m w ent a s f a r a s to
p ro p h e s y f o r H enry " a new le a s e o f a r t i s t i c l i f e , w ith
th e lam p o f g e n iu s fe d by th e o i l o f t w e n tie th - c e n tu r y
A m erican l i f e . " In th e flo w e ry e x h o r t a ti o n s t h a t f i l l e d
14
D upee, H J, p . 2 3 5 . T here was a l s o , a c c o rd in g to
D upee, " th e scKeme o f a s e l e c te d e d i t i o n o f h i s w ork to
be d is c u s s e d w ith S c r ib n e r ."
48
th e l e t t e r , W illia m " r e s t a t e d ” w hat am ounts to th e e s -
! s e n t i a l p o i n t i n t h e i r d iv e r g e n t v iew s o f A m ericas "D rop
y o u r E n g lis h i d e a s , " W illia m a d v is e s , "an d ta k e A m erica
and A m ericans a s th e y ta k e th e m s e lv e s , and you w i l l c e r
t a i n l y e x p e r ie n c e a r e j u v e n a t i o n ." I f t h i s was to be th e
! ro a d to r e j u v e n a t i o n f o r Jam es a t s i x t y , i t w as, a s th e
t r i p was to b e a r o u t , to p ro v id e m ore c o m p lic a tio n s th a n
s i m p l i f i c a t i o n s . The u l t i m a t e e f f e c t on Jam es was to be
beyond a n y th in g t h a t W illia m e x p e c te d o r c o u ld f u l l y
com prehend.
By th e autum n o f 1903, Jam es had made d e f i n i t e p la n s
f o r h i s t r i p . He h ad a rra n g e d f o r b o a t p a s s a g e i n A ugust
1904 i n th e company o f two o ld f r i e n d s and v e te r a n t r a v e l
e r s , M rs. B e n e d ic t and h e r d a u g h te r , C la r e . So p r e o c
c u p ie d was h e by t h i s tim e w ith th e lo n g -p la n n e d A m erican
a d v e n tu re t h a t he p l a y f u l l y r e c o rd e d f o r th e B e n e d ic ts *
am usem ent an a lm o s t d e s p e r a te " e a r l i e r " d e p a r t u r e .
A week a g o , I w ent o u t to th e d r e a r y T ilb u r y Docks
to " s e e o f f " (b y an A t l a n t i c t r a n s p o r t ) an o ld f r i e n d
and h e r d a u g h te r . . . and g o in g a b o a rd w ith them and
w ith th e h e rd o f o t h e r c o m p a tr io ts (a n d a lm o s t i n t o
t h e i r v e ry b u n k s) i n th e e l e c t r i c - l i g h t e d d u sk o f th e
d a y , I s a id to m y s e lf: "Now o r n e v e r i s my c h a n c e ; s t a y
and s a i l —b o rro w c l o t h e s , b o rro w a to o th b r u s h , b o rro w
a b u n k , b o rro w $1 00 , you w i l l n e v e r b e so n e a r to i t
a g a in . The w o rs t i s over-—th e a r r a n g in g — i t ' s a l l
a rra n g e d f o r you w ith two k in d l a d i e s th ro w n i n . " So
s tr o n g was t h i s f e e l i n g t h a t i f I h ad o n ly a t h i c k e r
o v e r c o a t, and th e y , my k in d l a d i e s , h ad o n ly an e x t r a
b u n k , I w ould hav e tu r n e d i n w ith them and ta k e n my
c h a n c e . As i t w as, I shoved my way o u t o f th e
49
en cu m b ered , t u b u l a r p a s s a g e , I tu r n e d and f l e d , bound
in g a lo n g T ilb u r y D ocks I n th e g rim y fo g and n e v e r
s to p p in g t i l l I c lu tc h e d a t so m e th in g t h a t was g o in g
b a c k to L o n d o n .15
J a m e s 's a p p e t i t e f o r A m erica was f u r t h e r w h e tte d b y a
"panoram a" t h a t th e B e n e d ic ts h ad p u t t o g e t h e r f o r him o f
a l e c t u r e t o u r a c r o s s A m erica. T h is was a p a s t e - a n d -
s c l s s o r s " p i c t u r e d p a c k e t ," c o m p le te e v en w ith a t e x t . I t
showed Jam es t r a v e l i n g l u x u r io u s ly , g r e e t e d b y " l e a d e r s o f
f a s h io n and i n t e l l e c t , " b e in g f e t e d and a c c la im e d e v e r y
w h e re. M rs. B e n e d ic t b e lie v e d t h a t " th e d a z z lin g p ro p h -
17
e c i e s " h e lp e d Jam es d e c id e to make th e t r i p . 1 I t i s
q u i t e l i k e l y t h a t th e panoram a added s t i l l a n o th e r m easu re
o f charm and c o n je c tu r e to th e g r e a t a d v e n tu re s
I s i t h e re q u a k in g and s ig h in g a t th e f a r - o f f p r o s p e c t ,
and su d d e n ly you make me b e l i e v e i n i t , p u t i t b e f o r e
me i n a m anner n o t to b e d e n ie d ; I s e e , a s I l i n g e r
a g a in and a g a in o v e r th e p l e a s i n g pan o ram a, t h a t t h i s
i s th e way i t w i l l h a p p e n , th e way i t m u st, a l l th e
w h ile t h a t I h av e b e e n d o u b tin g t h a t i t c o u ld h ap p en
a t a l l . You and C la re make i t h ap p en and y o u r p i c t u r e d
p a c k e t seem s th u s to becom e my t r a v e l l i n g B ib le and
G uide . . . i n th e l i g h t o f w hich I am to r e a d my f a t e
and a rr a n g e my c o n d u c t, (p . 1 5 8 )
^HJ to M rs. and M iss B e n e d ic t, q u o te d i n C la re B ene
d i c t , The B e n e d ic ts A broad (L ondon, 1 9 3 0 ), p . 1 5 9 . H e re
a f t e r c i t e d a s B e n e d ic ts .
ifi
A l e c t u r e t o u r o f th e B e n e d ic ts * own im a g in a tio n ,
s in c e i t w a s n 't u n t i l a few m onths b e f o r e s a i l i n g i n
A ugust 1904 t h a t any a c t u a l l e c t u r e s w ere a r r a n g e d . See
b elo w p . 6 6 .
^ " N o t e to M rs. B e n e d ic t" to above l e t t e r , B e n e d ic ts ,
p . 158.
50
E v id e n tly , Jam es s t i l l n e ed e d r e a s s u r a n c e , f o r a s l a t e a s
Decem ber 30 , 1903, he w ro te h i s c o u s in L e s li e P e l l- C l a r k e :
"... . 1 have a p la n o f p i l g r i m i s i n g to w a rd you . . . i f
th e b o tto m d o e s n 't d ro p o u t o f i t . " 1®
As th e new y e a r , 1904, a r r i v e d , Jam es b e g an to a n
t i c i p a t e even m ore k e e n ly th e re w a rd s and l i m i t a t i o n s o f
th e t r i p . He in fo rm e d G eorge H arvey o f th e N o rth A m erican
R eview th ro u g h a l e t t e r to H o w ells t h a t he w ould n o t
" b ro a c h th e m a tte r o f an 'A m e ric a n ' n o v e l" u n t i l he was i n
A m erica.
I t comes home to me m uch, i n t r u t h , t h a t a f t e r my im
m en sely lo n g a b s e n c e , I am n o t q u i t e i n a p o s i t i o n to
an sw er i n ad v an ce f o r th e q u a n t i t y and q u a l i t y , th e
e x a c t form and c o lo u r , o f my " r e a c t i o n " i n p re s e n c e o f
th e n a ti v e phenom ena. I o n ly f e e l t o l e r a b l y c o n f id e n t
t h a t a r e a c t i o n o f some s o r t t h e r e w i l l b e . . . . I am
h u n g ry f o r M a t e r i a l , w h a te v e r I may b e moved to do
w ith i t ; and h o n e s t l y , I t h i n k , t h e r e w i l l n o t b e an
in c h o r an ounce o f i t u n l i k e l y to p ro v e g r i s t to my
i n t e l l e c t u a l and " a r t i s t i c " m i l l . 19
Jam es a d m itte d to H o w ells t h a t th e g iv in g up o f Lamb House
and th e s a n c tu a r y t h a t i t r e p r e s e n te d to him w ould be a
s i g n i f i c a n t h a n d ic a p . H a lf s e r i o u s l y , he w ondered
. . . i f some g i f t e d c r e a t u r e o n ly w an ted to ex change
w ith me . . . and *'swap " i t s c u sto m a ry b o w er, o v e r
t h e r e , f o r d e a r l i t t l e Lamb H ouse h ere?20
18
" L e t t e r s to th e P e l l - C l a r k e s ," e d . S . P. R osenbaum ,
| A m erican L i t e r a t u r e , 3 1 :4 8 , M arch 1959.
j ' ~ T ' r ' ■
| ^ H J to H o w e lls, J a n u a ry 8 , 1904, L e t t e r s I I , 8 - 9 .
20
I Jam es le a s e d Lamb House f o r s ix m o n th s. See L o u ise
; B o i t, "H enry Jam es a s L a n d lo rd ," A t l a n t i c M onthly.
| 1 7 8 :1 1 8 , A u g u s t.1946.
51
A m onth b e f o r e s a i l i n g , i n J u ly 2 6 , 1904, Jam es w ro te
i
! to h i s nephew H enry w hat a p p e a r to be th e la s t- m in u te
!
i n s t r u c t i o n s . I n a h a l f - s e r i o u s , h a l f - j o k i n g m an n er,
Jam es e n v is io n s h im s e lf a s s a u l t i n g th e A m erican s h o re s i n
-
" a b j e c t and c ra v e n t e r r o r . " W ith t y p i c a l Ja m e s ia n e x a g -
| g e r a t i o n , he a c c e p te d a p r i o r o f f e r o f " a id and c o m fo rt"
I from h i s tw e n ty - f i v e - y e a r - o l d nam esake:
. . . I a c c e p t w ith o u t shame o r s c r u p le th e b e a u t i f u l
and b l e s s e d o f f e r . . . . I hav e i t a t h e a r t to n o t i f y
; you t h a t you w i l l i n a l l p r o b a b i l i t y b i t t e r l y r e p e n t
; o f y o u r g e n e r o s i t y , and t h a t I s h a l l b e s u re to become
| f o r you a d e a d -w e ig h t o f th e f i r s t w a te r , th e m ost
I a w fu l b u rd e n , n u is a n c e , p a r a s i t e , p e s t i l e n c e and
j p l a s t e r t h a t you h a v e e v e r known. B u t t h i s s a i d , I
p r e p a r e e v en now to me cram poner to you l i k e g rim
d e a th , t r u s t i n g to you f o r e v e r y th in g and in v o k in g you
fro m moment to moment a s my p ro v id e n c e and s a v io u r .
( L e t t e r s I I , 16)
|
D e s p ite t h e i r l i g h t - h e a r t e d n e s s , th e r e i s a d e f i n i t e ;
| u n d e r c u r r e n t o f a c t u a l dep en d en ce i n J a m e s 's h y p e r b o le s .
I Much o f t h i s , o f c o u r s e , i s due to h i s age and th e p h y s i c a l
i 21
I d is c o m f o r ts t h a t w ere to p la g u e him i n l a t e r y e a r s . I t
; m ust a ls o be rem em bered t h a t o v e r th e y e a r s many se e m in g ly :
t r i v i a l m a tte r s h a d , i n tim e , become s e t and lo n g - s ta n d in g i
n e c e s s i t i e s . A lw ays, h o w ev er, th e s e w ere couched (and
j
a lm o s t d is g u is e d ) i n w ords o f g r e a t e x tra v a g a n c e and sim ple)
fu n — a q u a l i t y o f Jam es u n s u s p e c te d by many. A f u r t h e r j
( i l l u s t r a t i o n i s fo u n d i n th e c lo s in g l i n e s o f th e same
i
1
I 2, ■ :
! Leon E d e l, "H enry Jam es on H a rle y S t . , " A m erican
| L i t e r a t u r e , 2 4 :4 8 1 , J a n u a ry 1953*
52
l e t t e r to young H en ry . I n o r d e r to make a q u ic k e sc a p e
from w e ll-m e a n in g f r i e n d s on h i s a r r i v a l a t New Y o rk , he
s u g g e s ts q u ic k " a c t i o n . ”
I b e s e e c h you to h o ld on to me t i g h t and p u t me th ro u g h
a s much a s p o s s ib l e l i k e an e x p re s s p a r c e l , p a y in g 50
c e n ts and ta k in g a b r a s s c h ec k f o r me. (p . 17)
Hie n o te o f d ep en d en ce i s a g a in fo u n d i n J a m e s 's d e
t a i l e d a c c o u n t to th e B e n e d ic ts o f w h at h e i s a n t i c i p a t i n g
a b o a rd s h ip . W ith t h e i r h e lp he e x p e c ts to be w e ll
" la u n c h e d and s e t t l e d , " u n d e r " th e s p e l l o f th e p r o t e c te d
and 'd o n e f o r ' s t a t e . "
I seem to b e a lr e a d y i n p o s s e s s io n o f t h a t lo v e ly
e lo n g a te d s e a - c h a i r . . . w ith my h e e l s tu c k e d u p , my
sh a w ls b e co m in g ly a rr a n g e d , my s m e llin g b o t t l e s e r e n e ly
c la s p e d and an o c c a s io n a l fe m a le form b e n d in g o v e r me
to a s k how I f e e l now? . . . I e x p e c t to c r o s s th e s e a
i n th e sim p le form o f a s h a p e le s s b u n d le o f sh a w ls,
w ith o u t human f e a t u r e , sem b lan ce o r i d e n t i t y , t r a n s
p o r te d h i t h e r and t h i t h e r , a c c o rd in g to w ind and
w e a th e r, b y d i s c r e e t s te w a rd s ( i n y o u r p a y ) b u t n o t
r e v e a l i n g to th e c a s u a l o b s e r v e r th e sh ap e o r th e !
s e n tim e n ts o f m an .22
. . i
i
E a r ly i n A u g u st, Jam es w ro te th e t o u r in g B e n e d ic ts o f some !
!
la s t- m i n u te d e t a i l s ; o r d e r in g c l o t h e s , b u y in g a ste a m e r
tr u n k , and p a y in g th e re m a in d e r o f h i s p a s s a g e money to
th e N o rth German L lo y d l i n e — a n e c e s s i t y he l a b e l l e d a s
" h o r r i b l e ! " "T hen, I go home t i l l th e 2 2 n d ," Jam es w r o te , !
!
from w hich day I s h a l l be h e r e , w atch i n h a n d , tim in g
y o u r a p p ro a c h , r e a d in g th e w e a th e r p r o p h e c ie s and t r y - j
in g to make a c l i n k i n my p o c k e t o f my few re m a in in g
s h i l l i n g s . (B e n e d ic ts , p . 184)
22h j to M rs. B e n e d ic t, J a n u a ry o r F e b ru a ry 1904,
B e n e d ic ts , p . 1 6 9 .
53
j F i n a l l y , o n W ednesday, A ugust 2 4 , th e d e p a r tu r e to o k
[ p l a c e . I t h ad b e e n a rra n g e d b e fo re h a n d t h a t th e B e n e d ic ts
; w ould b o a rd th e K a is e r W ilhelm I I a t B rem en, i t s p o r t o f
o r i g i n . Jam es was to j o i n them when th e s h ip s to p p e d a t
S o u th am p to n , th e n e x t d a y . H is l a s t co m m u n icatio n to th e
B e n e d ic ts was c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y a p p re h e n s iv e : " . . .
| d o n 't , f o r G o d 's s a k e , m is s y o u r c o n n e c tio n s . . . . I f you
I
I
| d o n 't g o , I w o n 't* I c a n 't ." He d id . The German ste a m e r
I ■
a r r i v e d a t S o u th am p to n , and was soon on i t s way a g a in
(w ith Jam es) o u t i n t o th e h a r b o r , h e ad e d to w ard C herbourg
and e v e n t u a l l y , New Y o rk .
I t w a s n 't a p l e a s a n t t r i p f o r Ja m e s. A cco rd in g to
th e B e n e d ic ts , Jam es " h a r d ly e n jo y e d th e v o y a g e ," b e in g
| i l l p a r t o f th e tim e . I t w ould b e s a f e to assum e t h a t
i d e s p i t e th e sm ooth p a s s a g e , Jam es h ad a p r a c t i c a l n eed f o r
i
i
| th e sh a w ls and th e s m e llin g b o t t l e — and e s p e c i a l l y , th e
| " o c c a s io n a l fem a le form " o f th e B e n e d ic ts p r o v id in g him
‘ w ith t e a and t o a s t ( B e n e d ic ts , p . 1 8 6 ). I n s ix d ay s th e
j
t r i p was o v e r . E a r ly T uesday m o rn in g , A ugust 3 0 , th e
K a is e r W ilhelm I I t i e d up to th e Hoboken d o c k . A cco rd in g
to th e B e n e d ic ts , th e y w ere a l l soon " i n th e h a n d s o f th e
p o l i t e ( ? ) o f f i c i a l s o f th e U .S . Custom H ouse" ( p . 1 8 6 ).
L a t e r , Jam es was a b le to r e c o u n t to th e B e n e d ic ts th e
d e t a i l s o f h i s r e p a t r i a t i o n :
| I h av e o n ly b e e n w a itin g t i l l t h i s h o u r to r e a c h
; b a c k to you o v e r th e a w fu ln e s s o f th o s e o t h e r h o u r s ,
when we h ad b e e n t o r n a p a r t b y b e w ild e r in g f o r c e s , and
54
no r e u n io n — th e d re a ry o r d e a l once o v e r — seem ed so much
i a s t h in k a b l e . I t r i e d a f e e b l e , f r i g h te n e d d a sh a t you
a f t e r I h ad b e e n on th e dock an h o u r o r tw o—b u t I was
; h u r l e d h i t h e r and t h i t h e r h e l p l e s s l y , and I seem ed to
f e e l my own f a t e , r e a l l y , a l l I c o u ld m e e t. I f e l t
a s s a i l e d (b y my im m ed iate im p r e s s io n s ) a s v i o l e n t l y a s
| i f I h ad b e e n a lo n e , lu m b e rin g R u s s ia n am id a t o r r e n t
i o f J a p s . 23
!H enry Jam es was hom e.
j
'T he R e s to re d A b sen tee "
i
H enry Ja m e s’ s f i r s t v iew o f New Y ork C ity was d e l i b -
!e r a t e l y a q u ic k and h u r r i e d o n e . A p p a re n tly , h i s i n
s t r u c t i o n s to h i s nephew ( " p u t me th ro u g h . . . l i k e an
e x p r e s s p a r c e l " ) w ere c a r r i e d o u t ; he was o f f to C h o co ru a,
|W il l ia m 's summer p la c e i n New H am p sh ire, th e day he la n d e d
j (D upee, H J, p . 2 3 6 ) . The e sc a p e to th e c o u n try f o r e -
' s t a l l e d th e n ew sp ap er in te r v ie w s t h a t he d re a d e d . They
! ' !
iw ere " k e p t a t b a y ," he w ro te M rs. C l i f f o r d i n E n g la n d , I
oh
: " t i l l I g e t to B o sto n and New Y o rk ." H ow ever, one
i
J i n t r e p i d " s h e - in te r v ie w e r " ( u n i d e n t i f i e d ) was d e te rm in e d
: to r e a c h Jam es b e f o r e he r e t u r n e d to th e c i t y . I n d e s -
j p e r a t i o n , Jam es " s u r r e n d e r e d to h e r , " a p p a r e n tly o v e r -
^ whelmed by th e f a c t t h a t sh e h ad come " a l l th e way from
l
1
i New Y o rk , 400 m ile s , and we te n m ile s from a s t a t i o n , on
' :
| th e m ere ch an ce o f me. . . ." On "y o u r a d v ic e ," h e t o l d ;
i j
| 2% J to M rs. and M iss B e n e d ic t, a b o u t S ep tem b er 1 , 19o4j
! B e n e d ic ts , p . 188.
i 0 J 1
-Septem ber 16, 1904, L e t t e r s I I , 18.
55
M rs. C l i f f o r d , ”1 to o k p i t y " and gave i n , "on c o n d itio n
t h a t I s h o u l d n 't h av e to r e a d h e r s t u f f — and I s h a n 't ! "
(p. 1 9 ).
I b i s r e s p e c t f u l d i s t a n c e b e tw ee n Jam es and th e p r e s s ,
so m etim es by "m u tu a l a g r e e m e n t ," 2^ l a s t e d more o r l e s s ,
u n t i l Jam es b e g a n h i s l e c t u r e s i n J a n u a r y . Rrom t h a t
p o i n t o n , he becam e a m ore a c c e s s i b l e — and v u l n e r a b le —
p u b lic f i g u r e . The O u tlo o k , a w eek ly news and f i c t i o n
m a g a z in e , p a id Jam es th e h o n o r o f a r e s p e c t f u l e d i t o r i a l
i n i t s S ep tem b er 10 i s s u e ( 7 8 :1 1 2 ) . E n t i t l e d "The R e tu rn
o f th e N a tiv e ," i t com pared Jam es to th e H ardy n o v e l, and
a f t e r th e c u sto m a ry c o m p la in t a b o u t h i s l a t e s t p r o s e s t y l e ,
s u g g e s te d t h a t h e was w e ll e q u ip p e d to make a good comment
on p r e s e n t- d a y A m erica. The O c to b e r C r i t i c , i n a s i m i l a r
i
v e in , m used "how d e li g h t e d we sh o u ld b e " i f th e r e t u r n i n g j
n a t i v e w ould r e t u r n to h i s n a t i v e s t y l e , s in c e e v e ry
26
s u c c e e d in g book seem ed to be g ro w in g f u r t h e r from i t .
26
■^James alw ay s e x p e c te d th e w o rs t from th e A m erican
p r e s s . G row ing r e s e n tm e n t on b o th s i d e s th ro u g h o u t th e
y e a r s , m akes th e f o llo w in g 18 8 6 re m a rk to T. S . P e rry
p ro b a b ly m ild i n 1904: " I f th e p e o p le who w r ite i n th e '
n e w sp a p e rs form th e m s e lv e s i n t o a co m m ittee to w a it upon
me, I f e a r t h e r e w i l l b e l i t t l e l e f t o f my f l a c c i d form " —
V i r g i n i a H arlo w , Thomas S e rg e a n t P e r r y : A B io g ra p h y
(Durham , N. C ., 1 9 5 0 ), p . 320.
26
4 5 :3 0 5 . The comm ents on th e l a t e p r o s e s t y l e u n
d o u b te d ly r e f e r to The W ings o f th e Dove (1 902) and The
A m bassadors (1 9 0 3 ).
56
A c o n tr a r y v iew was v o ic e d i n th e s m a lle r l i t e r a r y
I
c i r c l e o f S c rib n e r* s f o r O c to b e r. Jam es h ad a s t o u t
d e fe n d e r — a l b e i t an a p p re h e n s iv e o n e - - i n E li z a b e th L u th e r
i
j C ary . She e x p re s s e d f e a r s t h a t Ja m e s’ s new s t y l e was b e -
! •
| com ing to o c o l l o q u i a l f o r h i s m a tu re r e a d e r s and u rg e d a
; r e s t r a i n t , f o r p o s t e r i t y 's s a k e . She w arned Jam es n o t to
: a tte m p t " to b e on te rm s o f c a r e l e s s in tim a c y " w ith th e
p u b l i c . " I s n o t t h i s b ro k e n and d i s t o r t e d s t y l e , " M iss
C ary ad m o n ish ed , " th e m ost f r a g i l e o f v e s s e l s i n w hich to
! p r e s e r v e th e p r e c io u s s u b s ta n c e " ( 3 6 :4 0 0 ) . The g e n e r a l
i
! te n o r o f o p in io n , h o w ev er, re m a in e d , a s Jam es h ad lo n g ago
! su rm ise d from th e d w in d lin g s a l e s o f h i s b o o k s, d i s c r e e t l y
; p o l i t e and u n d is tu r b e d . U n t i l th e l e c t u r e s b e g a n , he was
| g r a n te d o n ly th e u s u a l j o u r n a l i s t i c d e f e r e n c e s a s a d i s -
i tin g u is h e d e l d e r s ta te s m a n o f l e t t e r s .
He w as, o f c o u r s e , a " t o p ic " i n l i t e r a r y c i r c l e s . I n
i ’ ,
D ecem ber, f o r ex am p le , h e was h o n o re d a t a d in n e r g iv e n by
i G eorge H arvey i n New Y o rk , w here he m et Mark T w ain, B ooth
| T a rk in g to n , and H am lin G a rla n d , among o t h e r s . 2^ On a
; more g e n e r a l l i t e r a r y l e v e l , Jam es was p l e a s a n t l y "honored"!
t
by th e s u r p r i s i n g s a l e s o f The G olden B ow l, p u b lis h e d f o r
th e f i r s t tim e (no s e r i a l i z a t i o n ) on November 1 0 . H is
! p re s e n c e i n A m erica u n d o u b te d ly a f f e c t e d th e p o p u l a r i t y .
j ,
! He w ro te Edmund G osse i n E n g la n d t h a t th e " th in g h a s 'd o n e ';
1 27
'H am lin G a rla n d , Com panions on th e T r a i l (New Y ork,
1931)* P* 2 5 6 . H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s G a rla n d , C om panions.
oQ
much l e s s i l l h e r e th a n a n y th in g I h av e e v e r p r o d u c e d .”
The r e s u l t a n t c o n fu s io n and f l u r r y 2 ^ o v e r th e book h ad
more to do w ith i t s a l l e g e d " im m o ra lity " th a n th e o f t
la m e n te d s t y l e . I t so o n b ecam e, a s th e w ord s p r e a d , a
k in d o f l i t e r a r y t i d b i t .
A ll t h i s , h o w e v er, was y e t b e f o r e h im . Deep i n th e
New H am pshire h i l l s w ith h i s fa m ily d u rin g th e s e f i r s t
S ep tem b er w eeks o f h i s r e t u r n , Jam es was d e l i g h t f u l l y f a r
rem oved from any su ch c a r e s . C hocorua a f f e c t e d him a s a
r e f r e s h i n g t o n i c ; h i s l e t t e r , to M rs. C l i f f o r d was n e a r ly
rh a p s o d ic s
. . . t h e s e New H am pshire m o u n ta in s , f o r e s t s , l a k e s ,
a r e o f a b e a u ty t h a t I h a d n ’ t (fro m my l 8 th - 2 0 t h y e a r s )
d a re d to rem em ber a s so g r e a t . And su ch g o ld e n
S ep tem b er w e a th e r. . . . I t i s a p u re b u c o lic and
A rc a d ia n , w i l d ly in f o r m a l and " u n - f r i l l e d " l i f e —b u t
sw e e t to me a f t e r lo n g y e a r s — and w ith many su ch good
o ld h o m ely , farm y New E n g la n d t h in g s to e a t ! 30
Jam es re c o g n iz e d from th e s e f i r s t few crow ded w eeks t h a t
any " c a p tu r e on th e s p o t" o f h i s im p r e s s io n s w ould be a
28
F e b ru a ry 1 8 , 1905* L e t t e r s I I , 2 8 . N ote th e n e g a tiv e
p h r a s in g . I t was u n w a rra n te d . I n E n g la n d , t h r e e e d i t i o n s ,
e v e n t u a l l y , made i t i n t o th e l a r g e s t s e l l e r n e x t to
H aw thorne ( B ib lio g r a p h y , p . 1 2 8 ).
2^S ee b e lo w , p . 1 0 3 . The G olden Bowl c o n tr o v e r s y was
to u c h e d o f f i n i t s f u l l e s t c r i t i c a l s e n s e by th e B ryn Mawr .
a d d re s s i n J u n e , 1905* w here i t becam e th e m a jo r w eapon |
i n th e g e n e r a l c o u n te r - o f f e n s i v e a g a i n s t Jam es.
S ep tem b er 16, 1 9 04, L e t t e r s I I , 18.
58
d i f f i c u l t t a s k . He was a s s a i l e d on a l l s i d e s by an
a v a la n c h e o f s e n s a t i o n s , many o f such a p e r s o n a l and
h a u n tin g n a tu r e t h a t h e f e l t im m e d ia te ly th e n e c e s s i t y o f
a c a r e f u l and c o n t r o l l e d " s t i r r i n g " o f th e im p r e s s io n a b le
m ix tu r e . As i t w as, i t was f o r t u n a t e f o r Jam es t h a t he
s p e n t th e f i r s t m onths o f h i s r e t u r n am id th e b a s i c a l l y
u n c h a n g in g s c e n e s o f th e New E n g lan d c o u n tr y s id e . New
H a m p sh ire, th e B e r k s h i r e s , Cape Cod— a l l p ro v id e d r e a s s u r
ance a s w e ll a s new re m in d e rs o f th e n a t u r a l b e a u ty Jam es
had a lm o s t f o r g o t t e n . I t w ould b e th e la r g e c i t i e s , a s
Jam es m et them a g a in , w hich w ould p ro v id e th e g r e a t e s t
sh o c k s o f memory— and a lm o s t new d is c o v e r y .
T h ere w ere i n d i c a t i o n s , h o w ev er, o f u n e a s i n e s s , ev en
a t " Ih e M ount" i n Lenox w here Jam es s p e n t te n d a y s i n
| O c to b e r w ith M rs. W h arto n . He w ro te to h i s t e n a n t s a t
' Lamb House t h a t he was c li n g i n g to t h e i r E n g lis h c o u s in
’ Howard S t u r g i s " a s a s o r t o f s ig n and to k e n t h a t t h e r e be
| an a l t e r n a t i v e w o r l d . J a m e s h a d begun to e x p e r ie n c e
i some s ig n s o f th e A m erican " l e v e li n g " p r o c e s s w hich made
!
him s ig h r a t h e r w i s t f u l l y f o r th e s o c i a l g r a c e s o f th e
i
! Old W o rld . H is som ewhat p e t u l a n t to n e to th e B o lts i s a
I s m a ll exam ple o f w hat he was to e la b o r a t e on i n The
A m erican S c e n e .
^ H J to M rs. B o i t, November 7 , 1904, "Jam es a s L and-
| l o r d , " p . 1 1 9 .
59
Y e s, I am h o m esic k & I ev en y e a rn a t tim e s a l i t t l e f o r
c u r t s y in g M rs. P. [H J1s h o u s e k e e p e r ] —no one c u r t s y s to
me h e r e ! . . . I h a v e a t any r a t e , h o w ev er, my m it i g a
t i o n s h e r e a s w e ll a s my p a n g s . My n a t i v e la n d I s I n
t e r e s t i n g to me & I am s e e in g much—& many! ( p . 119)
B l i s s P e r r y h a d a f a v o r i t e s t o r y a b o u t Jam es I n th e c o u n tr y
t h a t s t r u c k him a s p a r t i c u l a r l y c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f Ja m e s’ s
dilem m a I n A m erica . 32 A cco rd in g to P e r r y , Jam es was e x
p l a i n i n g to Jo h n M orley how he l o s t h i s way w h ile w a lk in g
a b o u t C h o co ru a. I n h i s i n i m i t a b l e w ay, Jam es made th e
a c c o u n t sound l i k e so m e th in g o u t o f a H ardy n o v e l:
I h a d b e e n l o s t h ad n o t a p e a s a n t em erged from th e wood
w ith a b u n d le o f f a g g o ts upon h i s s h o u ld e r , and d i r e c t e d
me to th e P o s t.
By Novem ber, Jam es was " r e s to r e d " to f a m i l i a r
B o s to n , 33 C am bridge i n p a r t i c u l a r , tf ie r e h e s p e n t f i v e o r
s ix w eeks w ith W illia m . He was g r e a t l y im p re s s e d by th e
g ro w in g i n t e r n a t i o n a l c h a r a c t e r o f H a rv a rd . To Jam es, th e
u n i v e r s i t y gav e th e im p re s s io n o f " ’m a ssin g la r g e r * a c r o s s i
th e h ig h u n o b s tr u c te d t a b l e - l a n d o f i t s f u t u r e i n a m anner
a l l i t s own— , " 3^ i n th e s e and i n o t h e r n o te s i n h i s
J o u r n a l , Jam es h ad b eg u n to r e c o r d h i s im p r e s s io n s . H is
32And G la d ly T each (B o sto n , 1 9 3 5 ), p . 2 9 0 .
33Jam es h a d v i s i t e d B o sto n and C am bridge b r i e f l y b e
tw een h i s v i s i t s to New H am pshire (S e p te m b e r) and Lenox
(O c to b e r ) . "O f B o sto n I h a v e n 't ev en h ad a f u l l d a y . . . .
I h a v e s p e n t a few d a y s a t C am bridge . . . " ( L e t t e r to
G o sse , O c to b e r 2 7 , 1 9 04, L e t t e r s I I , 2 1 ) .
^ D e c e m b e r 1 1 , 1904, N o te b o o k s, p . 317.
6o
c o n t r a c t to w r i t e th e A m erican " n o te s " a p p a r e n tly dem anded
;an im m ed iate a tte m p t to w ork up th e s e f i r s t im p re s s io n s f o r
s e r i a l p u b l i c a t i o n . The a c c u m u la tio n o f m a t e r i a l p r e s e n te d
th e m a jo r p ro b le m .
■Hie la p s e o f e a c h d ay . . . g iv e s me m ore and more th e
s e n s e o f w hat t h e r e i s to be d o n e, o f th e a f f lu e n c e o f
th e Im p re s s io n and th e R e f l e c t i o n , o f " th e f o r tu n e t h e r e
i s i n i t , u p o n my h o n o u r" — I b e in g m eanw hile o n ly a
I T t t l e n e rv o u s a b o u t th e am ount o f o v e r ta k in g and c a t c h
in g up t h a t I h av e now upon my h a n d s . . . . H ie o n ly way
i s to l e t i t a l l come— t h a t s e r v e s me w e ll; to d ro p
e v e r y th in g i n t o my p o t and th e n p ic k o u t such p ie c e s a s
I can p l a c e . ( N o te b o o k s, p . 3 15 , 3 1 6 )
;He was a t t h i s tim e (D ecem ber) w o rk in g on th e f i r s t i n s t a l
lm e n t o f "New E n g la n d : An Autumn I m p r e s s io n ," p a r t s I and
I I . T h is a p p e a re d th e f o llo w in g A p r il i n th e N o rth A m eri-
jca n R eview .
The N ovem ber-D ecem ber w eeks i n C am bridge and B o sto n
1
I w ere i n t e r r u p t e d e a r l y i n Decem ber b y a few d a y 's e x p o su re
1
i n New Y ork to "A m erican tr a n s c e n d e n t D e n t i s t r y ." Jam es
d e s c r ib e d th e e x p e r ie n c e to W. E . N o r r is i n E n g la n d a s "an
a b y ss o f t o r t u r e and t e d i u m . M o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y , i t was
i a s e v e re d r a i n on h i s l i m i t e d r e s o u r c e s , " b r in g in g th e
j
|e x p e n s e up to th e p o i n t o f r u i n . " He acknow ledged to
!N o r r is h i s a d m ir a tio n f o r th e " m ir a c le s o f A m erican
e x p e r t n e s s ."
! ^ D e c e m b e r 1904, L e t t e r s I I , 2 2 -2 3 . Jam es was no
| k in d e r to E n g lis h d e n t i s t s . I n J a n u a ry 1901, he w ro te
| M rs. B e n e d ic t o f h i s d e n t a l t r i p s to H a rle y S t . , London:
j " n o t b r i l l i a n t , n o t ch eap e i t h e r . . . d e v i l i s h b i l l s . . . "
(B e n e d ic ts , p . 9 5 ) .
6l
T hese a r e t r u l y a r e v e l a t i o n and my to rm e n to r a g r e a t
a r t i s t , b u t he w i l l hav e made a c r u e l l y deep d a rk h o le
i n my tim e ( v e ry p r e c io u s f o r me h e r e ) and i n my p o c k e t—
th e l a t t e r o f su ch a n a tu r e t h a t I f e a r no p a tc h in g o f
a l l my p o c k e ts to come w i l l e v e r s to p th e l e a k . (p . 2 3 )
I H ow ever, th e e x p e r ie n c e , he added w ry ly , h ad made him " f e e l
j
| q u i t e d o m e s tic a te d , c o n s c io u s ly a s s i m i l a t e d to th e s y s te m ."
The sy ste m , th e p e r v a s iv e A m erican sy ste m , h ad b egun
to have i t s e f f e c t on th e " r e s t o r e d a b s e n te e ." He was
; b e g in n in g , he c o n fid e d to N o r r is , to lo s e " th e p r e c io u s
s e n s e t h a t e v e r y th in g i s s tr a n g e (w hich I b eg an b y h u g g in g
• c l o s e ) . . ." ( p . 2 3 ) . Much o f th e e n c h a n tm e n t, f o r e x -
I am ple, had ru b b e d o f f i n h i s v i s i t s to B o s to n . A lth o u g h he
p r e f e r r e d i t to New Y ork ( " a p p a l li n g , f a n t a s t i c a l l y charm -
; l e s s and e l a b o r a t e l y d i r e " ) B o sto n soon b e g an to r e v e r t to
th e p r e v io u s im age he h ad had o f a c l o s e - k n i t , p a r o c h i a l
i s o c i e t y . ^ N e v e r th e le s s , a s M rs. W harton p o in te d o u t ,
th e s o c i a l g r a c e s o f B o sto n s t i l l c o u n te d f o r a g r e a t d e a l.:
At C am bridge, i n th e h o u se s o f h i s b r o t h e r W illia m
Jam es and o f C h a rle s E l i o t N o rto n and t h e i r k in d r e d
c i r c l e s , he h ad th e b e s t o f B o sto n ; and i n B o sto n i t
s e l f , w here th e s e n s e o f th e p a s t h a s a lw ay s b e e n so
much s tr o n g e r th a n i n New Y o rk , he fo u n d a l l s o r t s o f
! o ld a f f i n i t i e s and r e l a t i o n s and e a r l y B eacon H i l l
! t r a d i t i o n s to a c t a s l i f e - b e l t s i n th e v a s t o c e a n o f
' s t r a n g e n e s s .37
I . :
Jam es was n o t a s happy w ith th e young men o f B o s to n .
He co m p lain e d ‘l a t e r to W it t e r B ynner i n New Y ork t h a t th e y j
I og
3 The m ost s t r i k i n g c h an g e , w hich he n o te d i n d e t a i l i n
! The A m erican S c e n e, was th e p r e s e n c e o f th e im m ig ra n t
J i n t r u d e r . See b e lo w , p . 1 73 .
• ^ A Backw ard G lan ce (New Y o rk , 1 9 3 4 ), p . 194.
62
h ad " g o t him by r u s e i n t o fo rm a l lu n c h e o n s ” f o r w r i t e r s
he c a re d n o th in g a b o u t. ^ A lth o u g h B ynner h im s e lf was
o n ly t w e n ty - t h r e e , he im m e d ia te ly won J a m e s 's a p p ro v a l
; ( " i n s o l e n t l y y oung; b u t I a p p ro v e o f y o u " ) . O th e r young
; w r i t e r s w e r e n 't a s f o r t u n a t e . E li z a b e th J o rd a n draw s t h i s
i
; p o r t r a i t o f th e d i s c r im i n a t in g Jam es i n B o sto n :
i
I n h i s t u r n he s u p p l i e s A m ericans w ith a few d i s a p p o i n t
m e n ts. He rem em bered c l e a r l y and f o n d ly th e f i n e o ld
l i t e r a r y g u a rd o f B o sto n and New Y ork b u t he h ad no
know ledge o f o r i n t e r e s t i n th e l i t e r a r y new com ers.
W hile he was h e re I gave a r e c e p t i o n f o r him , to w hich
I i n v i t e d h i s a v a i l a b l e o ld f r i e n d s , a s w e ll a s o u r b e s t
g ro u p o f u p -an d -c o m in g young w r i t e r s . The nam es o f th e
| l a t t e r m eant n o th in g to him , and h i s h e a r t y h a n d c la s p s
d id n o t c o m fo rt them f o r th e r e v e l a t i o n conveyed by h i s
vague s m ile . Some o f th e w r i t e r s , b o th o ld and young
r e s e n t e d t h i s . 39
4o
i F o r th o s e young w r i t e r s whom he h ad a fo n d n e s s f o r ,
j Jam es d e m o n s tra te d a k i n d l i n e s s and w arm th a lm o s t e q u a l to
! h i s a f f e c t i o n f o r h i s own nephew s. I t i s d i f f i c u l t to
; im a g in e Jam es b e in g o t h e r th a n w ith d raw n i n th e company
j
' M rs. J o rd a n sp e a k s o f . He had p a r t i c u l a r l y s h ie d away
from th e " l i t t e r y ” w o rld , a s h e p h ra s e d i t . I t was t h e r e -
| f o r e n o t s u r p r i s i n g f o r Jam es to f e e l he h ad b e e n ta k e n
3®”0n H enry J a m e s 's C e n te n n ia l: L a s tin g Im p re s s io n s o f
a G re a t W r i t e r ," S a tu rd a y R eview o f L i t e r a t u r e , May 2 2 ,
1943, P . 2 3 . H enry H a rla n d was i n s tr u m e n ta l i n a id in g
B ynner to m eet Ja m es. j
^ " H e n r y Jam es a t D in n e r," Mark Tw ain Q u a r te r l y . !
| S p r in g , 1943, p . 7 .
! ^°To name a few : S te p h e n C rane (1 8 7 1 -1 9 0 0 ), F ord Madox
! F o rd (1 8 7 3 -1 9 3 9 ), H. G. W e lls (1 8 6 6 -1 9 4 6 ), Hugh W alpole
| (1 8 8 4 -1 9 4 1 ).
6 3
a d v a n ta g e o f . I n h i s c o rre s p o n d e n c e , t h e r e a r e r e f e r e n c e s
to o t h e r lu n c h e o n " t r a p s ” w hich he w as u n a b le to a v o id .
W hat Jam es n e v e r a v o id e d was h i s v a s t " c o u s i n a g e ." ^
W e h av e some i d e a o f w hat t h i s encom passed i f we r e c a l l
t h a t J a m e s 's g ra n d m o th e r C a th e rin e B a rb e r was th e t h i r d
w ife o f W illia m Jam es o f A lb an y , and t h a t sh e h e r s e l f had
te n c h i l d r e n , e i g h t s u r v iv in g i n t o a d u lth o o d and m ar-
42
r i a g e . A cco rd in g to M rs. W harton, th e y p ro v id e d th e
n e c e s s a r y ” l i f e - b e l t s " r e f e r r e d to a b o v e .
He h ad a lw ay s c lu n g to h i s c o u s in a g e , and to anyone who
r e p r e s e n te d o ld f r i e n d l y a s s o c i a t i o n s , w h e th e r i n
A lbany, New Y ork o r B o s to n , and I rem em ber h i s once
s a y in g : "You s e e , my d e a r , t h e y 'r e so much e a s i e r to
t a l k t o , b e c a u s e I can alw ay s a sk them q u e s tio n s a b o u t
u n c le s and a u n ts and o t h e r c o u s i n s ." (p . 194)
Most o f a l l , we m ust rem em ber t h a t Jam es was i n a som ewhat
" a l i e n " and s tr a n g e new c o u n tr y , w here i n s t i n c t i v e l y he
f e l t o u t f o r th e f a m i l i a r o r , a t b e s t , th e f r i e n d l y and
undem anding h a n d . The r e l a t i o n s h i p w ith young B ynner i n
New Y ork seem s to h ave b e e n o f t h i s n a t u r e . He r e p r e
s e n te d to Jam es a s tr o n g young i n t e l l i g e n t arm to le a n on
i n th e s tr a n g e w ild e r n e s s o f New Y ork C i ty .
Tow ards th e end o f th e y e a r , Jam es s p e n t t h r e e o r f o u r
w eeks t r y i n g to "do" th e " fo rm id a b le " c i t y . B ynner
4 1 1
W ith r e l u c t a n c e , when th e y d e sc e n d e d on him a t Lamb
House i n h i s l a t e r y e a r s .
42
" G e n e a lo g ic a l C h a r t," " I n Commemoration o f th e B i r t h
o f H enry J a m e s ," C olby C o lle g e p a m p h le t, A p ril 15, 1943.
64
u n d o u b te d ly e n d e a re d h im s e lf to Jam es by a rr a n g in g a c a rd
o f a d m is s io n f o r him to The P la y e r s C lu b , whoBe p e a c e f u l
calm was p a r t i c u l a r l y welcom e to Ja m es. " I hav e l o s t no
echo o f t h a t k in d ly b u z z ," Jam es r e c a l l e d to B y n n e r,
O c to b e r 2 7 , 1905* a f t e r h i s r e t u r n to E n g la n d (B y n n e r,
p . 2 3 ) . The P la y e r s h ad o t h e r charm s Jam es a p p r e c i a te d .
S i t u a t e d i n G ram ercy P a rk , i t was th e o ld h o u se o f th e
a c t o r Edwin B ooth and c o n ta in e d many p h o to s and m em entoes
o f th e d ra m a tic a r t s . C o m fo rtin g a s The P la y e r s m ust h av e
b e e n , i t was n o t enough to o f f s e t th e b i t t e r c o ld Jam es
m et i n New Y o rk . The " u n p re c e d e n te d snow and i c e " made
i t im p o s s ib le f o r th e a lw ay s w e a th e r-c o n s c io u s Jam es to
e x p lo r e th e c i t y . " I h a v e n 't y e t . . . se e n i t o r
c o w a rd ly 'd o n e ' i t , " he w ro te to G osse (L e t t e r s I I , 2 5 ) .
He r e s o l v e d to r e t u r n I n th e s p r in g f o r a f u l l a p p r a i s a l .
I n th e m ean tim e, Jam es h e a d e d f o r P h i l a d e l p h ia f o r a
J a n u a ry 9 l e c t u r e d a t e .
B e fo re le a v in g New Y ork he h ad a g re e d to a llo w B ynner
to do an " a p o c ry p h a l" i n te r v ie w f o r th e C r i t i c from n o te s
B ynner h ad p r e v io u s ly ta k e n o f t h e i r t a l k s ( p . 2 6 ) . Hie
e n t i r e m a t t e r o f Jam es an d i n te r v ie w s p r o v id e s some i n
t e r e s t i n g a s p e c ts a b o u t th e man and th e a r t i s t . As we
h av e a lr e a d y s e e n i n J a m e s 's e n c o u n te r w ith th e " s h e -
i n te r v ie w e r " i n New H am p sh ire, h i s a t t i t u d e was more
com plex th a n a n a t u r a l r e l u c t a n c e to be e x p l o i t e d . He
r e f u s e d a lm o s t d e f i a n t l y to r e a d " h e r s t u f f " ; and I n h i s
65
c o n s e n t to B y n n e r, th e same d e n i a l i s g iv e n a g a in , o n ly
m ore e m p h a tic a lly . Some o f th e r e a s o n s c a n be fo u n d i n
B y n n er* s a c c o u n t o f th e e v e n t.
At f i r s t (D ecem ber 2 4 ), Jam es c o n s e n te d to lo o k i t
o v e r (" s e n d me p r o o f and s u c h l i k e " ) ; on Ja n u a ry 5 , he
f l a t l y r e f u s e d a s i f he was a f r a i d to to u c h i t . " Don*t
su b m it i t to meT- , " he w ro te to B y n n er, " I s h o u ld n ’ t know
how to p a r t i c i p a t e l i t t l e e n o u g h . . ." ( p . 2 6 ) . The
p h r a s e , " p a r t i c i p a t e l i t t l e en o u g h ," seem s to im p ly a f e a r
I o f h im s e lf more th a n th e m a t e r i a l o f th e i n te r v ie w . I t
I i s a s i f Jam es, know ing h i s m ethods to o w e ll, i s d e l i b
e r a t e l y t r y i n g to keep th e m a t e r i a l from becom ing h i s i n
j any p o s s i b l e w ay. Ja m e s’ s a t t i t u d e s u g g e s ts t h a t i f once
; th e m a t e r i a l i s e x p o sed to him f o r c o r r e c t i o n — o r ev en
f i n a l a p p ro v a l— i t w ould, p o s s i b l y , become a n o th e r s u b je c t
f o r h i s " r e n d e r in g i n t o a r t . " He p r e f e r r e d to hav e no
!
p a r t i n su ch a t r i v i a l p r o j e c t . I t was b e t t e r n o t to ev en
!
: be te m p te d , f o r a f t e r a l l , how c o u ld he n o t h av e some
I c o n c e rn f o r su ch a p e r s o n a l s u b je c t?
|
| Jam es a d m itte d to B ynner t h a t he h ad " a c o n s t i t u t e d
and s y s te m a tic i n d i s p o s i t i o n " to any p a r t o f an in te r v ie w
(p . 2 8 ) . W hat r e s u l t e d w ould b e someone e l s e 's r e n d e r in g
o f th e s u b j e c t . A lth o u g h th e s u b j e c t was Jam es, i t was
th e i n t e r v i e w e r ’ s Ja m es, n o t r e a l l y h i m s e l f . " I t h a s ,
j
| f o r m e," Jam es i n s i s t e d , " n o th in g to do w ith me—my me,
I a t a l l ; b u t o n ly w ith th e o t h e r p e rs o n ’s e q u iv a le n t f o r
66
t h a t m y s te ry , w h a te v e r i t may b e ." Jam es lik e n e d h i s s ta n d
to h i s p r i n c i p l e o f " s e e in g " and " n o t - s e e i n g ," w hich m ig h t
be c a l l e d th e "econom y o f o b s e r v a t i o n ." When th e a r t i c l e
| a p p e a re d i n th e F e b ru a ry C r i t i c , h e w ro te B ynner a s f o llo w s
I
ifro m F l o r i d a :
I
T h ere a re th in g s I won’ t s e e . S u c c e ss i n l i f e to d a y ,-
I t h in k i s m easu red by th e d e g re e o f o n e 's c u l t i v a t i o n
o f th e a r t (a n e x q u i s i t e a r t ) o f n o t s e e in g . A ll e x c e p t
h e re [ F l o r i d a ] , f o r i n s t a n c e , w here t h e r e i s r e a l balm
f o r th e r i g h t l y o v e r te d & th e r i g h t l y d i r e c t e d e y e . . . ."
(B y n n e r, p . 28)
; The p l e a s u r e s o f F l o r i d a w ere n o t a r r i v e d a t i n a d i r e c t
|r o u t e . A f te r New Y ork, came P h i l a d e l p h ia and th e i n a u g u r a l
i . -
o f a new " c a r e e r " f o r Jam es— l e c t u r e r .
L e c tu r e r
M onths b e f o r e s a i l i n g from E n g la n d , Jam es was i n v i t e d
I to l e c t u r e by th e h ig h ly r e s p e c te d L ow ell I n s t i t u t e .
Jam es d e c lin e d th e h o n o r. He a d m itte d , f r a n k l y , t h a t th e
money was n o t enough (h e was to g e t m ore l a t e r ) . He
e x p la in e d t h a t he had h i s own b u s in e s s i n A m erica to d o .
I T h is , o f c o u rs e , was i n r e f e r e n c e to th e n o te s he had
i
: c o n tr a c te d to w r i t e . A n o th er i n v i t a t i o n was r e c e iv e d from
i •
!
I P r e s i d e n t C arey Thomas o f B ryn Mawr, w hich he a ls o r e f u s e d ,
c o u c h in g h i s r e p l y i n lo n g , e la b o r a t e p h r a s e s . He c o n
f e s s e d t h a t he h ad no sp e ec h "up h i s s le e v e " s u i t a b l e
^M arie H a r r i s , "H enry Ja m es, L e c tu r e r ," A m erican
1 L i t e r a t u r e , 2 3 : 302- 314, November 1951. H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s
| H a r r i s .
67
enough f o r young l a d i e s . Qn th e p o s t s c r i p t Jam es added an
" a f t e r t h o u g h t ” : "To b e l u c i d , th e h o n o ra riu m you o f f e r i s
n o t s u f f i c i e n t . " The c u sto m a ry f e e o f $ 5 0 .0 0 was r a i s e d ,
and Jam es a g re e d to th e l e c t u r e .
A ll i n a l l , Jam es gave f o u r te e n p r e s e n t a t i o n s o f h i s
l e c t u r e , "The L esso n o f B a lz a c ." B etw een J a n u a ry and l a t e
May o f 1905* Jam es r e p e a te d h i s t a l k n o t o n ly i n th e f a
m i l i a r c i t i e s o f th e E a s t b u t a ls o i n C h ic a g o , S t . L o u is ,
I n d i a n a p o l i s , and ev en d i s t a n t Los A n g e le s. The l e c t u r e s
w ere a g r e a t f i n a n c i a l s u c c e s s . Jam es was a b le to e x te n d
h i s o r i g i n a l p la n o f a f i v e o r six -m o n th s t r i p to t e n . I n
a l e t t e r to G osse on F e b ru a ry 18, Jam es w r i t e s e n t h u s i a s
t i c a l l y o f w hat he r e f e r s to a s " a p u b lic d e v e lo p m e n t, on
my d e s p e r a te p a r t " ( L e t t e r s I I , 2 8 ).
The s i z e a b le f e e s — I n d i a n a p o li s o f f e r e d him $ 5 0 0 .0 0
f o r f i f t y m in u te s —made th e " h o r r i d a c t " more th a n J u s t
b e a r a b l e . Jam es s u r p r i s e d e v en h im s e lf t h a t he c o u ld do
i t so e a s i l y . He ev en p la y e d , f o r a j e s t i n g m om ent, w ith
th e p l e a s a n t p o s s i b i l i t y o f g e t t i n g r i c h a t i t :
I f I c o u ld come b a c k h e re to a b id e I t h in k I sh o u ld
r e a l l y be a b le to a b id e i n ( r e l a t i v e ) a f f l u e n c e : one
c a n , on th e s p o t , make so much m ore m oney. . . . ( p . 2 8 )
j
I t was a c o m fo rtin g th o u g h t, b u t Jam es d id n o t d w e ll I n i t !
f o r lo n g ; " r a t h e r l i v e a b e g g a r a t Lamb H ouse" h e c o n c lu d e d ;
44 /
E d ith F in c h , C arey Thomas o f B ryn Mawr (New Y o rk ,
19^7)* p . 2 3 5 . H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s f i n c h .
68
He w o n d ered , I n th e same v e in , i f p o s t e r i t y w ould n o te
i
| w hat he h ad g iv e n u p : " L e t my b io g r a p h e r , h o w ev er, r e c a l l
th e s o l i d s a c r i f i c e I s h a l l h av e made" ( p . 2 8 ) . Tfte
| $ 1 3 5 0 .0 0 t h a t Jam es e a rn e d i n s i x M idw est l e c t u r e s w ith in
I one week was c e r t a i n l y r e a l and " s o l i d " en o u g h . A cco rd in g
!
j to M arie H a r r i s , Jam es tu r n e d down a l a r g e num ber o f i n -
; v i t a t i o n s from p r i v a t e , l i t e r a r y , and l a d i e s c lu b s , ev en a
i few p ro m in e n t i n d i v i d u a l s . J Jam es a c c e p te d o n ly th e o n e s
i n p l a c e s he h ad a d e s i r e to v i s i t , a n d , o f c o u r s e , a t th e
! r i g h t f e e .
|
Ja m e s’ s f i r s t p la tf o r m a p p e a ra n c e was J a n u a ry 9 a t
i th e C o n tem porary C lub i n P h i l a d e l p h ia , a t th e C lo v e r Room
o f th e B e l l e v u e - S t r a t f o r d . He was in tr o d u c e d by Agnes
1 46
j R e p p lie r , w hose i n t r o d u c t i o n , to som e, was b e t t e r th a n
j
't h e sp e ec h t h a t fo llo w e d . The C r i t i c , h o w ev er, r e p o r t e d
i t h a t M iss R e p p lie r b e lie v e d th e sp e e c h an " a s s u r e d
4t
: s u c c e s s ." ' She t o l d how Jam es c o n fid e d to h e r t h a t t h i s
; was h i s f i r s t sp e e c h anyw here and maybe i t w ould h e lp to
i
^ P . 3 0 6 . M arie H a r r is e s tim a te d t h a t Jam es e a rn e d
a b o u t $ 2 2 0 0 .0 0 d u r in g th e e n t i r e t r i p . (T h is in c lu d e d ,
I b e l i e v e , th e two B ryn Mawr Commencement a d d r e s s e s , a t
th e c o lle g e and th e h ig h B ch o o l, w hich w ould make a t o t a l
o f s i x t e e n p la tf o r m a p p e a r a n c e s .)
j . The " d e l i v e r y was a lm o s t irre d e e m a b ly b a d ," F u rn e s s
| was t o l d . — The L e t t e r s o f H orace Howard F u r n e s s , 2 v o l s . ,
j e d . H orace ft. F . Ja y n e (B o sto n , 1 ^ 2 2 ), 1 1 , 12£.
^ 4 7 : 2 0 6 , S ep tem b er 1905.
i
!
1
69
h av e th e a u d ie n c e know t h i s . She s u g g e s te d s a y in g n o th in g
t i l l a f t e r i t w as o v e r , when sh e announced i t aB a p re m ie re
p e rfo rm a n c e .
Jam es*s seco n d a p p e a ra n c e , a t B ryn Mawr, J a n u a ry 19,
was a p e r s o n a l a c c o m p lish m en t o f an e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t
o r d e r . T h is was to b e Ja m e s’ s f i r s t fo rm a l c o n ta c t i n
! A m erica w ith an academ ic e n v iro n m e n t. H is e x p e c te d a r r i v a l
I a t B ryn Mawr was lo o k e d fo rw a rd to f o r a lo n g w h ile , r e -
2 l Q
p o r t s E d ith P in c h , by b o th s t u d e n ts and f a c u l t y . "He
was a t t h a t tim e ," sh e s a y s , " th e l i t e r a r y g o d , ’ th e
m a s t e r ,' o f many on th e cam p u s." He a r r i v e d a t th e c o l -
!
I le g e th e day b e f o r e , sp e n d in g th e n i g h t on cam pus, and
" w a lk in g a b o u t th e c o ll e g e g ro u n d s f o r two h o u rs " on th e
day o f th e l e c t u r e . M iss P in c h draw s a p l e a s a n t p i c t u r e oft
i
i
Jam es r e c e i v i n g th e a d m irin g g la n c e s o f s tu d e n ts and
f a c u l t y , p a u s in g a t v a r io u s b u i l d i n g s t h a t i n t e r e s t e d
\ h im , p a r t i c u l a r l y th e a r c h i t e c t u r e o f Pem broke H a ll.
: P r e s i d e n t Thomas fo u n d him "c h a rm in g , d i r e c t , s im p le ,"
i
i
! and e x p re s s e d a l i k i n g f o r h i s " w e ll- b a la n c e d Ju d g m e n ts."
| ;
! M iss P in c h t e l l s how " th e f a c u l t y and s tu d e n ts u rg e d
! _ j
P r e s i d e n t Thomas to h av e him a t th e Ju n e Commencement."
Jam es a g re e d to r e t u r n , m aking th e s e two v i s i t s to B ryn
Mawr th e h i g h l i g h t s o f th e g u e s t y e a r a t th e c o ll e g e .
M iss P in c h l i s t s o t h e r fam ous g u e s ts d u rin g th e y e a r who,
|
t lift
| F in c h , p p . 235- 2 3 6 . A ll c i t a t i o n s i n t h i s p a ra g ra p h
: a r e from t h i s s o u r c e .
70
sh e c la im s , w ere e c l i p s e d by Jam es: P r e s i d e n t T a f t ,
E le o n o ra Duse th e I t a l i a n a c t r e s s , Q ueen E li z a b e th o f th e
B e lg ia n s , W illia m B u t l e r Y e a ts , and F r e d e r ic k H a r r is o n ,
th e E n g lis h w r i t e r and p h ilo s o p h e r .
A m ore d e t a i l e d a c c o u n t o f Jam es on th e l e c t u r e
p la tf o r m —h i s a p p e a ra n c e , h i s s t y l e , h i s a u d ie n c e , h i s
s u b j e c t —may h e lp c l a r i f y t h i s new p i c t u r e M iss F in c h
p r e s e n t s o f Jam es a s a p o p u la r p u b lic f i g u r e . T here was
no d o u b t from th e v e ry f i r s t p e rfo rm a n c e a t P h i l a d e l p h ia
t h a t Jam es w ould have a v e ry l a r g e and a d o rin g fem a le
a u d ie n c e . Jam es was w e ll aw are t h a t th e i n t e r e s t i n him
s e l f stemmed more from th e f a c t t h a t he was an e x p a t r i a t e
th a n any o t h e r s i n g u l a r f a c t o r . Rom ancer h im s e lf i n so
| many e le m e n ta ry w ays, he c o u ld n o t v e ry w e ll o v e rlo o k th e
i
| " i n t r i g u e " i n h i s own s i t u a t i o n .
i
Added to t h i s was th e c o n v ic tio n h e ld by many o f th e
i
p r e s s t h a t Jam es had f o r y e a r s b een p r i m a r i l y a w r i t e r f o r
women. W ilm er Cave F ra n c e f e l t a s s u r e d o f t h i s when he
| n o te d t h a t n i n e t y p e r c e n t o f h i s l e c t u r e a u d ie n c e s w ere
4 q
women. ^ As F ra n c e p i c t u r e d th e s c e n e , th e women s a t
e n t h r a l l e d w h ile " th e p l e a s a n t ev en v o ic e o f th e l e c t u r e r
u t t e r e d s t r i n g s o f im a g e s ." T hese Im ages in v o lv e d a lo n g
s u c c e s s io n o f a d v e rb s and p h r a s e s , w hich a f t e r a p ro lo n g e d
i n t e r v a l w ould f i n a l l y c l i c k i n t o p l a c e . "You c o u ld
j ^ " M r . H enry Jam es a s a L e c tu r e r ," Bookman, 2 1 :7 1 -7 2 ,
I March 1905. A ll q u o ta tio n s i n t h i s p a ra g ra p h a r e by
F r a n c e .
71
i a lm o s t," a c c o rd in g to P ra n c e , " f e e l th e a u d ie n c e b r e a th e
I
j t h e i r r e l i e f . " Jam es w ould th e n " g iv e them a s t r a i g h t
lo o k . . . to show them how p a i n l e s s l y i t was d o n e ."
I IX iring such an i n t e r v a l o f " s u s p e n s e ," P ra n c e im a g in e s th e
| a u d ie n c e b r e a t h l e s s l y s ig h in g , "0 s t i l l d e la y , th o u a r t so
j f a i r t " P ra n ce c o n c lu d e s : "And s t i l l , Mr. Jam es d e la y e d ."
The c o rr e s p o n d e n t f o r th e N a tio n , re v ie w in g th e
j J a n u a ry 9 p re m ie re l e c t u r e , a ls o m e n tio n s th e l a d i e s who
" s a t b e f o r e him i n a t t i t u d e s o f a d o rin g a t t e n t i o n . " ^ ° He
j fo u n d Ja m e s’ s d e l i v e r y to be " e a s y and r e s o n a n t ," and th e
| v o ic e so m ellow and m onotonous t h a t i t c o u ld be l i s t e n e d
to w ith o u t e f f o r t . "The c o m p le te a b se n c e o f em p h asis and
| g e s t u r e ," gave th e im p r e s s io n " t h a t t h e r e i s no e f f o r t on
; th e p a r t o f th e s p e a k e r ." Much o f t h i s e f f e c t o f a p p a re n t
i
I e a s e and c o n fid e n c e o n Ja m es’ s p a r t was p ro b a b ly due to
■ ; h i s p e r s o n a l a p p e a ra n c e on th e p la tf o r m . He was n o t a s
■ d e l i c a t e a s many o f th e p r e s s e x p e c te d a " la d y n o v e l i s t "
to b e . R e p o r te r s and o t h e r s w ere s u r p r i s e d a t how r o b u s t
j ^1
and im p re s s iv e a l i t e r a r y man he w as.
j ■
| Ja m es’ s p h y s ic a l a p p e a ra n c e came a s a s i g n i f i c a n t
| s u r p r i s e to m any. The u n b e a rd e d Jam es was a d i s t i n c t
sh o ck even to th o s e who knew him tw e n ty y e a r s a g o . U n t i l
th e age o f f i f t y - s i x ( 1 8 9 9 ) he h ad w orn a b e a rd f o r o v e r
I . •
■^80:53* J a n u a ry 1 9 , 1905. A ll q u o t a t i o n s i n t h i s
p a ra g ra p h a r e from t h i s s o u r c e .
-^ H ie New Y ork Sun, A ugust 3 0 , 1 904, p . 17, c o l . 5 .
72
tw e n ty y e a r s . The b e a rd e d , s le n d e r Jam es o f th e s e v e n t i e s
and e i g h t i e s was s t i l l th e im age m ost f a m i l i a r to Am eri
c a n s . The p r o f i l e p h o to g ra p h w hich a p p e a rs i n D upee*s
e d i t i o n o f th e Jam es A u to b io g ra p h y on p a g e 545 i s p ro b a b ly
th e m o st c h a r a c t e r i s t i c p i c t u r e o f Jam es i n th e s e y e a r s .-*2
I b e li e v e i t was su ch a p i c t u r e t h a t H am lin G a rla n d h ad i n
m ind, f a m i l i a r to him from th e p u b l i s h e r s 1 c a ta lo g u e s ,
when he m et Jam es f o r th e f i r s t tim e i n Decem ber 1904
( C om panions, p . 2 5 6 ) . G a rla n d was s t a r t l e d by th e d i f f e r
e n c e . He fo u n d i t d i f f i c u l t a t f i r s t to r e c o n c i l e th e tw o:
! S t o u t , e l d e r l y , and sm o o th -sh a v e n , he was so l i t t l e l i k e
my H enry Jam es t h a t I had d i f f i c u l t y i n c a u s in g th e two
c o n c e p ts to c o a le s c e . As I s tu d ie d him a c r o s s th e t a b l e ,
he b o d ie d f o r t h a lm o st p r e c i s e l y my n o tio n o f a b is h o p
o f th e E p is c o p a l C h u rch . H is h e ad was n o b ly p r o p o r
t io n e d , h i s e y e s b r i l l i a n t and r a t h e r p ro m in e n t, and
h i s brow s e r e n e . H is e x p r e s s io n was k in d ly . H is l i p s
w ere w ide an d m o b ile , and h i s v o ic e so n o ro u s and r i c h
i n q u a l i t y , a b e a u t i f u l b le n d o f London and New E n g la n d .
Much more a l e r t , more v ig o ro u s th a n I h ad e x p e c te d him
to b e , he lo o k e d and a c te d l i k e a man who e n jo y e d good
fo o d , h e a r t y , w holesom e, and s u b s t a n t i a l — a man who
c o u ld w alk te n m ile s o f a m orning and come i n s m ilin g .
(p p . 256- 2 5 8 )
The a c c o u n t f i t s v e ry w e ll w ith th e fam ous A lic e
I B oughton f u l l - l e n g t h p h o to g ra p h ( A p r il 1905) o f Jam es i n
to p h a t , b e n d in g fo rw a rd w ith h i s s t i c k and g lo v e s h e ld
-* 2New Y o rk , 1956. O th e r b e a rd e d p o r t r a i t s in c lu d e th e
1897 W illia m R o th e n s te in d raw in g i n The L egend o f th e
M a ste r (New Y o rk , 1 9 4 8 ), c o m p iled by Simon N o w ell-S m ith ,
p . I j th e 1886 S a rg e n t d raw in g a s f r o n t i s p i e c e to The
j L e t t e r s I ; and th e f u l l - l e n g t h p h o to g ra p h o f "H enry Jam es
i a s a T o u r i s t ," i n The Jam es F am ily e d . F . 0 . M a tth ie s s e n
(New Y o rk , 1 9 4 7 ), p . 3 ^ 9 .
73
b e h in d him , a d m irin g a p i c t u r e I n h e r s t u d i o . ^ T h is was
th e Jam es t h a t women, a c r o s s th e c o u n tr y , came to h e a r , o r
a t th e l e a s t , to s e e . On th e l e c t u r e p la tf o r m , Jam es re a d
i s lo w ly and d e l i b e r a t e l y from lo o s e s h e e t s . He s to o d im -
j p a s s i v e l y , a c c o rd in g to th e Book News f o r F e b ru a ry , one
! hand i n h i s p o c k e t, th e o t h e r h o ld in g h i s m a n u s c r ip t,
s p e a k in g w ith a rh y th m ic f a l l i n g i n f l e c t i o n to h i s v o ic e ,
h i s body sw aying b a c k and f o r t h s l i g h t l y (2 3 :4 8 7 ) . Some
comm ents w ere made a b o u t h i s s l i g h t stam m er; f r e q u e n t l y , he
w ould b e g in a p h ra s e o v e r . T h is boyhood a f f l i c t i o n w hich
I
: Jam es h a d p a r t i a l l y overcom e was m is ta k e n f o r a f f e c t a t i o n ,
o r , m ore u n k in d ly , a B r i t i s h m annerism ( H a r r is , p . 3 0 4 ).
; H ow ever, i t was th e e l u s i v e s u b j e c t o f h i s l e c t u r e t h a t
e v e n t u a l l y b ro u g h t th e m ost t e l l i n g comment.
11 L i k e a D au m ier!" she t o l d him ( The Jam es F a m ily ,
; p . x v i ) . T h is p h o to g ra p h may b e found i n many p l a c e s :
i i n The Jam es F a m ily , p . 6 5 4 ; a n d , r e c e n t l y , on th e c o v e r
I o f th e V in ta g e p a p e rb a c k , The A m erican E ssa y s o f H enry
Ja m es, e d . Leon E d e l (New Y o rk , 1 9 5 6 ). A n o th er good l i k e -
n e s s i s th e 1912 Hoppe' p r o f i l e p h o to g ra p h i n The L e t t e r s
; I I , a s f r o n t i s p i e c e . The M arch 1905 Bookman c a r r i e d a
; f u l l - p a g e f a c e p h o to g ra p h , "M r. H enry Jam es T o d ay ," on
| p . 2 3 . A n o th er f i n e p i c t u r e i s i n P utnam 1s M o n th ly ,
1 2 :1 3 1 , May 1907# o f a H o llin g e r p h o to g ra p h ta k e n on th e
i " r e c e n t v i s i t . " The m o st r e v e a l i n g p h o to g ra p h o f a some
w hat t i r e d t r a v e l l e r was ta k e n by K a th e rin e M c C le lla n ,
p h o to g ra p h e r f o r S m ith C o lle g e , on th e o c c a s io n o f h i s
May 1905 l e c t u r e t h e r e — F r o n t i s p i e c e to The M ajor P h a s e .
The J a c q u e s -E m ile B lan c h e 1908 p o r t r a i t was h e ld b y M rs.
i W harton to b e " th e o n ly one t h a t r e n d e r s him a s he r e a l l y
! w a s ." — L egend o f th e M a s te r, p . 37 and a ls o a s f r o n t i s -
! p ie c e to th e A u to b io g ra p h y .
74
A cco rd in g to O l i v ia D unbar, th e B a lz a c " e s s a y " was
to o good f o r l e c t u r e p u r p o s e s . ^ I t was " to o r i c h l y
com pact" f o r h i s a u d ie n c e , p r o v id in g o n ly an e x c u se w hereby
Jam es "may b e s t a r e d a t w ith o u t r u d e n e s s ." She im p lie d ,
i r o n i c a l l y , t h a t th e s u b j e c t o f th e a u d ie n c e — "an d o n ly
Jam es c o u ld c h a r a c t e r i z e th em "—was th e g r e a t e r s u b j e c t
o f th e tw o. The m a t e r i a l o f th e l e c t u r e , h o w ev er, was
w id e ly r e p o r t e d , a c c o rd in g to H a r r i s ; " f a i r l y c o h e re n t
a c c o u n ts o f i t w ere g i v e n -d u rin g th e f i r s t p a r t o f 1905,"
w h ile i t was s t i l l u n p u b lis h e d ( H a r r i s , p . 3 0 6 ) . W herever
th e l e c t u r e was g iv e n , i t was r e c e iv e d w ith r e s p e c t i n th e
i n t e l l e c t u a l c i r c l e s w here Jam es had alw ay s had h i s "few
b u t f i t " f o l lo w e r s . As f o r th e o t h e r s , a s w ith h i s b o o k s,
t h e r e was no p a r t i c u l a r good—o r harm — d o n e . T h is , how
e v e r was n o t t r u e o f th e seco n d l e c t u r e , th e a d d re s s Jam es ;
was to g iv e i n Ju n e a t B ryn Mawr, "The Q u e stio n o f o u r
S p e e c h ." T hen, a s we s h a l l p r e s e n t l y s e e , he was so
g r o s s l y m is u n d e rs to o d and m is r e p o r te d , t h a t th e e v e n tu a l
p u b l i c a t i o n o f th e a d d re s s was n e c e s s a r y i n o r d e r to
m i t i g a t e — i n i t s m ore c a r e f u l r e a d i n g — a g a i n s t th e "harm "
t h a t was d o n e— to Jam es.
■^"H enry Jam es a s a L e c t u r e r ," C r i t i c , 4 7 :2 5 , J u ly 2 4 , 1
1905. H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s D unbar.
75
The B a lz a c " e s s a y , I f we ta k e I t p r i m a r i l y a s an
e s s a y , i s a s i g n i f i c a n t s ta te m e n t among many o t h e r s by
Jam es, on th e g r e a t F re n c h m a n 's Im p o rta n c e to th e n o v e l.
I t I s a l s o , i n th e l a r g e r s e n s e , a f a m i l i a r p l e a f o r d i s
c r im in a tio n and t a s t e i n l i f e and l i t e r a t u r e . We f i n d
Jam es u r g in g h i s l i s t e n e r s , whom he assum ed w ere a l l l i t e r
a ry m en, to becom e in v o lv e d w ith t h i s h ig h e r c r i t i c i s m o f
f i c t i o n ; s p e c i f i c a l l y , n o t to ta k e B a l z a c 's g r e a t n e s s f o r
g r a n te d , to becom e in v o lv e d w ith him f o r o th e r w is e "when
th e c o n s e c r a tio n r e a l l y ta k e s p la c e we h av e b e e n e x c lu d e d ,
so to s p e a k , from th e fu n " ( p . 6 6 ) . Jam es a d m itte d t h a t
B a lz a c was n o t e a s i l y g ra s p e d ; t h a t , i n a w ay, h e was
d e n se and m u st b e ta k e n i n th e m ass.
The c l u s t e r i s to o t h i c k , th e stem to o to u g h ; b e f o r e
we know i t , when we b e g in to p u l l , we hav e th e w hole
b ra n c h a b o u t o u r h e a d s —o r i t w ould in d e e d be m ore
j u s t to sa y we h a v e th e w hole t r e e , i f n o t th e w hole
f o r e s t , ( p . 6 8 )
T h ro u g h o u t, Jam es s u s ta in e d t h i s im age o f t h e a r c h i
t e c t o n i c g e n iu s o f B a lz a c , i n o r d e r to c o n t r a s t him w ith
th e e a s y s i m p l i f i c a t i o n s o f th e m odern p o p u la r w r i t e r s .
He r e f e r r e d to none b y name, c a l l i n g them o n ly " th e s e lo o s e i
and e a s y p r o d u c e r s , th e g r e a t re s o u n d in g i m p r o v i s a t o r i . . . 'r
-^ "T h e L esso n o f B a lz a c " f i r s t a p p e a re d i n th e A t l a n t i c
M o n th ly , 9 6 :1 6 6 -1 8 0 , A ugust 1905. I t was l a t e r p u b lis h e d i
w ith th e B ryn Mawr a d d re s s a s a b o o k , b e a r in g th e t i t l e o f
th e a d d r e s s , The Q u e stio n o f o u r S peech (B o s to n , 1 9 0 5 ).
(The a d d re s s a p p e a re d f i r s t i n A p p le to n 's B o o k lo v e r 's
M agazine, 6 :1 9 9 -2 1 0 , A ugust 19037* A ll p ag e r e f e r e n c e s a r e
to th e hook p u b l i c a t i o n .
76
( p . 7 0 ) . H ie a c c u s a tio n , w hich a p p lie d to w r i t e r s on b o th
s i d e s o f th e A t l a n t i c , was a ls o g iv e n e a r l i e r to " th e
i n t e r f e r i n g f o r c e " o f u n c r i t i c a l and m a t e r i a l i n t e r e s t s .
Jam es u s e d a s an exam ple th e d i s t o r t e d p i c t u r e o f Ja n e
A u ste n . The c h a n g in g c u r r e n t s o f o p in io n on h e r h ad b e e n
a f f e c t e d e n t i r e l y by n o n - l i t e r a r y f a c t o r s .
R e s p o n s ib le , r a t h e r , i s th e body o f p u b l i s h e r s ,
e d i t o r s , i l l u s t r a t o r s , p r o d u c e rs o f th e p l e a s a n t
tw a d d le o f m a g a z in e s ; who h a v e found t h e i r " d e a r ," o u r
d e a r , everybody* s d e a r , Ja n e so i n f i n i t e l y to t h e i r
m a t e r i a l p u rp o s e , so am enable to p r e t t y r e p r o d u c tio n
i n e v e ry v a r i e t y o f w hat i s c a l l e d t a s t e f u l , and i n
w h at se e m in g ly p ro v e s to b e s a l e a b l e , fo rm . ( p . 6 l )
Many o f Ja m e s’ s p o i n t s o f c r i t i c i s m , d i r e c t o r im
p l i e d , w ere w ith in th e same g e n e r a l a r e a o f d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n
t h a t we f i n d i n The A m erican S c e n e . The l i t e r a r y p r e d i c a
m ent was m e re ly a n o th e r o f th e many A m erican s h o rtc o m in g s .
H ow ever, Jam es was w ise enough n e v e r to d e b a s e , w hat we may
c a l l , h i s " f o r e ig n " c r i t i c a l c u rre n c y b y e m b a rra s s in g h i s
a u d ie n c e w ith any sw eep in g o r c o n d e sc e n d in g in d ic tm e n ts .
As i n h i s f i c t i o n , Jam es re m a in e d a m a s te r o f to n e .
T h ro u g h o u t th e l e c t u r e , Jam es m a in ta in e d a to n e o f m u tu a l
r e s p e c t ; he c o n t i n u a l l y a d d re s s e d h i s h e a r e r s a s i f th e y
w ere f e llo w n o v e l i s t s , n o t th e " l e a d e r l e s s flo c k " he d e
p l o r e d . He assum ed he was a d d r e s s in g th e few who c o u ld
p a s s i n t e l l i g e n t ju d g m e n t, n o t a d d r e s s in g th e " g e n e r a l
ju d g m en t" who n e e d s to r e c e i v e i t (p . 5 6 ) . By th u s a l i g n
in g h i s l i s t e n e r s w ith h im s e lf , w ith th e s e l e c t body o f
77
a p p r e c i a t o r s and m o ld e rs o f t a s t e , he g a in e d a g e n e r a l nod
o f a g re em e n t i n n e a r ly e v e r y th in g he s a i d . Only a s u b s e
q u e n t c a r e f u l r e a d in g o f th e p u b lis h e d t e x t w ould have
f u l l y r e v e a l e d , to th e u n w ary , how e a s i l y th e Ja m e sia n
b a r b s and i r o n i e s c o u ld s t r i k e home.
I n t h i s m an n er, Jam es f e l t no c o m p u lsio n to sa y d e f
e r e n t i a l o r p l e a s a n t t h in g s a b o u t A m erican w r i t e r s , n o r was
he aw are o f any "dem and" from h i s a u d ie n c e to "b e sm irc h
th e w h ite n e s s o f h i s c r i t i c a l s o u l ," a s D unbar p h ra s e d i t
(D u n b ar, p . 2 5 ) . He c h o s e , w is e ly no d o u b t, to f l a t t e r
th e a u d ie n c e r a t h e r th a n t h e i r p e t b e l i e f s . I t was i n
k e e p in g w ith Ja m e s’ s c o m p lete way o f l i f e t h a t he eschew ed
th e "ch e a p and th e e a s y ." I t w as, o f c o u rs e , f l a t t e r y o f
th e h i g h e s t and m ost s k i l l f u l o r d e r . Jam es assum ed h i s
h e a r e r s w ere i n t e l l i g e n t r e a d e r s . He le d them c a r e f u l l y
a lo n g h i s p r e p a re d p a th o f l i t e r a r y g r e a t s , i n t o th e
" s a c r e d g ro v e " o f B a lz a c .
U sin g f a m i l i a r e c h o e s from su ch e s s a y s on th e n o v e l
a s "The A rt o f F i c ti o n " (1 8 8 4 ), Jam es p ro c e e d e d to d e f in e
and d is c r im i n a t e th e g r e a t n e s s o f B a lz a c . W ith B a lz a c
th e n o v e l was a r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f l i f e , n o t l i f e i t s e l f
a s w ith Z o la . He lik e n e d B a lz a c to S h a k e sp e a re i n t h a t
" h i s s u b j e c t i s a g a in and a g a in th e c o m p lic a te d human
c r e a t u r e o r human c o n d itio n " ( p . 9 4 ) . B u t, m o st o f a l l ,
Jam es p le a d e d f o r d e ta c h m e n t from h i s s u b j e c t ; p a r t i c u l a r l y
78
f o r th e a v o id a n c e o f "m o ra l e a g e rn e s s " su c h a s we f in d
i n T h a c k e ra y , w hich m ars th e a r t i s t ' s " p o s s e s s io n " o f h i s
im a g e :
The E n g lis h w r i t e r w a n ts to make s u r e , f i r s t o f a l l , o f
y o u r m o ra l Judgm ent; th e F ren ch , i s w i l l i n g , w h ile i t
w a i ts a l i t t l e , to r i s k f o r th e sa k e o f th e s u b j e c t and
i t s i n t e r e s t , y o u r s p i r i t u a l s a l v a t i o n , ( p . 9 9 )
T h is , o f c o u r s e , was th e te n d e r p o i n t i n J a m e s 's c r i t i c a l
t h e o r i e s t h a t was so o f t e n m is u n d e rs to o d i n J a m e s 's own
n o v e ls , n o ta b ly , The B o s to n ia n s (1 8 8 6 ) and c u r r e n t l y , The
G olden Bowl (November 1 9 0 4 ). Much o f th e m y s t i f i c a t i o n i s
rem oved i n th e sim p le c l a r i t y o f h i s p r e s e n t p l e a .
I t a l l com es b a c k , i n f i n e , to t h a t r e s p e c t f o r th e
l i b e r t y o f th e s u b j e c t w hich I s h o u ld b e w i l l i n g to
name a s th e g r e a t s ig n o f th e p a i n t e r o f th e f i r s t
o r d e r . Such a w itn e s s to th e human comedy f a i r l y h o ld s
h i s b r e a t h f o r f e a r o f a r r e s t i n g o r d i v e r t i n g t h a t
n a t u r a l l i c e n s e ; th e w itn e s s who b e g in s to b r e a th e so
u n e a s i l y i n p r e s e n c e o f i t t h a t h i s r e s p i r a t i o n n o t
o n ly w arn s o f f th e l i t t l e p ro w lin g o r p la y in g c r e a t u r e
h e i s su p p o se d to b e s tu d y in g , b u t d ro w n s, f o r o u r
e a r s , th e In g e n u o u s so u n d s o f th e a n im a l, a s w e ll a s
th e g e n e r a l , t r u t h f u l hum o f th e human sc e n e a t l a r g e —
t h i s d e m o n s tr a to r h a s no s u f f i c i e n t w a r r a n t f o r h i s
t a s k . ( p . 1 0 0 )
\
CHAPTER I I I
THE 1904-1905 TRIP TO AMERICA: TOURIST AT LARGE
The New A m erica
. F o r th e re m a in d e r o f J a n u a ry (fo llo w in g th e J a n u a ry
19 B ryn Mawr l e c t u r e ) and a l l o f F e b ru a ry , Jam es th e l e c
t u r e r r e v e r t e d to th e m ore f a m i l i a r r o l e o f Jam es th e
t o u r i s t . I t i s n o t d i f f i c u l t to im a g in e th e g r e a t m easu re
o f r e l i e f w ith w hich Jam es gav e up h i s new " c a r e e r ” f o r
a t l e a s t a m onth and a h a l f . As i t w as, he was n o t com
m it t e d to th e " p la tfo rm " a g a in u n t i l th e f i r s t week o f
M arch i n S t . L o u is . T h ere he was to b e g in th e f i r s t o f
s i x M idw est a p p e a ra n c e s . Of c o u r s e , i n th e f u l l e s t s e n s e ,
a l l o f Ja m e s1s e x p e r ie n c e s i n A m erica w ere to go i n t o th e
h o p p e r to make h i s b o o k . W e can be s u re t h a t Jam es h ad a
m a s te r l i s t o f p la c e s w hich h ad to be s e e n . The b o t h e r
some w e a th e r, h o w ev er, c o n tin u e d to b e th e d e c id in g f a c t o r
i n J a m e s 's p l a n s . He e x p e c te d l i t t l e r e l i e f i n P h i l a
d e lp h ia a f t e r th e c o ld o f New Y ork; and g o t n o n e . B ut
th e g r e a t e s t d is a p p o in tm e n t came a s he moved g r a d u a lly
so u th w a rd and s t i l l fo u n d snow and i c e ev en i n V i r g i n ia
and th e C a r o lin a s .
79
I n h i s l e t t e r s from th e S o u th to D r. W illia m W h ite 1
I i n P h i l a d e l p h ia , Jam es -wrote t h a t I t was g e t t i n g i n c r e a s -
i
! i n g ly c o ld e r a s he c r o s s e d th e M ason-D ixon l i n e . Jam es
j
| was " th e c h i l l i e s t man i n C h ris te n d o m ," a c c o rd in g to Agnes
!
j R e p p lie r , W h ite ’ s b io g r a p h e r . I n a l e t t e r to th e W h ite s ,
i Jam es r e f e r r e d lo n g in g ly to th e h o s p i t a l i t y and "w arm th"
| t h a t he had r e c e iv e d i n t h e i r home. I n t h e i r "c o z y l i t t l e
; h o u se i n R Itte n h o u s e S q u a re " — a s Jam es term ed i t — , he
h ad e n jo y e d th e "warm f i r e and s o f t b l a n k e ts " w hich M rs.
I W hite p r o v id e d f o r h im . E v id e n tly , Jam es found th e s e
t
| e x t r a c o m fo rts a s s o r e l y la c k in g i n th e S outh a s th e warm
’ w e a th e r he was s e e k in g .
T h ere was a c o n ti n u a l n o te o f h u r r y i n Ja m e s’ s
« l e t t e r s ; i t was to p e r s i s t th ro u g h o u t th e re m a in d e r o f
| h i s A m erican t r a v e l s . I n W ashington th e r e was o n ly tim e
! to " g la n c e and p a s s " ; e v e n th o u g h he n o te d w i s t f u l l y to
I G o sse , th e r i c h q u a n t i t y o f m a t e r i a l , " th e w ild ra n g e o f
i
i a n e c d o te ," t h a t was to b e had ( L e t t e r s I I , 2 5 ). At th e
i W hite H ouse, Jo h n Hay in tr o d u c e d him to P r e s i d e n t R o o se-
|
| v e l t , whom Jam es d e s c r ib e d ( to G o sse) a s " e x t r a o r d in a r y
and r a t h e r p e r s o n a l l y - f a s c i n a t i n g . " The W ash in g to n s o c i a l
| 1Agnes R e p p lie r , J . W illia m W h ite , M.D. (B o s to n , 1919)*
p . 1 1 9 . M iss R e p p lie r in tr o d u c e d Barnes to D r. W hite i n
P h i l a d e l p h i a . They im m e d ia te ly becam e good f r i e n d s : "D r.
W hite n e v e r e x p lo i t e d h im , n e v e r f l a t t e r e d him , n e v e r
te a s e d him w ith q u e s t io n s ; b u t j u s t gav e him h o n e s t l i k i n g ,
freed o m and l e i s u r e . " A ll q u o ta tio n s i n t h i s p a ra g ra p h
a re from t h i s s o u r c e . H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s R e p p lie r .
81
i
dem ands b e g a n to e a t i n t o h i s " p r e c io u s tim e ," a s th e y
w ere to do e v ery w h e re he h ad f r i e n d s . He w ro te to M rs.
B o it t h a t h e was " l i v i n g i n a w h irlw in d o f c o n v e r s a tio n
w hich h a s c a u se d me to n e g le c t e v e r y th in g b u t th e e f f o r t
p
to k eep up w ith i t . " The la c k o f enough tim e to r e a l l y
| "do" th e s e c i t i e s c o n tin u e d to p r e s s upon him a s an a lm o s t
I im p o s s ib le b u rd e n . The p i l i n g u p o f m a t e r i a l made h i s
! t a s k m ore and m ore th e " in te r m in a b le s u r g i c a l . . . o r d e a l"
: i t was becom ing ( L e t t e r s I I , 2 4 ) .
The f i r s t g r e a t c h a lle n g e f o r h i s im p r e s s io n s came to
him a t R ichm ond. H ere was th e u n f a m i l i a r A m erica he h ad
! e a g e r ly come to s e e . D e s p ite th e c o ld — " a l l t h i s s o u th e rn
j la n d i s u n d e r snow" he w ro te th e B o i t s — Jam es was a b le to
i
do i t f u l l j u s t i c e . He r e c o r d e d i n h i s c h a p te r i n The
A m erican Scene (s e e b e lo w , p . 180) some o f h i s m ost
p e n e t r a t i n g v ie w s o f A m erica. As he lo o k e d a b o u t a t p r e s -
i
| e n t- d a y Richm ond he was c a u g h t up i n th e c o m p le x ity o f
!
! r e s o l v in g th e two R ichm onds: th e Richmond o f th e G rand
C o n fe d e ra c y o f h i s r e a d in g and im a g in a tio n ; and th e
I p r e s e n t , "m uted" Richm ond w hich te a s e d an d vexed him i n
I
h i s s e a r c h f o r some e s s e n t i a l m ean in g .
Jam es c o n tin u e d so u th w a rd , s t i l l s e a r c h in g f o r
w arm er w e a th e r. He s p e n t a week i n th e " a l l b u t p o l a r
r i g o u r " o f th e B iltm o re i n th e N o rth C a r o lin a m o u n ta in s .
! 2HJ to M rs. B o i t, F e b ru a ry 2 , 1905> "Jam es a s L and-
| l o r d , " p . 1 2 0 .
82
G eorge V a n d e r b i l t 's c o n v e rte d F re n c h c h a te a u p ro v id e d
Jam es w ith a v a lu a b le i l l u s t r a t i o n o f O ld W orld m a g n if i
c e n c e i n th e New W orld s e t t i n g . I t e v e n t u a l l y becam e a
p a r t o f h i s com m ents on " h o t e l - c i v i l i z a t i o n " j i n th e m ean
tim e , h e fo u n d I t o v e rp o w e rin g , a s he n o te d to G o sse :
. . . th e h o u se 2500 f e e t i n a i r , and a th in g o f th e
h ig h R o th s c h ild m an n er, b u t o f a s i z e to c o n ta in two
o r t h r e e M entm ores and W addesdons [fam ous E n g lis h
m a n s io n s ]. ( L e t t e r s I I , 2 5 )
The im p o rte d E n g lis h s e r v a n t s w ere n o t a s im p r e s s iv e . I n
th e same v e in a s h i s e a r l i e r New E n g la n d c o m p la in t t h a t
"no one c u r t s e y s to me h e r e ," h e w ro te th e W h ite s t h a t h e
p r e f e r r e d t h e i r "M rs. N o rto n to th e w hole p e r p e n d ic u la r
E n g lis h s t a f f o f th e B iltm o re " ( R e p p lie r , p . 1 1 9 ).
I t i s q u i t e l i k e l y t h a t Jam es h a d F l o r i d a "o n th e
m ind" lo n g b e f o r e th e s e v e re w in te r w e a th e r d ro v e him
" y e a r n in g ly " to i t s v e ry t i p a t Palm B e ac h . Y e a rs b e f o r e ,
a c c o rd in g to th e A m erican a c t r e s s E li z a b e th R o b b in s, Jam es
h ad h e a r d o f h e r " F l o r i d a i n f a t u a t i o n . E v e n th o u g h h e r
e n th u s ia s m b ro u g h t " u n r e l e n ti n g m o c k e ry ," Jam es m ust hav e
b e e n d u ly a f f e c t e d b y h e r a c c o u n ts o f su c h e x o ti c p l a c e s
a s "H ernando C ounty . . . th e C a lo o s a h a tc h e e and o f th e
g r e a t in la n d s e a , O keechobee, n e a r th e E v e r g la d e s . . . . "
J a m e s 's l e t t e r s to G osse and M rs. C l i f f o r d , a lth o u g h
^T h e a tre and F r ie n d s h ip : Some H enry Jam es L e t t e r s
(New Y o rk , 1 9 3 2 ), p . 2 4 9 . H e r e a f te r c i t e d a s R o b b in s.
83
w r i t t e n i n th e u s u a l h a s t e — " th e h o u r s m e lt aw ay"—b e a r
o u t a d e f i n i t e f a s c i n a t i o n f o r w h at he fo u n d . T h ere w ere
s u b j e c t s to be t r e a t e d e v e ry w h e re : ( t o G osse)
1 ■
I . . . F l o r i d a , a t t h i s s o u th e rn m o s t t i p , o r a lm o s t, d o es
b e g u ile and g r a t i f y me— g iv in g me my f i r s t and l a s t
( e v i d e n tl y ) s e n s e o f th e t r o p i c s o r a p eu p rfe s, th e s u b
t r o p i c s , and r e v e a l i n g to me a b la n d n e s s i n n a tu r e o f
w hich I h ad no i d e a . T h is i s an am azing w i n t e r - r e s o r t —
t th e w e ll- to - d o i n t h e i r t e n s , t h e i r h u n d re d s , o f th o u
s a n d s , from a l l o v e r th e la n d ; . . . I t w i l l g iv e me
b r i l l i a n t c h a p te r s on h o t e l - c i v i l i z a t i o n . ( L e t t e r s
I I , 2 6 )
. I n th e same mood o f e n c h a n tm e n t, he w ro te to M rs. C l i f f o r d :
. . . th e v e ry s o u th t i p t o e o f F l o r i d a . . . h a s an a i r
a s o f m o lte n l i q u i d v e l v e t , and th e palm and th e o r a n g e ,
th e p i n e - a p p le , th e s c a r l e t h i b i s c u s , th e v a s t m a g n o lia
and th e s a p p h ir e s e a , make i t a v i s i o n o f v e ry c o n s i d e r
a b le b e g u ile m e n t. ( L e t t e r s I I , 3 0 )
| The te n - d a y s t a y a t The B r e a k e rs i n Palm B each was
" to o s h o r t " ; i t was fo llo w e d on F e b ru a ry 18 w ith t h r e e
i :
I b r i e f e r d a y s a t S t . A u g u s tin e , th e o l d e s t c i t y i n A m erica—j
"tw o o r t h r e e [d a y s ] none to o much to s i t i n w onderm ent
; a t th e s u c c e s s w ith w hich i t h a s o u t l i v e d i t s age"
i \ !
! ( L e t t e r s I I , 27). The "w onderm ent" a ls o in c lu d e d su ch
| d is h a rm o n ie s a s th e f o llo w in g , w hich he r e v e a le d to G o sse :
| U ie re i s r a t h e r a b ig and m e la n c h o ly and " to n e d " (w ith
I p a t i n a ) o ld S p a n ish f o r t ( o f th e l 6 t h c e n t u r y ) , b u t
| h o r r i b l e l i t t l e m odernism s s u rro u n d i t . On th e o t h e r
j h an d t h i s huge m odern h o t e l (P once de L eon) i s i n th e
j s t y l e o f th e A lham bra, and th e p r i n c i p a l c h u r c h ^ " P r e s -
j b y t e r i a n " ) i n t h a t o f th e m osque o f C ordova.
i
i Jam es was te m p te d and i n t r i g u e d b y th e c lo s e n e s s o f
i
i Cuba (" tw e lv e h o u rs o f s te a m e r " ) ; b u t r e l u c t a n t l y gave i t
j
; up f o r " r e a s o n s o f tim e and m oney," a s he t o l d M rs.
84
C l i f f o r d . He hoped i n s t e a d to v i s i t Mexico l a t e r from
C a l i f o r n i a ( L e t t e r s I I , 3 0 ) . On F e b ru a ry 21 Jam es l e f t
F l o r i d a to r e t u r n to New Y ork and C am bridge. He was soon
m aking p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r th e t r i p to th e M iddle W est and
C a l i f o r n i a .
IX iring th e s e v e n te e n d a y s (M arch 2-M arch 19) t h a t he
s p e n t i n th e M idw est, Jam es becam e a p u b lic f i g u r e a g a in .
S t a r t i n g w ith th e M arch 7 a p p e a ra n c e a t th e C o n tem porary
Club o f S t. L o u is , Jam es gave th e B a lz a c l e c t u r e s ix tim e s .
I n C h ic a g o , on M arch 10, Jam es spoke a t th e T w e n tie th
C e n tu ry C lu b , w h e re , a c c o rd in g to H am lin G a rla n d , " th e
l i t e r a r y f o l k o f th e c i t y w ere a l l p r e s e n t " ( C om panions,
p . 2 5 9 ) . 1 1 1 6 f o llo w in g a f t e r n o o n , M arch 11, Jam es drew a
4
c a p a c i ty crow d f o r h i s p e rfo rm a n c e b e f o r e th e F o r t n i g h t l y j
and F r id a y C lu b s o f C h ic a g o .
I t was d u r in g th e C hicago l e c t u r e s t h a t Jam es becam e
in v o lv e d w ith th e " D a is y M ille r " h o a x , p e r p e t r a t e d a t h i s
e x p e n se ( H a r r i s , p . 3 0 8 ) . Jam es was in tr o d u c e d b y an
e la b o r a t e r e f e r e n c e to th e " D a isy M ille r " s t o r y . The
a u d ie n c e was t o l d t h a t tw e n ty - f iv e y e a r s ago when th e
| s t o r y a p p e a re d , B o sto n s a id t h a t D a isy was a C hicago g i r l . :
C hicago now g l a d l y c la im s h e r , th e i n t r o d u c t i o n w ent o n ,
| and t o n i g h t sh e s i t s h e re a s a m a tu re , d ip lo m a tic C hicago
4
H i e th r e e - h u n d r e d c a p a c i ty was an a c h ie v e m e n t a g a i n s t
! th e c o m p e titio n o f t h r e e th o u s a n d who came to h e a r
P a d e re w sk i th e same a f te r n o o n ( H a r r i s , p . 3 0 7 ).
8 5
woman. Jam es m ust h a v e s a t s t u p e f i e d when i t was f u r t h e r
; ann o u n ced t h a t a f t e r "M r. Ja m e s1s a d d r e s s , we w i l l a sk
; him who sh e i s ? " A cco rd in g to M iss H a r r i s , th e a u d ie n c e
| l i s t e n e d v e ry l i t t l e to h i s l e c t u r e , w a itin g e a g e r ly f o r
j th e " r e v e l a t i o n " a t th e e n d . Jam es, o f c o u r s e , p o l i t e l y
j d e n ie d any p a r t i c u l a r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , c la im in g t h a t D a isy
: M ille r was an a r t i s t i c c r e a t i o n and n o th in g e l s e . M iss
H a r r is ad d s t h a t Jam es c o u ld h a v e rem in d ed them t h a t i n
th e s t o r y D a isy was r e a l l y a S c h e n e c ta d y g i r l .
The C hicago p a p e r s made th e m ost o f Ja m e s’ s p r e d i c a -
i
! m e n t. A cco rd in g to M iss H a r r i s , th e r e p o r t s w ere a t
! J a m e s 's e x p e n s e , m is le a d in g and h eav y w ith sarcasm .^ From
i t h i s p o i n t o n , t h e r e seem s to be a c o n tin u o u s ru n n in g
; b a t t l e b e tw ee n Jam es and th e r e p o r t e r s , w h e re v e r he l e c -
I t u r e d . The I n d i a n a p o l i s News fo r.M a rc h 17 p ic k e d up a
comment by Jam es a b o u t th e F a r W est b e in g b e t t e r th a n th e
M idw est, d i s t o r t i n g w hat was p ro b a b ly an u n f o r t u n a t e r e
m ark i n t o a s l u r o f m a jo r p r o p o r t io n s ( H a r r i s , p . 309)*
: Some r e p o r t e r s b ro u g h t f a m i l i a r a n t i - E n g l i s h p r e j u d i c e s to
I b e a r i n t h e i r r e f e r e n c e s to Ja m es.
j A f te r h i s M arch 14 a p p e a ra n c e a t N o tre Dame, Jam es
} gave two f i n a l l e c t u r e s on M arch 17 a t I n d i a n a p o l i s . He
a d d re s s e d th e I n d ia n a L i t e r a r y Club and a j o i n t m e e tin g o f
! ^The C hicago D a ily T rib u n e o f M arch 10, 1905 and th e
| R e c o rd -H e ra ld o f M arch l i , 1$0*5' r e p o r t e d th e D a isy M ille r
| h oax a s a jo k e on Jam es ( H a r r i s , p . 3 0 8 ).
86
I
th e I n d ia n a C o n tem p o rary Club and th e I r v i n g to n A thenaeum .
The l a t t e r l e c t u r e was a rra n g e d by B ooth T a rk in g to n when
Jam es was i n F l o r i d a . When Jam es found tim e , on March 19,
| to sum u p h i s im p r e s s io n s to Edward W arren i n E n g la n d , i t
| was q u i t e n a t u r a l t h a t he in tr o d u c e d th e s u b j e c t a s f o l -
i
| lo w s: " I am a lr e a d y . . . r a t h e r s p e n t and w eary , w eary o f
I m o tio n and c h a t t e r . . ." ( L e t t e r s I I , 3 1 ). T h ere was
| much i n th e C hicago sc e n e to d i s t u r b Ja m es. He fo u n d i t
I g e n e r a l l y d r e a r y and u g ly ; and y e t , n o t e a s y to d e f i n e :
I . . . th e p e r p e t u a l e f f o r t o f t r y i n g to "do j u s t i c e "
i to w hat one d o e s n ’ t l i k e . I f one c o u ld o n ly damn i t
! and hav e dpne w ith i t ! So much o f i t i s ra n k w ith
f
ood i n t e n t i o n s , and th e n th e " k in d n e s s " — th e p r i n c e l y
a s i t w e re) h o s p i t a l i t y o f t h e s e c lu b s [he was a t th e
U n i v e r s i ty C lu b ]: b e s id e s th e s e n s e o f pow er, huge and
a u g m en tin g pow er ( v a s t m e c h a n ic a l, i n d u s t r i a l , s o c i a l ,
f i n a n c i a l ) e v e ry w h e re ! ( L e t t e r s I I , 3 1 )
I L i t e r a r y C hicago was p ro b a b ly more to Ja m es’ s l i k i n g .
; At l e a s t i t was open to a more im m ed iate c o m p reh en sio n
I th a n th e o v e rp o w e rin g phenom enon o f C hicago i n d u s t r y .
^ 0
| G a rla n d p ro v id e d th e e n t r e e . Jam es was i n v i t e d to a tt e n d
! an in f o r m a l l i t e r a r y m e e tin g , a c t u a l l y a " s tu d io su p p e r"
I 6
| a t th e home o f L orado T a f t th e s c u l p t o r on M arch 1 5 .
Jam es an sw ered t h a t he w ould "b e v e ry g la d to hav e a
g lim p se o f C h ic a g o ’ s a r t i s t i c l i f e . " G a rla n d a rra n g e d to
c a l l f o r him a t th e U n iv e r s ity C lu b . W hile w a itin g ,
G a rla n d b e g an to hav e d o u b ts a b o u t J a m e s 's a t t i r e f o r th e
£
C om panions, p p . 2 3 9 -2 6 2 . L orado T a f t was th e
| b r o t h e r - i n - l a w o f G a rla n d . A ll c i t a t i o n s i n t h i s a c c o u n t
! a r e from t h i s s o u r c e .
87
e v e n in g . The s u p p e rs w ere v e ry in f o r m a l; G a rla n d f e a r e d
Jam es "m ig h t h e d r e s s in g f o r a g ra n d o c c a s i o n ." H is f e a r s
p ro v e d to b e u n n e c e s s a r y .
When th e e l e v a t o r d o o r o p en ed and he s te p p e d f o r t h ,
I s m ile d a t my f e a r s . "He lo o k e d l i k e a g e n tle m a n who
h ad d r e s s e d i n th e d a r k . H is h a t o f th e 'b o w le r ' ty p e
was a l i t t l e askew on h i s h e a d , and a l i t t l e to o l a r g e
f o r h im . H is b la c k t i e a ls o a t an a n g le was o f a p ie c e
w ith h i s l o n g - s u f f e r i n g e v e n in g s u i t . H is v e s t was
b la c k and c u t i n th e f a s h io n o f 1898, and h i s t r o u s e r s
n e e d e d p r e s s i n g . I n a l l w ays h e was th e e x a c t o p p o s ite
o f th e e x q u i s i t e a r t i s t i n w ords whose g ra c e and pow er
s t i l l awed me. P e rh a p s I s h o u ld n o t hav e r e j o i c e d i n
t h i s la c k o f e a s e and c a re i n h i s d r e s s , b u t I d i d , f o r
I fo u n d i n t h i s n e g le c t th e e v id e n t f a c t t h a t h e , to o ,
c o n s id e r e d d r e s s a n u is a n c e , and h a d re d u c e d i t to i t s
s im p le s t te r m s . Anyhow I was c o m fo rte d and p u t a t e a s e ."
( C om panions, p p . 259- 2 6 0 )
A cco rd in g to G a r la n d 's a c c o u n t, th e e v e n in g was a
s u c c e s s f o r Jam es. "No v i s i t o r c o u ld h a v e b e e n more
g e n i a l , m ore t o l e r a n t , " G a rla n d n o te d , i n tr o d u c in g Jam es
to some o f th e w r i t e r s and a r t i s t s o f C h ic a g o .^ Jam es
1
a p p e a re d to b e am azed t h a t t h e r e was t h i s much c r e a t i v e
a c t i v i t y i n a c i t y su ch a s C h ic a g o . The g ro u p rem in d ed >
him o f h i s own e a r l y P a r i s d a y s . H ere he fo u n d w hat
G a rla n d d e s c r ib e d a s " a l i t t l e b i t o f th e L a tin Q u a r te r
a d a p te d to th e c h i l l w in d s o f Lake M ich ig an " ( p . 2 6 0 ) .
The e v e n in g was a r e v e l a t i o n to Ja m es. "He h ad n o t
e x p e c te d to f i n d p a i n t e r s and s c u l p t o r s i n C h ic a g o ,"
G a rla n d w ro te ,
7
'R a lp h C la rk s o n , H enry P u l l e r , O liv e r D e n n e tt G ro v e r,
and L orado T a f t w ere th e o n e s Jam es h ad th e m ost i n common
w ith s in c e th e y knew P a r i s and F lo re n c e (C om panions, p .
2 6 0 ) .
88
b u t when th e y w ere p r e s e n te d to him he d id h i s k i n d l i e s t
to b e l i e v e i n them . To him we w ere a l l w o rth y f o l k ,
ru d e p io n e e r s on th e b o r d e r o f th e a r t i s t i c and l i t e r a r y
New W o rld , w o rk e rs to b e e n c o u ra g e d and re w a rd e d .
( p . 2 6 1 )
T h is g lim p s e o f a r t i s t l i f e was a d e l i g h t f u l c o n t r a s t
f o r Jam es s in c e he a d m itte d t h a t he was m e e tin g o n ly th e
r i c h p e o p le o f th e c i t y . Jam es gave th e fo llo w in g am using
a c c o u n t o f h i s a d v e n tu r e s w ith th e s o c i a l l y e l i t e a t
W in n e tk a , one o f th e f a s h io n a b le . N o rth S hore s u b u rb s ,
w here he was s ta y in g a t a c o u s i n 's h o u s e :
The f i r s t n i g h t o f my s t a y my h o s t s h ad i n some te n o r
tw e lv e p e o p le to d in e . A ch arm in g com pany. The n e x t
e v e n in g th e y and I d in e d a t a n e ig h b o r in g h o u s e . Hand
some d i n n e r , lo v e ly hom e, ch arm in g g u e s t s —b u t th e same
p e o p le , p r e c i s e l y , o f th e n i g h t b e f o r e . T h ird n ig h t
a n o th e r ch arm in g home, d e l i g h t f u l company— e x a c tl y th e
same g ro u p d i f f e r e n t l y s e a t e d . M ost e x t r a o r d i n a r y 1 .
(P . 262)
Among th e many f o r c e f u l I m p re s s io n s Jam es to o k w ith
/
him on h i s d e p a r tu r e from C hicago was th e c o n tin u a l s e n s e
o f th e g r e a t pow er o f th e c i t y .
T h is C hicago i s h u g e , i n f i n i t e . (O f p o t e n t i a l s i z e and
fo rm , and ev en o f a c t u a l ) ; b la c k , sm oky, o l d - lo o k in g ,
v e ry l i k e some p r e t e r n a t u r a l l y boomed M a n ch e ste r o r
G lasgow ly in g b e s id e a c o l o s s a l la k e (M ic h ig a n ) o f h a rd
p a le g re e n ja d e , and p u t t i n g f o r t h r a ilw a y a n te n n a e o f
m addening c o m p le x ity and g i g a n t i c l e n g t h . ( L e t t e r s I I ,
3 1 -3 2 )
As a lw a y s, t h e r e was l i t t l e tim e to se e a l l t h a t com
manded h i s a t t e n t i o n . C h ic a g o 's m y s te r ie s h ad to g iv e
w ay, f o r now, to th e c a l l o f th e l i m i t l e s s W est. " I s t a r t
i n a few h o u rs s t r a i g h t f o r C a l i f o r n i a , " he w ro te Edward
W arren March 19, ”. . . and r e a c h Los A n g eles and P a sa d en a
89
a t 2 :3 0 T h u rsd ay a f te r n o o n [M arch 2 2 ]" ( L e t t e r s I I , 3 1 ).
I n h i s r e a d in g and im a g in a tio n th e W est h ad assum ed a
p la c e o f g r e a t a d v e n tu re and ro m an ce, a s i t h ad u n d o u b te d ly
w ith o t h e r men o f l e s s e r s e n s i t i v i t y . Jam es was n o t immune
to i t s s tr a n g e s p e l l , r e a l o r s t o r i e d . I n a l e t t e r o f 1902
to Owen W is te r Jam es i n d i c a t e d an a v id i n t e r e s t :
How I envy you th e p e r s o n a l know ledge o f th e W.W. [W ild
W e st], th e p o s s e s s io n o f th e m em o ries; t h a t The V.
[V i r g i n i a n ] m u st b e b u i l t o n , and th e r i g h t to a compe
t e n t ro m a n tic f e e l i n g a b o u t them .®
A f te r a few d a y s i n Los A n g eles d o in g " th e o b v io u s
t r i p s , " Jam es w ent to C oronado B each ( n e a r San D iego)
w here h e s p e n t " e i g h t o r n in e d a y s" a lo n g th e r e s t f u l
P a c i f i c s h o r e s . He w ro te to M rs. W illia m Jam es A p r il 5
t h a t he was s ta y in g t h e s e many d a y s a t th e H o te l d e l
C oronado b e c a u se he h ad " to w r i t e , i n e x tre m e u rg e n c y , an
a r t i c l e , " and h e w anted " to f i n i s h i t a t ainy p r i c e "
(L e t t e r s I I , 3 3 ) . The a r t i c l e was th e t h i r d p a r t (J u n e )
o f th e A m erican e s s a y s now a p p e a rin g m o n th ly i n th e N o rth
A m erican R ev iew . He h a d e v i d e n tl y f i n i s h e d th e se co n d
p a r t f o r th e May i s s u e e a r l i e r : he r e c o r d e d i n h i s J o u r n a l
f o r M arch 2 9 , h i s p la n s (s e e a b o v e , p . 5) f o r th e t h i r d
and l a s t p a r t o f "New E n g la n d : An Autumn Im p re s s io n "
(N o te b o o k s, p . 3 1 8 ).
Q
HJ to Owen W is te r , A ugust 7 , 1 9 0 2 . C ite d b y C a rl
B ode, "H enry Jam es and Owen W is te r ," A m erican L i t e r a t u r e ,
2 6 :2 5 1 , May 1954.
90
C oronado B each was e s p e c i a l l y p l e a s i n g to Jam es b e
c a u se o f " t h e d e l i c i o u s l y s i m p l i f i e d s o c i a l s t a t e , " some
th in g h e h a d n o t fo u n d e ls e w h e r e . I t a llo w e d h im , a s he
t o l d M rs. Jam es i n th e same l e t t e r , " to t a s t e th e ch arm in g
s w e e tn e s s and c o m fo rt o f t h i s s p o t ." He was overw helm ed
by S o u th e rn C a l i f o r n i a , n o tin g to M rs. Jam es how d i f f e r e n t
i t was from th e r e s t o f th e c o u n tr y .
. . . su ch a d e l i c i o u s d i f f e r e n c e from th e r e s t o f th e
U .S . do I f i n d i n i t . ( I sp e a k o f c o u rs e a l l o f n a tu r e
and c li m a t e , f r u i t s and f lo w e r s ; f o r t h e r e i s a b s o l u te ly
n o th in g e l s e , and th e s e n s e o f th e s h in in g s o c i a l and
human in a n e i s u t t e r . ) The d a y s h a v e b e e n m o s tly h e r e
o f h e a v e n ly b e a u ty , and th e f lo w e r s , th e w ild f lo w e r s
j u s t now i n p a r t i c u l a r , w hich f a i r l y r a g e , w ith r a d ia n c e
o v e r th e la n d , a re w o rth y o f some p u r e r p l a n e t th a n t h i s
I l i v e on o ra n g e s and o l i v e s , f r e s h from th e t r e e , and
I l i e awake n i g h t s to l i s t e n , on p u rp o s e , to th e l a n
g u id l i s t o f the P a c i f i c , w hich my windows o v e rh a n g .
( L e t t e r s I I , 33)
The i d y l was i n t e r r u p t e d on A p r il 6 b y h i s r e t u r n to Los
A n g eles to g iv e h i s o n ly l e c t u r e on th e W est C o a s t.
( E a r l i e r , San F r a n c is c o h ad b e e n i n c l u d e d .) He spoke i n
Los A n g eles b e f o r e w h at h e te rm e d " a fem ale c u l t u r e c lu b
o f 900 m em bers" ( p . 3 3 ) .
From h e re o n , th e t r a v e l s th ro u g h th e W est assum e an
e v en m ore r a p i d p a c e . I n h i s l e t t e r s Jam es c o n t i n u a l l y
comm ents on th e n e c e s s a r y b r e v i t y o f h i s s to p s : "my m a rg in
o f tim e f o r a l l th e r e s t o f t h i s jo b i s so r a p i d l y s h r i n k
in g " ( L e t t e r s I I , 3 4 ). On th e way n o r t h , Jam es sto p p e d
b r i e f l y a t th e H o te l d e l Monte i n M o n te rey . A cco rd in g to
G e rtru d e A th e rto n , Ja m e s’ s v i s i t to San F ra n c is c o had
91
s o c i e t y t o r n b e tw ee n Jam es and a n ti- J a m e s f a c t io n s .^
E v e n tu a lly , c o n tin u in g n o rth w a rd , Jam es a r r i v e d i n S e a t t l e ,
b u t o n ly f o r " a c o u p le o f d a y s ."
H is o r i g i n a l p la n s h ad c a l l e d f o r m ore tim e i n th e
N o rth w e st. He h ad i n p a r t i c u l a r come to se e h i s nephew
E dw ard, so n o f R o b e rts o n Jam es; and O liv e r La F a rg e (n o t
th e n o v e l i s t ) who was a tt e n d i n g th e U n i v e r s i ty o f W ashing
to n . ^ N e a rly a y e a r l a t e r , M arch 1 2 , 1906, Jam es s t i l l
h ad e x o tic m em ories o f h i s v i s i t . "My im age o f y o u ," he
w ro te E dw ard, " i n y o u r w ondrous P a c i f i c p e r c h , i s o f a
s i t u a t i o n a s f i r e l e s s , an a i r a s e d g e le s s , a s o f th e
f i e l d s o f E ly siu m " ("L a F a rg e L e t t e r s , " p . 1 8 8 ). The
t r i p b a c k a c r o s s th e c o u n try to New Y ork had none o f t h i s
charm ; on th e c o n tr a r y , i t was a jo u rn e y o f some " p e r i l . "
I n th e same 1906 l e t t e r to E dw ard, Jam es r e c a l l e d th e
t e r r i b l e o r d e a l i n d e t a i l . (The r o u te b a c k , by way o f
th e C a n a d ia n - P a c if ic r a ilw a y , in v o lv e d a change o f
t r a i n s a t S t . P a u l and C h ic a g o .)
^ C ite d by Van Wyck B ro o k s, S c e n es and P o r t r a i t s
(New Y o rk , 195*0 > P* 112. I n 190*1- Jam es a llo w e d M rs.
A th e rto n to d e d ic a te a book to him . The b o o k , The B e ll i n
th e Fog (1905) was a c o l l e c t i o n o f t a l e s , " i n th e nam e-
s t o r y o f w hich th e h e ro i s draw n from Jam es" ( L egend o f
th e M a s te r, p . 1 3 5 ).
10Edward h ad m a rr ie d L o u is a C u sh in g and was l i v i n g i n i
S e a t t l e . O liv e r was th e so n o f Jo h n La F a rg e and M argie
P e r r y , s i s t e r o f T. S . P e r r y , and th e "M ardj" o f N ew port
i n th e s i x t i e s ("L a F a rg e L e t t e r s , " p p . 1 7 3 -1 9 2 ).
92
. . . m y memory o f my t r a n s f e r , my w hole u n a l t e r n a t e d
tr a n s s h ip m e n t a t S t . P a u l, w h e re, la u n c h e d a f r e s h I n to
s p a c e , w ith o u t so much a s a b l i n d B radshaw to h e lp me,
I s h o u ld h a v e b e e n c o n f r o n te d w ith m ore v o id im m e d ia te ly
and p e r i s h e d by th e w a y sid e , b u t f o r y o u r [E dw ard] h a v in g
p la c e d and f o r t i f i e d th e ro u n d s o f th e la d d e r f o r me.
B ack i n New Y ork a t th e end o f A p r i l , Jam es fa c e d th e
l a s t f i v e o f h i s B a lz a c l e c t u r e s . U iey in c lu d e d one i n
New Y ork and a n o th e r i n W a sh in g to n , b o th a t th e end o f th e
m onth. I n W ash in g to n he was f i n a l l y a b le to a rra n g e a
m e e tin g w ith h i s boyhood com panion, O liv e r W en d ell H olm es,
J r . 11 E a r ly i n May, Jam es l e c t u r e d a t S m ith C o lle g e )
and on May 10 he spoke i n B ro o k ly n a t th e C h ap el o f th e
P a c k e r C o l l e g i a t e I n s t i t u t e . E li z a b e th C ary a rra n g e d th e
B ro o k ly n a p p e a ra n c e . L a te r i n May, Jam es gave th e l e c t u r e
f o r th e l a s t tim e a t H a rv a rd .
The C am bridge p e rfo rm a n c e m ust h av e b een a p a r t i c u
l a r l y g r a t i f y i n g one f o r Jam es: i t m arked th e end o f a
tir e s o m e s u c c e s s io n o f f o u r te e n r e p e t i t i o n s ; and more
im p o r ta n tly , i t m arked a p e r s o n a l acknow ledgem ent o f some
s o r t from th e H a rv a rd he knew a s an i n d i f f e r e n t Law s t u
d e n t f o r t y - t h r e e y e a r s ago i n 1862. S a n d e rs T h e a tre i n
H a r v a r d 's M em orial H a ll was f i l l e d w ith m ore th a n a th o u
san d p e o p le . A cco rd in g to th e r e p o r t s , ev en th e p r o f e s - ,
"^M ark De W olfe Howe, "The L e t t e r s o f H enry Jam es to
Mr. J u s t i c e H o lm es," Y a le R eview , 3 8 :4 1 0 -4 3 3 , S p rin g 1949.
93
12
s o r 's w iv e s s a t on th e f l o o r to h e a r him . Van Wyck
B ro o k s, th e n a s tu d e n t a t H a rv a rd , p r e s e n t s a f i r s t - h a n d
a c c o u n t o f J a m e s 's " r e t u r n " :
The r e t u r n o f H a ile y 1s com et was a m in o r s e n s a tio n b e
s i d e s t h i s p r o d ig io u s e v e n t a t H a rv a rd , when th e o ro tu n d
v o ic e o f th e g r e a t p an jan d ru m r o l l e d l i k e an o rg a n
th ro u g h a h a l l t h a t c o u ld s c a r c e l y c o n ta in th e a u ra o f
h i s p r e s e n c e . ( S c e n es and P o r t r a i t s , p . 112)
The B ryn Mawr A d d ress
On Ju n e 7 Jam es r e t u r n e d to P h ila d e lp h ia to g iv e th e
B ryn Mawr Commencement a d d r e s s . A r r iv in g th e day b e f o r e
th e e v e n t, a s he h a d done th e p r e v io u s J a n u a ry , Jam es to o k
p a r t i n th e pre-com m encem ent a c t i v i t i e s . M iss F in c h
r e p o r t s t h a t a lth o u g h th e r e was a g e n t l e r a i n , Jam es
w alk ed a b o u t th e cam pus a tte n d e d th e s e n i o r s ' g a rd e n p a r t y
w hich was h e ld in d o o r s ( p . 2 3 6 ) . The n e x t d a y , th e gym
n asiu m was p a c k e d f o r th e g r a d u a tio n c e re m o n ie s .
The t i t l e o f J a m e s 's a d d re s s was "The Q u e s tio n o f Our
S p e e c h ." P r e s i d e n t C arey Thom as, i n h e r i n t r o d u c t i o n ,
made th e e r r o r o f assu m in g t h a t J a m e s 's re m a rk s on " o u r
sp e e c h " w ould b e c o m p lim e n ta ry . U n w ittin g ly , h e r " p re fa c e " !
becam e an e m b a rra s s in g s o u rc e o f ir o n y a s th e f u l l and
d i r e c t n a tu r e o f J a m e s 's c r i t i c i s m s becam e e v id e n t. I t
was a l l r e p o r t e d (w ith r e l i s h ) i n th e p a p e r s . A cco rd in g
to th e P h i l a d e l p h ia P u b lic L ed g er f o r Ju n e 9 , P r e s id e n t
Thomas
12R e a d e r, 6 : 33 6 , A ugust 1 905. C ite d by M arie H a r r i s ,
p . 311.
94
h a d s a id t h a t th e y w ere a b o u t to h av e th e p r i v i l e g e o f
h e a r in g from h i s own l i p s w hat i s th o u g h t o f o u r m a tc h
l e s s E n g lis h sp e e c h by one o f th e g r e a t e s t l i v i n g m as
t e r s o f w r i t t e n E n g lis h .
A cco rd in g to th e I n q u i r e r o f th e same d a y , "M r. Jam es t o l d
them w hat h e th o u g h t o f i t , s u re e n o u g h . The f u l l
" a f t e r e f f e c t s " o f th e day may have s t i l l b e e n w ith M iss
P in c h when sh e l a t e r b la n d ly r e f e r r e d to C arey T hom as's
own sp e e c h a s g o in g "much l e s s w e ll th a n u s u a l" (p . 2 3 6 ) .
14
Jam es l o s t no tim e i n h i s a d d re s s i n g o in g d i r e c t l y
to th e h e a r t o f h i s s u b j e c t . U n lik e th e B a lz a c l e c t u r e
t h e r e w ere no p r e lim in a r y re m a rk s; i n th e same to n e o f
m u tu a l r e s p e c t he h ad u s e d b e f o r e , Jam es a s s e r t e d t h a t
e d u c a tio n was im p o s s ib le w ith o u t a c lo s e a t t e n t i o n to
s p e e c h . C u ltu r e depended on i t . " T h is im p a r tin g o f a
c o h e re n t c u l t u r e i s a m a tte r o f co m m unication and re s p o n s e "
(p . 6 ) . Assum ing t h a t h i s h e a r e r s a g re e d t h a t sp e e c h was
" a g r e a t human and s o c i a l f u n c t i o n ," Jam es dem anded t h a t
n o th in g b u t th e b e s t sp e ec h w ould f i t " th e d i g n i t y and
l3 B oth c i t a t i o n s from M iss H a r r i s , p . 312.
■ ^A ll q u o t a t i o n s from "H ie Q u e s tio n o f Our S peech" a r e
from th e book p u b l i c a t i o n . B ecau se o f th e o b v io u s r e l a
t i o n b e tw ee n J a m e s 's c e n t r a l a rg u m e n ts i n th e a d d re s s and
i n The A m erican S c e n e , th e a c c o u n t o f th e sp e ec h i s g iv e n
h e re i n m ore d e t a i l th a n o th e r w is e w a r r a n te d , i n p a r t i c
u l a r , J a m e s 's a t t i t u d e to w a rd s a l i e n s s h o u ld b e n o te d .
T hese v iew s a r e an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f w hat he l a t e r r e f e r s
to i n The A m erican Scene a s " th e e th n ic q u e s t i o n ." See
b e lo w , p . 1 7 3 .
95
i n t e g r i t y o f o u r e x i s t e n c e ” ( p . 1 0 ). T hen, sp e a k in g more
d i r e c t l y and f r a n k l y , Jam es dug d e e p e r i n t o th e r o o t s o f
th e p ro b le m .
T hese t r u t h s , you s e e , a re i n c o n t e s t a b l e ; y e t th o u g h
you a r e d a u g h te r s , f o r t u n a t e i n many r e s p e c t s , o f g r e a t
com m onw ealths t h a t h av e b e e n a b le to r e n d e r you many
a t t e n t i o n s , to s u rro u n d you w ith m o st o f th e a d v a n ta g e s
o f p e a c e and p l e n t y , i t i s none th e l e s s d e f i n i t e t h a t
t h e r e w i l l h a v e b e e n f e l t to r e i g n among y o u , i n g e n e r a l ,
no p o s i t i v e m ark w h a te v e r, p u b lic o r p r i v a t e , o f an e f
f e c t i v e c o n s c io u s n e s s o f any o f them ; th e c o n s c io u s n e s s ,
n am ely — a s ig n o f s o c i e t i e s t r u l y p o s s e s s e d o f l i g h t —
t h a t no c i v i l i z e d body o f men and women h a s e v e r l e f t
so v i t a l an i n t e r e s t to ru n w ild , to s h i f t , a s we s a y ,
a l l f o r i t s e l f , to stu m b le and f lo u n d e r , th ro u g h m ere
a d v e n tu re and a c c id e n t, i n th e common d u s t o f l i f e , to
p ic k up a l i v i n g , i n f i n e , by th e w a y sid e and th e d i t c h .
Of th e d e g re e i n w hich a s o c i e t y i s c i v i l i z e d th e v o c a l
fo rm , th e v o c a l to n e , th e p e r s o n a l , s o c i a l a c c e n t and
sound o f i t s i n t e r c o u r s e , hav e alw ay s b e e n h e ld to g iv e
a d i r e c t r e f l e c t i o n . T h at so u n d , t h a t v o c a l fo rm , th e
to u c h s to n e o f m a n n e rs, i s th e n o t e , th e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e
n o t e — r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f i t s h a v in g ( i n o u r p o o r, im p e r
f e c t human d e g re e ) a c h ie v e d c i v i l i z a t i o n . Ju d g ed i n
t h i s l i g h t , i t m ust f r a n k l y be s a i d , o u r c i v i l i z a t i o n
re m a in s s t r i k i n g l y u n a c h ie v e d . . . . (p p . 11- 1 2 )
W hat was la c k in g was an A m erican to n e - s ta n d a r d com
p a r a b le to t h a t o f o t h e r n a t i o n s . A m ericans a lo n e seem ed
b l i t h e l y unaw are o f t h i s n e e d . Jam es p o in te d w ith ir o n y
to th e s i n g u l a r a b i l i t y o f A m ericans to " f l o u r i s h i n u n -
| d i s t u r b e d . . . su b lim e u n c o n s c io u s n e s s ” (p . 1 2 ) . T here
! w ould n e v e r be a c o n c e rn f o r a t o n e - s ta n d a r d u n l e s s f i r s t :
i
| t h e r e was a " c a r e f o r t o n e , ” o r , f o r t h a t m a tte r , a c a r e
S ' - !
! f o r a n y th in g o f c u l t u r a l v a lu e . H e re , a s i n th e B a lz a c
I l e c t u r e , Jam es was r e a f f ir m i n g h i s p l e a f o r d i s c r im i n a t io n
I and t a s t e . A c a re f o r to n e was a s ig n o f good b re e d in g
!
and m an n e rs; i t s e t one o f f from th e u n c i v i l i z e d . H ow ever,
96
t h e r e w ere d e f i n i t e e le m e n ts i n A m erican l i f e w hich co n
s p i r e d a g a i n s t a t o n e - s ta n d a r d o f any s o r t .
C h ie f among th e s e was th e a t t i t u d e t h a t "no form o f
sp e e c h i s p ro v a b ly b e t t e r th a n a n o th e r" ( p . 1 8 ). Even
d is c u s s in g th e m a t t e r , f o r some p e o p le , was "an a f f r o n t
to th e m a je s ty o«f s o v e r ig n ig n o r a n c e ." J a m e s 's e s s e n t i a l
p o i n t i s t h a t we a re above ig n o ra n c e o n ly to th e e x te n t
t h a t we a s s ig n v a lu e s to o u r a c t i o n s and sp e a k w ith th e
c a re t h a t th e s e v a lu e s have f o r u s . I f we v a lu e n o th in g ,
we c a r e f o r n o th in g , we sp eak a s n o th in g : o u r v o ic e s a re
" n o is e a lo n e ." I n a s e n s e , t h i s i s th e o n ly e m p h a tic
m o ral p o i n t t h a t Jam es t r i e s to m ake. He a sk s f o r a
"m o ra l" c h o ic e . I t m akes a d e c id e d d i f f e r e n c e how we sa y
t h i n g s ; a l l o f o u r f e e l i n g s and o b s e r v a tio n s a r e in v o lv e d
when we sp e a k w e ll, o r " sp e a k b a d ly " ( p . 1 8 ). Jam es gave j
s p e c i f i c ex am p les o f s lo v e n ly s p e e c h . A d i s r e g a r d f o r
p r e c i s e v o c a l sounds i n d i c a t e d to Jam es a g e n e r a l l a z i n e s s
i
and i n d i f f e r e n c e to a l l f in e d i s t i n c t i o n s . A weak and
ch eap human e x p r e s s io n was th e unhappy r e s u l t . "Y es" was
lo s i n g th e £ sound and becom ing th e " a b j e c t Y eh-eh" o r
"m ore q u e s tio n a b le 'Y e h -e p * ." O th e r ex am p les in c lu d e d th e •
sound o f an a d d i t i o n a l r to make up f o r th e l o s s o f
o r i g i n a l v a lu e s : " v a n i l l - r - i c e - c r e a m " and "th e i d e a - r - o f u
97
( p . 26).^ A m erican s p e e c h , a c c o rd in g to Jam es, c a re d
! v e ry l i t t l e f o r th e a r t o f " v o w e l- c u ttin g ," w hich i n
j
I F re n c h was a d i s t i n c t and d e l i c a t e a r t . Ih e r e s u l t , Jam es
s a i d , was a d e b a se d "vox A m ericana" w hich was becom ing
"one o f th e s tu m b lin g b lo c k s o f o u r c o n tin e n t" ( p . 3 3 ) .
! What h ad a l l th e e a rm a rk s o f J a m e s 's a p p a re n t w h o le
s a l e d i s g u s t w ith A m erica was n o t l o s t upon th o s e members
j o f th e p r e s s who h ad come " to h e a r th e w o r s t." J a m e s 's
c o n ti n u a l c o m p a riso n s w ith o t h e r w o rld c u l t u r e s — a lth o u g h
*
| done a s b e n ig n ly a s p o s s i b l e —m u st have h ad th e p r e s s
; s t i r r i n g r e s t l e s s l y i n t h e i r s e a t s . Jam es was on even
i
more d e l i c a t e g ro u n d when he b eg an to t a l k o f th e p r e d i c a -
: m ent o f " o u r m o th e r-to n g u e " i n A m erica (p . 3 7 ) . T here was
; enough i n th e g e n e r a l te n o r o f h i s re m a rk s to b o t h e r any
; num ber o f g e n tle m e n o f th e p r e s s who s e n se d no such
" r u p tu r e " i n t h e i r d a i l y u se o f " o u r" la n g u a g e . A lthough
1 Jam es a d m itte d t h a t th e "u se o r a b u se " o f th e E n g lis h
id io m was a n o th e r th em e, he s t i l l , n e v e r t h e l e s s , w ent o n :
Y e t I c a n n o t w h o lly f o r g e t t h a t th e a d v e n tu r e , a s I
name i t , o f o u r id io m and th e a d v e n tu re o f o u r u t t e r
an ce hav e b e e n fu n d a m e n ta lly th e same a d v e n tu re and
th e same e x p e r ie n c e ; t h a t th e y a t a g iv e n p e r io d m i-
! g r a t e d t o g e t h e r , im m ig ra te d t o g e t h e r , i n to th e g r e a t
| raw w o rld i n w hich th e y w ere to be c o ld - s h o u ld e r e d
and n e g le c te d t o g e t h e r , l e f t to ru n w ild and lo s e
j t h e i r way t o g e t h e r . They hav e s u f f e r e d and s tr a y e d
i
I 1 ^
•'A cco rd in g to R alp h R usk, Em erson h ad h i s own way o f
p r e v e n tin g th e unw anted r sound b etw een v o w e ls. He sim p ly
ch anged h i s w i f e 's nam e, L y d ia , to L y d ia n to a v o id
i " L y d ia r E m e rso n ."— The L if e o f R alp h W aldo E m erson (New
; Y ork, 1 9 4 9 ), p . 2 1 3 .
98
t o g e t h e r , and th e f u t u r e o f th e o n e , we m ust a f t e r a l l
rem em ber, i s n e c e s s a r i l y and l o g i c a l l y th e p r o s p e c t o r
th e doom o f th e o t t i e r , Keep i n s i g h t th e so i n t e r e s t i n g
h i s t o r i c a l t r u t h t h a t no la n g u a g e , so f a r b a c k a s o u r
a c q u a in ta n c e w ith h i s t o r y g o e s , h a s known any su ch o r
d e a l , any su ch s t r e s s and s t r a i n , a s was to a w a it th e
E n g lis h i n t h i s huge new com m unity i t was so u n s u s
p e c t in g l y to h e lp , a t f i r s t , to f a t h e r and m o th e r. I t
came o v e r, a s th e p h r a s e i s , came o v e r o r i g i n a l l y w ith
o u t f e a r and w ith o u t g u i l e —b u t to f i n d i t s e l f t r a n s
p l a n t e d to s p a c e s i t h ad n e v e r d ream ed , i n i t s com para
t i v e h u m ility , o f c o v e rin g , to c o n d itio n s i t h ad n e v e r
dream ed, i n i t s c o m p a ra tiv e in n o c e n c e , o f m e e tin g ; to
f in d i t s e l f g r a f t e d , i n s h o r t , on a s o c i a l and p o l i t i c a l
o r d e r t h a t was b o th w ith o u t p r e v io u s p r e c e d e n t and e x
am ple and i n c a l c u l a b l y e x p a n s iv e , (p p . 37- 3 9 )
Jam es was to u c h in g on a to p ic o f f a r g r e a t e r d e p th
th a n m ost o f h i s a u d ie n c e r e a l i z e d . S ta n d in g , a s you m ig h t
s a y , on th e edge o f th e e n t i r e q u e s tio n o f Old and New
W orld r e l a t i o n s , he s k i r t e d j u s t enough o f th e p ro b lem to
s t i m u l a te from th e p r e s s th e w rong r e s p o n s e s on th e wrong
i s s u e s . W hereas Jam es was a b le to m a in ta in a d e ta c h e d
p e r s p e c t iv e to w a rd s th e "dilem m a” f a c in g c i v i l i z a t i o n , h i s
a u d ie n c e , on th e o th e r h a n d , s h a re d no su ch i n c l i n a t i o n to
d i s e n ta n g le t h e i r p r i z e d A m ericanism . The m e tap h o r w hich
Jam es u s e d to d ra m a tiz e h i s p o i n t gave a d d i t i o n a l w e ig h t
to th e r e s u l t a n t c o n fu s io n :
. . . w h ereas th e g r e a t id io m s o f E urope i n g e n e r a l have
grow n up a t home and i n th e f a m ily , th e a n c e s t r a l c i r c l e
(w ith t h e i r m ig r a tio n s a l l c o m fo rta b ly p r e h i s t o r i c ) , o u r
t r a n s p o r t e d m aid en , o u r u n re s c u e d Androm eda, o u r medium
o f u t t e r a n c e , was to be d i s j o i n e d from a l l th e a s s o c i a
t i o n s , th e o t h e r p r e s e n c e s , t h a t h ad a tte n d e d h e r , t h a t
h ad w atch ed f o r h e r and w ith h e r , t h a t h ad h e lp e d to
form h e r m anners and h e r v o ic e , h e r t a s t e and h e r
g e n iu s , ( p . 3 9 )
99
Even i f h i s h e a r e r s h ad a g re e d t h a t su ch a " l i n g u i s t i c
p o s i t i o n " was a s p e r i l o u s a s Jam es m a in ta in e d , t h e r e was
bound to be d is a g re e m e n t i n h i s a c c o u n t o f th e d e s p o ilin g
o f A ndrom eda, o u r l i n g u i s t i c p r o p e r t y :
To th e A m erican common B ch o o l, to th e A m erican n e w sp a p e r,
and to th e A m erican Dutchman and Dago, a s th e v o ic e o f
th e p e o p le d e s c r i b e s them , we h av e sim p ly h an d ed o v e r
o u r p r o p e r t y — n o t e x a c tl y bound han d and f o o t , X a d m it,
l i k e Andromeda a w a itin g h e r P e r s e u s , b u t a t l e a s t d i s
t r a c t e d , d i s h e v e l l e d , d e s p o i le d , d i v e s te d o f t h a t b e a u
t i f u l and becom ing d r a p e r y o f n a t i v e a tm o sp h e re and c i r
cu m stan ce w hich h a d , from f a r b a c k , m ade, on i t s b e h a l f ,
f o r p r a c t i c a l p r o t e c t i o n , f o r a due te n d e r n e s s o f i n t e r
e s t . (p . 4 l )
Jam es d i f f e r e d w ith th e p o p u la r c o n c e p tio n w hich h e ld
t h a t th e s c h o o ls and th e n e w sp a p ers h ad c o n tr i b u te d to
th e " p r o s p e r i t y o f o u r id io m ." I t was p r o s p e r o u s , Jam es
m a in ta in e d , o n ly i n th e q u a n t i t y o f n a t i o n a l i t i e s who w ere
b e in g "w eaned" from t h e i r own la n g u a g e to E n g lis h b e c a u se
o f i t s a p p a r e n t e a s e o f u t t e r a n c e (p . 4 2 ) . W hile we s l e e p ,
th e a l i e n s ( " th e y d o n 't s l e e p ! " ) a r e r u i n in g o u r la n g u a g e .
Our s i m p l i f i e d u t t e r a n c e " s t r i k e s them a s an e x c e l l e n t
b a r g a in : d u r a b le , to u g h , ch eap " ( p . 4 6 ) . Jam es a g re e d
t h a t la n g u a g e s h o u ld b e lo n g to th e u s e r s and s h o u ld change !
a c c o r d in g ly , b u t o n ly i f th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c b a la n c e was
n o t l o s t , and o n ly i f th e " c o n s e r v a tiv e i n t e r e s t re m a in s
th e c o n s ta n t q u a n ti t y " ( p . 4 7 ) . To m a in ta in t h i s b a la n c e
was th e p a r t i c u l a r c h a rg e Jam es gave to th e B ryn Mawr
g r a d u a t e s . Jam es u rg e d them to s e e k " p le a s a n tly - s p e a k in g
100
I co m p an ies . . . t o r c h - b e a r e r s 1 1 to g u id e them i n t h e i r
j
I sp e e c h ( p . 4 9 ) .
W h atev er f i n e p o i n t s m ig h t have b e e n i n th e h e a r in g
o f th e a d d re s s w ere h o p e le s s ly overw helm ed i n th e g e n e r a l
{ c h a u v in is tic s h o u t t h a t re s o u n d e d i n th e p r e s s . Tlie com-
j p l a i n t s w ere f a m i l i a r to Ja m es. They w e re , m o re o v e r, p a r -
; t i c u l a r l y d o u b le -e d g e d now s in c e th e o b j e c t o f th e a t t a c k
was no lo n g e r th e rem o te and p h y s i c a l l y i n a c c e s s i b l e Ja m es.
i
{Jam es, i n p e r s o n , and now "on r e c o r d ," was f i t game f o r
th e c h a rg e o f a n ti-A m e ric a n is m . The sudden " c l a r i t y " o f
Jam es m ust hav e come a s a c o n v e n ie n t r e v e l a t i o n to th o s e
{members o f th e p r e s s who h ad " s u f f e r e d " f o r so many y e a r s
{through th e J a m e s ia n p r o s e . Of c o u rs e , th e b a s i s f o r th e
{ p re se n t c r i t i c i s m was s t i l l w ith in th e g e n e r a l a r e a o f
I
I f r a n k m y s t i f i c a t i o n i n Jam es a s a w r i t e r (an d now a s a
i
{ p e r s o n a lity ) o f any j u s t i f i a b l e s ta n d in g . The g e n e r a l
{ p re s s , and th e g r e a t p u b lic i t s e rv e d , s t i l l c o n s id e re d
16
{James a s a s p e c i a l c a s e , an enigm a among more e a s i l y
re c o g n iz e d " im p o r ta n t" w r i t e r s . The a d d i t i o n a l f a c t t h a t
Jam es h ad become th e som ewhat p r i v a t e p o s s e s s io n o f th e
" c u l t i s t s " ( in c lu d in g many d o u b tf u l Ja m e s ia n s ) added
g r e a t l y to th e g e n e r a l d is c o m f o r t- - a n d h o s t i l i t y . I n a
16
HJ was th e b u t t o f many p o p u la r jo k e s : th e s t o r y
a b o u t th e woman who knew " s e v e r a l la n g u a g e s w hich she c o u ld
sp e a k f l u e n t l y — F re n c h , New T h o u g h t, and H enry Ja m e s ," and
th e one a b o u t " th e la d y who b o a s te d sh e c o u ld r e a d H enry
Jam es i n th e o r i g i n a l . " — C u rre n t L i t e r a t u r e , 3 9 :9 7 , J u ly
1905.
101
s e n s e , e v e r y th in g a b o u t Jam es—h i s a lo o f n e s s , h i s e x p a
t r i a t i o n , h i s " s p e c i a l " r e a d e r s —was c o m p le te ly a n ta g o n is
t i c to th e p o p u la r n o tio n s o f A m erican e q u a l i t y . 1^ One c an
im a g in e w ith w hat z e s t th e n e w sp a p ers w id e ly q u o te d J a m e s 's
-I O
a t t a c k on them ( " b la c k e r u p t i o n s o f p r i n t " ) . The P h i l a
d e lp h ia P u b lic L ed g e r f o r Ju n e 9 > commented s a r c a s t i c a l l y
. . . I t i s th e f e e l i n g alw ay s i n s p i r e d by th o s e
who w o rsh ip o t h e r g o d s th a n o u r s , who a c t from m o tiv e s to
w hich we do n o t h o ld th e c lu e " (D w ig h t, p . 4 3 9 ).
iQ
H a r r i s , p . 3 1 1 . Jam es h a d u s e d th e f i g u r e o f b l a c k
n e s s b e f o r e i n r e f e r e n c e to th e p r e s s . A num ber o f s t o r i e s
u s in g t h i s f i g u r e w ere d e r iv e d i n p a r t from J a m e s 's own
unhappy e x p e r ie n c e w ith th e New Y ork T rib u n e i n th e s e v e n
t i e s ( s e e b e lo w , p . 1 1 5 ). Jam es gave up th e a tte m p t to
w r ite th e k in d o f g o s s ip y jo u r n a lis m th e T rib u n e d e s i r e d .
E d e l and L in d g iv e th e f o llo w in g a c c o u n t o f J a m e s 's u s e
o f t h i s e x p e r ie n c e : "And so th e t a l e o f Ray L im b e rt was
b o rn , th e s t o r y o f 'T h e N ext T im e ,' i n w hich th e d i s t i n
g u is h e d young n o v e l i s t , w r i t in g fo r. The B la c k p o r t B eaco n ,
d o es 't h e w o rs t h e can do f o r th e m o n e y .' I t was to b e j
fo llo w e d by o t h e r s i n th e same p a t t e r n , su ch a s 'T he
P a p e r s '— J a m e s 's d i r e c t a t t a c k on n e w sp a p er p u b l i c i t y —
i n w hich th e r e p o r t e r s a ls o do ' th e w o r s t we can f o r th e
m o n ey ,' and by 'B ro k e n W in g s ,' whose h e r o in e avow s, a s we
have s e e n , t h a t i n w r i t in g f o r The B la c k p o r t B an n er sh e i s
a tte m p tin g so m e th in g beyond h e r t a l e n t s . The l i g h t - g i v i n g
b e a c o n , th e h i g h - f l y i n g b a n n e r a re a s s o c i a t e d i n b o th
'T h e N ext T im e' o f 1895 and 'B ro k e n W ings' o f 1900 w ith
J a m e s 's m y th ic a l tow n o f B la c k p o r t— o r s h a l l we sa y w ith
th e b la c k f o r c e s o f a p r e s s w h ic h , b e n e a th i t s avowed aim
o f o f f e r i n g p u b l ic e n lig h te n m e n t, v u l g a r i z e s a l l t h a t i t
t o u c h e s ," — P a r i s i a n S k e tc h e s , e d . Leon E d e l and U s e
D u so ir L in d (New 1fork, 1 9 5 7 ), p p . x x x i i - x x x i i i .
102
t h a t n a t u r a l l y Jam es h im s e lf spoke " t i d i l y . " A cco rd in g
to th e L e d g e r, i t was J a m e s 's own " b la c k e r u p tio n " w hich
was i n s u f f e r a b l e . 1^
I n a s i m i l a r to n e o f p e t u l a n t d is c o m f o r t, a n o th e r
" r e p l y ” a p p e a re d i n th e l i t e r a r y colum n o f th e New Y ork
Sun f o r O c to b e r 2 1 , 1905:
W hile Mr. H o w ells was e n jo y in g h im s e lf i n London,
Mr. Jam es was h a v in g n e a r l y a s good a tim e i n th e c o u n try
o f h i s b i r t h . He was c o o in g to fem a le a u d ie n c e s i n th e
su bdued to n e s t h a t m ark B r i t i s h good b re e d in g and k in d ly
p o i n ti n g o u t to them th e h o r r o r s o f th e la n g u a g e th e y
sp o k e . We c an p i c t u r e to o u r s e lv e s th e h ig h g le e w ith
w hich Mr. Jam es ta n g le d h im s e lf up i n h i s own s e n te n c e s
to m y s tif y th e B ryn Mawr g i r l s . He i s good enough to
c a l l i t " o u r s p e e c h ," b u t i t i s r e a l l y th e la n g u a g e o f
Mr. Jam es i n i t s m ost m is c h ie v o u s and p e r p le x in g co n
f u s i o n . W e w onder t h a t he n e v e r h e a rd th e f a u l t s o f
u t t e r a n c e he d i s l i k e s i n th e la n d w here he r e s i d e s . 20
Jam es h ad u n w i t ti n g l y s e t h im s e lf up a s an e a s y t a r g e t .
In th e g e n e r a l c o n f u s io n , th e a d d re s s i t s e l f was soon
s id e s te p p e d i n fa v o r o f Jam es h im s e lf a s th e r e a l t a r g e t .
A cco rd in g to MLss H a r r i s , th e a d d re s s was so b a d ly r e p o r t e d
i n th e p r e s s , t h a t no t r u e o r f a i r u n d e rs ta n d in g o f w hat
Jam es r e a l l y m eant was ev en p o s s ib l e u n t i l th e a d d re s s
a p p e a re d i n p r i n t i n A u g u st. Even th e n , m is re a d in g s
fo llo w e d . The New Y ork H e ra ld b e lie v e d Jam es was s n e e r in g
■ ^ C ita tio n from M iss H a r r i s , p . 312. As A lb e rt H enry
Smyth p o in te d o u t i n h i s re v ie w o f th e a d d r e s s , Jam es
seem ed unaw are o f th e s o re p o i n t he was h i t t i n g a t — th e
d e g re e o f s e n s i t i v i t y o f th e A m ericans i n b e in g a c c u se d o f
" u n t id i n e s s " i n t h e i r s p e e c h — "H enry Jam es on A m erican
S p e e c h ," Book News, 2 3 : 8 5 6 , J u ly 1905.
^ ° C ite d b y D w ight, p . 1 6 7 .
103
; a t "n ew sp ap er E n g lis h ” ; th e y s e n t t h e i r r e p o r t e r to D r.
I Woodrow W ilso n , th e n p r e s i d e n t o f P r in c e to n , f o r a comment,
j W ilso n an sw ered t h a t " c r i t i c s s h o u ld lo o k a t home b e fo r e
c o m m ittin g th e m s e lv e s , and rem edy t h e i r own sh o rtc o m in g s
21
and t h e i r l a b o r i o u s l y c o r r e c t s t y l e o f w r i t i n g ."
A g r e a t p a r t o f th e g e n e r a l f u r o r and e x c ite m e n t o v e r
; th e B ryn Mawr a d d re s s was o c c a s io n e d by th e grow ing p e r
p l e x i t y o v e r The G olden B ow l. A cco rd in g to H. G. Dw ight
; i n h i s 1907 r e c o l l e c t i o n o f Ja m e s’ s t r i p , th e a t t i t u d e
j to w a rd s th e book ra n g e d from "so lem n p e r p l e x i t y to open
!
! r i d i c u l e " (p . 1 6 6 ). I n th e c o n fu s io n o v e r J a m e s 's l a t e s t
j
j work-, 't h e w r i t e r s an sw ered him b a c k on w h a te v e r e l s e a p -
I p e a re d o r was s a i d . I n c o n t r a s t to th e r e a c t i o n to th e
I B a lz a c l e c t u r e w here th e a t t a c k had b e e n somewhat d i v e r t e d
! to w a rd th e women a u d ie n c e s , th e B ryn Mawr a d d re s s drew
i d i r e c t and r e a d y f i r e . The c r i t i c i s m o f The G olden Bowl
had b e e n a c c u m u la tin g s in c e i t s p u b l i c a t i o n th e p r e v io u s
2 P
; Novem ber, 1904. H enry B oynton gave i t a s c h o l a r l y r e -
| view i n th e S a tu rd a y S upplem ent to th e New Y ork Tim es o f
1 November 26, b u t c o n c lu d e d t h a t d e s p i t e i t s c le v e r p e o p le , |
i t la c k e d common s e n s e . O th e r com m ents, su ch a s th e
1
fo llo w in g by W illia m Jam es, p o in te d m ore s p e c i f i c a l l y to its j
p o s s ib l e r e a l f a u l t — th e s u s p e c te d " im m o ra lity " o f th e work*
I' 2 1 •
"H enry Jam es on 'N ew sp ap er E n g l i s h , '" C u rre n t L i t e r a -
i t u r e , 39*155* A ugust 1905.
S 22
F o r a c o m p lete a c c o u n t se e F o le y , p p . 1 0 1 -1 0 5 .
i I t p u t me, a s m o st o f y o u r r e c e n t e r lo n g s t o r i e s have
I p u t me, i n a v e ry p u z z le d s t a t e o f m in d . I d o n 't e n jo y
th e k in d o f " p ro b le m ," e s p e c i a l l y w hen, a s i n t h i s c a s e ,
i i t i s t r e a t e d a s p r o b le m a tic ( v i z . , th e a d u lte r o u s r e l a
t i o n s b e tw e e n C h a r lo t t e and th e P r i n c e ) . . . . 23
I t was t h i s s u g g e s tio n o f more u n s a v o ry th in g s th a n
Jam es m eant t h a t made i t , i n D w ig h t's w o rd s, a " s u c c e s de
I s c a n d a le " ( p . 1 6 6 ). A cco rd in g to D w ight, J a m e s 's d e ta c h e d
‘ m anner o f w r i t i n g c o n tr i b u te d h e a v i ly to th e c o n fu s io n .
| The r e a d in g p u b lic was more a ccu sto m ed to d i r e c t n e s s i n
; l i t e r a t u r e , e s p e c i a l l y when i t in v o lv e d so m e th in g a s
I c l e a r l y s i n f u l a s a d u l t e r y . J a m e s 's a r t i s t i c "m id d le
I p o s i t i o n " d id n o t s a t i s f y t h e i r "m o ral e a g e r n e s s ." D w ight
I
! p u t h i s f i n g e r on th e e s s e n t i a l p o i n t :
T h ere i s to o o f t e n , f o r i n s t a n c e , an u n m an n erly l e v i t y
a b o u t him , a s o f him who s h o u ld go i n t o g r e a t company
w h i s t l i n g , w ith h i s h a n d s i n h i s p o c k e ts . W e r e l i s h
| th e g ra n d a i r b e t t e r , and a p r o p e r s e n s e o f o n e 's
r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , (p . ^ 3 6 )
I t was u n f o r t u n a t e , i n th e l a r g e r s e n s e , t h a t J a m e s 's
^ t r u e r e l a t i o n to A m erica was so b a d ly d i s t o r t e d and c o n -
i
; fu s e d by h i s p h y s i c a l p re s e n c e i n A m erica. He h ad hoped
j i n some s m a ll way to add to h i s new " f o llo w e r s " by ta k in g
; h i s " m a tte r s " d i r e c t l y to them on th e l e c t u r e p la tf o r m .
S
! As t h i n g s w ere to t u r n o u t , h o w e v er, he a c t u a l l y d id h im -
j
s e l f m ore harm th a n g o o d , a g g r a v a tin g to a g r e a t e r e x te n t
th a n h e im a g in e d th e v e ry many i n A m erica who b e f o r e may
| ^WJ to H J, O c to b e r 2 2 , 1 9 0 5 . R alp h B a rto n P e r r y , The
| T hought and C h a r a c te r o f W illia m Ja m e s, 2 v o l s . (B o sto n ,
j 1 9 3 5 ), t , 4 2 3 -4 2 4 . h e r e a f t e r c i t e d a s W illia m Ja m e s.
105
, h av e b e e n p l e a s a n t l y i n d i f f e r e n t to th e e n ig m a tic H enry
; Ja m es. Of c o u r s e , d i f f e r e n c e s w ith th e p o p u la r p r e s s was
i
n o th in g new to Ja m es. I t w ould be h a rd to b e l i e v e , how-
j V
i e v e r , t h a t he c o u ld h av e b e e n c o m p le te ly u n a f f e c te d by
j
i t h e i r p r e s e n t t i r a d e , com ing a s i t was a lm o st on th e eve
o f h i s d e p a r t u r e , m a rrin g to some e x te n t h i s g r e a t A m erican
" a d v e n tu r e ."
A dding a g r e a t d e a l to th e ir o n y o f J a m e s 's r e c e p t i o n
; i n A m erica was th e g e n e r a l b e l i e f t h a t he d id n o t r e a l l y
: c a re f o r A m erica. N o th in g c o u ld have b e e n f u r t h e r from
th e t r u t h . He c a re d m ore th a n anyone w hat h ap p en ed to
A m erican s p e e c h ; i t was h i s o n ly v a l i d r e a s o n f o r sp e a k in g
> o u t so p o i n te d l y and b r a v e ly a b o u t i t . On t h i s s u b j e c t
■ and much e l s e i n The A m erican Scene Jam es f e l t a d i s t i n c t
| a d v a n ta g e n o t g iv e n to th e many co m m en tato rs on A m erican
l i f e . The c o m b in a tio n o f an E u ro p ean v a n ta g e p o i n t and a
i
! n a t i v e A m ericanism , h o w ev er, d id n o t h av e th e a p p e a l to
; o t h e r s i t h ad to Ja m es, th e k een o b s e r v e r . I t was a lm o st
| im p o s s ib le f o r th e g e n e r a l p u b lic to b e li e v e t h a t anyone
i
I who h ad g iv e n up h i s own c o u n try f o r so lo n g c o u ld s t i l l ’
j be l o y a l to i t . W hatever Jam es s a id was I n s t a n t l y s u s p e c t.;
| I t w ould b e a lo n g tim e b e f o r e J a m e s 's " d e ta c h e d "
| m anner w ould b e re c o g n iz e d a s th e a r t i s t i c v i r t u e i t w as.
! Prom J a m e s 's v ie w p o in t, t h i s n e c e s s a r y se n se o f d e ta c h m e n t
j
| from A m erica i n o r d e r to a p p r a is e i t p r o p e r l y , was to b e -
i come th e g r e a t e s t p ro b le m i n h i s w r i t in g o f The A m erican
10 6
S c e n e . How to re m a in th e d e ta c h e d o b s e r v e r o v e r m a tte r s
t h a t to u c h e d him so d e e p ly and i n s i s t e n t l y ? As th e n e x t
c h a p te r w i l l i n d i c a t e , th e "a c c o m p lish m e n t” was a s com plex
a s a n y th in g Jam es had e v e r a tte m p te d . The ir o n y o f i t
a l l , h o w ev er, i s t h a t th e more s u c c e s s f u l Jam es becam e i n
h i s "a p p ro a c h " to A m erica and i n h i s s c ru p u lo u s m anner o f
" d e a lin g " w ith i t , th e l e s s A m erica b e lie v e d he r e a l l y
ok
c a r e d .
D e p a rtu re
Jam es s e t h i s d e p a r tu r e d a te f o r J u ly 4 from B o sto n
(an a p p r o p r i a te d a te f o r such a " d i s l o y a l " A m e ric an ). As
u s u a l , th e r e w ere a num ber o f l a s t- m i n u te v i s i t s . Some
tim e i n m id -J u n e , Jam es m anaged to sp en d one day w ith
H o w ells a t h i s summer home a t K i t t e r y P o in t, M aine.
H ow ells had b e e n o u t o f th e c o u n try d u r in g m ost o f J a m e s 's
v i s i t , h a v in g r e t u r n e d i n A p r i l , 1905* a f t e r a y e a r 's
a b se n c e i n E u ro p e . At th e end o f J u n e , Jam es s p e n t f i v e
d ay s a t L enox, w here th e W h a rto n s' " b ig s tr o n g commodious
new m o to r" becam e h is o n ly e sc a p e from th e i n t o l e r a b l e
ok
C h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y , W illia m s e n s e d th e u n iq u e lo v e
Jam es h ad f o r A m erica. D e s p ite h i s d is a g re e m e n t w ith h i s
b r o t h e r o v e r a r t i s t i c s t y l e , W illia m s h a r e d to th e same
e x t e n t a s H enry th e g r e a t s e n s i t i v i t y b etw een th e b r o t h e r s .
A f te r th e e v e n ts o f th e San F r a n c is c o f i r e i n w hich he was
n e a r l y in v o lv e d (s e e ab o v e, p . 1 0 ), W illia m w rote to Jam es
on May 9# 1906 d e s c r ib in g th e som ewhat f o o l i s h a t t i t u d e o f
many A m ericans who s e n s e d o n ly th e e x c ite m e n t o f th e n e a r
d i s a s t e r . I n c o n t r a s t , he s a i d o f h i s more s e n s i t i v e
b r o t h e r , " i t w i l l be you o n ly who a r e w rin g in g o f h a n d s"
(WJ L e t t e r s I I , 2 5 1 ).
107
h e a t (L e t t e r s I I , 3 5 ) . A cco rd in g to M rs. W harton, no man
s u f f e r e d a s much from th e h e a t a s H enry Jam es.
IX iring a h e a t-w a v e [ h i s ] c u r io u s i n a d a p t a b i l i t y to co n
d i t i o n s o r s i t u a t i o n s becam e p o s i t i v e l y t r a g i c . H is
b o d ily s u r f a c e , a lr e a d y b ro a d , seem ed to expand to m eet
i t , and h i s im a g in a tio n to becom e a p a r t o f h i s b o d y , so
t h a t th e one d rip p e d w ords o f d i s t r e s s a s th e o t h e r d id
m o is tu r e . Always u n e a s y a b o u t h i s h e a l t h , he became
v i s i b l y a n x io u s i n h o t w e a th e r, and t h i s a n x ie ty added
so much to h i s s u f f e r i n g s t h a t h i s s t a t e was p i t i f u l .
E l e c t r i c f a n s , ic e d d r in k s and c o ld b a th s seem ed to
g iv e no r e l i e f ; and f i n a l l y we d is c o v e r e d t h a t th e o n ly
p a n a c e a was i n c e s s a n t m o to rin g . L u c k ily by t h a t tim e
we h ad a c a r w hich w ould r e a l l y g o , and we d id , d a i l y ,
i n c e s s a n t l y , o v e r m ile s and m ile s o f l u s t r o u s la n d s c a p e
ly in g m o tio n le s s u n d e r th e s t i l l g la z e o f h e a t . W hile
we w ere m oving he was r e f r e s h e d and h a p p y , h i s s p i r i t s
r o s e , th e tw in k le r e t u r n e d to l i p s and e y e s ;. . .
( L egend o f th e M a s te r, p . 105)
By now, th e day o f d e p a r tu r e m ust hav e b e en a welcome
o n e . " . . . I am a t th e end o f my lo n g r o p e — " h e w ro te
to M rs. R o b b in s on Ju n e 30 from L enox, " th e c h o rd h a s
sn a p p e d , and I lo n g f o r (S u s se x ) r e p a t r i a t i o n " (R o b b in s,
p . 2 5 0 ). T hrough a l a s t- m i n u te a rra n g e m e n t, M rs. R o b b in s
was a b le to make p a s s a g e w ith Jam es on th e same b o a t, th e
I v e r n i a . A f te r th e y h ad found t h e i r " s e a - l e g s and w ere
a t th e s ta g e o f d e c k - p a c in g ," Jam es b eg an to sp e ak a t
g r e a t le n g th a b o u t th e "New A m erica" he h ad b e en s e e in g
(p . 2 5 2 ) . A cco rd in g to M rs. R o b b in s, Jam es was p a r t i c u
l a r l y a v id a b o u t d o in g "a n o v e l a b o u t th e New A m e ric a n s."
He becam e a b so rb e d i n h i s e n u m e ra tio n to h e r o f th e g r e a t
p o s s i b i l i t i e s i n th e s u b j e c t . I t was t o be c a l l e d The
C hasm .2^ M rs. R o b b in s draw s a v e ry e f f e c t i v e p i c t u r e o f
Janies s ta n d in g t h e r e on th e d e c k , " s e n d in g t h a t m e la n c h o ly
lo o k o f h i s o u t o v e r th e A t l a n t i c W aste" ( p . 2 5 3 ) . One
c a n * t h e lp w o n d erin g to w hich s id e o f th e A t l a n t i c h i s eye
was m ore d i r e c te d ? C e r ta in l y b o th c o u n t r i e s w ere v e ry
much on h i s m ind.
2^ P ro b a b ly th e u n f in is h e d The I v o ry T ow er.
CHAPTER IV
HENRY JAMES AS WRITER ON TRAVEL
The E a r l i e r T ra v e l Books
The e n t i r e p ro b lem o f t r a v e l w r i t i n g — from o b s e r v a tio n
to c o m p o s itio n --w a s n o th in g new to Ja m es. To s a y , h o w ev er,
t h a t from th e moment Jam es was a t r a v e l e r , he was a w r i t e r ,
d o e s n o t t e l l u s en ough. N o th in g i s m ore b a s ic i n Jam es
th a n th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f s e e in g p r o p e r l y . The d iv id in g
l i n e b e tw ee n w hat i s commonly c a l l e d th e T ra v e l S k e tc h and
e v e r y th in g e l s e Jam es w ro te i s n e v e r m ore th a n an a r b i t r a r y
o n e . Of c o u rs e , s ta n d a r d l i m i t a t i o n s o f s u b je c t and form
a re s u f f i c i e n t l y r e c o g n iz a b le to e s t a b l i s h th e g e n re i n
th e Ja m e sia n c an o n . H ow ever, beyond i t s u s e a s a r e a s o n
a b le and c o n v e n ie n t d e m a rc a tio n o f th e g e n re , th e " s t a n d
a rd l i m i t a t i o n s " t e l l u s v e ry l i t t l e a b o u t Jam es a s an
o b s e r v e r and w r i t e r o f t r a v e l .
The q u e s tio n o f g e n re i n The A m erican Scene i s n o t a
b a s ic c o n s i d e r a ti o n f o r t h i s s tu d y o f th e b o o k . W e a r e ,
o f c o u r s e , m ore i n t e r e s t e d i n th e "u n iq u e u n i ty " th e book
r e p r e s e n t s . A ttem p ts a t a c lo s e c l a r i f i c a t i o n o f th e
g e n re s e rv e fu n d a m e n ta lly a s i n t e r e s t i n g a id s to th e
g r e a t e r u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e e n t i r e s u b j e c t . Tow ards t h i s
109
110
; e n d , we do hav e a p rim a ry i n t e r e s t i n th e r e a s o n a b ly la r g e
i ' ' ■
num ber o f t r a v e l s k e tc h e s Jam es p u b lis h e d b e fo r e 1907, th e
i
; d a te o f The A m erican S c e n e . A c o n s i d e r a ti o n o f th e sco p e
I and th e s u b s ta n c e o f th e s e p r e lim in a r y w orks w i l l t e l l u s
j
j a g r e a t d e a l a b o u t th e d e v elo p m e n t o f Jam es a s a w r i t e r o f
■ t r a v e l . More s p e c i f i c a l l y , we w i l l b e a b le to n o te th e
e s s e n t i a l d i f f e r e n c e s i n s t y l e and a p p ro a c h b e tw ee n th e s e
; e a r l i e r e s s a y s and The A m erican S c e n e .
J a m e s 's f i r s t p u b lis h e d t r a v e l s k e tc h e s w ere p r i m a r il y
I a c c o u n ts o f A m erican and C a n ad ian f a s h io n a b le g a th e r in g
t
! p la c e s : Lake G eo rg e, Q uebec, and f a m i l i a r N ew port, among
!
' o t h e r s . I n a l l , f i v e su ch e s s a y s a p p e a re d i n th e N a tio n
: i n 1870 and 1 8 7 1 . 1 N ot u n t i l J u l y 4 , 1872, d id Jam es b e
g in to w r i t e a c c o u n ts o f E u ro p e . The o p p o r tu n ity was
j p ro v id e d by a c o n t r a c t w ith th e N a tio n w hich e n a b le d him
to make im m ed iate u s e o f t r a v e l s i n E n g la n d and th e c o n -
' t i n e n t d u rin g 1872, 1873* and p a r t o f 1 8 7 4 . 2 W e hav e some
| 1,1 S a r a to g a , 1 1 N a tio n , 1 1 :8 7 -8 9 * A ugust 25, 1870. "Lake
| G e o rg e ," N a tio n , l l : i l 9 - 1 2 0 , A ugust 2 5 , 1870. "From Lake
; G eorge to B u r l in g t o n ," N a tio n , 1 1 :1 3 5 -1 3 6 , S eptem ber 1,
1870. "N e w p o rt," N a tio n , 1 1 :1 7 0 -1 7 2 , S ep tem b er 15* 1870.
"Q u e b ec ," N a tio n , 1 3 :2 0 6 -2 0 7 , 2 2 3 -2 2 4 ; S ep tem b er 2 8 ,
O c to b e r 5 , 1870. " N ia g a r a ," N a tio n , 1 3 :2 3 8 -2 3 9 , 2 5 4 -2 5 5 ;
O c to b e r 12, O c to b e r 19, 1870. E x c e p t f o r th e two Lake
G eorge e s s a y s , th e y w ere a l l r e p r i n t e d i n P o r t r a i t s o f
P la c e s (L ondon, 1 883) .
! ■ 2
j O th e r e a r l i e r t r i p s c o n tr i b u te d to J a m e s 's s e n s i -
, I t i v i t y to th e E u ro p ean s c e n e : a s an i n f a n t i n 1843; a t
j th e age o f tw e lv e i n 1855* s ta y in g t h r e e y e a r s ; a t th e age
o f s i x t e e n i n 1859; and a s an a d u l t o f tw e n ty - s ix i n 1 8 6 9.
1 1 1
! I d e a o f th e r e l a t i v e q u a n t i t y o f th e s e t r a v e l s k e tc h e s i f
| we t a b u l a t e a l l h i s p e r i o d i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n s d u rin g th e s e
| y e a r s "on th e E u ro p ean s c e n e ." S i x t y - f o u r a r t i c l e s i n a l l
I
I
j w ere c o n tr i b u te d to v a r io u s m a g a z in e s b e tw ee n 1872 and th e
I end o f 1874. T hese c o n s i s t e d o f tw e n ty - f o u r re v ie w s ,
! - 3
I e i g h t s t o r i e s , and t h i r t y - t w o t r a v e l s k e t c h e s .J The
| s k e tc h e s th u s c o m p rise one h a l f o f h i s l i t e r a r y p r o d u c tio n
I a t t h i s tim e .
I n th e y e a r s t h a t fo llo w e d , d e s p i t e th e f a c t t h a t
j Jam es tu r n e d h i s a t t e n t i o n more and m ore to f i c t i o n ( th e
J n o v e l i n p a r t i c u l a r a f t e r 1 8 7 4 ), t h e r e was s t i l l tim e f o r
I Jam es to w r i t e c r i t i c a l a r t i c l e s and num erous t r a v e l
I s k e tc h e s . From tim e to tim e , th e t r a v e l a c c o u n ts w ere
i g a th e r e d i n t o c o l l e c t i o n s ; n o t a b l y , T r a n s a t l a n t i c S k e tc h e s ;
I i n 1875 and P o r t r a i t s o f P la c e s i n 1 8 8 3 . O th e r c o l l e c t i o n ^
' w ere m o s tly r e p r i n t i n g s o f p r e v io u s ly g a th e r e d e s s a y s .
^ T h ree o f th e s e f a l l i n t o th e c a te g o r y o f a r t c r i t i
c ism , a s w e ll: "The B e th n a l G reen Museum," A t l a n t i c
M o n th ly , 31*69-75* J a n u a r y , 1873; "O ld I t a l i a n A r t," I n
d e p e n d e n t, p p . 2 - 3 , Ju n e 11, 1874; and " F l o r e n ti n e A rcK i-
t e c t u r e , " In d e p e n d e n t, p p . 3 -4 , Ju n e 1 8 , 187^+.
^ F o re ig n P a r t s ( L e ip z ig , I 8 8 3 ) was th e T a u c h n itz
e d i t i o n of* T r a n s a t l a n t i c S k e tc h e s (B o sto n ) w ith some r e
v i s i o n s and ^ o u r e s s a y s o m itte d . A M t t l e Tour o f F ra n c e
(B o s to n , 1884) f i r s t a p p e a re d u n d e r th e t i t l e "fen P ro v in c e "
[ s ic .] , i n th e A t l a n t i c M o n th ly , Ju ly -N o v em b er 1883, and
F e b ru a ry , A p ril-M ay 1 8 84. E s s a y s i n London and E lse w h e re
(L ondon, 1893) was a c o l l e c t i o n o f c r i t i c a l a r t i c l e s w ith ;
o n ly th e f i r s t a r t i c l e , "L o n d o n ," a t r a v e l s k e tc h w hich
a p p e a re d f i r s t i n th e C e n tu ry M ag azin e, 3 7 :2 1 9 -2 3 9 ,
D ecem ber 1888. E n g lis h H ours (L ondon, 1905) c o n ta in e d
o n ly two e s s a y s n e v e r c o l l e c t e d b e f o r e : " W in c h e lse a , R ye,
112
The g e n e r a l c h a r a c t e r o f th e book c o l l e c t i o n s w ith t h e i r
many r e v i s i o n s and r e g ro u p in g s I n to o t h e r e d i t i o n s and
books i n d i c a t e s th e fu n d a m e n ta l com m ercial a s p e c ts o f th e s e
e n t e r p r i s e s . A lthough th e y w ere a r t i s t i c a l l y d e a r to
Jam es, th e y w e re , n e v e r t h e l e s s , a s E d e l p o i n t s o u t , th e
n e c e s s a r y p r o f e s s i o n a l o u tp u t o f a w o rk in g w r i t e r :
A r t i s t s , he [Jam es] e x p la in e d to a young c o n te m p o ra ry ,
h ad to be r e a l i s t s . They had to e a r n t h e i r b re a d and
b u t t e r from m onth to m onth, and to t h a t end h ad no r i g h t
to d is d a in th e " p o t - b o i l e r " — w hich r e p r e s e n te d , w ro te
Jam es, " i n th e l i v e s o f a l l a r t i s t s , some o f th e m ost
b e a u t i f u l th in g s e v e r done b y th e m ." T h is e x p la in s why
H enry Jam es k e p t tu r n in g o u t , w ith h i s l e f t h a n d , a s i t
w e re , a r t i c l e s , r e v ie w s , s h o r t s t o r i e s , w h ile w ith h i s
r i g h t he was p ro d u c in g h i s g r e a t n o v e ls . A m agazine
w anted an a r t i c l e on w h e th e r t h e r e was a l i f e a f t e r
d e a th ? He w ould w r i t e i t p r o v id in g h i s p r i c e was m et.
A p r e f a c e to an e d i t i o n o f S h a k e s p e a re ’ s T em pest?
T h is c o u ld be w r i t t e n w ith th e same f a c i l i t y a s a r
t i c l e s on th e sp e e c h and m anners o f A m erican women. The
" p ro d u c in g " Jam es i s a fo rm id a b le f i g u r e to c o n ju re
w ith . . . . (B ib lio g r a p h y , p . 13)
I f we keep i n m ind t h i s p o r t r a i t o f Jam es, th e p r o
l i f i c and e s s e n t i a l l y p r o f e s s i o n a l w r i t e r , we a re n o t s u r
p r i s e d when we a re t o l d by E d e l and o t h e r s t h a t Jam es l o s t
: t r a c k o f much o f h i s " m is c e lla n e o u s " w r i t i n g . Of p a r -
i t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t h e re i s Ja m es’ s a t t i t u d e to w ard h i s
i
j •
j m agazine a r t i c l e s . " I f he r e t u r n e d to h i s e s s a y s i n th e
p e r i o d i c a l s , " E d e l w r i t e s ,
i and ‘ D enis D u v a l1'1 and "O ld S u f f o l k ." H is o n ly o th e r
! t r a v e l b o o k , b e s id e s P ie A m erican S c e n e , was I t a l i a n H ours
j (L ondon, 1 9 0 9 ), c o m p rise d f o r th e m ost p a r t o f p r e v io u s ly
I g a th e r e d e s s a y s .
113
i t was o n ly to "p ro m o te " them , by a p r o c e s s o f c a r e f u l
r e v i s i o n , to th e m ore p erm a n en t p a g e s o f a b o o k . D u rin g
th e t e n - y e a r a p p r e n tic e s h ip t h a t p re c e d e d th e p u b l ic a
t i o n o f h i s f i r s t b o o k s, Jam es had g a in e d su ch a h ead
s t a r t t h a t e v e r a f t e r he h ad a c o m fo rta b le b a c k -lo g o f
h i s w r i t i n g s from w hich to a sse m b le a volum e w henever
th e o c c a s io n o f f e r e d . Y ear a f t e r y e a r Jam es u s e d to
p u t o u t tw o , t h r e e o r f o u r b o o k s w i t h in th e tw e lv e
m onth, ru n n in g a lw ay s th e r i s k o f c r e a t i n g a g l u t i n
h i s own som ewhat l i m i t e d m a rk e t. (B ib lio g r a p h y , p . 14)
I n many r e s p e c t s th e g r e a t b u lk o f th e s e t r a v e l s k e tc h e s
! f a l l i n t o th e c a te g o r y o f p r o d u c tio n s o f " th e l e f t h a n d ."
Jam es, h i m s e l f , a d m itte d a s much i n h i s l e t t e r to W illia m
| on May 19, 1873, from P e r u g ia , I t a l y . He c o n fid e d to
W illia m w e a r ily t h a t he w ould w r ite a few more t r a v e l
I e s s a y s i n o r d e r to make up " a d e c e n t l i t t l e v o lu m e." How-
; e v e r , beyond t h i s co m m ercial n e e d , Jam es i n d ic a t e d l i t t l e
j e n th u s ia s m f o r th e t a s k (W illia m Jam es, I , 3 ^ 5 ).
W hat was becom ing a p p a r e n t to Jam es by 1873, a s th e
: l e t t e r to W illia m i n d i c a t e s , was a d i s t u r b i n g d i f f i c u l t y
I i n h i s c u sto m a ry a p p ro a c h to th e t r a v e l s k e tc h . He h ad
I begun to o u tg ro w h i s e a r l i e s t im p r e s s io n s . New l i t e r a r y
I c h a lle n g e s w ere m aking th e t r a v e l s k e tc h an im p o s s ib ly
i
J f r u s t r a t i n g fo rm . He w ould do th e n e c e s s a r y e s s a y s now,
he c o n tin u e d to W illia m , a s lo n g a s he c o u ld s t i l l h o ld
on to th e e a r l i e r r e l a t i o n o f t r a v e l e r and s u b j e c t . How
e v e r , i t was a l l c h a n g in g r a p i d l y :
j
1 The k e en lo v e and o b s e r v a tio n o f th e p ic tu r e s q u e i s
I e b b in g away from me a s I grow o l d e r , and I d o u b t w h e th e r
j a y e a r o r two h e n c e I s h a l l h av e i t i n me to d e s c r ib e
i h o u s e s and m o u n ta in s , o r ev en c a t h e d r a l s and p i c t u r e s .
(P . 3^5)
114
W ith c h a r a c t e r i s t i c w isdom , Jam es had r e c o g n iz e d fu n d am e n ta l
c h an g e s w ith in h im s e lf a s a l i t e r a r y a r t i s t . He r e a l i z e d
t h a t th e f u r t h e r away he was i n tim e from h i s e a r l i e s t
v iew s o f E u ro p e , th e m ore com plex and d i f f i c u l t w ould be
th e a tte m p t to " a p p r a i s e '1 th e s e p l a c e s on s u c c e e d in g
v i s i t s . Of m ore im m ed iate i n t e r e s t , h e n o te d to W illia m ,
was th e p r o s p e c t o f w hat was com ing n e x t:
M y s te rio u s and i n c o n t r o l i a b l e (e v e n to o n e 's s e l f ) i s
th e g ro w th o f o n e 's m ind. L i t t l e by l i t t l e , I t r u s t ,
my a b i l i t i e s w i l l c a tc h up w ith my a m b itio n s , (p . 345)
J a m e s 's a m b itio n s le d m ore and m ore i n t o th e f u l l
c a n v a s o f f i c t i o n , w here th e d e s c r i p t i v e a c c o u n ts o f
p h y s i c a l s c e n e s and s e t t i n g s c o u ld le n d th e m s e lv e s more
i n t r i n s i c a l l y to w h a te v e r m u l t i - a s s o c i a t i o n s o r r e f e r e n c e s
h i s f e r t i l e im a g in a tio n r e q u i r e d . As was o f t e n th e c a s e
w ith o t h e r w r i t e r s o f t r a v e l , Jam es h ad fo u n d h im s e lf i n
th e e a r l y t r a v e l s k e tc h e s h o p e le s s ly tr a p p e d by th e l i m i
t a t i o n s o f th e g iv e n p h y s i c a l s c e n e . As he b eg an to do
m ore and more w ith th e s u b j e c t , he fo u n d h im s e lf m oving
g r a d u a l ly away from th e p o p u la r t r a v e l s k e tc h h i s p ub
l i s h e r s e x p e c te d . T h at Jam es was c o n t i n u a l l y aw are o f t h i s
te n d e n c y i s e v id e n t i n h i s own c a s u a l and even d is p a r a g in g
re m a rk s on h i s t r a v e l e s s a y s . W ritin g to L au ren ce B a r r e t t
on F e b ru a ry 12, 1890, Jam es r e f e r s to A L i t t l e T our o f
F ra n c e (1884) a s " t h a t w e ll-m e a n in g b u t s u p e r f i c i a l l i t t l e
1 1 5
r e c o r d o f i d l e im p r e s s io n s ." ^ I n h i s c o n v e r s a tio n s w ith
W it t e r B ynner i n New Y ork i n th e autum n o f 1 9 04, Jam es
(
; a p p e a rs to b e r e f e r r i n g to h i s t r a v e l s k e tc h e s i n h i s com-
!
I m ent a b o u t New Y ork m em o ries:
|
I A lth o u g h I hav e an e x e m p la ry memory f o r r u b b is h , more
im p o r ta n t f a c t s do n o t seem to s t a y b y me. Not t h a t I
| m u st c o m p la in o f my memory: I su p p o se i t h a s s e rv e d me
w e l l , a c c u r a t e l y , a r d e n t l y , f o r th e w r i t in g o f p i c t u r
e sq u e t r a s h . 6
We have an e v en b e t t e r v iew o f J a m e s 's c h a n g in g a t
t i t u d e to t r a v e l w r i t i n g i f we c o n tin u e o u r a n a l y s i s o f
p e r i o d i c a l p u b l i c a t i o n s from 1875 to 1 9 05. D u rin g th e
! y e a r s 1875 th ro u g h 1879 th e b u lk o f t h e s e w r i t i n g s f a l l
i
; i n t o two c a t e g o r i e s : th e tw e n ty j o u r n a l i s t i c t r a v e l
i a r t i c l e s he w ro te f o r th e New Y ork T rib u n e i n 1875 and
and 1876,^ and th e tw e lv e t r a v e l s k e tc h e s done f o r v a r io u s
^"A H enry Jam es C e n te n a ry E x h i b i t i o n ," C olby L ib r a r y
. Q u a r t e r l y , S e r i e s I , 3 : 3 8 , Ju n e 1943.
^"A Word o r Two w ith H enry J a m e s ," C r i t i c , 46:147*
! F e b ru a ry 1905.
7
'T h e se e s s a y s w ere q u i t e b ro a d i n s c o p e . They w ere
i o f t e n a c o m b in a tio n o f t r a v e l s k e tc h , a r t c r i t i c i s m ,
| d ra m a tic c r i t i c i s m , a s w e ll a s some a tte m p t to g iv e th e
| P a r i s i a n sc e n e i n g e n e r a l f o r a n ew sp ap er a u d ie n c e . See
P a r i s i a n S k e tc h e s , w here th e y a r e re p ro d u c e d i n f u l l t o
g e th e r w ith th e Ja m es-W h ite law R e id L e t t e r s d e s c r ib in g
J a m e s 's o n ly f u l l e x c u r s io n i n t o jo u r n a lis m . I n h i s
l e t t e r to R e id o n A ugust 3 0 , 1 8 7 6 , Jam es b ro u g h t th e
s e r i e s to an e n d , a d m ittin g h i s i n a b i l i t y to w r i t e more
j o u r n a l i s t i c a l l y : " I know th e s o r t o f l e t t e r you m ean— i t
j i s d o u b tle s s th e p r o p e r s o r t o f th in g f o r th e T rib u n e to
i h a v e . B u t I c a n 't p ro d u c e i t — I d o n 't know how an d i
| c o u l d n 't l e a r n how. I t w ould c o s t me r e a l l y more tr o u b le
j th a n to w r i t e a s I h a v e b e e n d o in g (w hich comes t o l e r a b l y
I e a s y to me) and i t w ould b e p o o r economy f o r me to t r y and
'b e co m e 'n e w sy ' and 'g o s s i p y '" ( p . 2 1 9 ) .
13.6
m ag a zin es I n 1877* 1878, and 1879 w hich l a t e r w ere c o l
l e c t e d i n P o r t r a i t s o f P l a c e s . A cco rd in g to E d e l, th e
m in o r l i t e r a r y p r o d u c tio n s d u rin g s th e s e y e a r s im m e d ia te ly
p r i o r to 1880 w ere done to s e rv e one end a lo n e : to p ro v id e
th e money and f r e e tim e f o r th e lo n g -p la n n e d The P o r t r a i t
o f a Lady (1881) (E d e l, HJ P a m p h le t, p . 2 1 ) . I n t h i s
l i g h t we c a n u n d e rs ta n d Jam es*s p r o f e s s i o n a l a t t i t u d e
to w a rd th e s e e s s a y s a s w e ll a s o t h e r n o n - f i c t i o n a r t i c l e s ,
w hich r a p i d l y to o k t h e i r p la c e i n th e m a rk e t a lo n g s id e
su ch m a jo r p r o d u c tio n s a s The A m erican (1877)* The
E u ro p ea n s ( 1878) , "D a isy M ille r " (1879)* C o n fid en c e (1879)*
H aw thorne (1879)* and W ash in g to n S q u are ( 1880) .
B etw een 1880 and 1905* when The A m erican Scene c h a p
t e r s f i r s t b eg an to a p p e a r i n s e r i a l fo rm , J a m e s 's a t t e n
t i o n to th e t r a v e l e s s a y i s a lm o st n e g l i g i b l e . Four
s e p a r a te e s s a y s a p p e a re d s p o r a d i c a ll y d u rin g th e s e y e a r s .
The o n ly t r a v e l w r i t in g o f any c o n seq u e n ce was th e s e r i e s
i n th e A t l a n t i c M onthly i n 1883 and 1884, "En P ro v in c e "
[ s i c ] , w hich was l a t e r c o l l e c t e d i n t o A L i t t l e T our o f
F ra n ce (1 8 8 4 ). The r e c o r d o f th e s e y e a r s , i n sum m ation,
sp e a k s f o r i t s e l f : up u n t i l 1880 Jam es m anages to do th e
t r a v e l e s s a y i n g r e a t q u a n t i t i e s , a lth o u g h he was n e v e r
e n t i r e l y s a t i s f i e d w ith th e r e s u l t s . F or th e n e x t tw e n ty -
f i v e y e a r s , he le a v e s th e form a lm o st e n t i r e l y , c o n ce n
t r a t i n g i n s t e a d on num erous a r t i c l e s o f c r i t i c i s m . I t i s
i n t e r e s t i n g to n o te t h a t among th e many g e n e r a l book
117
O
r e v ie w s , t h e r e a r e many on t r a v e l b o o k s. I n th e f u l l e s t
1 s e n s e , o f c o u r s e , Jam es h a s n o t g iv e n up h i s i n t e r e s t i n
t r a v e l w r i t i n g ; i t may be more a c c u r a te to sa y t h a t th e
|fo rm , i n i t s b a s i c co m m ercial s e n s e , h a s p ro b a b ly g iv e n
!him u p . I n th e s t r i c t e s t u s e o f th e g e n r e , Jam es was
c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l y u n a b le to c o n tin u e th e fo rm . A fte r 1880,
i t was n o t ev en e c o n o m ic a lly n e c e s s a r y to c o n tin u e th e
a tte m p t. J a m e s 's u nhappy e x p e rie n c e w ith th e T rib u n e
(s e e ab o v e, f n . 7 ) i n d i c a t e s to w hat e x t e n t Jam es c o u ld
|"accom m odate" h im s e lf to jo u r n a lis m f o r a p r i c e .
i
1 The m a jo r c o n s id e r a tio n b e f o r e u s now i s th e n a tu r e
: o f th e s e e a r l i e r t r a v e l e s s a y s . A tte m p ts to c h a r a c t e r i z e
th e s u b s ta n c e and s t y l e o f th e p r e -1880 e s s a y s w i l l h e lp
d i s t i n g u i s h them from th e n e x t m a jo r body o f t r a v e l w o rk s,
th e r a d i c a l l y d i f f e r e n t e s s a y s o f The A m erican S c e n e .
M orton Z a b e l i n h i s s e l e c t i v e c o l l e c t i o n from a l l o f Ja m es's
t r a v e l w orks w hich he t i t l e d , The A rt o f T r a v e l, u se d th e
fo llo w in g te rm s from Jam es a s t i t l e s f o r th e f i v e c h a p -
; t e r s : "The S e n tim e n ta l T o u r is t" f o r th e e a r l y A m erican
j •
, t r a v e l s o f 1 8 7 0 -1 8 7 1 ; "The P a s s io n a te P ilg rim " f o r th e
|E n g lis h e s s a y s o f 1872-1897; "The C o sm o p o lite " f o r th e
i
1
I ;
! 8
T here i s a s u b s t a n t i a l body o f su ch re v ie w s t h a t have!
j n e v e r b e e n c o l l e c t e d . M ost o f th e s e a p p e a re d i n th e N ation^
Tliey t r e a t t r a v e l , e x p l o r a t i o n , c o n te m p o ra ry h i s t o r y , and
J o u r n a l i s t i c r e s e a r c h ; and th e y p r o v id e d f o r Ja m es, a s
Z a b e l p o i n t s o u t , " th e o p p o r tu n ity to d i s c u s s th e l i t e r a r y
p r i n c i p l e s o f th e s e s p e c i e s " — " I n t r o d u c t i o n ," The A rt o f
T r a v e l, p . 2 9 .
118
F re n c h e s s a y s o f 1 8 7 6 -1 8 8 4 ; "The L over o f I t a l y " f o r th e
t r a v e l s i n I t a l y , 1873^1900; and "The R e tu rn o f th e N a tiv e "
f o r The A m erican S c e n e . The p h r a s e s a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y a p
p r o p r i a t e , a s Z a b e l e x p la in s i n h i s i n t r o d u c t i o n (p p . 1 -
4 8 ) . Jam es saw h im s e lf i n a l l th e s e v a r io u s r o l e s . T here
i s a d e f i n i t e p r o g r e s s io n h e r e , w hich Z a b e l e l a b o r a t e s o n ,
i n w hich Jam es moves a lo n g from " th e d e v o te e o f a e s t h e t i c
p l e a s u r e ," " th e p i c t u r e s q u e , o r v i s i o n a r y t r a v e l e r " to
th e " r e s t l e s s a n a ly s t" t h a t h e f i n a l l y becom es i n th e 1 904-
1905 t o u r o f A m erica (p p . 3 5 -4 6 ). N e a rly a l l o f th e s e
e a r l y e s s a y s d e m o n s tra te to an i n c r e a s i n g e x t e n t J a m e s 's
" c o n s ta n t n eed to i n t e l l e c t u a l i z e and a n a ly z e ex p erien ce." ^
F o r th e p u rp o se o f c o m p a riso n , we s h a l l c o n s id e r th e two
e s s a y s on N ew port: th e 1870 "N ew port" and th e 1906 "S en se
o f N ew p o rt." 10 Such a c o m p a riso n by m ethod and to p ic
s h o u ld th ro w s u f f i c i e n t l i g h t on th e two Ja m e se s: " th e
s e n tim e n ta l t o u r i s t " and th e " r e s t l e s s a n a l y s t ."
The Two N ew ports
J a m e s 's c h o ic e o f t i t l e s f o r th e two N ew port e s s a y s
i s i n d i c a t i v e i n i t s e l f o f th e d i f f e r e n c e s i n h i s a p p ro a c h .
Jam es was n e v e r c a r e l e s s o r i n d i f f e r e n t i n th e c h o ic e o f
^ " I n t r o d u c t i o n ," P a r i s i a n S k e tc h e s , p . x x .
10A ll q u o t a t i o n s , a s w ith a l l p a r t s o f The A m erican
S c e n e , a re from th e 1907 book p u b l i c a t i o n . Q u o ta tio n s
from "N ew port" a re from P o r t r a i t s o f P la c e s .
119
t i t l e s o r nam es o f c h a r a c t e r s . W hereas i n 1870, th e sim p le
t i t l e "N ew port" was s u f f i c i e n t f o r th e s u b j e c t , i t was
w h o lly in a d e q u a te f o r h i s p u rp o se i n 1 9 0 6 . The t i t l e ,
_ _ _ >
"The S ense o f N e w p o rt," im p lie s th e k in d o f a n a l y s i s and
s o c i a l c r i t i c i s m w hich h i s m ore m a tu re m ind was co m p e lle d
to u n d e r ta k e .
The 1870 e s s a y h a s a l l th e e a rm a rk s o f th e p o p u la r
t r a v e l " s k e tc h " o f th e tim e s . I t p r o v id e s f o r th e c u r io u s
r e a d e r a r e l i a b l e g u id e to f a s h io n a b le N ew port. B a s ic to
a l l o t h e r c o n s i d e r a ti o n s i s h i s o b l i g a t i o n to su ch an
a u d ie n c e . The to n e o f th e re m a rk s i s i n a c c o rd a n c e w ith
t h i s p u r p o s e . E a r ly i n th e e s s a y , he e s t a b l i s h e s h i s
n e c e s s a r y p o s i t i o n a s an a u t h o r i t y on h i s s u b j e c t . I n h i s
o p e n in g r e f e r e n c e s to th e N ew port " s e a s o n ," Jam es sp e a k s
a s one who i s w e ll a c q u a in te d w ith th e s o c i a l p i c t u r e . 11
At th e same tim e , he i n d i c a t e s an e q u a lly s u b s t a n t i a l
11N ot a p o se on Ja m e s’ s p a r t . He knew N ew port i n
t i m a te ly and w e l l. A f te r th e t h r e e - y e a r i n t e r v a l i n
E urope (1 8 5 5 -1 8 5 8 ), th e Jam es fa m ily r e t u r n e d to A m erica
to s t a y i n J u ly 1858. W ith th e e x c e p tio n o f one y e a r ’ s
b r i e f r e t u r n to E urope i n 1 8 5 9 -i8 6 0 , N ew port was th e fa m ily
home u n t i l 1864. H e re , a s an im p r e s s io n a b le y o u th o f f i f
t e e n , Jam es was to r e c o r d some o f th e m ost l a s t i n g o f h i s
e a r l y m em o ries. I n company w ith h i s b r o t h e r W illia m and
th e P e r r y c h i l d r e n , Thomas S e rg e a n t P e r r y and M a rg a re t
(" M a rd j" ) P e r r y , Jam es d e v e lo p e d a f i r s t - h a n d know ledge and
lo v e f o r th e o ld tow n. B etw een 1862 and 1864, Jam es was a 1
N e w p o rter o n ly p e r i o d i c a l l y . A lth o u g h he had room s i n
C am bridge d u rin g and a f t e r h i s y e a r a s a Law s t u d e n t,
N ew port was s t i l l v e ry much h i s "home h a rb o r" u n t i l th e
s p r in g o f 1864 when th e fa m ily moved to B o sto n and e v e n
t u a l l y , C am bridge. P r im a r ily b e c a u se o f th e P e r r y s , Jam es
m a in ta in e d an a c t i v e N ew port " r e l a t i o n " th ro u g h th e s i x t i e s
and e a r l y s e v e n t i e s , u n t i l h i s d e p a r tu r e f o r E urope i n 1875.
120
know ledge o f many o t h e r fam ous w a t e r i n g - p la c e s . A ll o f
w hich c o n t r i b u t e s Im m easu rab ly to th e r e q u i s i t e to n e o f
" a u t h o r i t y " :
T h ere i s , I t h i n k , a f a r m ore i n ti m a t e fo n d n e s s b e tw ee n
N ew port and i t s f r e q u e n t e r s th a n t h a t w hich i n m ost
A m erican w a te r in g - p la c e s c o n s e c r a te s th e som ew hat me
c h a n ic a l r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n th e v i s i t o r s and th e v i s i t e d .
T h is r e l a t i o n h e re i s f o r th e m ost p a r t s l i g h t l y s e n t i
m e n ta l. I am v e ry f a r from p r o f e s s i n g a c y n ic a l c o n
te m p t f o r th e g a i e t i e s and v a n i t i e s o f N ew port l i f e :
th e y a r e , a s a s p e c t a c l e , e x tre m e ly am u sin g ; th e y a r e
f u l l o f a c e r t a i n w arm th o f s o c i a l c o lo u r w hich charm s
a l i k e th e eye and th e fa n c y ; th e y a r e w o rth o b s e r v in g ,
i f o n ly to c o n c lu d e a g a i n s t them ; th e y p o s s e s s a t l e a s t
th e d i g n i t y o r a l l e x tre m e and e m p h a tic e x p r e s s io n s o f
a s o c i a l te n d e n c y . . . . I f e e l a lm o st w a rra n te d i n
s a y in g t h a t h e re th e b a ck g ro u n d o f l i f e h a s su n k l e s s
i n r e l a t i v e v a lu e and s u f f e r e d l e s s from th e e n c ro a c h
m en ts o f p le a s u r e - s e e k in g man th a n th e s c e n ic d i s p o s i
t i o n s o f any o t h e r w a t e r i n g - p la c e , (p p . 338- 3 3 9 )
H ere i s Jam es, th e p o l i t e e s s a y i s t , a t h i s b e s t . The
above p a s s a g e h a s a num ber o f n e a t , p a t p h r a s e s , co m b in in g
a s th e y d o , th e o b s e rv in g and th e d is c e r n in g e y e . T h is i s
th e to n e w hich p e rv a d e s t h i s e s s a y , and w hich s e t s i t o f f
so s t r o n g l y from i t s 1906 c o u n t e r p a r t . H e re , i n 1870,
Jam es w r i t e s w ith th e c o n v ic tio n and c e r t i t u d e o f th e
se a s o n e d t r a v e l e r . He re s p o n d s w ith a p p a r e n t e a s e to th e
r e a d e r 's d e s i r e f o r i n f o r m a tio n , p a r t i c u l a r l y , th e "w ord"
on N ew port. I n 1906, much m ore s e a s o n e d b o th a s a t r a v e l e r
and a s a p r o f e s s i o n a l w r i t e r , Jam es r e l i n q u i s h e s th e r o l e
o f d o g m a tic —o r , a t th e l e a s t , v e te r a n — o b s e r v e r f o r some
th in g e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t . W hereas i n th e 1870 e s s a y , h i s
r e a d e r s a p p e a r to c o u n t th e m o st, i n 1906, th e e l u s iv e
" t r u t h " o f N ew port a lm o s t s ta n d s a lo n e a s h i s c h i e f c o n c e rn .
121
T hese d i f f e r e n c e s become p a r t i c u l a r l y a p p a re n t once
we exam ine th e d e v ic e s Jam es em ploys I n th e e a r l i e r e s s a y .
H e re , e v e r y th in g s u b s e rv e s th e a r t i s t i c n e e d s o f th e p ro p e r
e s s a y . C o n tr a s t t h i s to w hat we f i n d —o r do n o t f i n d — i n
"The S ense o f N ew port" w here th e " s t y l i s t " o f th e e s s a y
form ' g iv e s way c o n ti n u a l l y to th e more c h a lle n g in g r o l e
o f th e s e a rc h in g " d r a m a tis t" c o n s tr u c tin g a s c e n e , o r , a t
th e l e a s t , a s ta g e f o r d ra m a tic i n q u i r y . I n "N ew p o rt,"
Jam es em p lo y s, f o r exam ple, th e d e v ic e s o f c a s u a ln e s s and
im m ediacy: " I h e a rd a la d y y e s te r d a y t e l l a n o th e r" Jam es
r e p o r t s a t one p o in t (p . 3 4 0 ). I n tr o d u c in g some th o u g h t
o f h i s own, Jam es b e g in s w ith " L a s t e v e n in g , i t seem ed to
me, a s I d ro v e a lo n g th e avenue . . . " (p . 3 3 9 ). L a te r ,
i n a b ro a d r e f e r e n c e to N ew port s o c i a l l i f e , Jam es t e a s e s
h iB - r e a d e r s w ith w hat " th e y " may f in d : " L e t u s assum e,
th e n , t h a t a l l th e young l a d i e s whom you may m eet h e re
a re o f th e h i g h e s t m odern ty p e " (p . 3 4 1 ). Jam es g iv e s
th e im p re s s io n i n "N ew port" o f b e in g c o n ti n u a l l y aw are o f
h i s o b l i g a t i o n to " a s s e r t " more th a n to " q u e s tio n ." I n
t h i s , he seem s to be v e ry much i n th e mode o f th e t y p i c a l
t r a v e l s k e tc h o f th e 1 8 7 0 's . W henever th e o p p o r tu n ity
p r e s e n t s i t s e l f , Jam es " c o n c lu d e s " o r " d e f in e s " o r " p ro
n o u n ces" on th e s u b j e c t . Such i s th e c a s e , f o r exam ple,
on th e s u b j e c t o f s e n tim e n t:
122
S e n tim e n t, in d e e d , o f m a s te r ly f o r c e and i n t e r e s t ,
s p r in g s up i n e v e ry s o i l , w ith a s o v e r e ig n d i s r e g a r d o f
o c c a s io n . P e o p le lo v e and h a te and a s p i r e w ith th e
g r e a t e s t i n t e n s i t y when th e y have to make t h e i r tim e
and o p p o r t u n it y , (p . 3 4 3 )
I n t h i s e a r l i e r e s s a y , Jam es i s e v e r w i l l i n g to move
away from h i s s u b j e c t , N ew port. Such e x te n s io n s o r g e n
e r a l i t i e s a p p e a r f i t t i n g to th e o r g a n ic u n i t y o f th e e s s a y
form i n b e in g d i s c u r s i v e . I t i s a p p r o p r i a te f o r Jam es to
b r in g i n a " s u f f i c i e n t " c o m p a riso n w ith E u ro p ean r e s o r t
l i f e and E u ro p ean v a lu e s i n g e n e r a l . And c e r t a i n l y ,
J a m e s 's comm ents h e re on th e young g i r l s o f N ew port a r e
a s e n g a g in g to u s a s th e y w ere t i t i l l a t i n g to h i s 1870
r e a d e r s : " I d o u b t w h e th e r anyw here e l s e so many women
h av e a 'g o o d tim e 1 w ith so s m a ll a s a c r i f i c e o f th e lu x u ry
o f s e l f - r e s p e c t " (p . 3 ^ 0 ). N e v e r th e le s s , one c a n n o t h e lp
h a v in g th e f e e l i n g when t h i s e s s a y i s p u t a lo n g s id e th e
1906 e s s a y , t h a t Jam es i s m ore c o n c e rn e d w ith s e r v in g up an
i n t e r e s t i n g and t a s t i l y d o n e , N ew port, th a n a n y th in g i n
th e n a tu r e o f th e w h o lly a p p r a is e d N ew port o f 1 9 0 6 . C e r
t a i n l y , i n 1870, no o n e , Jam es above a l l , f e e l s th e same
s o r t o f p r e s s i n g o b l i g a t i o n a s i n 1906, to do N ew port
" c o m p le te ly ." I t i s enough f o r th e b u d d in g a u th o r o f
tw e n ty -s e v e n — and h i s a v id r e a d e r s — t h a t he do a good
e s s a y on th e s u b j e c t , w h e th e r i t be N ew port o r a dozen
o t h e r i n t r i g u i n g p l a c e s .
O th e r e le m e n ts o f th e p r o p e r e s s a y a re p ro v id e d i n
J a m e s 's m a s te r f u l u se o f th e e m p h a tic p h ra s e and th e
123
sum m arizing s e n te n c e . N o tic e i n th e f o llo w in g l i n e s
how c a r e f u l l y Jam es commands th e rh y th m o f th e p a r t s ,
p r o v id in g a s he d o e s , a p l e a s i n g c u lm in a tio n and c o n v ic tio n
to h i s th o u g h ts :
The a tm o sp h e ric to n e , th e c a r e f u l s e l e c t i o n o f i n g r e d i
e n t s , y o u r p l e a s a n t se n se o f a c e r t a i n c li m a t ic r i p e
n e s s — th e s e a re th e r e a l charm o f N ew port, and th e
s e c r e t o f h e r su p rem acy . You a re a f f e c t e d by th e a d
m ira b le a r t o f th e la n d s c a p e , by s e e in g so much t h a t
i s lo v e ly and im p r e s s iv e a c h ie v e d w ith su c h a f r u g a l i t y
o f m eans—w ith so l i t t l e p a ra d e o f th e v a s t , th e v a r io u s ,
o r th e r a r e , w ith so n a rro w a ra n g e o f c o lo u r and form .
(PP . 3 3 9 -3 ^ 0 )
T h ere i s no d o u b t o f th e B aed ek er c h a r a c t e r o f "New
p o r t " when we n o te t h a t a lm o st t w o - t h ir d s o f th e e s s a y
(p p . 3^ 5 - 3^ 9 ) i s d e v o te d to a f e a t u r e - b y - f e a t u r e d e s c r i p
t i o n o f th e tow n. H e re , a g a in , th e u n i t y o f a p ro p e r
t r a v e l s k e tc h seem s to demand t h i s s o r t o f " c o m p le te n e s s ."
I n c o n t r a s t , a s we s h a l l p r e s e n t l y s e e , "The S ense o f
N ew port" fo llo w s a p s y c h o lo g ic a l r a t h e r th a n a g e o g ra p h ic
p a t t e r n o f r e p r e s e n t a t i o n . T h ere i s no q u e s tio n , o f
c o u r s e , o f th e d e g re e o f d e s c r i p t i v e a b i l i t y d e m o n s tra te d
i n "N e w p o rt." T hese l i n e s a p p e a r to be c u t from th e same
c l o t h a s s i m i l a r p a s s a g e s i n th e e a r l y t a l e s o f Jam es.
S tro n g h i n t s o f "The P a s s io n a te P ilg rim " (1871) a re e v id e n t
i n th e c a r e f u l w o r d - p a in tin g and im age m ounting t h a t s e rv e
N ew port so w e ll h e r e . I n c o n t r a s t to th e e x te n s iv e m e ta
p h o rs o f th e 1906 e s s a y , Jam es r e l i e s c o n ti n u a l l y on th e
s im p le s t o f f i g u r e s . P r e c i s io n and a c c u ra c y a re th e g o a ls
h e r e . Jam es comments on th e o ld - tim e h o u s e s :
124
The p l a i n g ra y n u d ity o f th e s e l i t t l e w arped and s h in
g le d b o x e s . . . . T h e i r s te e p g ra y r o o f s , b a r n a c le d w ith
l i c h e n s , rem in d you o f o ld b a r g e s , o v e rtu r n e d on th e
b e ac h to dry* ( p . 346)
Of c o u rs e , th e m a jo r d i f f e r e n c e s i n s t y l e o f th e two
e s s a y s depend on th e w ell-k n o w n d i s t i n c t i o n b e tw ee n e a r l y
and l a t e Jam es: d i r e c t n e s s o f r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a s a g a i n s t
1 P
i n d i r e c t n e s s . By 1906, Jam es*s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c m u l t i
l e v e l p o i n t o f view had become a s t y l i s t i c tra d e m a rk . The
r e s u l t a n t e f f e c t i n h i s e s s a y s i s b a s i c a l l y th e same a s i n
h i s f i c t i o n s : th e s u b j e c t i s alw ay s t e n t a t i v e b e f o r e th e
r e a d e r and n e v e r r e a l l y becom es co m p lete u n t i l th e r e a d e r
ad d s h i s p e r c e p tio n s to th o s e o f Ja m es’ s own " v ie w e r s ."
The m ethod, i n o p e r a t io n , i s one o f g r a d u a l a w a re n e ss and
c u m u la tiv e kn o w led g e. When done w e ll, th e e f f e c t i s r e
m ark a b ly f a i t h f u l to w hat we know to be e s s e n t i a l l y t r u e
12
A cco rd in g to E d e l, th e e a r l y s t y l e o f e n g ag in g
l i g h t n e s s and d i r e c t n e s s was o v e r by 1882; 1900 m arked
th e b e g in n in g o f th e t h i r d and l a s t m anner (HJ P a m p h le t,
p . 1 7 ) . The l a t e s t y l e was an i n e v i t a b l e o u tg ro w tn o f
J a m e s 's i n c r e a s in g te n d e n c ie s to a n a ly z e e x p e rie n c e f a r
beyond th e p a tie n c e o f th e a v e ra g e r e a d e r . By 1895* a s an
o u tg ro w th o f f i v e y e a r s o f e x p e rim e n t and f r u s t r a t i o n a s a
p la y w r ig h t, Jam es h ad begun to d e v e lo p — f o r f i c t i o n — a
h ig h ly com plex and s u b t l e m ethod o f " d ra m a tic " r e p r e s e n t a
t i o n . A n o th e r m a jo r c o n t r i b u t i n g f a c t o r to th e new s t y l e
was th e h a b i t o f d i c t a t i o n w hich b eg an i n I 8 9 0 . To many
c r i t i c s , th e h a b i t a llo w e d Jam es to o v e r - in d u lg e h im s e lf
i n le n g th y a n a l y t i c s p e c u l a ti o n s . A cco rd in g to B l i s s
P e r r y , W illia m h ad h i s own e x p la n a tio n f o r h i s b r o t h e r 's
new m anner: "T h ere i s n ' t any t h i r d m anner. Poor H a rry h a s
sim p ly changed h i s s te n o g r a p h e r , and th e new one r e c o r d s
a l l o f h i s h e s i t a n c i e s and e l l i p s e s " ( And G la d ly T each ,
p . 2 2 5 ).
125
o f th e p sy c h o lo g y o f human a w a re n e s s and u n d e r s ta n d in g .
I t i s w ith in su ch a fram e o f r e f e r e n c e t h a t we now t u r n
f o rm a lly to "The S ense o f N e w p o rt."
I n m arked c o n t r a s t to "N e w p o rt," w here th e r e a d e r I s
g iv e n a c o n f i d e n tl y e x p re s s e d a p p r a i s a l , "The S en se o f
N ew port" i n v i t e s th e r e a d e r to accom pany th e w r i t e r a s he
a tte m p ts to p o r t r a y th e N ew port o f 1904 and 1 9 05. As w ith
h i s l a t e f i c t i o n s , Jam es assum es t h a t h i s r e a d e r s w i l l be
a s i n t e r e s t e d a s th e w r i t e r h im s e lf i n th e p r o c e s s o f
a n a l y s i s and l i t e r a r y r e p r e s e n t a t i o n . N o tic e th e e n t i r e l y
d i f f e r e n t p o i n t o f a p p ro a c h i n th e o p e n in g l i n e s o f t h i s
e s s a y :
N ew port, on my f in d in g m y s e lf b a c k t h e r e , t h r e a te n e d
me s h a r p ly , q u i t e a t f i r s t , w ith t h a t p re d ic a m e n t a t
w hich I h a v e g la n c e d i n a n o th e r c o n n e c tio n o r tw o— th e
f e l t c o n d itio n o f h a v in g known i t to o w e ll and lo v e d i t
to o much f o r d e s c r i p t i o n o r d e f i n i t i o n . What was one
to sa y a b o u t i t e x c e p t t h a t one h ad b e e n so a f f e c t e d ,
so d i s t r a u g h t , and t h a t d i s c r i m i n a t i o n s and r e a s o n s
w ere b u r ie d u n d e r th e d u s t o f u s e ? T h ere was a ch an ce
in d e e d t h a t th e b r e a th o f th e lo n g y e a r s ( o f th e i n t e r v a l
o f a b s e n c e , I m ean) w ould h a v e blow n away t h i s d u s t —
and t h a t , p r e c i s e l y , was w h at one w as e a g e r to s e e .
To go o u t , to lo o k a b o u t, to r e c o v e r th e s e n s e , was a c
c o r d in g ly to p u t th e q u e s t io n , w ith o u t d e la y , to th e
p r o o f — and w ith th e happy c o n s e q u e n c e , I t h i n k , o f an
e s c a p e from a d i s c o m f i t u r e , (p . 2 0 2 )
The m ethod o f a p p ro a c h i s a d ra m a tic o n e . T h ere a re
1 two " p e rs o n s " in v o lv e d i n Jam es*s a d v e n tu re o f d is c o v e r y :
j
j th e n a r r a t o r o f th e e x p lo r a t i o n and th e e x p lo r e r h i m s e l f —
known v a r i o u s l y a s " th e s p e c t a t o r , " " th e r e s t o r e d a b s e n te e ,"
126
o r " th e d i s i n t e r e s t e d r a m b le r ." N ote i n th e f o llo w in g how
d i s c r e e t l y Jam es d i s t i n g u i s h e s b e tw ee n th e two p e r s o n s :
How t h i s c lim a x o r s o l u t i o n h ad b e e n a r r i v e d a t — t h a t ,
c l e a r l y , f o r th e s p e c t a t o r , w ould h av e b e e n w o rth ta k in g
n o te o f ; b u t w hat he made o f i t I s h a l l n o t g la n c e a t
t i l l I have shown him a s f i r s t o f a l l , on th e s p o t , q u i t e
m o d e s tly g iv in g i n to m ere p rim a ry b e g u ile m e n t. (p . 2 0 6 )
I n a c c o rd a n c e w ith th e c o n v e n tio n s o f d ra m a tic a c t i o n ,
Ja m e s’ s " c h a r a c t e r s " (an d th e r e a d e r ) a re to b e c o n fr o n te d
w ith th e p h y s ic a l s c e n e , b e fo r e any d e c l a r a t i o n s a r e h e a rd
o f w hat i s to be "made o f i t . " I n su ch a m anner th e sc en e
i s l a i d f o r t r u e " o b je c tiv e " i n q u i r y , i n c o r p o r a ti n g th e
im p re s s io n s o f " th e r e s t o r e d a b s e n te e " w ith th e t e n t a t i v e
o b s e r v a tio n s o f th e n a r r a t o r . I q u a l i f y th e l a b e l , o b
j e c t i v e , b e c a u se i t m u st be k e p t i n m ind t h a t t r u e o b j e c
t i v i t y was a t a l l tim e s th e d e s i r e d g o a l i f n o t alw ay s
th e c o m p lete r e s u l t .
We know, o f c o u r s e , to w hat e x t e n t Jam es was a t a l l
tim e s h ig h ly s u b j e c t iv e to w a rd s a m a tte r a s p e r s o n a l to
him a s h i s p r e v io u s and p r e s e n t in v o lv e m e n t w ith A m erican
l i f e . I t i s i n c r e a s i n g l y a p p a re n t i n "The S ense o f New
p o r t " t h a t Jam es was a c u t e l y aw are o f th e " l i m i t a t i o n " i n
; h i s t a s k a s a m odern a p p r a i s e r . I t i s im p o r ta n t to keep
i i n m ind t h a t th e d ra m a tic m ethod o f r e p r e s e n t a t i o n was
d e l i b e r a t e l y d e s ig n e d to w ard o f f su ch s u b j e c t i v i t y a s
b e s t he c o u ld .
127
F o llo w in g " th e s p e c t a t o r , " a s we d o , on to th e s c e n e ,
we g a in h i s se n se o f Im m ediacy, s u s p e n s e , and even h i s
r a t h e r s p e c i a l s e n s e o f n o s t a l g i c e x c ite m e n ts
Would i t s t i l l b e o f t h a t k in d , and w hat h ad th e k in d
i t s e l f b e e n ? — th e s e q u e s tio n s made o n e 's h e a r t b e a t
f a s t e r a s one w ent f o r t h i n s e a r c h o f i t . . . . One
m ig h t w e ll h o ld o n e 's b r e a t h i f th e p a s t , w ith th e d e a r
l i t t l e b lu e d i s t a n c e s i n i t , w ere i n d a n g e r now o f b e in g
g iv e n aw ay. One m ig h t w e ll p a u se b e f o r e th e p o s s ib l e
i n d i c a t i o n t h a t a c h e r is h e d im p re s s io n o f y o u th h ad b een
b u t a fig m e n t o f th e m in d . F o r t u n a te ly , how ever, a t
N ew port, and e s p e c i a l l y w here th e a n t i q u i t i e s c l u s t e r ,
d i s t a n c e s a re s h o r t , and th e n o te o f r e a s s u r a n c e a w a ite d
me a lm o st ro u n d th e f i r s t c o r n e r . One h ad b e en a h u n
d re d tim e s r i g h t . . . . (p . 2 0 7 )
To m a in ta in t h i s d u a l p o s i t i o n o f th e s e n s i t i v e s p e c t a t o r
and th e o b j e c ti v e a p p r a i s e r , Jam es r e s o r t s f r e q u e n t ly to
s u s ta in e d m e ta p h o rs o f d e s c r i p t i o n . F o r ex am p le, Jam es
u s e s th e f i g u r e o f an o p e n , d e l i c a t e hand to r e p r e s e n t th e
o ld and th e p r e s e n t N ew port. W ith in th e two p a g e s (p p .
2 0 3 -2 0 4 ) g iv e n to th e s e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s , Jam es i s th u s
a b le , q u i t e c o n v in c in g ly , to make u s se e and f e e l c e r t a i n
t r u t h s a b o u t N ew port. D r a m a tic a lly , Jam es in tr o d u c e s u s
to h i s f i g u r e :
. . . i t h ad sim p ly l a i n t h e r e l i k e a l i t t l e b a r e , w h ite
open h a n d , w ith s l i g h t l y - p a r t e d f i n g e r s , f o r th e o b
s e r v e r w ith a presum ed s e n s e f o r h a n d s to ta k e o r to
le a v e . The o b s e r v e r w ith a r e a l s e n s e n e v e r f a i l e d to
pay t h i s im age th e t r i b u t e o f q u i t e te n d e r ly g ra s p in g
th e h a n d , and ev en o f r a i s i n g i t , d e l i c a t e l y , to h i s
l i p s ; h a v in g no l e s s , a t th e same tim e , th e i n s t i n c t
o f n o t sh a k in g i t to o h a r d , and t h a t above a l l o f n e v e r
p u t t i n g i t to any ro u g h w ork. ( p . 2 0 3 )
Jam es c o n tin u e s h i s sym bol l a t e r w ith a c a r e f u l l y draw n
p i c t u r e o f th e d e l i c a t e hand e x te n d e d to " th e t r u e lo v e r"
128
w ith th e b a c k o f th e h an d e x p o s e d . The " t r u t h " o f h i s
im ag e, a s we s h a l l s e e , d e p e n d s, d r a m a t i c a l l y , on a p h y s ic a l
t u r n o f th e h a n d :
He [ " th e t r u e l o v e r " ] m akes o u t i n i t , b e n d in g o v e r i t —
o r h e u s e d to i n th e o ld d a y s — in n u m e ra b le sh y and s u b t l e
b e a u t i e s , a lm o s t r e q u i r i n g , f o r j u s t i c e , a m a g n ify in g
g l a s s ; and he w in c e s a t th e s i g h t o f c e r t a i n o t h e r o b
tr u d e d ways o f d e a lin g w ith i t . The to u c h s to n e o f
t a s t e was in d e e d to o p e r a t e , f o r th e c r i t i c a l , th e t e n
d e r s p i r i t , from th e moment th e p in k palm was tu r n e d
up on th e ch an ce o f w h at m ig h t be " i n i t to s a t i s f y
th em : The p in k palm b e in g em p ty , i n o t h e r w o rd s, to
t h e i r v i s i o n , th e y h ad b e g u n , from f a r b a c k , to p u t
t h i n g s i n t o i t , t h i n g s o f t h e i r own, and o f a l l s o r t s ,
and o f many u g ly , and o f more and m ore e x p e n s iv e , s o r t s ;
to f i l l i t s u b s t a n t i a l l y , t h a t i s , w ith g o ld . . . .
( p . 204)
Jam es c o n c lu d e s h i s f i g u r e w ith a s a v in g r e f e r e n c e to " th e
fo n d p e d e s t r i a n m in o r ity " ( th e e a r l y N e w p o rte rs) who knew
w hat " th e p in k palm " r e a l l y c o n ta in e d :
The o r i g i n a l shy s w e e tn e s s , h o w e v er, t h a t ra n g e o f e f
f e c t w hich I hav e r e f e r r e d to a s p r a c t i c a l l y to o l a t e n t
and to o m o d est f o r n o t a t i o n , h ad m eanw hile h ad i t s
v o t a r i e s . . . f o r whom th e l i t t l e w h ite hand . . . had
a lw a y s b e e n so f u l l o f t r e a s u r e s o f i t s own a s to d i s
c r e d i t , from th e p o i n t o f v iew o f t a s t e , any a tte m p t,
from w ith o u t, to s t u f f i t f u r t h e r , ( p . 204)
One o f th e m a jo r p ro b le m s i n "The S ense o f N ew port"
in v o lv e d th e d e g re e o f r e a d e r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and sym pathy
w ith h i s own n o s t a l g i c p a s t . The p ro b le m e x i s t e d i n a l l
th e many p a r t s o f The A m erican Scene w here J a m e s 's c lo s e
p r e - r e l a t i o n to th e sc e n e was a m a tte r o f b io g r a p h ic
r e c o r d . C e r t a i n l y , i t c o u ld n o t b e e x p e c te d t h a t th e
r e a d e r s w ould h av e h a d th e many im p r e s s io n a b le y e a r s a t
N ew port t h a t Jam es h ad e n jo y e d . And, i n th e same s e n s e ,
129
th e r e w ould b e a g r e a t g u l f b e tw ee n th e f i r s t - t i m e o r
c a s u a l N ew port v i s i t o r o f 1904 and th e s e n s i t i v e " r e s t o r e d
a b s e n te e " t h a t Jam es h im s e lf r e p r e s e n t e d . Jam es w arded
o f f th e s e d i f f i c u l t i e s by d o in g i n h i s n o n - f i c t i o n w hat he
h ad done b e f o r e i n f i c t i o n : h e e s t a b l i s h e d a r e c e p t i v e
p o i n t o f v iew i n th e r e a d e r by in tr o d u c in g p r o p e r ly p e r
c e p tiv e " c h a r a c t e r s " ( th e v a r io u s a l t e r - e g o s : " th e e a r n e s t
o b s e r v e r " and o t h e r s ) w ith w hich th e r e a d e r c o u ld e a s i l y
s y m p a th iz e . As i n h i s f i c t i o n s , th e d e g re e o f "sym pathy"
was o f t e n a m a t t e r o f f l a t t e r i n g a ssu m p tio n to th e r e a d e r .
B ecau se Jam es was n e v e r o v e r - e x p l i c i t i n any " a d v ic e " to
h i s r e a d e r s a s to how to a t t a i n h i s own s p e c i a l u p p e r c l a s s
w o rld , th e m a j o r it y to o k J a m e s 's g r a t u i t i e s f o r g r a n te d .
I t was f l a t t e r i n g to b e t a l k e d to a s i f t h i s s p e c i a l
w o rld o f l e i s u r e and s u p e r f in e p e r c e p t i o n s , was m u tu a lly
and e a s i l y a t h a n d . ^
^ i t was c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f Jam es— i n l i f e and i n l i t
e r a t u r e — to assum e i n o t h e r s a g r e a t and v a r i e d know ledge
; c o m p a rab le to h i s own. Few c lo s e o b s e r v e r s o f Jam es have
; d e s c r ib e d t h i s s i n g u l a r t r a i t a s w e ll a s M rs. Humphrey
i¥ a r d . She m akes th e im p o r ta n t c o n n e c tio n b e tw ee n h i s "im
m ense" le a r n in g and h i s p o l i t e " a s s u m p tio n s ." I n e f f e c t ,
h e r d e s c r i p t i o n o f J a m e s 's m anner o f im p a r tin g know ledge
1 i s th e b a s i s o f th e l a t e s t y l e : "He moved i n th e f i e l d o f
I a r t and I t a l i a n c u l t u r e w ith th e w e ll- e a r n e d s u r e n e s s o f
I f o o t o f th e s t u d e n t . Y e t how l i t t l e one e v e r th o u g h t o f
{him a s a s tu d e n t'. U ia t was th e s p e l l . He w ore h i s l e a r n -
I i n g — and i n c e r t a i n d i r e c t i o n s h e was le a r n e d — 'l i g h t l y ,
I l i k e a f l o w e r .' I t was to him n o t a b u rd e n to be c a r r i e d ,
!n o t a p o s s e s s io n to be p ro u d o f , b u t m e re ly so m e th in g t h a t
|m ade l i f e m ore t h r i l l i n g , m ore f u l l o f e m o tio n s and s e n s a -
I t i o n s — e m o tio n s and s e n s a t io n s w hich he was a lw ay s e a g e r ,
I w ith o u t a to u c h o f p e d a n tr y , to s h a re w ith o t h e r p e o p le .
130
The p ro b lem i n "The S ense o f N ew port" was m et i n a
l i k e m an n er. R a th e r th a n p u t a r e s t r a i n t on h i s " p e c u l i a r
a d v a n ta g e " i n b e in g a N e w p o rte r, Jam es p r e f e r r e d to r a i s e
th e l e v e l o f h i s r e a d e r ’ s a w a re n e ss by m e re ly ta k in g i t f o r
g r a n t e d . I n a s e n s e , th e f l a t t e r y w orked a s w e ll h e re a s
i n h i s f i c t i o n s . I n th e above f i g u r e o f th e open h a n d , a l l
r e f e r e n c e s to th e s e n s i t i v e o b s e r v e r im p ly t h a t th e r e a d e r
i s o f su ch a f o r t u n a t e c a s t . The r e a d e r i s assum ed to b e
one w ith " th e o b s e r v e r w ith a presum ed s e n s e f o r h a n d s ."
I n h i s r e f e r e n c e to " a to u c h s to n e o f t a s t e , " Jam es d o es n o t
b o t h e r to em p h a size th e o b v io u s ( to him ) d e s i r a b i l i t y o f
su ch an i n t a n g i b l e g a u g e :
. . . a b e a u t i f u l l i t t l e s e n s e to be r e a d i n t o i t by a
few p e r s o n s , and n o th in g a t a l l to be made o f i t , a s
to i t s e s s e n c e , by m o st o t h e r s , (p . 2 0 3 )
A d d itio n a l r e f e r e n c e s i n th e e s s a y , a s i n d i c a t e d a b o v e ,,
to " th e c r i t i c a l , th e te n d e r s p i r i t , " w ere m ea n t, o f
c o u r s e , b r o a d ly to in c lu d e h i s r e a d e r s . When Jam es t a l k s
o f th e s p o i l e r s o f N ew port, he r e f e r s to them a s th e " n in e
p e rs o n s o u t o f t e n , among i t s v i s i t o r s , i t s p u rc h a s e s o f -
H is know ledge was co n v ey ed by s u g g e s tio n , by th e a d r o i t e s t
o f h i n t s , and i n d i r e c t a p p ro a c h e s . He was p o l i t e l y c e r
t a i n , to b e g in w ith , t h a t you knew i t a l l ; th e n to w alk
w ith you ro u n d and ro u n d th e s u b j e c t , tu r n in g i t i n s i d e
o u t , p la y in g w ith i t , m aking mock o f i t , and c a tc h in g i t
a g a in w ith a sudden g r i p , o r a m om entary f l a s h o f e l o
q u e n c e , seem ed to be f o r th e moment h i s b u s in e s s i n l i f e . " '
A W r i t e r ’ s R e f l e c t i o n s . 2 v o l s . (New Y o rk , 1 9 1 8 ), I I , 196.
131
s i t e s and b u i l d e r s o f . . . c o t t a g e s ” ( p . 2 0 4 ). I t i s
assum ed t h a t th e r e a d e r s w ould p r e f e r to b e c la s s e d w ith
th e one p e rs o n i n t e n who d o es n o t " s p o i l . "
I n sum m ation, th e n , w hat a r e th e b a s i c d i f f e r e n c e s
b e tw ee n th e 1870 and th e 1906 e s s a y ? On th e one h a n d , we
hav e "N ew port” w hich i s p r i m a r i l y th e p o l i t e e s s a y , th e
f a s h io n a b le t r a v e l s k e tc h o f th e tim e s . On th e o t h e r h a n d ,
i n 1906 we h av e so m e th in g e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t . "The S ense
o f N ew port" i s a d ra m a tic i n v e s t i g a t i o n o f th e p o s s i b i l i t y
o f " c a p tu r in g " N ew port a s i t now i s and a s i t w as. I n th e
e a r l y e s s a y , we ad m ire th e p o l i s h o f th e m a s te r e s s a y i s t ;
i n th e l a t e e s s a y , we ad m ire th e te c h n iq u e o f th e m a s te r
w r i t e r , i n th e f u l l e s t s e n s e o f th e te rm . And b e c a u se
th e t a s k f o r Jam es i s im m e asu ra b ly g r e a t e r i n th e seco n d
a p p r a i s a l o f N ew port, we f in d th e i n t r i c a t e p h r a s e s and
com plex c o n s t r u c t io n s w hich a re a p p r o p r i a te to an o l d e r ,
w is e r , and m ore s e lf-d e m a n d in g Jam es.
The Problem o f S ty le i n The A m erican Scene
We a re b e t t e r a b le to u n d e rs ta n d and a p p r a is e th e
s t y l i s t i c p ro b le m s (an d s o l u t i o n s ) i n The A m erican Scene
i f we e x te n d o u r s p e c i f i c c o n s i d e r a ti o n s beyond "The S ense
o f N ew port" to v a r io u s o t h e r p a r t s o f th e c o m p le te b o o k .
A m a jo r t o p i c , a s we h av e p a r t l y show n, i s th e p ro b lem o f
Ja m e s’ s n o s t a l g i c p a s t . I t was n o t e a s y f o r him to keep
su ch re a d y m a t e r i a l w ith in b o u n d s. W e h av e some id e a o f
th e d e g re e o f c o n t r o l In v o lv e d when we c o n s id e r t h a t a l
th o u g h he s p e n t s e v e n t y - f i v e p e r c e n t o f h i s tim e i n th e
p l a c e s w hich h e ld th e d e a r e s t m em o ries, l e s s th a n s i x t y
p e r c e n t o f th e book i s g iv e n to su c h a r e a s . C o n tr a s t t h i s
w ith th e c h a p te r s on th e S o u th w here t w e n ty - f iv e p e r c e n t
nil
o f h i s tim e p ro d u c e d f o r ty - tw o p e r c e n t o f th e b o o k . The
o b v io u s c o n c lu s io n t h a t Jam es p r e f e r r e d to t r e a t th e u n
f a m i l i a r o v e r th e f a m i l i a r d o e s n o t t e l l u s enough a b o u t
th e b a s i c p ro b le m .
W e a re c l o s e r to th e r e a l i n t e r e s t o f o u r s tu d y i f we
!c o n s id e r how v e ry d i f f i c u l t i t m u st h a v e b e e n n o t to w r i t e
a g r e a t d e a l m ore a b o u t th e f a m i l i a r . And more p r e c i s e l y ,
i t i s th e w r i t t e n r e s u l t s o f th e s e " e n c o u n te r s " —w ith t h e i r
p o s s i b l e e x te n s i o n s — w hich t e l l u s so v e ry much a b o u t th e
e n t i r e p ro b lem o f d e a lin g w ith th e n o s t a l g i c p a s t . W hat
we know o f Ja m e s’ s l a t e s t y l e c o n v in c e s u s o f how w e ll
d i s t i l l e d th e s e f a m i l i a r p a r t s m u st b e . W e can im a g in e
th e am ount o f d e l i b e r a t i o n and t o r tu o u s s e l e c t i o n w hich
;m ust h av e gone on i n Ja m e s’ s m in d . What was p u t i n t o th e
book was n o t a lo n e th e b e s t o f w h at he h ad s e e n . T h a t, i n
l4
A lth o u g h Jam es s p e n t a t o t a l o f t e n m onths i n A m erica
I (A ugust 30, 1 9 0 4 -J u ly 4 , ,1 9 0 5 ) , I b a s e my s t a t i s t i c s on
; th e e i g h t m onths Jam es d e v o te d to th e m a t e r i a l he was to
c o v e r i n th e b o o k . I e x c lu d e f o r t h i s c o n s i d e r a ti o n th e
u n t r e a t e d two m onths (M arch and A p r il) s p e n t i n th e M idw est
and th e P a r W est. S t a t i s t i c a l l y , i t i s a ls o o f i n t e r e s t
! t h a t 132 p a g e s ( 30$) o f th e book a re g iv e n to th e New Y ork
I a r e a .
- 133
i t s e l f p o se d no r e a l p ro b le m . The r e a l d i f f i c u l t y came i n
m aking th e p r e s e n te d s ta n d f o r a l l th e u n p r e s e n te d .
T here was a "w h o le” v iew t h a t Jam es was f o r e v e r p u r s u in g
i n th e b o o k .
I n th e N ew port c h a p t e r , a s d e m o n s tra te d , Jam es m et
th e p ro b lem o f re a d e r-s y m p a th y b y th e u s e o f c e r t a i n c h a ra c
t e r i s t i c a t t i t u d e s . He c o u ld alw ay s r e l y , to a c e r t a i n
e x t e n t , on h i s b ro a d a s s u m p tio n s o f an i n t e r e s t e d and
" c o n d itio n e d ” r e a d e r . T h ere w as, i n a d d i t i o n , a n o th e r way
to s u p p o rt h i s fu n d a m e n ta l p o s i t i o n w hich dep en d ed n o t on
c o n d itio n in g h i s r e a d e r s b u t on d e m o n s tra tin g th e t r u e
and v a l i d c o n d itio n o f h i s s u b j e c t . I n t h i s , Jam es c o u ld
a g a in becom e th e d e s i r e d d e ta c h e d o b s e r v e r . I f s u c c e s s f u l ,
th e m ethod w ould h o ld a s w e ll f o r th e u n f a m i l i a r a s th e
f a m i l i a r A m erica.
A ll t h a t was n e c e s s a r y was to c o n v in c e h i s r e a d e r s
o f th e a c c u ra c y and f i d e l i t y o f h i s r e p o r t i n g e y e . I n
t h i s s e n s e , th e v iew ed sc e n e w ould n o t be h i s a lo n e , b u t
a v a l i d e x p e r ie n c e f o r e v e ry o n e . N o s ta lg ia , th e n , w h e re v e r
■ ^ " It i s th e p e n a lty o f r e c e i v i n g to o many im p r e s s io n s
o f to o many th in g s t h a t when th e q u e s t io n a r i s e s o f g iv in g
some a c c o u n t o f th e s e a s m a ll s h a rp a n g u is h a t t e n d s th e
a c t o f s e l e c t i o n and th e n e c e s s i t y o f o m is s io n . They hav e
so hung t o g e t h e r , hav e so a lm o s t e q u a l ly c o n tr i b u te d , f o r
th e fo n d c r i t i c , to th e t o t a l im a g e, th e c h a p te r o f e x p e r i
e n c e , w h a te v e r su ch may h av e b e e n , t h a t to d e ta c h and r e
j e c t i s l i k e m u t i l a t i o n o r f a l s i f i c a t i o n ; th e h i s t o r y o f
any g iv e n im p re s s io n r e s i d i n g o f t e n l a r g e l y i n o t h e r s t h a t
have le d to i t - o r accom panied i t " ( " F l o r i d a ," The A m erican
S c e n e , p . 4o6).
13^
i n d i c a t e d , w ould be th e r i g h t r e s u l t o f m u tu a lly acknow l
ed g ed c o n d itio n s o f th e s u b j e c t — " th e l a t e n t v iv id n e s s o f
th in g s " (p . 2 9 6 ) . As c an a lr e a d y be s u rm is e d , t h i s was an
a r t i s t i c u n d e r ta k in g o f th e g r e a t e s t d i f f i c u l t y . I t s r e l a
t i v e acc o m p lish m en t i s one o f th e m a rv e ls o f th e b o o k . The
p a r t i c u l a r b ra n d o f, " s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s " w hich Jam es n e ed e d
was o f a v e ry dem anding v a r i e t y . I n o r d e r to r e p r e s e n t
, /
th e " a p p a r e n t" c h a r a c t e r o f f a m i l i a r New E n g lan d and New
Y o rk , Jam es h ad to p r a c t i c e a v e ry d i s c r e e t s e lf - a w a r e n e s s ,
s in c e a f t e r a l l , t h e r e was a p a r t o f him " d e ta c h e d " a s
w e ll a s " a tta c h e d " to th e s u b j e c t . The d e g re e o f d e ta c h m e n t
was to be th e common g ro u n d w hich Jam es c o u ld s h a re w ith
h i s r e a d e r s . At e v e ry p o i n t , Jam es h ad to c o n d itio n him
s e l f to a k in d o f s e lf - w a tc h in g w hich w ould g u a ra n te e th e
v a l i d i t y and ( t h e r e f o r e ) th e u n q u e s tio n e d a c c e p t a b i l i t y o f
h i s im p r e s s io n s .
Jam es d e l i b e r a t e l y s h ie d away from w hat may be ta k e n
a s an o v e r - p e r s o n a l t r u t h ; h i s g o a l was a g e n e r a l t r u t h
t h a t a l l c o u ld p a r t i c i p a t e i n . O th e rw is e , th e o b j e c ti v e
a n a l y s i s w hich he m ust p e rfo rm on h i s own p e r c e p tio n s o r
im p r e s s io n s w ould n o t " q u a l i f y . " The f o llo w in g d e s c r i p t i o n
lo f Cape Cod r e p r e s e n t s th e s o r t o f v a l i d im p r e s s io n Jam es
c o u ld depend an d b u i l d o n :
Cape Cod, on t h i s sh o w in g , was e x a c tl y a p e n d e n t, p i c
t o r i a l J a p a n e s e s c r e e n o r b a n n e r ; a d e l i g h t f u l triu m p h
o f " im p r e s s io n is m ," w hich d u r in g my s h o r t v i s i t a t
l e a s t , n e v e r d e p a r te d , u n d e r any p r o v o c a tio n , from i t s
ty p e . I t s ty p e , so e a s i l y f o r m u la te d , so c o m p le te ly
135
f i t t e d , was t h e r e th e l a s t th in g a t n i g h t and th e f i r s t
th in g i n th e m o rn in g ; t h e r e was r e s t f o r th e m ind— f o r
t h a t , c e r t a i n l y o f th e r e s t l e s s a n a l y s t — i n h a v in g i t
so e x a c t l y u n d e r o n e 's h a n d . A f te r t h a t one c o u ld r e a d
i n t o i t o t h e r m ean in g s w ith o u t s t r a i n i n g o r d i s t u r b i n g
i t . ( p . 33)
The e m p h a sis on th e w ord ty p e i n d i c a t e s th e d e g re e o f d i f
f i c u l t y Jam es was e n c o u n te r in g i n ' e s t a b l i s h i n g th e k in d o f
o b j e c t i v e t r u t h ( o r a w a re n e s s ) th e book dep en d ed o n . The
u s e o f th e p h r a s e , " r e s t f o r th e m in d ,” a ls o i n d i c a t e s th e
r a r i t y o f su ch " p o s s e s s io n s ” w hich do n o t f r u s t r a t e th e
c o m p le te r e n d e r in g s Jam es was a tte m p tin g . H e re , and e l s e
w h e re , we c a tc h J a m e s 's c h a r a c t e r i s t i c n o te o f s c ru p u lo u s
d e ta c h m e n t. E v e ry th in g d ep en d ed on J a m e s 's a b i l i t y to
c o n v in c e h i s r e a d e r s t h a t h i s im p r e s s io n s w ere a s v a li d
and r e l i a b l e f o r them a s th e y o b v io u s ly w ere f o r h im s e lf .
Many tim e s , Jam es a n t i c i p a t e s su ch o b j e c t i o n s . I t
i s a s i f Jam es h a s a l l o f h i s c r i t i c a l a n te n n a e o u t , c h a r a c
t e r i s t i c a l l y s e n s i t i v e to any r e a d e r i n c l i n a t i o n to d i s
b e l i e v e . Jam es n e v e r h e s i t a t e s to exam ine and q u a l i f y
w hat may be ta k e n a s an " u n r e l i a b l e ” im p r e s s io n . "D id
one by ch an ce e x a g g e r a t e ,” Jam es a sk e d h im s e lf i n r e f e r e n c e
to th e m o u n ta in s o f New H a m p sh ire,
d id one r h a p s o d iz e a m is s , and was th e a p p a re n t s u p e r io r
charm o f th e w hole t h in g m a in ly b u t an a c c id e n t o f o n e 's
own s i t u a t i o n , th e s t a t e o f h a v in g h ap p en ed to b e d e
p r i v e d to e x c e s s — t h a t i s f a r to o lo n g — o f n a tu r a li s m i n
q u a n t i t y ? H ere i t was i n su ch a q u a n t i t y a s one h a d n 't
f o r y e a r s h ad to d e a l w ith ; and t h a t m ig h t by i t s e l f be
a lu x u ry c o r r u p t i n g th e ju d g m e n t, (p p . 1 4 -1 5 )
136
N o tic e th e u s e o f th e w ord lu x u ry i n th e a b o v e, w hich i n
d i c a t e s a g a in th e d e g re e o f w a tc h f u ln e s s Jam es had d e l i b
e r a t e l y s e t f o r h im s e lf .
The e n t i r e q u e s tio n came down to a p ro b lem o f o b s e r v a
t i o n . Prom th e p a i n t e r ’ s e y e , w hich was J a m e s 's c h a r a c
t e r i s t i c p o s i t i o n , w hat k in d o f im p re s s io n is m was dem anded
o f him — and i n t u r n , from h i s r e a d e r s ? Some b io g r a p h ic and
c r i t i c a l b a ck g ro u n d on J a m e s 's r e l a t i o n w ith Im p re s s io n is m
a s an a r t i s t i c medium w i l l c l a r i f y th e p o i n t . W e know
t h a t Jam es was c r i t i c a l l y and f o r m a lly In v o lv e d w ith im
p r e s s io n is m a s an a r t medium a s e a r l y a s 1875 and 1876 i n
h i s New Y ork T rib u n e s e r i e s o f P a r i s s k e tc h e s . H is a t
t i t u d e to w a rd s th e new movement te n d e d to a g re e w ith th e
g e n e r a l p u b lic a t t i t u d e o f d is a p p r o v a l. He a rg u e d i n h i s
A p r il 2 2 , 1876 L e t t e r t h a t " th e e f f e c t o f i t was to make
me t h in k b e t t e r th a n e v e r o f a l l th e good o ld r u l e s w hich
d e c re e t h a t b e a u ty i s b e a u ty and u g l i n e s s u g l in e s s "
( P a r i s i a n S k e tc h e s , p . 1 3 1 ) . The g e n e r a l t e n o r o f J a m e s 's
c r i t i c i s m was t h a t th e I m p r e s s i o n is ts te n d e d to a b ju r e
t h e i r p rim a ry d u ty o f c l e a r l y s e e in g and c l e a r l y , v a l i d l y
r e c o r d i n g . I n th e a tte m p t " to g iv e a v i v i d im p r e s s io n o f
how a th in g h a p p e n s to lo o k , a t a p a r t i c u l a r m om ent," th e y
•1 ZT
s a c r i f i c e d g e n e r a l i t y f o r i n d i v i d u a l v a g u e n e s s .
16
Pp. I 3I - I 3 2 . A cco rd in g to Jam es, t h e i r b a s i c m is ta k e
was i n th e a ssu m p tio n " t h a t a s u b j e c t w hich h a s b e en c ru d e ly
c h o se n s h a l l b e l o o s e ly t r e a t e d . " Jam es c o u ld n o t a c c e p t
t h i s a p p a re n t n e g le c t o f th e a r t i s t ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y :
137
I n th e y e a r s t h a t fo llo w e d a f t e r 1876, th e many y e a r s
o f " s e e in g " and w r i t i n g , Jam es fo u n d h im s e lf c o n ti n u a l l y
c o n fro n te d w ith th e b a s ic "dilem m a" a t th e h e a r t o f Im p re s
s io n is m . At l e a s t , f o r someone l i k e Jam es, who r e f u s e d
to com prom ise w ith h i s own s ta n d a r d s , i t form ed a r e a l
dilem m a. At h e a r t , Jam es f e l t h im s e lf to b e an im p re s
s i o n i s t i n t h a t he w anted to r e h d e r th e s u b je c t i n te rm s
o f h i s own e x p e r ie n c e o f i t . H ow ever, he w anted th e r e p
r e s e n t a t i o n o f t h a t e x p e rie n c e to be s u f f i c i e n t l y v a l i d
on i t s own g ro u n d and to s ta n d , t h e r e f o r e , a p a r t from
h im s e lf . The p re d ic a m e n t f o r Jam es was s i m i l a r to G eorge
D ane’ s b e w ild e rm e n t I n "The G re a t Good P la c e " :
I t was p a r t o f th e w hole im p re s s io n t h a t , by some e x t r a
o r d in a r y law , o n e ’ s v i s i o n seem ed l e s s from th e f a c t s
th a n th e f a c t s from o n e ’ s v i s i o n ; t h a t th e e le m e n ts w ere
d e te rm in e d a t th e moment by th e m om ent’ s need o r th e
m om ent’ s sy m p ath y .1 7
"The young c o n t r i b u t o r s to th e e x h i b i t i o n a re p a r t i s a n s o f
u n a d o rn e d r e a l i t y and a b s o lu te fo e s to a rra n g e m e n t, em
b e llis h m e n t, s e l e c t i o n , to th e a r t i s t ' s a llo w in g h im s e lf ,
a s he h a s h i t h e r t o , s in c e a r t b e g a n , found h i s b e s t a c c o u n t
i n d o in g , to b e p re o c c u p ie d w ith th e id e a o f th e b e a u t i f u l .
The b e a u t i f u l , to th em , I s w hat th e s u p e r n a tu r a l i s to th e
P o s i t i v i s t s — a m e ta p h y s ic a l n o t io n , w hich can o n ly g e t one
i n t o a m uddle and i s to be s e v e r e ly l e t a lo n e . L et i t
a lo n e , th e y s a y , and i t w i l l come a t i t s own p l e a s u r e ; th e
p a i n t e r 's p r o p e r f i e l d i s sim p ly th e a c t u a l . . ." .( p . 1 31).
17
' The N ovels and T a le s o f H enry Jam es, "New Y ork E d i
t i o n , " " ^ 5 ^ r o l s 7 ^ N i i r ? o H c r ^ 0 T ^ 0 9 7 ~ l ^ ) , x v i , 2 5 4 .
F i r s t a p p e a ra n c e i n S c r i b n e r 's M agazine, J a n u a ry 1900.
H e r e a f te r a l l c i t a t i o n s from th e N ovel's and T a le s . . .
w i l l be c i t e d a s NY E d it i o n .
138;
The p ro b lem was how to r e n d e r a t r u l y o b j e c t i v e im p r e s s io n
o f a c l e a r l y s u b j e c t iv e a c t o f p e r c e p t i o n —o r " p o s s e s s io n ,"
a s Jam es term ed i t . Jam es s t r u g g l e d , i n h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c
c o n s e r v a tiv e way, a g a i n s t any te n d e n c y to o v e r - p e r s o n a liz e i
th e p r o c e s s . What r e s u l t e d i n tim e was a c t u a l l y a more
d i s c i p l i n e d k in d o f Im p re s s io n is m . I n o p e r a t io n , t h i s
m eant a d e g re e o f i n t e g r i t y i n th e a c t o f i m p r e s s i o n i s t i c
r e p o r t i n g w h ich , i n a s e n s e , made th e a c t a c c o u n ta b le to
i
th e g e n e r a l and v a l i d t r u t h s i n h e r e n t i n th e s u b j e c t . At
a l l tim e s , h o w ev er, th e p r o c e s s d epended on an a lm o st
s c i e n t i f i c a t t e n t i o n to th e g iv e n s c e n e —on " r i g h t l y
! s e e in g ." F o r Jam es, t h i s m eant an a c c u r a te and r e s p o n s ib le ;
i a c t o f p h y s ic a l o b s e r v a tio n . "One can sp e a k o n ly o f w hat I
i ' !
one h a s se e n becam e th e w ord and th e r u l e f o r The A m erican
Scene (p . 1 3 2 ). T here was no d o u b t i n h i s own m ind t h a t
!
once he had r e a l l y " p r o p e r ly s e e n ," he c o u ld make th e
g e n e r a l t r u t h o f th e im p re s s io n a c c e p ta b le to h i s r e a d e r s , j
> i
| The o n ly am ount o f i n d i v i d u a l i t y — i n th e p u re im p re s - I
s i o n i s t i c s e n s e — t h a t Jam es w ould r i g h t f u l l y a llo w , w ould
i
be th e d e g re e o f h e ig h te n e d im a g in a tio n w hich o n ly one j
i n d i v i d u a l ( th e a r t i s t ) c o u ld b r in g to one s u b j e c t .
i
i
C e n tr a l, o f c o u rs e , to th e s u c c e s s o f th e m ethod was t h i s J
m easure o f h e ig h te n e d p e r c e p tio n and c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a w a re - j
n e s s p e c u l i a r to th e i n d i v i d u a l w r i t e r . I n J a m e s 's c a s e ,
a l l th e e v id e n c e i n d i c a t e s t h a t he was e m in e n tly s u i t e d
139
f o r th e h i g h e s t dem ands and c h a lle n g e s o f th e sy ste m . Be
c a u se th e p r o c e s s was so s e lf-d e m a n d in g , i t becam e, i n i t s
l a t e r a p p l i c a t i o n , an i n c r e a s i n g m a tte r o f p e r s o n a l i n t e g
r i t y and r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t h a t Jam es " c a tc h " th e im p re s s io n
e x a c tl y r i g h t . I n e f f e c t , a s th e fo llo w in g l i n e s from th e
P r e f a c e o f The G olden Bowl i n d i c a t e , t h i s i s w hat i s m eant
by Ja m e s1s h a b i t u a l "m o ral v i s i o n " :
A ll o f w hich am ounts d o u b tle s s b u t to s a y in g t h a t a s
th e w hole c o n d u c t o f l i f e c o n s i s t s o f th in g s d o n e , w hich
do o t h e r t h i n g s , i n t h e i r t u r n , j u s t so o u r b e h a v io r and
i t s f r u i t s a r e e s s e n t i a l l y one and c o n tin u o u s and p e r
s i s t e n t and u n q u e n c h a b le , so th e a c t h a s i t s way o f
a b id in g and show ing and t e s t i f y i n g , and s o , among o u r
in n u m e ra b le a c t s , a r e no a r b i t r a r y , no s e n s e l e s s s e p a r a
t i o n s . The more we a re c a p a b le o f a c t i n g , th e l e s s
g ro p in g ly we p le a d su ch d i f f e r e n c e s ; w h ereb y , w ith any
c a p a b i l i t y , we re c o g n iz e b e tim e s t h a t to " p u t" th in g s
i s v e ry e x a c tl y and r e s p o n s i b l y and in te r m in a b ly to do
them . Our e x p r e s s io n o f them , and th e te rm s on w hich
we u n d e rs ta n d t h a t , b e lo n g a s n e a r l y to o u r c o n d u c t
and o u r l i f e a s e v e ry o t h e r f e a t u r e o f o u r freed o m ;
th e s e t h in g s y i e l d i n f a c t some o f i t s m ost e x q u i s i t e
m a t e r i a l to th e r e l i g i o n o f d o in g . Mere th a n t h a t , o u r
l i t e r a r y d e e d s e n jo y t h i s m arked a d v a n ta g e o v e r many o f
o u r a c t s , t h a t , th o u g h th e y go f o r t h i n t o th e w o rld and
s t r a y ev en i n th e d e s e r t , th e y d o n 't to th e same e x te n t
lo s e th e m s e lv e s ; t h e i r a tta c h m e n t and r e f e r e n c e to u s ,
how ever s t r a i n e d , n e e d n 't n e c e s s a r i l y l a p s e —w h ile o f
th e t i e t h a t b in d s them we may make a lm o s t a n y th in g we
l i k e . 1°
T here was a p r i o r c o n s i d e r a ti o n i n J a m e s 's e s s e n t i a l
m ake-up w hich was to a f f e c t e v e r y th in g a b o u t The A m erican
S c e n e . T ry a s he m ig h t— f o r t h i s " d e f i n i t i v e " a p p r a i s a l o f
^N Y E d i t i o n , X X III, x x iv . R e p r in te d i n R. P . B la c k -
m u r's c o l l e c t i o n o f th e P r e f a c e s , The A rt o f th e N ovel
(New Y ork, 1 9 3 4 ), p p . 3 4 7 -3 4 8 . A ll r e f e r e n c e s to th e
P r e f a c e s h e r e a f t e r w i l l b e from B lack m u r, c i t e d a s P r e f a c e s ! .
I 140
j A m erica— Jam es c o u ld n o t a lw ay s d i s t i n g u i s h a s s c r u p u lo u s ly
a s he d e s i r e d b e tw e e n th e e n d u rin g t r u t h o f h i s p e r c e p tio n s
[an d th e m ere e n c h a n tm e n t o f th e p e r c e p t i v e p o w e rs. He
|
c o u ld n o t h e lp a d m ittin g h i s i n h e r e n t l y ro m a n tic h a b i t o f
b e in g charm ed b y m ore v a r io u s and d is c o r d a n t e le m e n ts th a n
he c o u ld h a n d le , lh e h a b i t , th ro u g h o u t th e b o o k , was " to
g iv e th e e a r n e s t o b s e r v e r a th o u sa n d m ore th in g s to t h in k
| o f th a n he can p r e te n d to r e t a i l " ( The A m erican S c e n e , p .
182). N o th in g b u t c o m p le te f r a n k n e s s , w hich a llo w e d him to
i
|w o rk o u t h i s p ro b le m s " i n p u b l i c ," w ould a d e q u a te ly s e rv e
! the im m ensely d i f f i c u l t t a s k Jam es h ad s e t f o r h im s e lf .
| I n o p e r a t io n , h o w ev er, th e f r a n k n e s s — th e w r i t e r - t o - w r i t e r
t a l k ( th e " a r t - t a l k " ) —becam e th e m o st b a s i c and n e c e s s a r y
d e v ic e i n th e e n t i r e w ork. I t e n a b le d Jam es to "k eep "
w hat he a p p e a re d to th ro w aw ay. The r e s u l t i s t h a t we may,
i f so i n c l i n e d , b e a s charm ed w ith th e " re m n a n ts" a s th e
" p ro d u c t" o f Ja m e s’ s w o rk sh o p . By " re m n a n ts" I mean th e
s c a t t e r e d p a s s a g e s o f a r t - t a l k w hich i n v e s t s e v e ry c o rn e r
o f The A m erican S c e n e . By " p r o d u c t," I mean th e g o a l o f
o b j e c t i v e a n a l y s i s w hich o v e r r i d e s e v e ry o t h e r c o n s id e r a
t i o n i n J a m e s 's b o o k . N ote i n th e fo llo w in g ex am p le , how
th e a r t - t a l k becom es " re m n a n ts " f o r th e sa k e o f th e
" p r o d u c t" — th e e x c u r s io n i n t o New H am p sh ire:
I t was p r e s e n t l y to come b a c k to me, h o w ev er, t h a t
t h e r e w ere o t h e r s o r t s , to o — so many s o r t s , I n f a c t ,
f o r th e a n c i e n t c o n te m p la tiv e p e r s o n , t h a t s e l e c t i o n and
; o m is s io n , i n f a c e o f them , becam e a lm o s t a p a in , and th e
l4 l
s a c r i f i c e o f ev en th e l e a s t o f th e s e im m ed iate se q u e n c e s ;
o f im p r e s s io n i n i t s f r e s h n e s s a l i v e l y r e g r e t . B ut
w ith o u t much f o r e s h o r te n in g i s no r e p r e s e n t a t i o n , and
I was p ro m p tly to becom e c o n s c io u s , a t a l l e v e n t s , o f
q u i t e a d i f f e r e n t p a r t o f th e p i c t u r e , and o f p e r s o n a l
p e r c e p t i o n s , to m atch i t , o f a d i f f e r e n t o r d e r . I woke
u p , b y a q u ic k t r a n s i t i o n , i n th e New H am pshire moun
t a i n s , i n th e deep v a l l e y s and th e w ide w o o d la n d s, on
th e f o r e s t - f r i n g e d s lo p e s , th e f a r - s e e i n g c r e s t s o f th e
h ig h p l a c e s , and b y th e s id e o f th e l i b e r a l s tre a m s and
th e lo n e ly l a k e s . . . . I c a l l i t r i c h [ th e r e g i o n ] w ith
o u t c o m p u n c tio n , d e s p i t e i t s s e v e r a l p o v e r t i e s , c a r in g
l i t t l e t h a t h a l f th e charm , o r h a l f th e re s p o n s e to i t ,
may hav e b e e n s h a m e le s s ly s u b j e c t i v e " ; s in c e t h a t b u t
s l i g h t l y s h i f t s th e g ro u n d o f th e b e a u ty o f th e im p re s
s i o n . When you w ander a b o u t i n A rc a d ia you a s k a s few
q u e s tio n s a s p o s s i b l e . T h at i s A rc a d ia i n f a c t , and
q u e s tio n s d ro p , o r a t l e a s t g e t th e m s e lv e s d e f e r r e d and
s h i f t l e s s l y s h ir k e d ; i n c o n fo rm ity w ith w hich th e New ■
E n g la n d h i l l s and woods . . . w ere t h in g s to p la y on th e :
c h o rd s o f memory and a s s o c i a t i o n , to sa y n o th in g o f th o se !
o f s u r p r i s e , w ith an a d m ira b le a r t o f t h e i r own.
(p p . 1 2 -1 3 )
I n t h i s s e n s e , th e a r t - t a l k s e r v e s n o t o n ly th e f u n c - i
t i o n o f a " m id - w ife ," b u t a l s o , im p o r ta n tly , a s a t a l e i n j
i t s e l f . Taken t o g e t h e r , a l l o f th e a r t - t a l k i n th e book j
j
t e l l s th e k in d o f i n t e r e s t i n g " s t o r y " Jam es h a s i n m ind
w henever he r e f e r s to th e f a c t t h a t " t h e r e i s th e s t o r y • |
o f o n e ’ s h e r o , and th e n , th a n k s to th e i n ti m a t e c o n n e x io n
|
o f t h i n g s , th e s t o r y o f o n e ’ s s t o r y i t s e l f " ( P r e f a c e s ,
p . 3 1 3 ). I n The A m erican Scene t h i s a d d i t i o n a l s t o r y
i
c o u ld be c a l l e d "The A d v en tu re o f E n c o u n te rin g Im p re s
s i o n s ." I n th e r e a l s e n s e , t h i s i s n e v e r a n y th in g a c t u a l l y
s e p a r a te from th e m ain s t o r y . The s y n t h e s i s i n my c o n c lu d
in g c h a p te r w i l l show how i n t e g r a l b o th s t o r i e s a r e to
e a c h o t h e r . I t i s p o s s i b l e , o f c o u rs e , to a v o id th e
" c r i t i c a l m ac h in e ry " i n f a v o r o f th e "w ord" on A m erica.
142
To do s o , h o w e v er, I s to d e b a se Ja m e s1s c u r r e n c y . I t i s
im p o s s ib le to h av e th e c o m p le te u n d e rs ta n d in g and v a lu e o f
!J a m e s 's p r i z e d v iew s o f A m erica u n l e s s we se e how th e a r t -
t a l k t r i g g e r s o f f and c o n d itio n s th e v ie w s , a n d , a t tim e s ,
ev en a c t s a s th e n e c e s s a r y c r i t i c a l b a l l a s t . U n lik e J a m e s 's
n o v e ls and t h e i r p r e f a c e s , th e two " s t o r i e s " i n The A m erican
I Scene c a n n o t be d i s j o i n e d . "The i n ti m a t e c o n n e x io n o f
i —
; th in g s " r u l e s a g a i n s t i t .
I
i
CHAPTER V
t
VIEWS OP AMERICA
!
j
j The L i t e r a r y P a s t
N e a rly a l l o f th e few c r i t i c s who h av e d e a l t w ith
i The A m erican Scene to any e x te n t s in c e 1907 h av e ta k e n
i t h e i r c u e s — and c h a lle n g e s — from such a d v e rs e comm ents a s
th e f o llo w in g i n th e A thenaeum o f M arch 9 » 1907:
We d o u b t w h e th e r th e t a b u l a t e d c o n c lu s io n s o f th e w hole
book ( b u t who s h a l l f o rm u la te them ?) w ould y i e l d much
new l i g h t on th e S t a t e s o r e v en t h e i r p o s s i b i l i t i e s . 1
j
| D e s p ite th e acknow ledged d i f f i c u l t i e s i n s t y l e ( " in v o lv e -
! m e n ts ," I p r e f e r to c a l l th e m ), th e t a s k o f fo r m u la tio n
|
m ust be ta k e n u p . I t m u st, h o w ev er, b e m ore th a n an e x e r
c i s e i n d e c ip h e r in g co m p arab le to J a m e s 's own. The t a s k
h a s i t s im p o rta n c e m a in ly b e c a u s e o f th e i n h e r e n t wisdom
i
I c o n ta in e d i n th e b o o k . We hav e come a lo n g way s in c e 1907
i n o u r g e n e r a l a p p r a i s a l o f J a m e s 's im p o rta n c e ; c e r t a i n l y ,
few " ite m s " i n th e Ja m e sia n can o n c o u ld h av e a s much i n
t e r e s t a s th e s e o b s e r v a tio n s on th e A m erican s c e n e . I n
t h i s s e n s e a lo n e — i n th e d e s i r e to "know" a n o th e r e r a — ,
we a r e to d a y i n th e same p o s i t i o n a s r e a d e r s f i f t y y e a r s
^The A m erican Scene (a n o n , r e v . ) , p. 2 8 3.
! 143
j e a r l i e r who w ent to The A m erican Scene f o r one th in g
i a lo n e — th e "w ord" on A m erica. Of c o u rs e , we hav e th e
i
a d v a n ta g e i n tim e and p e r s p e c t i v e , and s h o u ld n o t b e su b
j e c t to th e same c h a u v i n i s t i c e r r o r s . I n t h e i r d is c o m f o r t
w ith The A m erican S c e n e , e a r l i e r c r i t i c s h e ld J a m e s 's
fam ed e c c e n t r i c i t i e s o f s t y l e a c c o u n ta b le f o r a l l th e u n -
2
p o p u la r and s t r i k i n g com m ents.
j T u rn in g , a s we do now to h i s v ie w s , we f in d a d i f f e r -
ie n c e o f a t t i t u d e o r r e s p o n s i b i l i t y — a p a r t from m arked
s t y l i s t i c d i f f e r e n c e s — b a se d on th e d e g re e o f f a m i l i a r i t y
w ith th e s u b j e c t . F o r th e p l a c e s o f p e r s o n a l memory and
d eep a s s o c i a t i o n (B o sto n , C am bridge, New Y o rk ), Jam es
a tte m p ts " a u t h o r i t a t i v e " r e a p p r a i s a l s . F o r th e p l a c e s o f
more d i s t a n t a s s o c i a t i o n (C o n c o rd , Salem , P h i l a d e l p h i a ) , h e '
I
a tte m p ts in f o r m a tiv e a p p r a i s a l s . F o r th e A m erica he h a s
n e v e r s e e n b e f o r e ( n o ta b ly , th e S o u th ), he v e n tu r e s i n t o j
i
more d e f i n i t i v e a p p r a i s a l s . W e sa y " a tte m p ts " i n th e
i ;
i ;
f i r s t two c a s e s b e c a u s e i t s h o u ld be e v id e n t b y now t h a t
p ro b le m s o f s t y l e , b ro u g h t a b o u t by J a m e s 's c h a r a c t e r i s t i c j
I
m anner o f " s e e i n g ," w ere e v e n t u a l l y to hav e e v e r y th in g to j
i
!
I
O 1
The O u tlo o k f o r M arch 16, 1907 i n t e r p r e t e d J a m e s 's I
t e n t a t i v e s ta te m e n ts a s an i n d i c a t i o n t h a t he was b a s i - j
c a l l y u n c e r t a i n and i n d e f i n i t e a b o u t h i s own im p re s s io n s I
(8 5 :6 2 2 ) . The S o u th A t l a n t i c Q u a r te r ly f o r J u ly 1907 s a id j
t h a t Jam es was " f r a n k l y o u t o f sym pathy w ith 't h e e t e r n a l
A m erican n o te .'" They a c c u se d him o f m e re ly b e in g charm ed
w ith " th e s ig n s o f th e a n ti q u e , r a t h e r th a n w ith th e m ore
o b v io u s a s p e c t s o f o u r co m m ercial and d e m o c ra tic l i f e "
(6 :3 1 3 -3 1 * 0 .
145
sa y i n w hat a c t u a l l y r e s u l t e d i n te rm s o f l i t e r a r y v a l u e .^
The f a c t t h a t so much o f A m erica d o e s becom e a p p a r e n t and
" a v a i l a b l e 1 ’ to u s th ro u g h h i s m o st " d i s c r e e t " r e n d e r in g s i s :
i n t e r e s t i n g te s tim o n y o f th e p a r t i a l s u c c e s s o f w hat m ig h t
b e c a l l e d h i s " r e s t r a i n e d s u b j e c t i v e ."
C am bridge h e ld a h o s t o f m em ories f o r him : h e r e , th e
young Jam es s p e n t an u n s u c c e s s f u l y e a r s tu d y in g law i n
1 8 6 2 -1 8 6 3 ; h e re b eg an h i s lo n g f r i e n d s h i p s w ith Jam es
L o w e ll, W endell H olm es, a n d , e s p e c i a l l y , W illia m Dean
4
H o w e lls. I t was th e H a rv a rd p i c t u r e , h o w ev er, m ore th a n
th e many p o s s i b l e p e r s o n a l n o t e s , w hich to o k up m ost o f
h i s c r i t i c a l a t t e n t i o n . The U n iv e r s ity i n i t s new and
g r e a t e r s i z e s t r u c k him a s b e in g i n "m ore c o n f id e n t p o s - ;
s e s s io n " o f C am bridge:
I t m assed t h e r e i n m u l t i p l i e d fo rm s, w ith new and s tra n g e ;
j a r c h i t e c t u r e s loom ing th ro u g h th e d a rk ; i t a p p e a re d to j
i h av e w andered w ide and to b e s t r e t c h i n g f o r t h , i n many |
d i r e c t i o n s , lo n g , a c q u i s i t i v e arm s. (p . 5 5 )
^ I t s h o u ld be k e p t i n m in d , w h ile we a tte m p t to g iv e
Ja m e s’ s v iew s on A m erica, t h a t we a re i n som ewhat th e same :
p re d ic a m e n t a s th e p a r a p h r a s e r o f p o e tr y . As we draw o u t
m ore and more o f th e " s t a te m e n t ," we becom e i n c r e a s i n g l y j
aw are o f th e r i c h r e s i d u e we m u st le a v e b e h in d . A t b e s t , !
th e s e p a r a t i o n , h e r e , c an o n ly be one o f academ ic co n v en
ie n c e so t h a t we may h a v e enough o f J a m e s 's a n a l y s i s w ith
w hich to make o u r own. The c o n c lu d in g c h a p te r w i l l p e r
form th e n e c e s s a r y s y n t h e s i s o f m a tte r and m anner w hich
The A m erican Scene dem ands.
^From 1866 u n t i l 1882 when b o th p a r e n t s d ie d , Cam
b r id g e s e rv e d a s th e " a n c e s t r a l s e a t" to th e w a n d e rin g
Jam es. Of c o u r s e , th e p r e v io u s two y e a r s (1 8 6 4 -1 8 6 6 ), w ith
th e fa m ily i n B o sto n a t num ber t h i r t e e n A sh b u rto n P la c e ,
c o n tr i b u te d to th e B o sto n -C am b rid g e m em o ries.
146
The a p p a r e n t g r e a t e r m a t e r i a l p r o s p e r i t y o f t h i s m o d ern -d ay
H a rv a rd com pared to th e " o th e r tim e " seem ed to b e th e s i g
n i f i c a n t n o te o f d i f f e r e n c e , a s Jam es saw i t .
. . . th e h a u n tin g m o ra l o f th e w hole m u ta tio n — th e tu n e
to w hich th e pam pered p r e s e n t made th e o t h e r tim e lo o k
c o m p a ra tiv e ly g rim . E ach ite m o f th e pam pered s t a t e
c o n tr i b u te d to t h i s e f f e c t — th e f i n e r m ise en sc& ne, th e
m u l t i p l i e d r e s o u r c e s , h a l l s , f a c u l t i e s , m useum s, u n d e r
g r a d u a te and p o s tg r a d u a te h a b i t a t i o n s ( th e s e l a s t o f so
l a r g e a lu x u r y ) ; th e pompous l i t t l e c lu b - h o u s e s , v i s i t e d ,
a l l v a c a n t, i n th e s e r i o u s t e l l - t a l e t w i l i g h t t h a t
seem ed to g iv e them , i n t e l l e c t u a l l y , "aw ay ." (p p . 56- 5 7 )
The m ost t e l l i n g o f Ja m e s’ s comments was i n r e f e r e n c e
to th e la c k o f " l i t e r a r y c o n s e c r e a tio n " w hich th e U n iv e r
s i t y h ad once h ad th ro u g h L o n g fe llo w and L o w e ll. N o th in g
co m p arab le to L o w e ll’ s " r o b u s t hum our" o r " lo v e o f l e t t e r s "
Ja p p e a re d e v id e n t on th e s c e n e . I n t h i s s e n s e , th e U n iv e r-
I
1 .
s i t y seem ed to b e w ith o u ts i t s " p a p e r s ," i t s l e g i t i m a t e
l i t e r a r y r i g h t s . "The l i g h t o f l i t e r a r y d e s i r e " was n o t
a p p a r e n t i n th e H a rv a rd o f 1904; to Jam es, o t h e r acad em ic
c o n c e rn s a p p e a re d to hav e s u p p la n te d i t ( p . 6 9 ) . I t was
n o t , a lo n e , th e n o n - l i t e r a r y p r o p e n s i t i e s e v id e n t i n th e
new H a rv a rd t h a t d i s t u r b e d Jam es, b u t th e g e n e r a l s e n s e o f
m a t e r i a l w e a lth and s i z e w hich seem ed to w ork a g a i n s t th e
academ ic i n g e n e r a l a t e v e ry t u r n . I t was a s i f th e o ld
c o lle g e had l o s t i t s fo rm e r d e f e n s e s , b e in g now " w ith o u t
p r o v i s i o n , e i t h e r o f p o e tr y o r p r o s e , a g a i n s t th e p i c t u r e
o f p r o p o r t io n s and r e l a t i o n s o v e rw h e lm in g ly r e a d j u s t e d "
(p . 6 8 ) . What h ad b e e n done b e f o r e th ro u g h L o w ell and
o t h e r s i n th e p r e v io u s c e n tu r y m ig h t soon n e ed r e - d o i n g :
147
I f th e l i t t l e o ld p l a c e , w ith i t s a c c e s s i b l e e a r , had
b e e n so b r a v e , w hat was th e m a tte r w ith th e b ig new o n e ,
^ o in g ^ in , a s i t w ould s a y , f o r g r e a t e r b r a v e r i e s s t i l l ?
The c o m p la in t was e q u a l ly a p p li c a b l e to th e many new
and e x p a n d in g c o ll e g e s Jam es e n c o u n te re d i n th e g r e a t e r
B o sto n and New E n g la n d a r e a . A p a t t e r n o f e d u c a tio n a l
"d ev e lo p m e n t" was becom ing e v id e n t:
I h i s p r o c e s s a lm o s t alw ay s t a k e s th e fo rm , p r i m a r i l y , o f
m ore la n d s and h o u s e s and h a l l s and ro o m s, more swim
m in g -b a th s and f o o t b a l l - f i e l d s and g y m n a sia , a g r e a t e r
lu x u ry o f b r i c k and m o r ta r , a g r e a t e r i n g e n u i t y , th e
m o st a r t f u l c o n c e iv a b le , o f accom m odation and i n s t a l l a
t i o n . Such i s th e m a g ic , su ch th e p r e s e n c e s , t h a t te n d ,
m ore th a n any o t h e r , to f i g u r e a s th e I n s t i t u t i o n ,
th e r e b y p e r v e r t i n g n o t a l i t t l e , a s n e e d s c a r c e be r e
m ark ed , th e f i n e r c o l l e g i a t e i d e a : th e th e o r y b e in g
d o u b t le s s , and a g a in m o st c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y , t h a t w ith
a l l th e w ro u g h t s to n e and o ak and p a in t e d g l a s s , th e im
m ense p r o v i s i o n , th e m u l t i p l i e d m a rb le s and t i l e s and
c l o i s t e r s and a c r e s , " p e o p le w i l l com e," t h a t i s , i n
d i v id u a l s o f v a lu e w i l l , and i n some m anner w ork some
m ir a c l e . I n th e e a r l y A m erican tim e , d o u b t le s s , i n
d i v id u a l s o f v a lu e h ad to w a it to o much f o r t h i n g s ; b u t
t h a t i s now made u p by th e way t h in g s a r e w a itin g f o r
i n d i v i d u a l s o f v a lu e , (p . 245)
I t i s n o t u n u s u a l to f in d Jam es, a s h e moves a b o u t
New E n g la n d , c o m p ilin g h i s own l i s t o f " i n d i v i d u a l s o f 1
v a lu e ." At " S u n n y s id e ," W ash in g to n I r v i n g " s ro m a n tic
home i n U p s ta te New Y o rk , Jam es was d e e p ly a f f e c t e d by I
I
" th e q u i t e i n d e f i n a b l e a i r o f th e l i t t l e A m erican l i t e r a r y
p a s t " ( p . 1 5 0 ). The w o rth o f I r v i n g ( i n h i s b r i e f c o n s id
e r a t i o n ) depended on many v a r i a b l e s o f l i t e r a r y v a lu e : " h is j
p l e a s a n t pow ers . . . h i s am ple h o u rs . . . h i s h o n o u r . . . |
i
h i s tem p er . . . and h i s d e l i g h t f u l fu n d o f re m in is c e n c e
and m a t e r i a l" (p . 1 5 2 ) .
148
At C oncord, Jam es added h i s own r e m in is c e n t mood to
th e p u r e ly l i t e r a r y and h i s t o r i c a l . He w alked a lo n g th e
" c o n s ta n t archw ay o f th e e lm s ," b e in g a f f e c t e d m ore and
more i n t e n s e l y b y a c e r t a i n a tm o sp h e re i n th e a i r . I t was
n o t d i f f i c u l t f o r Jam es, a s he th o u g h t o f Em erson and h i s
b o o k s, to f e e l " th e s e n s e o f m oving i n la r g e i n t e l l e c t u a l
sp a c e " ( p . 2 5 5 ). W hatever v i v i d th o u g h ts he had h ad b e
f o r e o f H aw thorne, T h o re a u , and th e o t h e r s w ere c o n t i n u a l l y
b e in g a f f e c t e d b y h i s v e ry h ig h ly d e v e lo p e d s e n s e o f p l a c e .
i I n e f f e c t , th e p a s s a g e s on C oncord a re th e b e s t exam ple i n
The A m erican Scene o f an a lm o s t n e c e s s a r y "p rim a cy " ( f o r
Jam es) o f p l a c e s o v e r m en. N o th in g —n o t ev en th e l i t e r a
t u r e i t s e l f o f th e s e men— c o u ld q u i t e a c c o u n t f o r t h e i r
p a r t i c u l a r g e n iu s i n th e same way a s C oncord a lo n e . To
Jam es, t h e r e was a t r u t h i n c e r t a i n p l a c e s w hich spoke a s
n o th in g e l s e c o u ld j to " in v o k e " su ch m y s te r ie s was ad v en
t u r e f o r Jam es.
i
T here w ere many c o n d itio n s to su ch a c t s o f i n v o c a tio n .
i N ot a l l l i t e r a r y o r h i s t o r i c a l s i t e s w ould w ork a s w e ll.
! 1
; The d e g re e o f s u c c e s s f o r Jam es o f t e n depended on th e d e - '
| g re e o f i n te n s e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e tw ee n th e p la c e and th e
i . . ,
! l i t e r a r y man i n q u e s t i o n . I n p r o c e s s , J a m e s 's m ethod was
t
c o m p arab le to an a c t o f v i c a r i o u s e x p e rie n c e i n w hich
\ . 1
; Jam es, th ro u g h h i s a d v a n ta g e s a s someone o f s y m p a th e tic
! t a l e n t s and s e n s i b i l i t y , w ould be a b le to s e n s e th e
p a r t i c u l a r p re d ic a m e n t and c o n d itio n s w hich once w orked so
j t e l l i n g l y on th e e a r l i e r l i t e r a r y f i g u r e . A n o th er v e ry
| im p o r ta n t c o n d itio n w ould h e th e d e g re e o f " a u th e n tic ity '*
j
|re m a in in g i n su ch p l a c e s . Jam es h ad a g r e a t d e a l to say
th ro u g h o u t The A m erican Scene on th e r e l a t i v e d i s r e g a r d i n
th e "new" A m erica f o r th e p l a c e s o f " s to r e d " v a lu e .
C oncord was e m in e n tly s u i t e d f o r th e a c t o f l i t e r a r y
hom age. I t had re m a in e d ( a s i t d o e s , to t h i s d a y ) r e l a
t i v e l y u n to u c h e d by tim e . The o r i g i n a l f a c t o r s o f p l a i n
l i v i n g and in d e p e n d e n t t h in k in g h ad somehow b e e n s u f f i c i e n t
th ro u g h th e y e a r s to d is c o u ra g e any o u t s i d e a tte m p ts to
make i t more th a n th e s le e p y tow n i t w as. Jam es n o te d ,
w ith d eep r e l i e f , th e a lm o s t a c c i d e n t a l c o n d itio n s o f
i t s f o r t u n a t e s u r v i v a l . Few p l a c e s i n A m erica o f h i s t o r
i c a l o r l i t e r a r y v a lu e c o u ld be a s w e ll a s s u r e d o f a
j
" f u t u r e . " F o r Jam es, " th e s i n c e r e o b s e r v e r ," t h e r e w ere
i j
| a d d i t i o n a l v a lu e s to b e g a th e r e d h e r e . L ooking a g a in , a s
| ;
| he had done many tim e s b e f o r e , a t C oncord B rid g e and th e
i ;
Old Manse n e a rb y , home o f Em erson and H aw th o rn e, he was
m o v in g ly aw are o f th e a d v a n ta g e he p o s s e s s e d i n tim e and
p e r s p e c t i v e . F o r Ja m es, th e a c t o f in v o c a tio n was n e v e r
a sim p le o n e : 1
j
A ll th e commemorative o b j e c t s , th e s to n e m ark in g th e
b u r i a l p la c e o f th e t h r e e E n g lis h s o l d i e r s , th e a n im a te d j
im age o f th e young b e l t e d A m erican yeom an by Mr. D a n ie l
F re n c h , th e i n t i m a t e l y a s s o c i a t e d e le m e n t i n th e p r e s
e n c e , n o t f a r o f f , o f th e o ld m anse, i n t e r e s t i n g them e
o f H a w th o rn e 's p e n , sp e a k s to th e s p i r i t , no d o u b t, i n
one o f th e s u b t l e s t to n e s o f w hich o f f i c i a l h i s t o r y i s
c a p a b le , and y e t somehow le a v e th e e x q u i s i t e m e la n c h o ly
150
o f e v e r y th in g u n u t t e r e d . I t l i e s to o d e e p , a s i t alw ay s
! so l i e s w here th e g ro u n d h a s b o rn e th e w e ig h t o f th e
| s h o r t sim p le a c t , i n t e n s e and u n c o n s c io u s , t h a t was to
I d e te rm in e th e e v e n t, d e te rm in e th e f u t u r e i n th e way we
c a l l Im m o rta lly . . . . The s e n s e t h a t was t h e i r s and
t h a t moved them we know, b u t we seem to know b e t t e r s t i l l
th e s e n s e t h a t w a s n 't and t h a t c o u l d n 't and t h a t form s
o u r lu x u r io u s h e r i t a g e a s o u r e y e s , a c r o s s th e g u l f , s e e k
to m eet t h e i r e y e s . . . .5
.
The s t o r y f o r S alem , a s Jam es made i t o u t , was a n o th e r
j
m a tte r e n t i r e l y . S alem , f o r many econom ic and s o c i a l
I r e a s o n s , h ad b e e n u n a b le to re m a in th e c h a n g e le s s " f e l i c i t y
I ,
t h a t C oncord w as. The a r b i t r a r y f o r t u n e s o f commerce
( " th e la r g e u n t id y i n d u s t r i a l q u a r t e r " ) w ere to o d e e p ly
in v o lv e d h e r e . The p ro b le m f o r Jam es i n Salem was im
m e d ia te ly e s t a b l i s h e d by h i s i n i t i a l a w a re n e ss o f th e
i £
( " f l a g r a n t f o r e i g n e r ." H e re , a s e ls e w h e re , th e e f f e c t
j
upon Jam es was a lm o s t a p e r s o n a l o n e , a s i f th e k e p t c u l
t u r a l a f f i n i t i e s , th e A nglo-A m erican h e r i t a g e , w hich Jam es
t r e a s u r e d so d e a rly , was i n im m ed iate d a n g e r o f im m inent
l o s s . O th e r c o n s i d e r a ti o n s w ere to w ork a g a i n s t any
!
5 p . 2 5 2 . T h is p a s s a g e i s a n o th e r good exam ple o f th e
b ra n d o f im p re s s io n is m Jam es p r a c t i c e d , w hich d e p e n d s,
f i r s t o f a l l , on th e p h y s i c a l s c e n e , a c c u r a t e l y r e p o r t e d ,
and th e n , on a v a l i d r e l a t i o n to h i s i n q u i r i n g m in d . One
can a lm o s t p i c t u r e Jam es a s he th o u g h t o v e r t h i s " sc e n e "
l a t e r a t Lamb H ouse, r e o r i e n t i n g h im s e lf w ith a lm o st s c i
e n t i f i c p r e c i s i o n to th e i d e n t i c a l p o s i t i o n w hich he w ould
have h ad to ta k e i n o r d e r p r o p e r l y to se e th e s t a t u e a t
th e o t h e r end o f th e b r i d g e , th e E n g lis h low monument d i
r e c t l y to h i s f o r e f r o n t , a n d , a c r o s s th e l i t t l e meadow,
th e u p p e r s to rie s * o f* th e O ld M anse.
g
P. 2 5 5 . The s u b j e c t o f a l i e n s and r a c e c o n s id e r a
t i o n s , " th e g r e a t 'e t h n i c ' q u e s t i o n ," a s Jam es c a l l e d i t ,
i s a m ajo r t o p ic f o r t h i s s tu d y . I t w i l l be t r e a t e d i n
f u l l l a t e r i n t h i s c h a p t e r , p . 1 7 3 .
| s u c c e s s f u l " r e c a p tu r e " o f " H a w th o rn e 's S a lem ." Jam es a d -
j m itte d t h a t he h ad come to Salem to ren ew a b r i e f im p re s -
I s io n o f many y e a r s p a s t w hich th ro u g h th e y e a r s h ad become
"w rapped up . . . f o r th e fa n c y " i n th e I n t r o d u c t io n to
Ih e S c a r l e t L e t t e r .
I t h ad h u n g , a l l th e y e a r s , c l o s e l y t o g e t h e r , and h ad ,
s e r v e d —o h , so c o n v e n ie n tly I — a s th e te rm o f c o m p a riso n ,
th e r a t h e r r i c h fra m e , f o r any s u g g e s te d v i s i o n i n New
I E n g lan d l i f e u n a llo y e d , ( p . 2 5 7 )
i
| What Jam es found i n 1904 was no lo n g e r " u n a llo y e d " — " th e
p la c e was n o t q u i t e w hat my im a g in a tio n h ad c o u n te d on"
(p . 2 5 7 ). E v e ry th in g a b o u t Salem seem ed to hav e b een
a f f e c t e d by th e " p o ly g lo t a i r . " The "g o o d ly G e o rg ia n and
n e o -G e o rg ia n h o u s e s ," w hich he h ad a d m ired b e f o r e a s b e in g
so much a m atch f o r th e E n g lis h fa m ily h o u s e s — ev en th e y
w ere d i s t i n c t i v e l y d i f f e r e n t :
The m o ra l, th e s o c i a l , th e p o l i t i c a l c lim a te , even
I m ore th a n th e b r e a t h o f n a t u r e , had h ad i n e ac h c a se
a d i f f e r e n t a c t i o n , h ad b e g o tte n on e i t h e r s id e a d i f
f e r e n t c o n s c io u s n e s s , (p . 2 5 8 )
i The r e s u l t , u n h a p p ily f o r A m erica, was a g e n e r a l u n a w are
n e s s — even u n e a s in e s s - to w a r d s n a ti v e v a lu e and w o rth .
Jam es came to r e a l i z e t h a t l i t e r a r y Salem was some
w hat l i k e an " e x p e n s iv e to y , shown on i t s s h e l f , b u t to o
good to be hum anly u s e d " (p . 2 5 8 ) . W ith a lm o s t " s a c r e d
t e r r o r , " Jam es r e f r a i n e d from e n te r in g i n t o th e W itch
House o r th e House o f Seven G a b le s , " f e a r i n g n o th in g so
much a s r e c o n s t i t u t e d a n t i q u i t y " (p . 2 5 9 ) . I t was enough
f o r Jam es t h a t th e S even G a b le s h ad b e e n , f o r H aw thorne,
th e " n e c e s s i t y " f o r a r t ; n o th in g b u t d i s i l l u s i o n c o u ld
hav e b e e n g a in e d by h i s " r e - e n t e r i n g " I t now. F o r Jam es,
th e c o n n e c tio n h a d " tu r n e d a s o m e rs a u lt i n t o s p a c e , r e p u d i
a te d l i k e a la d d e r k ic k e d b a c k from th e to p o f th e w a ll"
(p . 2 6 2 ). I t was to be th e same when Jam es s o u g h t o u t th e
b ir th - h o u s e o f H aw th o rn e. "The smoky m odernism " s u rro u n d
in g th e " s m a ll s t a l e s t r u c t u r e " w orked v i o l e n t l y a g a i n s t
th e " o r i g i n a l H aw thornesque W orld" o f J a m e s 's l i t e r a r y
im a g in a tio n .
I n i n t e r e s t i n g c o n t r a s t to th e C oncord e x p e r ie n c e ,
Jam es was f o r c e d to r e s i s t , n o t a c c e p t, w hat h i s e y e s
o b s e rv e d h e r e . The p re d ic a m e n t f o r " th e v i s i o n a r y t o u r i s t "
d id n o t , h o w ev er, ta k e away from th e v a l i d i t y o f th e im
p r e s s i o n i s t i c p r o c e s s a s Jam es p r a c t i c e d i t . P rim a ry to
h i s t a s k a s a n a l y s t , was t h a t he hav e h i s im p r e s s io n ,
ev en i f , a s h e r e , more was a b s e n t th a n p r e s e n t o f th e
"right?* a p p e a ra n c e s . How e l s e c o u ld Jam es be a s s u r e d t h a t
i n o r d e r to "h av e " h i s S alem , he w ould, i n e f f e c t , have to
r e l y on some m y s tic a l a w a re n e ss o f th e s u b je c t? I n p la c e s
7
su ch a s Salem and e ls e w h e r e , 1 th e c o m p lete p r o c e s s o f
7
'T h e c o n d itio n was n o ta b ly e v id e n t a t I r v i n g 's home
w here th e d i s r u p t i v e e le m e n ts f o r c e d Jam es b a c k on h i s own
r e s o u r c e s : " . . . t h e r e a r e c o m b in a tio n s w ith d e p th s o f
c o n g r u ity beyond th e plum m et, i t w ould seem , ev en o f th e
m ost r e s t l e s s o f a n a l y s t s , and r a t h e r th a n t r y to sa y why
my w hole Im p re s s io n h e r e m e lte d I n t o th e g e n e r a l i r i d e s ^
c en c e o f a p a s t o f I n d ia n summers h a n g in g a b o u t m ild
153
a p p r a i s a l o f t e n dep en d ed on t h i s u n s c i e n t i f i c " a w a re n e ss"
o f e a r l i e r v a lu e s , som etim es on n o th in g m ore th a n J a m e s 's
own I n h e r e n t ro m a n tic s e n s e . The le s s o n i s u n d e rs c o re d i n
th e s e c lo s in g l i n e s o f "C oncord and S alem ":
H a w th o rn e 's la d d e r a t S alem , i n f i n e , h a s now q u i t e
g o n e , and we b u t t r e a d th e a i r i f we a tte m p t to s e t o u r
c r i t i c a l f e e t on i t s s t e p s and i t s ro u n d s , l e a r n in g th u s
a s we d o , and w ith i n f i n i t e i n t e r e s t a s I t h i n k , how
m e re ly " s u b j e c t iv e " i n u s a re o u r d i s c o v e r i e s a b o u t
g e n iu s . E n d le s s a r e i t s ways o f b e s e t t i n g and e lu d in g ,
o f m e e tin g and m ocking u s . When t h e r e a re a p p e a ra n c e s
t h a t m ig h t hav e n o u ris h e d i t we se e i t a s sw allo w in g
them a l l ; y e t we s e e i t a s e q u a lly g o rg e d when t h e r e
a r e no a p p e a ra n c e s a t a l l — th e n m ost o f a l l , so m e tim es,
q u i t e i n s o l e n t l y b l o a t e d ; and we re c o g n iz e r u e f u l l y
t h a t we a r e f o r e v e r condem ned to know i t o n ly a f t e r
th e f a c t . ( p . 2 6 2 )
The " B u ild e d S ta te "
W e hav e s e e n a t C am bridge, C oncord, and Salem how
much d e p e n d s— t h a t i s , how much i n a r e a l s e n s e i s l o s t
o r won—on th e p u r e ly p h y s i c a l . To w hat e x te n t a re th e
p h y s i c a l re m a in s o f th e p a s t , th e fa m ily homes and p u b lic
b u i l d i n g s , an a c t u a l v a lu e o r v i r t u e ? Q u ite o b v io u s ly ,
e v e r y th in g w h ich was o ld was n o t n e c e s s a r i l y good and
w o rth y o f p r e s e r v a t i o n . As Jam es lo o k e d a b o u t him i n
B o sto n and New Y ork, a t tim e s , a s an a c t u a l w itn e s s to
g h o s ts h a l f a s l e e p , i n hammocks, o v e r s t i l l m ild e r n o v e ls ,
I w ould re n o u n c e a l t o g e t h e r th e a r t o f r e f i n i n g . F o r th e
i r id e s c e n c e c o n s i s t s , i n t h i s c o n n e c tio n , o f a shim m er o f
a s s o c i a t i o n t h a t s t i l l m ore r e f u s e s to b e re d u c e d to te rm s ;
some s e n s e o f le g e n d , o f a b o r i g i n a l m y s te ry , w ith a s t i l l
e a r l i e r p a s t f o r i t s dim b a ck g ro u n d and th e i n s i s t e n t id e a
o f th e R iv e r a s above a l l ro m a n tic f o r i t s w a rra n t" (p .
1^9).
" ru d e " re m o v a ls , h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c re s p o n s e w ent f a r b e -
!yond m ere s e n tim e n t. The m ore Jam es saw o f t h i s s o r t o f
! c h a n g e , th e m ore a p p re h e n s iv e he becam e o f th e q u a l i t y o f
p r i v a t e and g e n e r a l judgm ent w hich m u st be in v o lv e d . Upon
w hat c r i t e r i a o f v a lu e o r u s e f u l n e s s h ad one b u i ld i n g b e en
ra z e d and a n o th e r s p a re d ? O nly i n a few p l a c e s was Jam es
a b le to fo rm u la te some answ er w hich d i d n 't d i r e c t l y in v o lv e
d o l l a r c o n s i d e r a ti o n s a lo n e . The o v e r - a l l p ro b le m , a s
Jam es came to se e i t , more and m ore v i v i d l y , was a f a m i l i a r
o n e — th e o ld q u e s tio n o f t a s t e and v a lu e .
I t was to be e x p e c te d o f Jam es t h a t he w ould re a d
much m ore i n t o t h i s p ro b lem th a n any o r d in a r y c i t i z e n ,
i
! t h a t he w ould p e r c e iv e r e l a t i o n s h i p s and c o n d itio n s f a r
jb ey o n d th e s u r f a c e . I t was f o r t h i s , o f c o u r s e , t h a t he
i
had made h i s t r i p . I t sh o u ld be k e p t i n m ind t h a t d e s p i te
J a m e s 's a r t i s t i c " e q u iv o c a l" p o s i t i o n , h i s u l t i m a t e g o a l
i n A m erica was a t o t a l u n if y in g a p p r a i s a l . C o n tin u a lly ,
Jam es was s e e k in g f o r " c o n n e c ti o n s ,” w o rk a b le s t r i n g s o f
m eaning w ith w hich to t i e up h i s m a jo r c o n s i d e r a ti o n s on
A m erica. F o r t h i s r e a s o n , i t i s j u s t a s w e ll f o r th e -j.,
g r e a t e r p a r t o f t h i s c h a p te r i f we e x p lo r e J a m e s 's view s
u n d e r a few p rim a ry h e a d in g s , su ch a s I n s t i t u t i o n s , A rc h i
t e c t u r e , M anners, Women, and A lie n s . I n p r a c t i c e , a s one
f i n d s i n r e a d in g The A m erican Scene c l o s e l y , no o t h e r way
1
i i s p o s s i b l e . I t was J a m e s 's c h a r a c t e r i s t i c way o f w r itin g
i
1
I and th in k in g to be c o n ti n u a l l y r e a c h in g o u tw a rd and upw ard
155
f o r a l l k in d s o f u s e f u l r e f e r e n c e s and a s s o c i a t i o n s . At
tim e s , when th e s e become p a r t i c u l a r l y num erous and in v o lv e d
h a l f th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f r e a d in g Jam es i s d e v o te d to th e
c a r e f u l m ark in g o u t o f enough o f th e s e c h i e f r e f e r e n c e s to
b e a b le to d i s t i n g u i s h th e g r e a t e r p o i n t s Jam es i s t r y i n g
8
to m ake. The p ro b lem f o r o u r a n a l y s i s i s a m a z in g ly a k in
to J a m e s 's p ro b le m i n a n a ly z in g B a lz a c . He d e s c r ib e d t h i s
i n h i s l e c t u r e , "The L esso n o f B a lz a c " :
H is [ B a lz a c 's ] s i t u a t i o n i n t h i s r e s p e c t i s a l l h i s own:
i t was n o t g iv e n him to f lo w e r , f o r o u r c o n v e n ie n c e , i n t o
a s i n g l e suprem e f e l i c i t y . H is " s u c c e s s e s " hang so t o
g e th e r t h a t a n a l y s i s i s a lm o s t b a f f l e d by h i s c o n s i s
te n c y , by h i s d e n s i t y . . . . The c l u s t e r i s to o t h i c k ,
th e stem to o to u g h ; b e f o r e we know i t , when we b e g in to
p u l l , we hav e th e w hole b ra n c h a b o u t o u r h e a d s — o r i t
w ould in d e e d be m ore J u s t to sa y we h av e th e w hole t r e e ,
i f n o t th e w hole f o r e s t , (p p . 0 7 - 6 8 )
The c u m u la tiv e o p in io n o f th e " b u ild e d s t a t e " i s
e v id e n t i n a num ber o f c h a p t e r s . An im p o r ta n t c lu e to h i s
r e a l f e e l i n g on th e " o ld and th e new" can be fo u n d i n h i s
comment on th e o l d e r h a l l s i n th e H a rv a rd C o lle g e Y a rd . He
h a s th e s e " f e l i c i t i e s , " M a s s a c h u s e tts and S to u g h to n , sp e a k
o u t i n t h e i r f o r t u n a t e c o n d itio n :
Q
Of c o u rs e , t h i s c lo s e d e l i m i t i n g , a b s t r a c t i v e m ethod
a p p l i e s o n ly when one i s r e a d in g Jam es f o r th e m a jo r v iew s
a lo n e . I t i s ta k e n f o r g r a n te d t h a t th e r e a d e r r e a l i z e s
t h a t J a m e s 's g r e a t e s t w o rth a s a s t y l i s t and a t h in k e r l i e s
i n th e in s ta n ta n e o u s " p le n ty " o f a s s o c i a t i v e m ean in g s w hich
Jam es r e a d i l y p r o v id e s . A cco rd in g to some c r i t i c s , th e
h a b i t o f m u ltip le r e f e r e n c e s i s som etim es Judged " u n f a i r , "
e s p e c i a l l y i n h i s f i c t i o n s w here Jam es seem s to g iv e " a
s t a c c a t o c h r o n ic le o f th in g s b o th g r e a t and s m a ll." P ra n k
C olby c o n s id e r e d th e te n d e n c y " a form o f s e lf - in d u lg e n c e "
i n w hich Ja m e sia n c h a r a c t e r s o f f i c t i o n r e a d e a c h o t h e r 's
m inds from c lu e s o n ly a v a i l a b l e to Jam es— " I n D a rk e s t
J a m e s ," The Q u e s tio n o f H enry Ja m e s, p . 2 5 .
156
. . . we a r e g e t t i n g a lm o s t r i p e , r i p e enough to j u s t i f y
th e q u e s tio n o f t a s t e a b o u t u s . We a r e g ro w in g a com
p l e x i o n —w hich ta k e s a lm o s t a s lo n g , and i s i n f a c t
p r e t t y w e ll th e same t h i n g , a s g ro w in g a p h ilo s o p h y ; b u t
we a r e p u t t i n g i t on and e n t e r i n g i n t o th e d i g n i t y o f
tim e , th e b e a u ty o f l i f e . ( p . 6 1 )
I t i s i n th e c o n c lu d in g l i n e s o f th e " s p e e c h ," h o w ev er,
w here we c a tc h th e s u b t l e t r u t h o f Jam es*s p o i n t :
W e a re i n a w ord b e g in n in g to b e g in , and we h av e t h a t
b e s t s ig n o f i t , h a v e n 't we? t h a t we make th e v u lg a r ,
th e v e ry v u lg a r , t h in k we a re b e g in n in g to e n d . (p . 6 l )
Jam es i s b r in g in g i n h e re th e g r e a t e r q u e s tio n o f com para
t i v e t a s t e . W ill A m erica be a b le to d i s t i n g u i s h , a s Jam es
d o e s , b e tw ee n th e w o rth y and th e w o r th le s s ? More im p o r
t a n t l y , Jam es dem ands, w i l l anyone c a r e enough ev en to a sk
such q u e s tio n s ?
The p ro b lem i s s t a t e d ev en more e f f e c t i v e l y when
Jam es p i c t u r e s th e lo n e p re d ic a m e n t o f th e " k e p t" b u ild in g
a lo n g s id e i t s n e w er, r u d e r c o m p an io n s. I n e f f e c t , th e
p ro b le m , a s Jam es s t a t e s i t , i s a v e ry r e a l o n e , n o t i n
i
i
any s e n s e o n ly a m a tte r o f acad em ic o r ro m a n tic c o n je c t u r e .
The q u e s tio n o f u t i l i t y comes I n to th e p i c t u r e . How w i l l
th e s e re m a in in g p l a c e s o f w o rth f a r e when th e y a r e a lm o s t
made to " c ro u c h " b e f o r e th e t a l l e r s t r u c t u r e s ? Commenting
on su c h a p re d ic a m e n t f o r th e fam ed B o sto n Athenaeum
( " l i b r a r y , g a l l e r y , te m p le o f c u l t u r e " ) , Jam es p o in te d to
th e u n d e n ia b le f a c t t h a t u s e r s o f su ch I n s t i t u t i o n s w ould
f in d " a l l d i s p o s i t i o n to e n t e r i t d ro p a s dead a s i f from
157
; q u ic k p o is o n " ( p . 2 2 4 ). Even f o r someone a s a n x io u s a s
; h im s e lf to e n t e r , th e i n c l i n a t i o n w ould b e s tr o n g to move
! 0 n *
I t was a c a s e o f th e d e t e s t a b l e " t a l l b u ild in g " a g a in ,
and o f i t s i n s t a n t d e s t r u c t i o n o f q u a l i t y i n e v e r y th in g
i t o v e rto w e r s . P u t c o m p le te ly o u t o f c o u n te n a n c e by
th e m ere m asse s o f b r u t e u g l i n e s s b e s id e i t , th e tem p le
! o f c u l t u r e lo o k e d o n ly r u e f u l and sn u b b ed , h o p e le s s ly
! down i n th e w o rld ; so t h a t , f a r from b e in g moved to
h o v e r o r to p e n e t r a t e , o n e 's i n s t i n c t was to p a s s b y on
th e o t h e r s i d e , a v e r t in g o n e 's h e ad from an h u m il i a t i o n
one c o u ld do n o th in g to make l e s s . (p . 224)
; The p re d ic a m e n t f o r u s e r and b u i ld i n g i s more th a n a w e l l-
! made m e ta p h o r. The s i t u a t i o n i s a good i n d i c a t i o n o f th e
i
I Q
| so u n d n e ss o f J a m e s 's know ledge o f human p s y c h o lo g y .
A som ewhat d i f f e r e n t c a s e was to b e made o u t i n New
! Y ork f o r th e o ld C ity H a ll w hich had b e e n a llo w e d to r e -
I ;
im a in " w ith in an in c h o f i t s l i f e " among th e e n c ro a c h in g
I s k y s c r a p e r s . The f a c t o f s u r v i v a l gav e t h i s b u i ld i n g an
: added w e ig h t o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y - - " t h a t o f r e p r e s e n ti n g . . .
; a l l th e S ty le th e com m unity i s l i k e l y to g e t" (p . 9 4 ).
: The b u rd e n , a s Jam es saw i t , w ould n o t b e e a s y ; how w ould
I
j th e o ld b u i ld i n g s ta n d up to th e " a s s a u l t o f v u l g a r i t y "
i
w hich th e s k y s c r a p e r s r e p r e s e n te d ? A cco rd in g to Jam es,
t h e r e w ere two r e q u i s i t e s n e c e s s a r y f o r th e s u c c e s s o f i
su ch " s u r v i v a l s . " I n th e f i r s t p l a c e , th e b u i ld i n g ( o r ;
i
| hom e, a s i n C oncord) h ad to h a v e s u f f i c i e n t c h a r a c t e r and !
! Q
| ^The t r u t h o f th e p ro b lem c an e a s i l y be a t t e s t e d to
| to d a y by th e q u i t e common r e l u c t a n c e — i f n o t o u tw a rd d i s -
i i n c l i n a t i o n — o f many " p ilg r im s " to e n t e r th e l i t t l e tu c k e d -
i away s h r i n e s i n o u r b i g g e s t c i t i e s .
158
b e a u ty I n I t s e l f , a c c o rd in g to th e law s o f sym m etry and
p r o p o r t io n . S e c o n d ly , t h e r e h a d to b e I n o p e r a t io n a
" c o n f e r r e d v a lu e " w hich was d e r iv e d from " th e s o c i a l ,
th e c i v i l i z i n g f u n c tio n " ( p . 9 3 ) . I n t h i s s e n s e , Jam es
a sk e d h i m s e l f , w hat c o u ld b e th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c b e a u ty o r
" c i v i l i z i n g f u n c tio n " w hich w ould m ark th e s k y s c r a p e r f o r
s u r v i v a l i n th e d o u b tf u l y e a r s to come?
H e re , Jam es was r a i s i n g h i s c e n t r a l argum ent a g a i n s t
th e new a r c h i t e c t u r e . I n th e m onotonous r e p e t i t i o n o f
huge b u i l d i n g s (" m e rc e n a ry m o n s te r s " ) , w hat c o u ld p o s s ib l y
a c t i n t h e i r b e h a l f f o r b e a u ty o r a r c h i t e c t u r a l i n t e g r i t y ?
. . . th e p r o f i t , th e g lo r y o f any su ch a s s o c i a t i o n
i s d e n ie d i n ad v an ce to c o m m u n ities te n d in g , a s th e
p h r a s e i s , to " ru n " p r e p o n d e r a n tly to th e s k y - s c r a p e r . . .
th e g r e a t c i t y i s p r o j e c t e d i n t o i t s f u t u r e a s , p r a c
t i c a l l y , a h u g e , c o n tin u o u s f i f t y - f l o o r e d c o n s p ir a c y
a g a i n s t th e v e ry i d e a o f th e a n c ie n t g r a c e s . . . .
( p . 8 9 )
The m ore Jam es c o n s id e r e d th e f o r t u n a t e " s u r v i v a l s " — th e
C ity H a l l, two F i f t h Avenue c h u rc h e s , B o s to n 's P a rk S t r e e t
C h u rch , among o t h e r s — th e m ore im p o s s ib le i t becam e " to
commune w ith th e s k y - s c r a p e r . . . i n any m agnanim ous a t
te m p t to a d o p t th e a e s t h e t i c v iew o f i t " (p . 9 2 ) . T here
w as, i n tim e , o n ly one v iew o f th e s k y s c r a p e r p o s s i b l e
f o r Ja m es— th e econom ic o n e . I f t h e r e was any g ra c e to
b e im p o rtu n e d to th e s e to w e rs , i t dep en d ed a t a l l p o i n t s
on th e econom ic i d e a , w h ic h , to Jam es, was a c o n t r a d i c t i o n
i n a e s t h e t i c s . The e n d le s s row s o f w indow s— " th e m ost
159
s a l i e n t c h a r a c t e r i s t i c " w hich " s p e a k s lo u d e s t f o r th e
econom ic I d e a " —becam e J a m e s 's c a s e i n p o i n t . D ie a r c h i
t e c t u r a l c o n d itio n w hich a llo w e d no " q u i e t I n t e r s p a c e s ”
b e tw ee n o r above windows was a s t r u c t u r a l b l i g h t w hich
t e s t i f i e d m o st " d e m o n s tra b ly , t h a t th e b u i ld i n g c a n 't
a f f o r d th em ." 10 T h ere was no d o u b t i n J a m e s 's m ind a s to
w hat law s o f a r c h i t e c t u r a l p r o p o r t io n w ere b e in g s a c r i f i c e d
to th e a lm ig h ty d o l l a r ; "window upon w indow , a t any c o s t ,
i s a c o n d itio n n e v e r to b e r e c o n c i l e d w ith any g r a c e o f
b u ild in g " ( p . 9 2 ) .
Jam es c a r r i e d th e " l o g ic " o f h i s c o n d em n atio n one
s te p f u r t h e r by i n d i c a t i n g w h a t, to h im , was th e e s s e n t i a l
p u rp o se o f so many w indow s. The g r e a t q u a n t i t y o f l i g h t
was n e ed e d f o r th e " t r a n s a c t i o n o f b u s i n e s s ," f o r th e co n
c lu s io n s o f " s h a r p b a r g a i n s ." A cco rd in g to Ja m es, shrew d
n e s s i n b u s in e s s was synonym ous w ith th e A m erican c h a r a c
t e r . One c an n o t h e lp b e in g a l i t t l e am used a t J a m e s 's
a p p a r e n tly e f f o r t l e s s a b i l i t y to se e t h i s " t r u t h . " N ote
i n th e l a s t s e n te n c e o f th e fo llo w in g how e a s i l y Jam es i s
a b le to i n d i c t and c o n v ic t i n th e same b r e a t h :
Doesn't i t take in fact acres o f window-glass to help
even an expert New Yorker to get the better o f another
expert one, or to see that the other expert one doesn't
10Pp. 9 2 - 9 3 . I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g to n o te i n J a m e s 's
c r i t i c i s m t h a t th e new er law s o f a r c h i t e c t u r a l i n t e g r i t y
a re n o t in v o lv e d h e r e . To th e t r a d i t i o n a l o r i e n t e d Jam es,
t h e r e c o u ld b e o n ly one r e a s o n why th e sm ooth p l a n e s o f
g l a s s w ere l e f t u n b ro k e n — no money to s e p a r a te them
p r o p e r l y .
i6 o
g e t th e b e t t e r o f h im ? I t i s e a s y to c o n c e iv e t h a t ,
a f t e r a l l , w ith t h i s o r i g i n and n a tu r e stam ped upon
t h e i r f o r e h e a d s , th e l a s t w ord o f th e m e rc e n a ry m o n s te rs
s h o u ld h o t be t h e i r a d d re s s to o u r s e n s e o f fo rm a l
b e a u ty , ( p . 9 3 )
The S o c ia l Q u e s tio n
The g r e a t e r p a r t o f Ja m e s1s arg u m en t a g a i n s t th e new
a r c h i t e c t u r e h ad to do w ith th e more in v o lv e d q u e s tio n o f
" c o n f e r r e d v a l u e ." Would th e r i g h t c o n d itio n s o p e r a te i n
th e f u t u r e , a s i n th e p a s t , to g u a ra n te e th e n e c e s s a r y
" s o c i a l , c i v i l i z i n g f u n c tio n s " ? The a n sw e r, a s Jam es
c o n te m p la te d i t , dep en d ed m ore and more on w hat " h o p e fu l"
e v id e n c e was a p p a re n t i n th e 1904 and 1905 p r e s e n t . As he
lo o k e d a b o u t c o n te m p o ra ry New Y ork C ity , from th e B a tte r y
to th e B ro n x , he found v e ry l i t t l e i n th e human p i c t u r e to
c h e e r th e p r e s e n t o r th e f u t u r e . The c o n tin u a l q u e s t io n ,
"Who w ould c a re ? " seem ed to b e on h i s l i p s a t a l l tim e s
a s he moved s e a r c h in g ly a b o u t th e " t e r r i b l e c i t y . "
Nowhere was t h e r e a b e t t e r c o n c e n tr a tio n o f A m erican
h u m a n ity th a n i n th e h o t e l s , th e W a ld o rf -A s to ria i n p a r
t i c u l a r . N o th in g spoke a s s t r o n g l y f o r th e " lo u d New Y ork j
s to r y " a s th e m a g n if ic e n t W a ld o rf w ith i t s g r e a t show o f |
w e a lth and i n o r d i n a t e v u l g a r i t y . E v e ry th in g i t s to o d f o r j
I
i
and b r o a d ly r e p r e s e n te d was summed up i n J a m e s 's p h r a s e , |
" h o t e l - c i v i l i z a t i o n . " The h o t e l was a w o rld and c u l t u r e
u n to i t s e l f ; i t a p p e a re d , to a g r e a t e r and g r e a t e r e x t e n t , |
I to b e w hat A m erica was s e e k in g . The " h o t e l - s p i r i t " was
t h e r e i n th e h o t e l a t e v e ry t u r n :
l6 l
i
I t s a t t h e r e , i t w alked and t a l k e d , and a te and d ra n k ,
and l i s t e n e d and d a n ce d to m u sic , and o th e r w is e r e v e l l e d
and roam ed, and b o u g h t and s o l d , and came and w ent t h e r e ,
a l l on i t s own s p le n d id te rm s and w ith an en co m p assin g
m a t e r i a l s p le n d o r , a w e a lth an d v a r i e t y o f c o n s t i t u t e d
p i c t u r e and b a c k g ro u n d , t h a t m ig h t w e ll fe e d i t w ith th e
f i n e s t i l l u s i o n s a b o u t i t s e l f . I t p a ra d e d th ro u g h h a l l s
and s a lo o n s i n w hich a r t and h i s t o r y , i n m a sq u e ra d in g
d r e s s , m u ffle d a lm o s t to s u f f o c a t i o n a s i n th e g o ld b r o
c ad e o f t h e i r p r e te n d e d m a j e s t i e s and t h e i r c o n c i l i a t o r y
g r a c e s , s to o d s m irk in g on i t s p a s s a g e w ith th e l a s t
| . c y n ic is m o f h y p o c r is y , (p . 1 0 0 )
j The e s s e n t i a l p o i n t i n Jam es* s d is c o m f o r t was t h a t th e
I " h o t e l - c i v i l i z a t i o n " was " th e r e a l i z e d i d e a l " f o r A m erica.
I •
M o reo v er, i t was b e in g s u r r e n d e r e d to and c lu tc h e d a t i n
th e m o st c h i l d l i k e m an n er. I t was one o f many ex am p les
Jam es was to f in d o f th e k in d o f m ass th in k in g and m ass
c u l t u r e w hich he l a b e l e d , " th e su p re m ely g r e g a r io u s s t a t e . "
To th e g r e a t p o p u la r m in d , th e h o t e l was " a tem p le b u ild e d ,
w ith c l u s t e r i n g c h a p e ls and s h r i n e s to an i d e a ." I t s su p
p l i c a n t s a p p e a re d to b e d e v o te d , i n th e m ost t e r r i f y i n g
w ay, to " a s o c i a l o r d e r i n p o s i t i v e l y s t a b l e e q u ilib riu m "
I
|( p . 1 0 2 ). I n th e n a tu r e o f I t s " c o l l e c t i v e " d e d ic a tio n to
j" th e g r e a t e s t h a p p in e s s o f th e g r e a t e s t n u m b er," th e h o t e l
was foredoom ed to a s e l f - s t u l t i f y i n g e x i s t e n c e . N ow here,
u n d e r such an o r d e r was t h e r e th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f th e k in d
o f "m ixed s o c i a l m a n if e s ta tio n " e v id e n t i n E u ro p e . S e l f -
s u f f i c i e n c y and s e l f - s a t i s f a c t i o n , Jam es n o te d , w ould
k eep su ch A m erican f o r t r e s s e s o f b ad t a s t e im p e n e tr a b le .
I n a l l i t s p a r t s , th e h o t e l was " b l i s s f u l l y exem pt from
any p r i n c i p l e o r p o s s i b i l i t y o f d is a c c o r d w ith i t s e l f "
(p . 1 0 1 ). I t made f o r th e n e a t e s t o f a l l p a c k a g e s :
162;
I t was a b s o l u te ly a f i t to i t s own c o n d it i o n s , th o s e
c o n d itio n s w hich w ere b o th i t s e a r t h and i t s h e a v e n , and
e v e ry p a r t o f th e p i c t u r e , e v e ry ite m o f th e immense
sum, e v e ry w h eel o f th e w ondrous c o m p le x ity , was on th e
b e s t te rm s w ith a l l th e r e s t . (p . 101)
H o te l b o a r d e r s , w h e th e r i n New Y ork o r Palm B each ,
p ro v id e d Jam es w ith a " V a n ity F a i r i n f u l l b l a s t . " E sp e
c i a l l y a t Palm B each w here th e y w ere draw n from a l l p a r t s
o f th e c o u n tr y , th e "show " was p a r t i c u l a r l y r i c h and w e l l-
s u i t e d to J a m e s 's t a s k . Jam es " p u rsu e d " them i n th e
s a lo o n s and th e g a l l e r i e s ( " f i e l d s o f h ig h p u b l i c i t y " ) ,
i n th e d in in g h a l l s , th e m u sic ro o m s, th e c a rd room s, th e
w r i t in g room s— i n a l l th e v a r io u s p l a c e s " o f c o n v e n ie n c e
and r e f r e s h m e n t" (p p . 4 3 5 - 4 3 6 ) . Jam es was n o t ic e a b l y a f
f e c t e d b y th e g e n e r a l d e s i r e , a t tim e s q u i t e i n t e n s e , to
| g e t so v e ry much from th e h o t e l . I t was a s i f th e " h o t e l - j
c i v i l i z a t i o n " was b e in g a sk e d (u n re a s o n a b ly ) to p ro v id e j
w hat s o c i e t y i n g e n e r a l c o u ld n o t . F o r such a " c o n s o la - '
t i o n , " a s f o r e v e ry th in g e l s e i n A m erican l i f e , t h e r e was j
1 |
i a due p r i c e to be e x a c te d . The i n t e r e s t , to Jam es, was
th e d e g re e o f c o n fid e n c e and th e m ea su re o f e x p e c ta n c y
w ith w hich th e "sum" was h an d ed o v e r: j
i
. . . th e so l a r g e l y w i t l e s s c o n fid e n c e w ith w hich th e
u n i v e r s a l im p u lse h u r l s i t s v ic tim s i n t o th e a b y ss o f
th e h o t e l - s p i r i t , t r u s t i n g i t so b la n d ly and i n v i t i n g
i t to th ro w u p , ro u n d and a b o u t them and f a r and w id e ,
th e h a b i t a b l e , th e p r a c t i c a b l e , th e a g re e a b le sp h e re
to w a rd w hich o t h e r s a r t s o f c o n s t r u c t io n f a i l . . . . I j
seem ed to se e a g a in . . . th e w hole h o u se d p o p u la c e j
move a s i n m ild and c o n s e n tin g s u s p ic io n o f i t s c a p tu r e d !
and g o v e rn e d s t a t e , i t s h a v in g to c o n s e n t to i n o r d i n a t e
f u s io n a s th e p r i c e o f w hat i t seem ed p le a s e d to r e g a r d
I 163
i n o r d i n a t e lu x u r y . B e g u ile d and c a g e d , p o s i t i v e l y th a n k
f u l , i n i t s v a c a n c y , f o r th e se n se and th e d e f i n i t e h o r
iz o n o f a c a g e , w ere t h e r e y e t no m om ents, w ere th e r e
j y e t n o t c a s e s and c o n n e c tio n s , i n w hich i t s t i l l d im ly
made o u t t h a t i t s c o n d itio n was th e r e s u l t o f a com pro
m ise i n t o th e d e t a i l o f w hich t h e r e m ig h t some day be
an a la rm i n e n te r in g ? (p p . 4 2 4 -4 2 5 )
The g r e a t e r c a s e to be made o u t by Jam es h ad to do
w ith th e a p p a re n t d im in is h in g s ta n d a r d s o f t a s t e and a p -
j p r e c i a t i o n . I t i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t we f in d Jam es lo o k -
|i n g v e ry c l o s e l y a t " th e v i s i b l e o r d e r " ( s o c i e t y ) f o r some
s ig n s o f c u s t o d i a l c a r e and i n h e r e n t r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . A ll
c o n s i d e r a ti o n s o f New Y ork S o c ie ty p r e c lu d e d th e f a c t s o f
g r e a t w e a lth ; "now here e l s e d o e s p e c u n ia r y pow er so b e a t
i
i t s w in g s i n th e v o id " (p . 1 5 4 ). " I n th e v o id " was a
1
r e f e r e n c e to th e c o m p a ra tiv e s t a t e o f s o c i e t y i n E urope
w here "good t a s t e " h e ld th e c e n t e r - s p o t g iv e n h e re to
" w e a lth ." N ot to have th e a d v a n ta g e o f E u ro p e , w here "good
t a s t e i s p r e s e n t , f o r r e f e r e n c e and c o m p a riso n , i n a h u n - j
d re d em bodied and c o n s e c r a te d fo rm s ," was to p r e s e n t th e
A m erican p re d ic a m e n t i n i t s m o st g l a r i n g l i g h t ( p . 1 5 4 ).
As Jam es lo o k e d a b o u t him , he was c o n v in c e d t h a t A m erica
la c k e d th e two in d is p e n s a b le i n g r e d i e n t s : " th e o l d e r
c o n g re g a tio n s o f men" and " th e p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y r i c h c i t i e s
o f E u ro p e" ( p . 1 5 4 ). Jam es was n o t a s s u r e d , a s he was i n
E u ro p e , t h a t t h e r e w ould alw ay s be th e " r i g h t " men and th e
" r i g h t " p l a c e s .
H ie "m a ssiv e p r i v a t e e a s e " o f A m erican s o c i e t y gav e
no i n d i c a t i o n t h a t i t was c o n s e c r a te d to a n y th in g more
164
d u ra b le o r Im p o rta n t th a n I t s own im m ed iate p l e a s u r e s . To
Ja m es, th e f u t u r e o f su ch a s o c i e t y " w ith no f o r c e o f a s
s e r t i o n beyond th e h o u r" seem ed h o p e le s s ly b l i g h t e d s in c e
i t was e t su c h a v a r ia n c e w ith s o c i e t y a s Jam es knew i t .
The am ple le s s o n o f E urope dem anded t h a t " o ld s o c i e t i e s ,
o l d , and even new, a r i s t o c r a c i e s , a re a rra n g e d e x a c tl y to
s u p p ly f u n c tio n s " ( p . 1 5 4 ). What th e s e f u n c tio n s m ig h t
be f o r a y o u n g e r A m erica w ere a lm o s t im p o s s ib le to make
o u t i n a s o c i e t y w hich a p p e a re d to be c o n t i n u a l l y c h a n g in g
and re fo rm in g i t s e l f . The one c e r t a i n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c n o te '
was th e " a r t l e s s n eed " o f such a s o c i e t y to g e t I t s e l f
e x p la in e d , to f in d " th e f i n m ot o f w hat i t may mean"
(p . 1 1 1 ). U n c e r ta in and vague a s i t w as, i t c o u ld o n ly
o f f e r up a q u e s tio n a b le a m i a b i l i t y :
i
i
. . . th e a m ia b le s id e o f th e s e num erous g ro u p s t h a t
a re r i c h enough a n d , i n th e happy v u lg a r p h r a s e , b lo a te d
en o u g h , to b e c a n d id a te s f o r th e c l a s s i c im p u ta tio n o r
h a u g h tin e s s . The a m i a b i l i t y p ro c e e d s from .an e s s e n t i a l
v a g u e n e s s ; w h e rea s r e a l h a u g h tin e s s i s n e v e r vague
a b o u t i t s e l f — i t i s o n ly vague a b o u t o t h e r s , ( p . I l l ) i
i
The A m erican Woman
. i
i
When i t came to th e s u b j e c t o f th e A m erican woman, J
Jam es was i n h i s p r o p e r e le m e n t. No one t o p ic s ta n d s o u t j
m ore s h a r p ly i n th e c o m p le te Ja m e s ia n can o n th a n h i s c o n
t i n u a l a tte m p ts to d e l i n e a t e A m erican womanhood, r e a l and
" i d e a l , " I t was to be e x p e c te d t h a t Jam es w ould hav e much j
i
to sa y i n The A m erican Scene on th e e n t i r e q u e s tio n o f th e
fe m in in e w o rld . The Im m ediate s o c i a l p r e d ic a m e n t, as
Jam es saw i t , was t h a t th e men h ad g iv e n up th e s o c i a l
*
f i e l d to th e women. " T h is f a i l u r e o f th e s e x e s to keep
s te p s o c i a l l y " was a d i r e c t r e s u l t o f th e c o n fu s io n i n
h e r e n t i n a s o c i e t y w hich was f o r c e d i n t o " f i n d in g o u t
f o r i t s e l f , a s a p r e l i m i n a r y , w hat c i v i l i z a t i o n r e a l l y i s "
(p p . 1 5 8 -1 5 9 ).
The c o m p le x itie s o f th e p ro b lem s t r u c k Jam es a s p a r
t i c u l a r l y s u g g e s tiv e o f " i n t e r e s t i n g 'd r a m a .1" The more
he moved a b o u t th e c o u fttry , from New Y ork down to W ashing-
| to n and F l o r i d a , th e m ore he b e g a n to form a w o rk a b le
| * * :
u n d e rs ta n d in g o f th e p ro b le m . W ash in g to n p r o v id e d him
w ith th e c lu e to th e s o c i a l dilem m a; i t was th e o n ly .
s o c i e t y i n th e c o u n try " i n w hich Men e x is te d " (p . 3 3 2 ). ;
j
The e x p la n a tio n la y i n th e f a c t t h a t i n W ash in g to n "nobody j
I
was i n 'b u s i n e s s . 1" A cco rd in g to Jam es, th e w o rld o f b u s i - !
; n e s s and s o c i e t y ( a s h e d e f in e d i t ) w ere u n iq u e ly r e l a t e d . ;
i
J a m e s 's d e f i n i t i o n o f s o c i e t y im p lie d th e v e ry w o rs t f o r 1
b u s in e s s ; s o c i e t y , to him , m eant a l l th e o t h e r m ore w h o le - ;
[
some a c t i v i t i e s o f m en, " a l l th e o t h e r so num erous r e l a - j
t i o n s w ith th e w o rld " ( p . 3 3 3 ). The f u l l i m p l i c a ti o n was
t h a t th e " i d e a l s " o f b u s in e s s and s o c i e t y te n d e d i n p r a c -
■
t i c e to be a t m arked v a r ia n c e w ith e a c h o t h e r . W herever !
I
men w ere e x c l u s i v e l y b u sin e ssm e n — n e a r l y th e e n t i r e
c o u n tr y , a s Jam es saw i t — th e y "gave up" s o c i e t y . A cco rd - ’
in g to Ja m es’ s th e o r y o f " s e p a r a t i o n ," ( o r " a b d i c a t i o n " ) ,
th e n a tu r e o f s u c c e s s f u l b u s in e s s p r a c t i c e seem ed to im p ly
a g r a d u a l ly le s s e n in g n e ed o f th e c lo a k o f g e n tle m a n w hich
s o c i e t y m ig h t p r o v id e . I n t h i s s e n s e , s in c e s o c i e t y can
do n o th in g f o r h im , th e A m erican b u sin e ssm a n made w e a lth
a lo n e h i s " s o c i a l " i d e a l :
Prom th e moment i t i s a d e q u a te ly b o rn e i n th e m ind t h a t
th e b u s in e s s -m a n , i n th e U n ite d S t a t e s , may, w ith no
m a t t e r w hat dim s t r u g g l e s , g r o p in g s , y e a r n in g s , n e v e r
hope to b e a n y th in g b u t a b u s in e s s -m a n , th e s i z e o f th e
f i e l d h e so a b d ic a t e s i s m e a su re d , a s w e ll a s th e f a c t
! o f t h e . o t h e r c a re to w hich h i s a b d ic a t i o n h a n d s i t o v e r .
(P P . 3 3 2 -3 3 3 )
The th e o r y i s o f p a r t i c u l a r i n t e r e s t i n a c c o u n tin g f o r
th e A m erican w om an's " p o s s e s s io n " o f th e g r e a t " g a p in g v o id :
o f 's o c i e t y . '" A cco rd in g to Ja m es, i t was an "unexam pled
o p p o r tu n ity " w hich sh e was to make th e v e ry m ost o f .
E v e ry th in g i n A m erican l i f e i n d i c a t e d "how she h a s p o u n c e d ,:
I
and how, o u t s i d e b u s i n e s s , sh e h a s made i t o v e r i n h e r j
im age" ( p . 3 3 3 ). I n c la s s - c o n s c i o u s New Y ork S o c ie ty , th e
a b se n c e o f men b ro u g h t i t s own p e c u l i a r p ro b le m s. Jam es
c i t e d th e O pera a s an exam ple o f " a p i c t u r e p o o r i n th e
m ale p r e s e n c e ." To whom, Jam es a s k s , w ould " o u r l a d i e s
o f th e t i a r a s and c o u r t - t r a i n s " c u r ts y ? T here was no |
o t h e r c o u rs e b u t " to make o b e is a n c e , c l i n g i n g l y , to e a c h
o th e r " (p p . 159- 1 6 0 ) . The g r e a t e r i m p l i c a t i o n , h o w ev er,
a s Jam es p o i n t s o u t , i s t h a t th e u n i v e r s a l A m erican c o n d i-
i
t i o n h a s b eg u n to "accom m odate" i t s e l f — " f o r to w hat m ale
p r e s e n c e o f n a t i v e g ro w th i s i t th in k a b le t h a t th e w e a re r
I o f an A m erican t i a r a s h o u ld c u rts e y ? " [ s i c 3 (p . 1 6 0 ) . W e
hav e h e r e th e c e n t r a l p o i n t i n J a m e s 's " r e - d is c o v e r y " o f
I . . '
|t h e A m erican woman a t hom e.
The p o i n t o f J a m e s 's arg u m en t i s t h a t A m erican men
h av e b r o u g h t a b o u t a s i t u a t i o n , o v e r w hich th e y h av e no
j f o r e s e e a b le c o n t r o l . The f a c t t h a t h e r e f e r s to th e " a b
d i c a t i o n " a s th e " r u p tu r e o f a u n i v e r s a l la w ," le a v e s no
|d o u b t o f J a m e s 's e s s e n t i a l s y m p a th ie s . C h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y ,
i
i
; Jam es p o r t r a y s th e new c o n d itio n s i n te rm s o f th e u n a l t e r -
I a b le p y s c h o lo g ic a l n e c e s s i t i e s o f th e p ro b le m . A lthough
we n e v e r have any r e a l d o u b t o f w hat m ig h t be h i s own
r a d i c a l s o l u t i o n , Jam es re m a in s t r u e to h i s g iv e n t a s k to
be " th e p a t i e n t i n q u i r e r " above a l l e l s e . The r e s p o n s i b i l
i t i e s o f a c c u r a te a n a l y s i s dep en d ed on a th o ro u g h c o n s .d e r a -
; t i o n o f th e g iv e n c a s e . The r e s u l t i s t h a t th ro u g h Ja m e s 's!
i ■ ' )
j e y e s we hav e a m ost re m a rk a b le tr e a tm e n t o f a v e ry com plex !
! A m erican p ro b le m .
! The p ro b le m was made ev en m ore m y s tif y in g to Jam es by :
j th e a p p a r e n t g e n e r a l a c c e p ta n c e o f th e s tr a n g e new e q u i l i b - i
!
riu m ; somehow, " a s o c i e t y i n many r e s p e c t s w o rk a b le " h ad
b e e n a r r i v e d a t (p . 33^ ) . The m a s te r s tr o k e , a s Jam es
c o n c e iv e d i t , was i n th e re a d y w i l li n g n e s s o f women " to <
r e p r e s e n t th e s i t u a t i o n a s p e r f e c t l y n o rm al" (p . 3 3 3 ). As I
j
a r e s u l t , th ro u g h th e d e f a u l t o f th e m a le , she r e p r e s e n te d i
a l l t h e r e was o f A m erican s o c i e t y ev ery w h e re i n th e w o rld .
She h ad becom e, Jam es rem a rk ed w ry ly , a huge s u c c e s s :
"She h a s b e g u ile d , sh e h a s c o n q u e re d th e g lo b e : lo o k a t h e r
i
' f o r tu n e ev ery w h ere and f a i l to a c c e p t h e r i f you can"
| (P. 33*0.
C o n tin u in g w ith th e same m anner o f s c ru p u lo u s d e ta c h
m en t, Jam es g r a d u a lly comes down to th e e s s e n t i a l p o i n t
j o f h i s " i n v e s t i g a t i o n . " I n th e r e a l s e n s e , Jam es a s k s ,
i
!w hat hav e we a c t u a l l y ( n o t s u p e r f i c i a l l y ) made o u r p r iz e d
! "A m erican woman" to b e ? R e p re s e n tin g a s she d o e s , e v e ry -
: w here i n th e w o rld , th e p rim e A m erican " p r o d u c t," she i s
|
| n o t u n lik e th e many new m e c h a n ic a l m a rv e ls t h a t "have done
) ; ;
! so m uch, i n th e h o u se h o ld and th e p la c e o f b u s i n e s s , f o r
j
i th e A m erican name" (p . 3 3 5 ). She h a s , a lm o st i n th e same
i
i way, become "a new human c o n v e n ie n c e " — a t th e p r i c e , how-
!
j e v e r , o f h a v in g h e r e s s e n t i a l n a tu r e d r a s t i c a l l y m is r e p r e - :
j s e n te d . I n s t a r k c o n t r a s t to th e " u n i v e r s a l la w ," we
! have made f o r o u r s e lv e s (an d th e w o rld ) a woman w ith a l l
| th e a d v a n ta g e s o f h e r sex and none o f th e t r a d i t i o n a l draw -!
! i
I b a c k s . O nly i n th e A m erican u n c r i t i c a l " v o id ," Jam es was I
a s s u r e d , c o u ld such an in c o n g r u i ty h av e r e s u l t e d :
W hat i t came t o , e v i d e n t l y , was t h a t sh e h ad b e e n grow n j
i n an a i r i n w hich a h u n d re d o f th e "E u ro p ean " c o m p lic a
t i o n s and d a n g e rs d i d n 't e x i s t , and i n w hich a l s o she
h ad h ad to ta k e upon h e r s e l f a c e r t a i n t r a i n i n g f o r
fre e d o m . I t was n o t t h a t sh e h ad h a d , i n th e v u lg a r
s e n s e , to " lo o k o u t" f o r h e r s e l f , inasm uch a s i t was o f
th e v e ry e s s e n c e o f h e r p o s i t i o n n o t to be th r e a te n e d
I o r w a y la id ; b u t t h a t sh e c o u ld d e v e lo p h e r a u d a c ity on
! th e b a s i s o f h e r s e c u r i t y , j u s t a s sh e c o u ld d e v e lo p
! h e r "p o w ers" i n a medium from w hich c r i t i c i s m was c o n -
| s i s t e n t l y a b s e n t. T hus, she a r r i v e d , f u ll- b lo w n , on
th e g e n e r a l s c e n e , th e l e a s t c r i t i c i s e d o b j e c t , i n
169
p r o p o r tio n to h e r im p o rta n c e , t h a t h ad e v e r a d o rn e d I t . 11
i
i
! th e a rg u m e n t, I n e f f e c t , was p a r t o f J a m e s 's o v e r - a l l
| comment on th e r e l a t i v e b e n e f i t s o f th e d e e p ly c i v i l i z e d ,
h i s t o r i c a l l y t r a d i t i o n a l e n v iro n m e n t. Much h a r s h c r i t i c i s m
on w h at a p p e a re d to b e h i s e x a g g e ra te d p r e f e r e n c e o f E urope
o v e r A m erica d id n o t ta k e i n t o p ro p e r a c c o u n t J a m e s 's b a s i c
12
ip u rp o s e i n p ro b in g su ch a d e l i c a t e n a t i o n a l m a t t e r . Many
1
! tim e s i n The A m erican S cen e, Jam es gave th e im p re s s io n o f
: a c t u a l l y h a l t i n g i n h i s c r i t i c a l f o o t s t e p s i n o r d e r to
e x p la in th e c o m p lete n a tu r e o f h i s i n t e r e s t i n th e m a t t e r .
O fte n , th e n a tu r e o f h i s ’'d e fe n s e " w ould be a s t r i c t
a c c o u n tin g to h im s e lf o f th e e x a c t d e g re e o f c a re h e r e a l l y
h ad f o r A m e r i c a . C e r ta in l y , i t was n o t m a lic io u s on
11
P . 335. The te rm s o f th e " p re d ic a m e n t" a re a lm o st
i d e n t i c a l w ith a c c o u n t o f th e d e s p o ilin g o f Androm eda, I
o u r " l i n g u i s t i c p o s itio n ^ ' i n "The Q u e stio n o f Our. S p e e c h ." 1
See ab o v e, p . 9 8 .
12
M ost o f th e c o n te m p o ra ry c r i t i c i s m was b a s e d a c t u a l l y :
on th e ir r e v o c a b l e f a c t o f h i s lo n g e x p a t r i a t i o n . A cco rd - i
in g to th e N a tio n f o r November 2 1 , 1907> The A m erican S c e n e :
p ro v e d w hat a ''c u r i o u s ly a l i e n o b s e r v e r " Jam es r e a l l y was !
s in c e th e book was o v e rb u rd e n e d w ith E u ro p ean i d e a l s and
c o n v e n tio n s (8 4 :2 6 6 ). i
1-2
J I n h i s a p p r a i s a l o f New Y o rk , Jam es h a s th e v o ic e o f j
th e New Y ork a i r c h a lle n g e him on h i s o v e r - c r i t i c a l a t t i - \
tu d e : " I t ' s a l l v e ry w e ll to ' c r i t i c i s e , ' b u t you d iB -
t i n c t l y ta k e an i n t e r e s t and a r e th e v ic tim o f y o u r i n t e r - i
e s t , be th e g ro u n d s o f y o u r p e r v e r s i t y w hat th e y w i l l .
You c a n 't e s c a p e from i t . . ." (p . 1 0 4 ). F u r th e r o n ,
Jam es u s e s th e d e g re e o f h i s c a r e a s p a r t o f th e g e n e r a l
p ro b le m : " I d e fy ev en a m a s te r o f m o rbid o b s e r v a tio n to
p e ra m b u la te New Y ork u n l e s s he be i n t e r e s t e d " ( p . 1 0 6 ).
And on th e n e g le c te d h i s t o r i c s i t e a t o ld S t. A u g u stin e
i n F l o r i d a , he a s k s f r a n k l y f o r someone su ch a s h im s e lf ,
"a c r i t i c , some guardian o f r e a l v a lu es, to bring i t to
ibook"(p. 440).
jJ a m e s 's p a r t c o n t i n u a l l y to se e b e n e f i c i a l p a r a l l e l s i n
j th e r e l a t i v e d e v elo p m e n t o f th e o l d e r and th e new er
c i v i l i z a t i o n . I n th e same s e n s e , h o w ev er, i t was u n w ar
r a n t e d on Ja m e s’ s p a r t to e x p e c t A m erica i n 1907 to a c c e p t
su c h c r i t i c i s m i n th e same d e ta c h e d m anner i t was g iv e n .
F or th e " v i s i o n a r y t o u r i s t , " v i s i o n a r y A m erican r e a d e r s
o f th e same c a s t w ere a r a r e com m odity i n 1907.
Jam es d id h o ld o u t some hope f o r th e A m erican woman
■
w hich m ig h t y e t sa v e h e r and " h e r so 's l e e p i n g ' p a r t n e r . ”
The d e g re e o f o p tim ism h a d i t s b a s i s i n J a m e s 's c e r t a i n
c o n v ic tio n t h a t th e A m erican woman h ad r e a l l y b e e n d u p ed ,
t h a t i n th e lo n g r u n , sh e w ould re c o g n iz e t h a t " t h e r e m ust
i
be a t r a p i n i t som ew here" ( p . 3 3 6 ) . Even th o u g h th e r e
was n o th in g on th e g e n e r a l A m erican sc e n e to i n d i c a t e t h a t
she h ad su ch d o u b ts , th e im p o r ta n t exam ple o f W ashingto n
| s o c i e t y had to be s e r i o u s l y re c k o n e d w ith . C ould th e c a se
i
j o f W ash in g to n , Jam es a s k e d , be th e one h o p e fu l n o te ? H ere
i
| w here men w ere s o c i a l l y " e x i s t i n g " —n o t i n b u s i n e s s — th e
i
u n n a tu r a l a g re e m e n t was n o t i n e f f e c t :
He [th e W ash in g to n man] h a s d is c o v e r e d t h a t he can e x i s t
i n o t h e r c o n d itio n s th a n t h a t o f th e M a rk e t, and t h a t
a l l he h a s t h e r e f o r e to s e t t l e i s th e q u e s tio n o f
w h e th e r h e m ay. . . . Man i s s o l i d l y , v i v i d l y p r e s e n t ,
and th e p r e s e n c e o f woman h a s c o n s e q u e n tly , f o r th e
p ro p o se d i n t e n s i t y , to re c k o n w ith i t . (p p . 336- 3 3 7 )
I To th e g r e a t e r q u e s tio n a s to w h e th e r th e " r e c o v e r y ”
i s p o s s ib l e i n 1904 on a l a r g e r s c a l e , Jam es th e d i s c r e e t
! o b s e r v e r , an sw ered "No" on th e b a s i s o f p r e s e n t e v id e n c e ;
171
" th e d a ta a r e a s y e t i n s u f f i c i e n t " ( p . 3 3 7 ). D e s p ite t h i s
la c k o f v e r i f i a b l e " e v id e n c e ," t h e r e was enough o f a
" f e l i c i t y o f many sym ptom s" to c o n v in c e Jam es t h a t somehow
th e " u n i v e r s a l law " w ould a s s e r t i t s e l f a g a in . Hie c a s e
f o r W ash in g to n c o u ld b e th e c a s e , i n tim e , f o r th e e n t i r e
c o u n tr y . The s o l u t i o n seem ed to b e a s e a s i l y p ra g m a tic a s
a n y th in g Jam es h ad come to g r i p s w ith . I n th e same s p i r i t
t h a t h e s u g g e s te d t h a t th e answ er f o r New Y ork was " to a p
p e a r to b e l i e v e i n h e r s e l f " ( p . 1 0 8 ), Jam es u rg e d A m erican
men e v ery w h e re to do a s i n W ash in g to n — show th e c o n fid e n c e
o f ta k in g t h e i r r i g h t f u l p o s i t i o n f o r g r a n te d . T here was
e v id e n c e ev ery w h ere i n W ash in g to n t h a t t h i s was th e d e
s i r e d s i t u a t i o n f o r women a s w e ll a s men:
Nowhere m ore th a n i n W a sh in g to n , p o s i t i v e l y , w ere th e
women to h av e s t r u c k me a s n a t u r a l l y and h a rm o n io u sly
i n th e s o c i a l p i c t u r e — a s h a p p il y , s o o th in g ly , p ro p o r
t i o n a t e l y , and no m ore th a n p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y , p a r t i c i
p a n t and m i n i s t r a n t . (p . 3 3 0 )
The exam ple o f W a sh in g to n , i n t h i s c a s e , Jam es c o n c lu d e d ,
may t u r n o u t to b e a b e t t e r p a r a l l e l o f d ev elo p m en t th a n
th e E urope m ost p e o p le w ere d e p e n d e n t o n :
W a sh in g to n , a t su ch a r a t e , i n any c a s e , m ig h t become
to them a s good a s " E u ro p e ," and a E urope o f t h e i r own
w ould o b v io u s ly be b e t t e r th a n a E urope o f o t h e r
p e o p l e 's , ( p . 3 3 9 )
F o r th e p r e s e n t , th o u g h , a s Jam es lo o k ed a b o u t him ,
th e g e n e r a l s o c i a l p re d ic a m e n t was im m ense, e s p e c i a l l y
when e v id e n c e d i n th e A m erican g i r l . Nowhere w ere th e
m u ltip le e f f e c t s o f th e " r u p tu r e " m ore s t r i k i n g th a n h e r e ,
172
I w here th e m ale p a r e n t a l and f r a t e r n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s w ere
!
! a lm o s t a b s e n t. The A m erican g i r l h ad b e e n l e f t to s h i f t
i .
| f o r h e r s e l f " i n th e g r e a t g l a r e o f h e r p u b l i c i t y , h e r u n
c o r r e c t e d , u n r e l a t e d s t a t e ” (p . 4 l 4 ) . H e re , w ere th e
f r i g h t e n i n g and i n e v i t a b l e r e s u l t s , a s Jam es c o n c e iv e d i t ,
o f a sy ste m ru n n in g c o n tr a r y to th e n a t u r a l o r d e r . I n one
o f th e m ost v ig o r o u s and d ra m a tic p l e a s i n th e e n t i r e b o o k ,
Jam es h a s th e A m erican g i r l p le a d f o r h e r s e l f :
| Ah, once p la c e me and y o u 'l l s e e — I s h a l l be d i f f e r e n t ,
j I s h a l l b e b e t t e r ; f o r s in c e I am, w ith my p r e p o s te r o u s
j " p o s i t i o n , " f a l s e l y b e g u ile d , p i t i l e s s l y f o r s a k e n , th r u s t!
j f o r t h i n my ig n o ra n c e and f o l l y , w hat do I know, h e lp le s s !
c h i t a s I c an b u t b e , a b o u t m anners o r to n e , a b o u t p r o - i
I p o r t i o n o r p e r s p e c t i v e , a b o u t m o d esty o r m y s te ry , a b o u t s
I a c o n d itio n o f t h in g s t h a t in v o lv e s , f o r th e i n t e r e s t
and th e g r a c e o f l i f e , o t h e r form s o f e x is te n c e th a n
t h i s p o o r l i t t l e m in e—p a t h e t i c a l l y b ro k e n r e e d a s i t
i s , j u s t to f i n d i t s e l f w aving a l l a lo n e i n th e w ind?
How can I do a l l th e g r a c e , a l l th e i n t e r e s t , a s I'm
e x p e c te d t o ? —y e s , l i t e r a l l y a l l th e i n t e r e s t t h a t j
i s n ' t th e m ere i n t e r e s t on th e m oney. I 'm e x p e c te d to j
s u p p ly i t a l l —w h ile I w ander and s t r a y i n th e d e s e r t . |
j Was t h e r e e v e r s u c h a c o n s p ir a c y , o n th e p a r t o f a w hole 1
I s o c i a l o r d e r , to w a rd s th e e x p o su re o f in c o m p e te n c e ?
j Were e v e r c ru d e y o u th and c ru d e p re s u m p tio n l e f t so u n -
! adm onished a s to t h e i r d a n g e r o f g iv in g th e m s e lv e s
| away? Who, a t any t u r n , f o r an h o u r, e v e ry p i t y i n g l y
j o v ersh ad o w s o r d is p o s s e s s e s me? By w hat c o m b in a tio n o f
o t h e r p r e s e n c e s e v e r am I d is b u rd e n e d , e v e r r e l e g a t e d
and re d u c e d , e v e r r e s t o r e d , i n a w ord, to my r i g h t r e l a - ;
t i o n to th e w hole? . . . H a v e n 't I , ho w ev er, a s i t i s , !
b e e n to o lo n g abandoned and to o much b e tr a y e d ? I s n ' t
i t to o l a t e , and am I n o t , d o n 't you t h i n k , p r a c t i c a l l y !
l o s t ? (p p . 4 1 4 -4 1 5 ) I
173
" The G re a t 1 E th n i c 1 Que s t i o n "
S p r in k le d g e n e ro u s ly th ro u g h o u t The A m erican Scene
a re many comments and s p e c u l a ti o n s a d d re s s e d to " th e g r e a t
• e t h n i c 1 q u e s t io n ." T aken t o g e t h e r , a s we hav e p o in te d
o u t e a r l i e r , th e s e o b s e r v a tio n s add up to one o f th e m a jo r
fo r m u la tio n s o f th e b o o k . C h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f Ja m es, th e y
w e re, n e v e r t h e l e s s , m ore s u g g e s tiv e and p r o b le m a tic i n
n a tu r e th a n f i n a l and c o n c lu s iv e . I n th e B ryn Mawr a d d re s s ,
"The Q u e s tio n o f o u r S p e e c h ," Jam es to o k th e a l i e n s to
t a s k f o r b e in g to o f r e e w ith th e la n g u a g e , c o r r u p tin g i t
by t h e i r l i b e r a l d i s r e g a r d f o r i t s t r a d i t i o n a l , i n h e r e n t ;
v a lu e s . A lthough h i s " in d ic tm e n t" was no l e s s s e v e re i n
i The A m erican S c e n e , he h ad th e a d v a n ta g e h e re ', i n s p a c e ,
j
i n b e in g a b le to e x p lo r e c o m p le te ly th e many c o n f l i c t i n g
a s p e c ts o f th e e n t i r e q u e s tio n . He was n o t w h o lly unaw are j
I 1 i
1 • . ;
| o f th e i n h e r e n t p ro b lem o f la n g u a g e u s a g e i n a c o u n tr y ,
| by n a tu r e " p o l y g l o t ." T here w ere fo rm id a b le m a t t e r s h e re
! to g r a p p le w ith . He a d m its a t many p o i n t s t h a t th e u l t i
m ate a n sw ers a re beyond him :
. . . th e f a c t s th e m s e lv e s loom , b e f o r e th e u n d e r s ta n d
i n g , i n to o l a r g e a m ass f o r a m ere m o u th fu l: i t i s a s
i f th e s y l l a b l e s w ere to o num erous to make a l e g i b l e
w ord. Hie i l l e g i b l e w ord, a c c o r d in g ly , th e g r e a t i n
s c r u t a b l e answ er to q u e s t io n s , h a n g s i n th e v a s t
A m erican sk y . . . . (p . 118)
Jam es was made aw are o f th e a l i e n q u e s tio n s i n h i s
v i s i t s to H a rv a rd w here he c o u ld n o t h e lp n o tin g th e many
! d iv e r s e r a c i a l s t r a i n s t h a t " f lo c k e d c a n d id ly " a b o u t th e
17b
Y a rd . As a lw a y s, th e e f f e c t on him was a lm o s t a s much a
m a tte r o f a r t i s t i c a s i n t e l l e c t u a l s t i m u l a ti o n :
! Swarm ing in g e n u o u s y o u th s , whom d id th e y lo o k l i k e th e
| so n s o f ?— t h a t i n q u i r y , a s to any g ro u p , any c o u p le ,
any c a s e , r e p r e s e n te d a game t h a t i t was p o s i t i v e l y
t h r i l l i n g to p la y o u t . T here was p l e n t y to make i t s o ,
f o r t h e r e w as, to b e g in w ith , b o th th e f o r e c a s t o f th e
th in g t h a t m ig h t e a s i l y s e t t l e th e i s s u e and th e f o r e
c a s t o f th e th in g t h a t m ig h t e a s i l y c o m p lic a te i t .
! (P . 6 2 )
| Jam es was overw helm ed by th e c o n d itio n t h a t w h e re v e r he
i
I m ig h t t r a v e l i n h i s n a t i v e c o u n tr y , t h e r e w ould alw ay s be
! th e i n c r e a s in g d o u b t a s to w hat la n g u a g e he w ould m e e t.
! I n B o sto n and Salem , i t was o f t e n some i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e
"ru d e form o f I t a l i a n " (p . 2 2 3 ) . In New Y ork, h a r b in g e r
: o f th e g r e a t e s t " p o ly g o t" o f to n g u e s , i t c o u ld b e a lm o s t
I
I a n y th in g . I t i s o f I n t e r e s t to n o te t h a t J a m e s 's d i s -
1
j c o m fo rt was p a r t l y d e riv e d from h i s i n a b i l i t y to c o n v e rs e
! w ith th e new A m erican s. A p a rt from th e many e x c la m a tio n s
! o f d ism ay a s to w hat th e i n f lu e n c e s o f th e s e o t h e r to n g u e s
i
1
w ere d o in g to th e " p u r i ty " o f E n g lis h , w ere th e many
I s p e c u la tio n s on th e I r o n i c l o s s o f a " c o n n e c tio n " w ith th e
| E u ro p ean h e r i t a g e o f th e a l i e n s . Jam es was s p e a k in g now
I
a s one who had b e en e x p o sed " g a i n f u l l y " so many tim e s to
th e E u ro p ean n a ti v e "fro m w h ic h e v e r end o f th e s c a le "
(p . 1 1 6 ). Hie i m p o s s i b i l i t y o f such a r e l a t i o n h e re was
s t r i k i n g :
175
I Had t h a t n o t e v e r b e e n , e x a c t l y , a p a r t o f th e vague
j w arm th, th e i n t r i n s i c c o lo u r , o f any h o n e s t m an’ s
| r u r a l w alk i n h i s E n g lan d o r h i s I t a l y , h i s Germany
o r h i s F ra n c e . . . .1 4
In Ja m e s’ s A m erica, " th e la n d o f u n i v e r s a l b r o th e r h o o d ,"
th e l o s s was p a r t i c u l a r l y i r o n i c .
j I n h i s v i s i t to E l l i s I s l a n d , Jam es h ad an o p p o r tu n ity
to se e f o r h im s e lf “ th e b e g in n in g o f th e " d ra m a ." The m ass
o f h u m a n ity , " h e rd e d , d iv id e d , s u b d iv id e d , s o r t e d ,
s i f t e d . . . , " h ad th e m ost s i g n i f i c a n t e f f e c t on Jam es.
The n o te o f h i s r e s p o n s e , h o w ev er, h ad n o th in g to do w ith
th e b a s i c h u m a n ita r ia n f a c t o r s i n v o l v e d .1-’ A ll c o n s id e r a
t i o n s o f h u m a n ita r ia n n e e d seem ed to be p u sh e d a s id e i n
l l i i ^
P . 116. T h ere was no d e n y in g th e c o u n tr y s q u ir e
a t t i t u d e o f Ja m e s’ s p o s i t i o n . He d e s c r ib e d i n The A m e ric an :
Scene one v i v id e n c o u n te r w ith th e " n a t i v e sto d c T " D u rin g j
"A lo n g ra m b le " i n th e New H am pshire h i l l s Jam es l o s t h i s i
way. H is " r e s c u e " by a young man em erg in g h a p p ily "from |
a n e ig h b o u rin g wood" h ad i t s m ixed b l e s s i n g . U nable to
g u e s s w hat n a t i o n a l i t y th e young man w as, Jam es was
th u n d e r s tr u c k when th e young man announced " ’ I ’m an
A rm enian' . . . a s i f i t w ere th e m ost n a t u r a l th in g i n
th e w o rld f o r a w a g e -e a rn in g y o u th i n th e h e a r t o f New
E n g lan d to b e " ( p . 1 1 6 ). T h is i s p r o b a b ly th e i n c i d e n t !
r e f e r r e d to by B l i s s P e r r y , s e e ab o v e, p . 59*
IK
-'In th e Auden e d i t i o n , one w ould b e i n c l i n e d to b e
l i e v e i n a m ore h u m a n ita r ia n Jam es on th e b a s i s o f th e
c a p tio n w hich a cco m p an ies th e i l l u s t r a t i o n o f a b o a t f u l o f j
s te e r a g e p a s s e n g e r s . The c a p t io n , "We m u st go m ore th a n '
h a lfw a y to m eet th e m ," s u g g e s ts c o n v e n tio n a l s y m p a th ie s . •
H ow ever, when r e a d i n th e f u l l c o n te x t ( p . 8 4 ) , th e p a s - !
sag e i s a c t u a l l y an i r o n i c s ta te m e n t to th e e f f e c t t h a t j
f o r e v e ry b r a s h " p o s s e s s io n " by th e a l i e n i n A m erica, a
c o rre s p o n d in g " d is p o s s e s s io n " f o r th e n a t i v e s ta k e s p l a c e , j
The im p lie d im age i n th e c a p t io n o f an o u t s t r e t c h e d h e lp
in g hand may r i g h t f u l l y b e lo n g , i n t h i s c a s e , o n ly to
e d i t o r Auden.
176
f a v o r o f th e one overw helm ing r e a l i z a t i o n o f th e e f f e c t
o f su ch e n d le s s num bers " d e s c e n d in g ” on a h a p le s s A m erica:
He h a d th o u g h t he knew b e f o r e , th o u g h t he h ad th e se n se
o f th e d e g re e i n w hich i t i s h i s A m erican f a t e to s h a re
th e s a n c t i t y o f h i s A m erican c o n s c io u s n e s s , th e in tim a c y
o f h i s A m erican p a t r i o t i s m , w ith th e in c o n c e iv a b le a l i e n ;
b u t th e t r u t h h ad n e v e r come home to him w ith any su ch
f o r c e . I n th e l u r i d l i g h t p r o j e c t e d upon i t b y th o s e
c o u r t s o f d ism ay i t sh a k e s h im . . . . So i s sta m p e d , f o r
d e t e c t i o n , th e q u e s tio n a b ly p r i v i l e g e d p e rs o n who h a s
h ad an a p p a r i t i o n , s e e n a g h o s t i n h i s su p p o s e d ly s a f e
o ld h o u s e , (p p . 8 2 - 8 3 )
T h is i s th e c o n ti n u a l n o te Jam es so u n d s i n h i s "p a n ic ,"
th e suprem e d a n g e r to th e t r e a s u r e d " u n ity " he b e lie v e d h i s j
A m erica to s ta n d f o r . I n t h i s s e n s e , i t i s n o t a l i e n s |
a lo n e w hich make up th e im m ed iate p e r i l . Any d i l u t i o n o f |
th e e s s e n t i a l A m erican c o n s c io u s n e s s — e i t h e r by an i n d i f -
j
f e r e n t r e l a t i o n to th e l i t e r a r y p a s t , o r b y a d o l l a r -
o r i e n t e d t a s t e l e s s a r c h i t e c t u r e , o r by th e w o rk in g s o f a
c r a s s " h o t e l - c i v i l i z a t i o n , " o r b y an " u n n a tu ra l" a b d ic a tio n
o f th e m a le —p o r te n d s th e v e ry w o rs t f o r th e A m erican
i
f u t u r e . T aken i n t h i s l i g h t , we a re b e t t e r a b le to u n d e r- j
s ta n d how v e ry n e c e s s a r y i t was f o r Jam es to e x c lu d e th e !
o t h e r o b v io u s c o n s i d e r a ti o n s i n th e w hole a l i e n q u e s t io n ,
and to b e so much m ore c o n c e rn e d a b o u t th e e f f e c t o f th e
a l i e n on A m erica r a t h e r th a n th e e f f e c t o f A m erica on th e
a l i e n . I t i s t h i s s o r t o f a lm o st r a d i c a l A m erican "sym
p a th y " w hich made h i s e s s e n t i a l A m ericanism su ch a c o n fu s - j
in g i s s u e to h i s c r i t i c s . I
177
At th e h e a r t o f J a m e s 's " t h e s i s ” a re th e r a t h e r
s i n g u l a r n o tio n s w hich make up " h is " A m erica. A good p a r t
o f th e c r i t i c a l dilem m a i s due to th e som etim es e m b a rra s s -
I ;
i ;
| in g te rm s Jam es u s e s . Many hav e c o n n o ta tio n s o f an a r i s
t o c r a t i c o r d e r q u i t e o u t o f harm ony w ith th e A m erica o f
to d a y a s w e ll a s o f 1904. To make h i s p o i n t , Jam es t a l k s
j o f th e e v id e n t l o s s o f th e o ld New E n g lan d h o m o g en eity and j
| th e a l i e n o b s t a c l e s to any " p o s s ib le communion w ith th e
: in d ig e n o u s s p i r i t " ( p . 2 5 6 ) . The v i r t u e s o f o ld B o sto n
w hich Jam es e x t o l s a r e n o t , i n any s e n s e , th e g r e a t demo-
i
c r a t i c n o tio n s o f e q u a l i t y and l i b e r t y . I t i s s t r a n g e , i n j
i ' !
h i s la m e n ta tio n s , to h e a r Jam es sp e a k o f th e f a i l u r e o f a
; !
j v i s i b l e C h u rch , a v i s i b l e S t a t e , a v i s i b l e S o c ie ty , a j
v i s i b l e P a s t ; th o s e o f th e many v i s i b i l i t i e s , i n s h o r t
t h a t w arm ly clim ber th e g ro u n d i n o l d e r c o u n t r i e s . j
1 ( p . 131) j
| I
| The " in d ig e n o u s s p i r i t " t h a t Jam es w ould evoke a g a in , i f j
i |
! a t a l l p o s s i b l e , i s c l o s e r to th e n o tio n s o f e i g h t e e n t h - i
1 5
| c e n tu r y e n lig h te n e d l e a d e r s h ip and r e s p o n s i b i l i t y th a n to !
I th e m ass " s u c c e s s e s " o f tw e n ti e t h - c e n t u r y d e m o c ra tic i
! j
j i d e a li s m .
1 .
The o b v io u s q u e s tio n comes b e f o r e u s a s I t came to
Jam es. What a b o u t th e a l i e n m ix tu re w hich o p e ra te d i n th e
p a s t so s u c c e s s f u l l y f o r A m erica? Why c an not th e same
f o r t u n a t e p r o c e s s h ap p en a g a in ? To an sw er t h i s , Jam es
i
lo o k e d a b o u t him f o r th e e s s e n t i a l d i f f e r e n c e s I n th e two j
i
s i t u a t i o n s . P a r t o f th e answ er seem ed to l i e i n th e g ra n d j
| 1781
j !
s c a l e o f th e p r e s e n t i n f u s i o n . T h is was b o rn e o u t a t E l l i s I
!
I s l a n d and a t th e many d i f f e r e n t q u a r t e r s o f New Y ork. j
Most s t r i k i n g o f a l l w ere h i s c o n s i d e r a ti o n s o f th e k in d o f
new g e n e r a tio n s w hich w ould a r i s e o u t o f th e " c o l o s s a l j
m a c h in e ry " o f th e common s c h o o l and th e p o p u la r p r e s s . I n j
su c h a " p r o d ig io u s a m a lg a m ," Ja m e s w ondered, how much o f ;
th e e s s e n t i a l A m erican c h a r a c t e r w ould s u rv iv e ? I n c o n - j
t r a s t to th e e a r l i e r m ig r a tio n s w here th e d iv e r s e E u ro p ean ;
c u l t u r e s c o n tr i b u te d i n tim e to th e A m erican c h a r a c t e r ,
th e p r e s e n t m ig r a tio n s te n d e d to shake o f f t h e i r o ld w o rld j
v a lu e s a s " a huge m is ta k e " ( p . 1 2 4 ). I n th e l i g h t o f th e
"A m erican g r e g a r io u s i d e a l , " i t seem ed a lm o st i n e v i t a b l e j
I t h a t th e " e v o lu tio n o f th e oncom ing c i t i z e n " w ould be a l - ;
! \
i ;
jw ays to w a rd s a " t o l e r a b l y n e u t r a l and c o l o u r l e s s im age"
(p p . 1 2 3 -1 2 4 ).
I t was t h i s a w a re n e ss o f an e s s e n t i a l e m p tin e s s i n
j th e a l i e n " p o s s e s s io n " o f A m erica w hich m ost u n s e t t l e d
Jam es. To h im , e s p e c i a l l y i n f a m i l i a r B o sto n , i t was a
p o r t e n t o f a s e r i o u s change i n th e n a t i o n a l c o n s c io u s n e s s :
T h e re fo re h ad I th e v i s i o n , a s f i l l i n g th e sk y , no lo n g e r
I o f th e g r e a t P u r ita n " w h ip ," th e w hip f o r th e c o n s c ie n c e
and th e n e r v e s , o f th e l o c a l le g e n d , b u t t h a t o f a huge
. a p p lie d sp o n g e , a sponge s a t u r a t e d w ith th e f o r e i g n m ix
t u r e and p a s s e d o v e r a lm o s t e v e r y th in g I rem em bered and
m ig h t s t i l l h av e r e c o v e r e d , (p p . 2 2 3 -2 2 4 )
H is own i n s i s t e n t f e e l i n g o f b e in g th e a l i e n i n h i s " n a t a l
a i r " was n o t , Jam es b e li e v e d , th e s o le b a s i s f o r h i s g e n
e r a l c o n c e rn . T here w as, i n th e o b j e c t i v e s e n s e , th e t r u e
179
feelin g o f a general national dispossession. TO iere seemed
to be no other recourse for America than to "make the sur
render and accept the orientation" (p. 84). The Implica
tion was that In time the "huge white-washing brush" would
have I ts e ffe c ts on everyone In America.
Was I t a t a l l p o s s i b l e , Jam es a s k e d , f o r th e a l i e n to
b e s u c c e s s f u l l y a b s o rb e d I n t o " th e s u rro u n d in g e le m e n t"
w ith o u t r a d i c a l l y c h a n g in g i t ? J a m e s 's Im p a tie n c e w ith
th e p r o c e s s o f a s s i m i l a t i o n a s I t was o p e r a t in g u n d e r th e
a l i e n 's "own c o n d i t i o n s ," (u n d e r h i s "own m y s tic la w s " )
was an i n t e r e s t i n g exam ple o f h i s " i m p e r i a l i s t i c " way o f
|
t h in k i n g . How much b e t t e r , Jam es seem s to b e s a y in g , I f
t h e r e w ere a c o n t r o l l i n g i n t e l l i g e n c e o v e r su ch an im p o r-
{
t a n t p r o c e s s , i f i t a l l w ere n o t to be l e f t to ch an ce o r
to f a t e . How much b e t t e r f o r a l l — a l i e n and n a t i v e — i f
some e n lig h te n e d " d i s c r i m i n a t io n " c o u ld b e shown; i f , som e-
i
how t h e r e c o u ld b e some d i s t i n c t i o n i n w hat i s " b le n d e d "
and w hat l e f t o u t , w h at o ld c u l t u r e s a re ad d ed and w hat
i
n a t i v e i d e a l s p r e s e r v e d . C e r t a i n l y , Jam es was aw are t h a t
i n tw e n ti e t h - c e n t u r y A m erica su c h n o tio n s w ere im p o s s ib le .
However he c o u ld n o t h e lp b e in g so v i t a l l y c o n c e rn e d . As
! he w alk ed a b o u t th e te e m in g New Y ork s t r e e t s — v i s i b l y |
" d is p o s s e s s e d " — , h i s o n ly r e s o u r c e f o r c o m fo rt was to h o ld !
i
on h a rd to h i s im a g in a tio n o f j
the id ea l, in the order in question; o f the luxury o f
some such close and sweet and whole national conscious
ness as that o f the Switzer and the Scot. (p. 84)
1 8 0!
)
; 1
The S outh
' i
! To Ja m es, th e p r o s p e c t o f v i s i t i n g th e S outh h e ld o u t I
two d i s t i n c t a d v e n tu r e s . He h ad alw ay s b e en a n x io u s to ;
se e f o r h im s e lf th e C i v i l War S o u th o f b i t t e r h i s t o r y and
!
y o u th f u l im a g in a tio n . Of l e s s e r im p o rta n c e , th o u g h e q u a lly !
j
i n t r i g u i n g , was th e m y s tic a l a t t r a c t i o n o f th e t r o p i c a l
jS o u th . I n th e c h a p t e r s , "Richm ond" and " F l o r i d a ," r e s p e c - i
i :
| t i v e l y , Jam es was to h av e h i s two s i n g u l a r l y d i f f e r e n t
" a d v e n tu r e s ." The C i v i l War S o u th , i n a l l i t s b le a k h i s
t o r y , "loom ed" la r g e and fo re b o d in g b e f o r e J a m e s 's c r i t i c a l !
and o v e r- a n x io u s e y e . He a d m itte d , a t th e v e ry s t a r t o f
h i s Richmond w a n d e rin g s , t h a t " th e s ta r v e d s to r y - s e e k e r "
i
w ould p ro b a b ly be foredoom ed to many " p a le p a g e s" (p . 3 6 9 ) .
T here w e re , a c c o rd in g to Jam es, to o many " p r e - c o n d itio n s "
i n th e S o u th e rn q u e s tio n w hich w ere to w ork a g a i n s t any
e a s y a n a l y s i s . As he lo o k e d a b o u t him , th e a p p a r e n t
" b la n k n e s s " o f Richm ond seem ed to c o n firm th e o b v io u s f o l l y
i o f h e r " u n a l t e r a b l e " c o n d it i o n s . O verw helm ing i n i t s
p a t h e t i c f a i l u r e , a c c o rd in g to Jam es, was th e " o ld S o u th e rn
id e a " o f a " v a s t S la v e S t a t e . " Of even more s i g n i f ic a n c e
was th e e a r l y and lo n g - c o n tin u e d c o n d itio n o f an i n s u l a r
and s e l f - s u f f i c i e n t S o u th . Hie t e r r i b l e " f a c t s " o f th e
C i v i l War w ere s i n g u l a r p r o o f , to Jam es, o f th e r i g h t f u l
end to su ch " p e r v e r s e " c o n d itio n s j
I
I h ad r e c e n t l y b e e n s tu d y in g , a l i t t l e , th e r e c o r d ,
r e a d in g w ith o t h e r t h i n g s , th e volum e o f h i s a d m ira b le
H is to r y i n w hich Mr. Jam es F o rd R hoades r e c o u n ts th e
1811
j
lo n g p r e l i m i n a r i e s o f th e w ar and shows u s , a l l l u c i d l y
and h u m anly, th e S o u th e rn m ind o f th e m id -c e n tu ry i n
th e v e ry c o n v u ls io n s o f i t s p e r v e r s i t y — th e c o n c e p tio n
t h a t , a lm o s t com ic i n i t s e l f , was y e t so t r a g i c a l l y to
f a i l to w ork, t h a t o f a w o rld r e a r r a n g e d , a S t a t e s o l i d l y :
and c o m fo rta b ly s e a te d and tu c k e d - in , i n th e i n t e r e s t o f i
s la v e -p ro d u c e d C o t t o n . ;
I t was c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f Jam es n o t to a c c e p t th e common
j
b e l i e f t h a t th e p r e s e n t d is m a l c o n d itio n o f th e S outh was j
|
due to th e same econom ic i n s u f f i c i e n c i e s w hich h ad c o s t h e r ;
th e C i v i l W ar. B a s ic to a l l h e r t r o u b l e s , a c c o rd in g to
Jam es, was th e sim p le f a c t t h a t th e S o u th had n e v e r h ad an ;
a e s t h e t i c i d e a l . A ll th e n e c e s s a r y i n g r e d i e n t s f o r a
h e a l th y s o c i e t y w ere l a c k in g . A w o rk a b le c u l t u r e , a c c o rd - j
I
in g to Jam es, h ad to h av e w id e r c o n ta c t s w ith th e o u t s i d e i
i
w o rld ; a l l th e d e f i c i e n c i e s o f an o v e r - p r o v i n c i a l c i v i l i z a
t i o n w ere e v id e n t h e r e . I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g to n o te t h a t th e
p a t t e r n o f h i s c r i t i c i s m h e re i s o f th e same c l o t h a s th e
comments a b o u t th e c h a n g in g N o r th e a s t. The p re d ic a m e n t
seem ed to be a p p r o p r ia te w henever t h e r e was a d i s c o n t i n u i t y
b e tw e e n th e p a s t and th e p r e s e n t , th e o ld and th e new
v a lu e s .
y
Jam es c a r r i e d th e e s s e n t i a l l o g ic o f h i s th e o r y ev en
f u r t h e r by d e m o n s tra tin g w hat su ch a s l a v e - o r i e n t e d s o c i e t y
The R hoades h i s t o r y was n o t a r e l i a b l e s o u r c e , a c c o r d
in g to C h a rle s A nderson; i t te n d e d to e x p la in th e S o u th e r
n e r o n ly i n te rm s o f h i s m a r t i a l s p i r i t . A nderson b e
l ie v e d t h a t s in c e Jam es was u n a b le to f in d " th e r e q u i s i t e
v io le n c e and f o l l y , he h ad to s u p p ly i t from h i s r e a d i n g ." - -
" J a m e s 's P o r t r a i t o f th e S o u th e r n e r ," A m erican L i t e r a t u r e .
2 7 :3 2 9 , November 1955.
182
w ould h av e to h e . ( I t was assum ed, o f c o u r s e , t h a t c o n s i s
te n c y w ould ra n k o v e r any o t h e r t r a d i t i o n a l e x p e d ie n c y i n
th e f o r m u la tio n o f th e new S t a t e . ) J a m e s 's in e x o r a b le
lo g ic l e d f u r t h e r and f u r t h e r on i n t o th e " r e a l " n a tu r e o f
w hat was p r o j e c te d and w hat was s t i l l , somehow, g o in g o n :
S in c e n o th in g i n th e S la v e-sch e m e c o u ld be s a i d to c o n
fo rm — conform t h a t i s to th e r e a l i t y o f t h i n g s — i t was
th e p la n o f C h risten d o m and th e wisdom o f th e a g e s t h a t
w ould have to b e a l t e r e d . H is to r y , th e h i s t o r y o f
e v e r y th in g , w ould b e r e w r i t t e n . . . . T h is m eant a g e n
e r a l and a p e rm a n en t q u a r a n tin e ; m eant th e e t e r n a l bowd-
l e r i z a t i o n o f bo o k s and j o u r n a l s ; m eant i n f i n e a l l
l i t e r a t u r e and a l l a r t on an e x p u rg a to ry in d e x . I t
m e a n t, s t i l l f u r t h e r , an a c t i v e and a r d e n t p ro p a g a n d a ;
th e r e o r g a n i z a t i o n o f th e s c h o o l, th e c o ll e g e , th e
u n i v e r s i t y , i n th e i n t e r e s t o f th e new c r i t i c i s m . i
(P . 359)
I t i s im p o r ta n t to n o te i n J a m e s 's r a t h e r e l a b o r a t e
|
a c c o u n t above o f th e r u p tu r e i n " th e r e a l i t y o f th in g s " |
j
t h a t more th a n th e h y p o t h e t i c a l , u n r ig h te o u s "S la v e -sc h e m e "
was in v o lv e d i n h i s t h in k i n g . I f i t w ere th e f a c t s o f
s la v e r y a lo n e w hich r e a l l y p ro v o k ed Ja m e s, we w ould be
o b lig e d to ta k e h i s "w a rn in g s" a s th e p r o p e r s y m p a th ie s o f
a p r o p e r C h r i s t i a n g e n tle m a n . H ow ever, th e v e ry r e a l to n e
o f h i s im a g in a ry c o n c e rn s ( ta k e n w ith o t h e r i n d i c a t i o n s i n
th e b o o k ) ,1^ le a d u s to b e li e v e t h a t i t was r e a l l y th e
17
'J a m e s 's b a s ic a t t i t u d e to th e N egro was one o f m in i
mum e x p e c ta ti o n . F o r ex am p le, he was n o t ic e a b l y d i s t u r b e d
w ith th e d e p re s s e d S o u th e rn w h ite s when he saw how l i t t l e
th e y " c a re d " f o r t h in g s o f v a lu e . The q u e s tio n was who
w ould c a r e , i f n o t th e w h ite s ? I t was q u i te o b v io u s , j
Jam es n o te d , t h a t th e more num erous N eg ro es w ere n o t a b le i
to ta k e on su ch r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s , s in c e " th e y n a t u r a l l y !
c o u ld n 't " (p . 3 8 3 )* The im p l i c a ti o n seem ed to be t h a t th e
w h ite r a c e i n th e S outh was th e n a t u r a l c u s to d ia n o f
183
"raw” state o f the Negro him self In 1905 which James was
talking o f. James's m otivations, In th is sense, were re a lly
no more humanitarian than h is views on a lien s. Again, I t
i s a question o f staving o ff a "threat" to c iv iliz a tio n .
The danger from the Negro, however, i s far d ifferen t from
the case with the alien . T o James, a ll considerations o f
the Negro were mitigated by the Negro's apparent perpetual
Ignorance. James's essen tia l attitude was one o f parental
sympathy. I t i s partly ch aracteristic o f these ea rlier
times that James relegates the Negro to an "obvious" condi
tion o f ch ild -lev el in te llig e n c e . For him self, the non
resident o f the South, James concludes, "sweet reasonable- j
ness" was the only good he coula bring the Negro. However, j
1
for the resident, James foresaw the complications arising j
out o f the Negro's "basic in ab ility" to f i t into h is grow- |
!
ing central position: J
j
I t came to one, soon enough, by a ll the voices o f
the a ir, that the negro had always been, and could ab
solu tely not f a il to be, in ten sely "on the nerves of
the South". . . . (p. 3 6 1)
*
1 ' _____ - ____ ■ ■ - - —
i i
culture; the Negro, by h is nature, was not. At f ir s t , i
I James has expected the d eficien cies o f the Northern Negro
jto be "beautifully corrected" in the South. H e admitted
1 having in h is mind the "memories" o f the old Southern
trad ition , "the house alive with the scramble o f young
darkies for the honour o f fetching and carrying . . . "
(p. 407). His many experiences to the contrary soon wore
down h is romantic hopes. At Charleston he became convinced j
:of the "deep-seated inaptitude o f the negro race at large
!for any alertness o f personal service." Iro n ica lly , James
f e lt compassion for "the old planters, the cotton gentry
. . . re flectin g that i t was for th is they had fought and
fallen" (p. 407).
184!
j
R e l e n t l e s s l y , a s i f he w ere d e te rm in e d to f i n d some
e v id e n c e o f ro m a n tic g l o r y , Jam es p ro b e d th e s t r e e t s o f
o ld Richm ond. He was n o t to f in d i t i n th e C o n fe d e ra te
Museum. T h e re , th e docum ents o f w ar had t h e i r own i n im i
t a b l e u g l i n e s s to show. Nowhere i n th e " c o n s e c r a tio n " was j
|
t h e r e " a s i n g l e o b j e c t o f b e a u ty " (p . 3 8 4 ). More th a n e v e r]
|
Jam es was aw are o f w hat i t was to be " d i s i n h e r i t e d o f a r t
o r l e t t e r s " :
th e i l l i t e r a c y seem ed to h o v e r l i k e a q u e e r s m e ll; th e
s o c i a l r e v o l u t i o n h a d b e g o tte n n e i t h e r song n o r s t o r y —
o n ly f o r l i t e r a t u r e , two o r t h r e e b io g r a p h ie s o f s o l
d i e r s , w r i t t e n i n o t h e r c o u n t r i e s , and o n ly f o r m u sic ,
I th e w e ird c h a n ts o f th e e m a n c ip a te d b la c k s , (p . 3 7 1 ) j
! i
The Richmond P u b lic L ib r a r y , a lo n e , o f f e r e d th e r i g h t
| e v id e n c e Jam es was s e a r c h in g f o r . F o r th e C i v i l War S o u th
|
j i n g e n e r a l , i t o f f e r e d a n e c e s s a r y r e f u g e f o r o t h e r v a lu e s ,
i ^
b e in g th e " f u r t h e s t rem oved from th e v a in v a u n t o f th e
| o t h e r tim e " (p . 3 7 5 ). W ith i t s p r iz e d d e ta c h m e n t and
|
| " r i g h t r e l a t i o n " to a l l o f c u l t u r e , i t w orked, h a p p ily f o r
! Ja m es, a g a i n s t th e d is m a l p r o v in c ia lis m o f th e e n t i r e
I ;
S o u th e rn c o n d itio n . I
T here i s a n o t ic e a b l y d i f f e r e n t c h a r a c t e r i n m ost o f
I
j " F l o r i d a ," a s i f Jam es i s d e l i b e r a t e l y i n v i t i n g m ore im
p r e s s i o n s th a n he h a s tim e a d e q u a te ly to a p p r a i s e . T here
i s ev en th e s in c e r e d o u b t t h a t he w a n ts to a p p r a is e e v e r y
th in g to such a m u ltip le and in v o lv e d e x te n t a s e ls e w h e re
on h i s t r a v e l s . The c o n s id e re d v iew s a r e t h e r e , n e v e r th e
l e s s , b u t th e y a r e o f t e n a r r i v e d a t w ith l e s s d ra m a tic
185!
i
f o r m u la tio n and a r t i s t i c s o u l - s e a r c h i n g . I t i s a s i f , by-
now, Jam es f e e l s he h a s won h i s f u l l 1 1 c r e d e n t i a l s ” and
th e r i g h t to b e m ore a s s e r t i v e and f i n a l i n h i s p ro n o u n c e
m en ts on A m erica. One a ls o h a s th e f e e l i n g h e r e , more
th a n e ls e w h e r e , o f an a c t u a l im p a tie n c e w ith h im s e lf p h y s - ;
i
i c a l l y and m e n ta lly . The t r u t h o f h i s many s ta te m e n ts t h a t j
he was f in d in g i t m ore and more d i f f i c u l t to c o m p lete th e j
b o o k , i s now here m ore e v id e n t th a n h e r e , th e l a s t c h a p t e r .
I t may b e p a r t l y f o r th e s e r e a s o n s t h a t many o f h i s
o b s e r v a tio n s on th e Deep S o u th and F l o r i d a a re c l o s e r to
I
s ta n d a r d , l e s s a r b i t r a r y , p e r s o n a l im p r e s s io n . Jam es |
" a llo w s " h im s e lf th e l i b e r t y , f o r e x am p le, o f many co n v en
i e n t sum m aries and g e o g ra p h ic " l i s t s . ” As a r e s u l t , th e
c h a p te r moves a m a z in g ly f a s t , c o v e rin g an immense am ount
o f g e o g ra p h y , from C h a r le s to n , S av an n ah , J a c k s o n v i l l e ,
Palm B each , to S t . A u g u s tin e . I t was u n d o u b te d ly f o r
th e s e r e a s o n s t h a t W illia m Jam es was so v e ry p le a s e d w ith
18
t h i s s e c t i o n . The d i r e c t n e s s o f s ta te m e n t and u n e q u iv o c a l
sum m ations w ere m ore to h i s p e r s o n a l t a s t e .
Jam es came to F l o r i d a w ith g r e a t e x p e c ta tio n s f o r i t s
fam ed charm and b e a u ty . He c o n fe s s e d t h a t he was e x p e c t
in g so m eth in g s i m i l a r to th e e x o ti c charm o f S o u th e rn
I t a l y . At J a c k s o n v i ll e ( " th e a i r was d i v i n e l y s o f t — i t
18
W illia m r e a d i t w ith g r e a t g u s to to M rs. Jam es
B ry c e , c a l l i n g i t , " k o s t l i c h [ p r e c io u s ] s t u f f " (WJ L e t t e r s ,
I I , 2 9 8 ) .
186
was su e# a S o u th e rn n i g h t a s I h a d dream ed o f ” ) , Jam es
t r i e d w ith r e a s o n a b le s u c c e s s to p r o j e c t h im s e lf " a f t e r
B y ro n *8 m an n er, I n to th e e x q u i s i t e s e n s e o f th e dream
come t r u e " ( p . 4 1 7 ). The im age o f t h i s one m em orable
e v e n in g was to s e r v e s u f f i c i e n t l y w e l l — I n r e t r o s p e c t —
f o r th e c o m p le te e s s e n c e o f th e e n t i r e F l o r i d a a d v e n tu r e .
The m ore Jam es saw o f A m erica a t p l a y — th e d e t e s t a b l e
Palm B each " h o t e l - c i v i l i z a t i o n , " th e m o n stro u s c h i l d r e n , ^
th e e x c e s s iv e s e l f - i n d u l g e n c e — th e m ore c e r t a i n he w as,
i n th e i n t e r e s t s o f h i s ro m a n tic s o u l , t h a t he "h ad
v i r t u a l l y f o r e t a s t e d i t a l l " on h i s " J a c k s o n v il l e p i a z z e t a ” j
(p . 4 l 8 ) .
•*". . . The lo n e b r e a k f a s t i n g c h i l d to re c k o n w ith ;
th e l i t t l e p a l e , c a r n iv o r o u s , c o f f e e - d r i n k i n g o g re o r
o g r e s s who p ro w ls down i n ad v an ce o f i t s e l d e r s , e n g a g e s
a t a b l e — d re a d v i s i o n 1 . — and h a s th e 'r u n ' o f th e b i l l o f
f a r e " ( p . 4 2 5 ).
CHAPTER VI
CONCLUSION
The Ja m e s ia n D etachm ent
The m a jo r c r i t i c a l p o i n t i n th e r e c e p t i o n o f The
A m erican Scene h a s a lw ay s b e en th e q u e s tio n o f J a m e s 's
d e ta c h m e n t. I n one form o r a n o th e r , su ch c o n s id e r a tio n s
have c o n tin u e d to hav e a m arked e f f e c t on any w id e sp re a d
a c c e p ta n c e o f h i s o b s e r v a tio n s on A m erican l i f e . The
i s s u e o f d e ta c h m e n t h a s b e en r a i s e d i n v a r io u s ways and
w ith v a r io u s te r m s . I h a v e , f o r t h i s re v ie w , l im i te d th e
te rm s to f i v e w hich seem to be s u f f i c i e n t l y b a s i c to o u r
i n v e s t i g a t i o n : th e d e ta c h m e n t from th e s p e c i f i c s c e n e ;
th e d e ta c h m e n t from A m erica i t s e l f ; th e d e ta c h m e n t from
m o ra l i s s u e s ; th e d e ta c h m e n t from l i f e ; and th e d e ta c h m e n t
from i d e a s .
T here was alw ay s a d e g re e o f c o n fu s io n r e s u l t i n g from
J a m e s 's h a b i t u a l m ethod o f o b s e r v a tio n , w hich demanded a
d e ta c h m e n t from th e e x tra n e o u s c o n d itio n s o f th e s c e n e ,
o r s u b j e c t . As one r e a d s The A m erican S c e n e, one i s co n
t i n u a l l y aw are o f a k in d o f i n t e g r i t y " i n h e r e n t 1 ' i n h i s
s u b j e c t s . T h ere i s a d e f i n i t e n a rro w in g o f ra n g e and
c a r e f u l w eeding o u t o f th e " n o n - e s s e n ti a l" a s f a r a s Jam es,
187
I th e v ie w e r, i s c o n c e rn e d . I t i s a s i f th e s u b j e c t , i t s e l f , :
| |
| m ust be " r e p r e s s e d " i n i t s f u l l e x p r e s s io n i n o r d e r t h a t
i
: th e m ost s a l i e n t f e a t u r e s s h o u ld s ta n d o u t — f o r a n a l y s i s .
To th e p o p u la r v iew , su ch " l i m i t a t i o n s " o f t e n gave th e a p
p e a ra n c e o f an u n f a i r r e s t r i c t i o n on J a m e s 's p a r t . The
r e s u l t was t h a t Jam es a p p e a re d to be s e e in g o n ly w hat he
j w an ted to se e i n A m erica; he seem ed to b e d e l i b e r a t e l y
a v o id in g a g r e a t d e a l t h a t was p e r t i n e n t to an u n b ia s e d
a p p r a i s a l . A cco rd in g to W. C. B ro w n e ll i n h i s 1905 e s s a y ,
Jam es was g u i l t y ( i n h i s f i c t i o n s , n o ta b ly ) o f r e v e r s i n g
th e o r d e r o f o b s e r v a tio n and i m a g in a tio n .* Jam es, s a id i
B ro w n e ll, r e l i e d to o h e a v i ly on h i s im a g in a tio n to p ro v id e ,
th e b a s i s f o r h i s o b s e r v a t i o n s . Many o f th e 1907 re v ie w s j
j
o f The A m erican Scene im p lie d t h i s s o r t o f c h a r a c t e r i s t i c
l i m i t a t i o n , when th e y a c c u se d Jam es o f b e in g u n a b le to
re s p o n d to A m erica. ;
C lo s e ly a lig n e d to th e f i r s t "b ra n d " o f d e ta c h m e n t
was th e c h a rg e t h a t J a m e s 's p r i z e d d e ta c h m e n t from A m erica—
w hat he term ed h i s i n t e r n a t i o n a l v a n ta g e p o i n t —w as, i n
e f f e c t , n o th in g more th a n an o v e r e l a b o r a ti o n o f th e u n
a l t e r a b l e f a c t o f e x p a t r i a t i o n . D e s p ite J a m e s 's c o n tin u a l
1|rH enry J a m e s ," A t l a n t i c M o nthly, 95:513* A p ril 1905.
The e s s a y was r e p r i n t e d , w ith few r e v i s i o n s , a s a c h a p te r
i n A m erican P ro se M a ste rs (New Y ork, 1 9 0 9)» PP. 3 3 9 -^ 0 0 .
; 189
2
d e fe n s e o f h i s a d v a n ta g e , su c c e e d in g g e n e r a tio n s o f
r e a d e r s hav e n o t b e e n c o n v in c e d o f th e k e e n n e ss o r so u n d
n e s s o f su ch " d i s p a s s i o n a t e ” a p p r a i s a l s . F o r ex am p le, i t
w ould have b e e n c o m p a ra tiv e ly e a s y i n 1907 to p o i n t to
a n o th e r " d e ta c h e d " v ie w e r o f A m erica, th e E n g lis h H. G.
W e lls , a s one e x p re s s in g an " o u ts id e " v iew . W e ll’ s F u tu re
i n A m erica,-^ a lth o u g h n o t b r o a d ly c o m p lim e n ta ry , was s u f
f i c i e n t l y s im p le and p l e a s a n t l y e x p r e s s iv e i n p r o v id in g a
" lo o k " a t b u rg e o n in g A m erica. I t w ould have b e e n d i f f i c u l t
i n 1907 to d e m o n s tra te th e v a lu e o f th e r a d i c a l l y d i f f e r e n t
k in d o f a p p r a i s a l t h a t Jam es— and he a lo n e - - c o u ld p ro v id e
f o r A m erica. I n c o n t r a s t to th e k in d o f " f u t u r e t e l l i n g "
t h a t W e lls c o u ld b l i t h e l y in d u lg e i n , The A m erican Scene
was co m m itted to a m ore dem anding p u rp o s e . A cco rd in g to
W rig h t M o rris , "Jam es c a n n o t t e l l u s w hat e v e n ts w i l l
o c c u r , b u t w h e th e r, i f and when th e y o c c u r , th e y m a tte r "
(p . 3 2 ).
!
i ' 2
H is a d v a n ta g e c o n s i s t e d o f a v e ry r e a l " d i s i n t e r e s t
e d n e s s ," w hich he d e f in e d a s th e c o n d itio n o f o n e ’ s g e t t i n g
away from o n e ’ s s u b j e c t b y p lu n g in g i n t o i t , f o r sw eet
t r u t h ' s s a k e , s t i l l d e e p e r" ( The A m erican S c e n e , p . 1 2 2 ).
^W elid’s b o o k , s u b t i t l e d "A S e a rc h A f te r R e a l i t i e s , "
was th e r e s u l t o f a s p r in g v i s i t to A m erica i n 1906. Ap
p a r e n t l y ta k in g h i s cue from J a m e s 's own A m erican e s s a y s ,
w hich w ere a p p e a rin g i n th e p e r i o d i c a l s , W e lls a d d re s s e d
h im s e lf to th e m an sio n s o f F i f t h A venue, a s k in g w hat w i l l
th e y becom e. A lthough W ells ad m ired The A m erican S c e n e .
Jam es c o u ld n o t be a s c o m p lim e n ta ry . The book was to o
lo u d , he w ro te W ells on November 8 , 1906, " a s i f th e co u n
t r y sh o u te d a t y o u , h u r r y in g p a s t , e v e ry h i n t i t h ad to
g iv e and you y e l l e d b a c k y o u r comment on i t " —H enry Jam es
and H. G. W e lls , e d . Leon E d e l and G ordon Ray (L onaon,
1 9 5 9 ), pi. 1*5. .................................................... ............................. .............
1.90
A g r e a t d e a l o f u n w a rra n te d c o n c e rn h a s fo llo w e d from !
i
Ja m e s1s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c d e ta c h m e n t from th e m o ra l c o n d itio n s !
o f a s u b j e c t . I n h i s own tim e , i t was th e one m ost m is
u n d e rs to o d e le m e n t i n h i s w r i t i n g . The many "m id d le " and
" n e u t r a l" p o s i t i o n s w hich h i s a r t i s t i c c re d o dem anded o f
him s tr u c k h i s r e a d e r s a s b a s i c a l l y i r r e s p o n s i b l e and
n e e d le s s ly e q u iv o c a l. The n a tu r e o f th e c o n fu s io n was
a c c u r a t e l y r e p r e s e n te d I n h i s b r o t h e r ’ s d i s t i n c t d i s p l e a s
u r e w ith th e " a m o r a lity " o f The G olden Bow l. W illia m
l
c o u ld n o t a c c e p t th e d e l i b e r a t e a v o id a n c e o f a m o ra l p o s i - |
t i o n to w a rd a d u lt e r y (s e e atiove, p .1 0 3 ) . T here w as, i n j
th e p u b lic c o n fu s io n , enough o f an i m p l i c a ti o n o f m o ra l I
i n d i f f e r e n c e to m it i g a t e a g a i n s t any sound a p p r a i s a l , on '
Ja m e s’ s p a r t , o f A m erican l i f e and m an n e rs. The d e g re e
o f " s u s p ic io n " was b e s t r e p r e s e n te d by Van Wyck B rooks i n
1925, who w arned a l l r e a d e r s a g a i n s t J a m e s 's " i r r e s p o n s i b l e
im a g in a tio n . . . and d e ra n g e d se n se o f v a lu e s , a m ind
!
i •
j w o rk in g i n a v o id , u n c o r r e c te d by any c l e a r c o n s c io u s n e s s
o f human c a u se and e f f e c t " ( P ilg r im a g e , p . l 4 o ) . L i t t l e
e f f o r t was r e q u i r e d ( a s B rooks d e m o n s tra te d ) to make th e
s te p from an im p u ted m o ral i n d i f f e r e n c e to an im p u ted
g e n e r a l i n d i f f e r e n c e to l i f e , i t s e l f .
4
The d i s c u s s io n o f m o ral p u rp o se i n "The A rt o f F i c
t io n " I s one o f many by Jam es on t h i s s u b j e c t . An "u n - !
co m m itted " p o s i t i o n was b a s ic i n h i s c o n te n tio n t h a t " th e
e s s e n c e o f m o ra l e n e rg y i s to s u rv e y th e w hole f i e l d "
( p . 2 5 ) .
191
I
The i n d i f f e r e n c e o r d e ta c h m e n t from l i f e h a s alw ay s
|b e e n m ore o f a m yth th a n a r e a l i t y . I t d o e s n o t ta k e a
j
g r e a t d e a l o f b io g r a p h ic and c r i t i c a l s tu d y to r e a l i z e
t h a t th e p ro b le m — i f i t r e a l l y i s a p ro b le m — i s , a t b e s t ,
a r e l a t i v e n o t an a b s o lu te m a t t e r . I t m ig h t be i n t e r e s t i n g
to s e e how s m a ll a p a r t o f l i f e was n e c e s s a r y f o r Jam es i n
jo r d e r to p a i n t a s u f f i c i e n t p i c t u r e o f th e w h o le . A g r e a t
p a r t o f th e c o n f u s io n , o f c o u r s e , d e r iv e s from th e k in d o f
l i f e one was su p p o sed to b e en gaged i n . I n h i s 1907 " d e
fe n s e " o f Jam es, D w ight drew th e " I n t e r e s t i n g p a r a l l e l b e
tw een th e two c o n te n d in g c u l t u r a l w o rld s : th e u n c i v i l i z e d j
w o rld t h a t K ip lin g w ro te o f , and th e c i v i l i z e d w o rld o f j
J a m e s 's f i c t i o n s . D w ig h t's dilem m a— "w here i s th e l i t e r a
t u r e o f th e c i v i l i z e d m an?” ( p . 4 3 8 )— a p p l i e s n e a r l y a s
w e ll i n 1 962.
H ie b e l i e f h a s lo n g p e r s i s t e d t h a t J a m e s 's in v o lv e d
j s t y l i s t i c t r a i t s w ere " p r o o f en o u g h 1 1 t h a t he c a re d m ore j
i
! f o r a r t th a n l i f e . The i m p l i c a t i o n , h e r e , was t h a t t h e r e
' 1
was a " t r u t h " to a r t r a d i c a l l y in d e p e n d e n t from th e " t r u t h " j
to l i f e . I n t h i s l i g h t , Jam es th e e m in e n t s t y l i s t h a s j
em erged f o r th e g e n e r a l and th e c r i t i c a l r e a d e r . By d e f i
n i t i o n , th e l a b e l o f s t y l i s t seem ed to p re c lu d e any s e r i o u s
o b s e r v a tio n s on t h e r e a l i t i e s o f l i f e . I f a n y th in g ,
J a m e s 's c h a r a c t e r i s t i c h i n t s and in n u e n d o e s have b een
ta k e n a s o n ly s p o r t i v e r e f l e c t i o n s on th e th e o r y o f l i v i n g . ;
I 1 9 2 1
| I t h a s n 't a lw ay s b e e n a p p a r e n t t h a t th e k in d o f " in v o lv e -
jm ent" Jam es c o n t i n u a l l y dem anded o f h im s e lf and h i s r e a d e r s
■in The A m erican Scene was c o m p le te ly a p p r o p r ia te to th e
k in d o f " d e e p e n in g 1 1 h e p e r c e iv e d i n th e A m erican p i c t u r e .
C o m p a ra tiv e ly few r e a d e r s , u n t i l r e c e n t tim e s , h av e b e e n
w i l l i n g to a c c e p t J a m e s 's " r i g h t " to make su ch i n q u i r i e s . j
The r o l e o f th e d i l e t t a n t e i n a r t h a s p e r s i s t e d .
The c o n fu s io n i s e v id e n t e v en a s r e c e n t l y a s 1951.
I P e rry M i l l e r , i n h i s re v ie w o f D u p e e 's H enry Ja m e s, e q u a te s
! * 5 1
jJ a m e s 's d e ta c h e d n e s s w ith a l a c k o f i d e a s . A cco rd in g to
M i l le r , "an a t t e n u a t e d c o n s c io u s n e s s i s no s u b s t i t u t e f o r
th e 'a c t o f l i f e . ' " M ille r m akes th e p o i n t t h a t he w ould
r a t h e r have a phony p h ilo s o p h y o f h i s t o r y su ch a s T o l s t o y 's
War and P eace s in c e i t c o n ta in s a N a ta s h a , " th a n to s t a r v e
i
t
j i n 's o e q u a b le ' a book a s The Awkward A ge." W ith o u t i d e a s ,
M ille r c o n tin u e s , " t h e r e s u d d e n ly seem s to be no l i f e
w h a ts o e v e r, o r a t b e s t , a dim and p a t h e t i c a p p ro x im a tio n
to i t . " What M ille r seem s to be m ark in g o u t f o r c r i t i c i s m
i s p ro b a b ly th e m ost n o ta b le d e ta c h m e n t o f a l l — J a m e s 's
a p p a r e n t i n d i f f e r e n c e to i d e a s , p e r s e .
C r i ti c is m o f t h i s o r d e r ste m , i n p a r t , from T . S.
E l i o t 's o f t q u o te d l i n e t h a t Jam es "h ad a m ind so f i n e no
id e a c o u ld v i o l a t e i t . " M is re a d in g s o f t h i s l i n e , o u t o f
^New E n g la n d Q u a r te r l y , 2 4 :3 8 2 , S eptem ber 1951. A ll '
c i t a t i o n s from th e same p a g e . !
c *
c o n te x t, a re e v en more d i s t r e s s i n g s in c e E l i o t 's 1918
i
e s tim a te s ta n d s o u t a s one o f th e m ost p e r c e p t i v e o f modernj
a p p r a i s a l s . T aken i n th e f u l l c o n te x t o f th e p a ra g r a p h ,
b e lo w , E l i o t 's w ords can be se e n to be th e h i g h e s t t r i b u t e j
from one g r e a t m ind to a n o th e r :
J a m e s 's c r i t i c a l g e n iu s comes o u t m o st t e l l i n g l y i n
h i s m a s te ry o v e r , h i s b a f f l i n g e sc a p e fro m , I d e a s ; a
m a s te ry and an e s c a p e w hich a re p e rh a p s th e l a s t t e s t o f i
a s u p e r i o r i n t e l l i g e n c e . He had a m ind so f i n e t h a t no
i d e a c^ould v i o l a t e i t . (p . 45)
E l i o t 's comments h av e to do w ith th e r a r e a b i l i t y w hich
Jam es p o s s e s s e d i n b e in g th e k in d o f c r i t i c E l i o t advo
c a t e d , " a c r i t i c who p re y e d n o t upon i d e a s , b u t upon l i v i n g
b e in g s ” (p . 4 4 ) . The arg u m e n t, i n e f f e c t , was a g a i n s t an
a w a re n e ss o f l i f e (an d l i t e r a t u r e ) w hich dep en d ed on p r e
c o n c e iv e d id e a s o r vague seco n d h an d n o tio n s o f th e b u s in e s s
o f l i v i n g . E l i o t was a d v o c a tin g , f o r h im s e lf and Jam es,
th e k in d o f k een o b s e r v a tio n o f l i f e w hich was c o m p le te ly
f r e e and u n f e t t e r e d . H is u n iq u e d i s t i n c t i o n b e tw ee n id e a s
and f e e l i n g form s a re m a rk a b le b a s i s o f sym pathy b etw een
I
th e tw o :
. . . i n s t e a d o f th in k in g w ith o u r f e e l i n g s . . . we
c o r r u p t o u r f e e l i n g s w ith i d e a s ; we p ro d u c e th e p o l i t
i c a l , th e e m o tio n a l i d e a , e v a d in g s e n s a tio n and th o u g h t.
G eorge M e re d ith ( th e d i s c i p l e o f C a r ly le ) was f e r t i l e
i n i d e a s ; h i s e p ig ra m s a re a f a c i l e s u b s t i t u t e f o r o b
s e r v a t i o n and i n f e r e n c e . Mr. C h e s t e r t o n 's b r a i n swarms
w ith i d e a s ; I se e no e v id e n c e t h a t i t t h i n k s . Jam es i n
h i s n o v e ls i s l i k e th e b e s t F re n ch c r i t i c s i n m a in ta in
in g a p o i n t o f v iew , a v ie w p o in t u n to u c h e d by th e p a r a
s i t e i d e a . He i s th e m ost i n t e l l i g e n t man o f h i s g e n - j
e r a t i o n . ( p . 4 6 ) !
W hat E l i o t was d e s c r i b i n g , i n e f f e c t , was th e p a r t i c - j
| u l a r b ra n d o f im p re s s io n is m w hich Jam es h ad d e v e lo p e d .
! P a r t o f w hat E l i o t c a l l e d " h i s b a f f l i n g e s c a p e from I d e a s "
was i n h e r e n t i n th e Ja m e s ia n sy ste m o f o b s e r v a tio n and
a n a l y s i s w hich alw ay s b e g an w ith t h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c " a c t j
o f l i b e r a t i o n . " The f a c t t h a t E l i o t r e f e r r e d to th e
I " e s c a p e " a s "the l a s t t e s t o f a s u p e r i o r i n t e l l i g e n c e "
; g iv e s u s some i d e a o f th e d e g re e o f d i f f i c u l t y and v a lu e
: in v o lv e d . E l i o t was f u l l y a w a re , a s Jam es w as, t h a t f o r
| e v e ry k in d o f d e ta c h m e n t th e r e was a c o rre s p o n d in g a t t a c h - !
i i
| m ent w hich h ad to be r e s i s t e d . To Jam es, t h i s was th e j
| |
j w hole m o ra l o f s u c c e s s f u l l i v i n g — th e a b i l i t y to make
i
| o n e 's " c a n c e le d l i s t " h o ld u p . L ik e G eorge Dane i n "The j
G re a t Good P l a c e ," i t m arked th e b e g in n in g o f r e a l freedom
a s "one by one he to u c h e d , a s i t w e re , a l l th e t h in g s i t
was su ch a r a p t u r e to be w ith o u t" (NY E d it i o n , XVI, 2 5 2 ) .
i _
| I n th e l i g h t o f o u r re v ie w o f th e q u e s tio n o f J a m e s 's
many " d e ta c h m e n ts ," i t s h o u ld b e a p p a r e n t t h a t he was s u f
f i c i e n t l y q u a l i f i e d to comment on A m erica. M oreover, he
was e m in e n tly s u i t e d f o r th e d i f f i c u l t t a s k . Our u n d e r-
1
s ta n d in g o f h i s acc o m p lish m en t i n The A m erican Scene
c
J a m e s 's s e c r e t a r y , T h eo d o ra B o sa n q u e t gave th e f o l
lo w in g a c c o u n t o f h i s d e ta c h m e n t: He was " im p e rv io u s to
e v e r y th in g w hich was n o t an im p r e s s io n o f v i s u a l im ag es o r
a s e n s e o f human s i t u a t i o n . He was v e ry l i t t l e tr o u b le d by
a num ber o f i d e a s w hich p r e s s w ith an i n c r e a s in g w e ig h t
upon th e m inds o f m ost e d u c a te d p e r s o n s ." —H enry Jam es a t
Work (L ondon, 1 9 2 4 ), p . 2 7 . !
!d e p e n d s, n e x t, on a c a r e f u l , s t e p - b y - s t e p fo llo w in g o u t o f j
th e e n t i r e p r o c e s s , from o b s e r v a tio n to c o m p o s itio n . A l-
i
th o u g h we h a v e , I n t h i s s tu d y , a c o n s i d e r a ti o n o f h i s s t y l e
i n one p la c e (C h a p te r IV ) and a c o n s i d e r a ti o n o f h i s r e
a c t i o n s i n a n o th e r (C h a p te r V ), we a r e , a s y e t , w ith o u t
th e n e c e s s a r y s y n t h e s i s w hich s e e s th e m anner and th e m a t
t e r w o rk in g t o g e t h e r .
! The P ro c e s s
! The k in d o f im p re s s io n is m w hich fo rm s th e b a s i s o f
i
|
The A m erican S cene i s d i f f i c u l t to d e s c r ib e i n i t s com plete!
o p e r a t io n . The d i f f i c u l t y i s i n h e r e n t i n th e a lm o st im
p o s s i b l e t a s k Jam es s e t f o r h im s e lf a s o b s e r v e r and a n a ly s ts
T h ro u g h o u t th e b o o k , Jam es c a r r i e d on an a lm o s t e n d le s s
d is c o u r s e w ith h im s e lf ( th e A r t - t a l k ) on th e com plex p ro b -
I lem o f w hat b e lo n g e d e x c l u s i v e l y to th e s u b j e c t , w hat b e -
j lo n g e d e x c l u s i v e l y to th e o b s e r v e r , and w hat b e lo n g e d
| e x c l u s i v e l y to th e v ie w in g p r o c e s s . F o r c o n v e n ie n c e , I
| hav e la b e le d th e s e t h r e e , r e s p e c t i v e l y , C o n d itio n s o f th e
S u b je c t, C o n d itio n s o f th e O b s e rv e r, and C o n d itio n s o f th e
P r o c e s s . The e n fo rc e d " s e p a r a tio n " w hich Jam es s e t .u p b e -
tw een th e t h r e e was n e c e s s a r y f o r th e k in d o f s c ru p u lo u s
a n a l y s i s he was a f t e r . He w anted to know a t a l l tim e s —
w h e th e r i n f a m i l i a r New E n g lan d o r u n f a m i li a r F l o r i d a —
e x a c tl y w hat e le m e n ts p r o p e r ly b e lo n g e d to a l l t h r e e c o n d i
t i o n s . The in f o r m a tio n so g a in e d w ould b e th e o n ly way o f i
196
!m a in ta in in g a f a i r , d e ta c h e d r e l a t i o n to th e p h y s ic a l
s c e n e . The e s s e n t i a l p ro b lem i s w e ll s t a t e d i n th e P re fa c e
to The Awkward A ge. The " t r i c k , " Jam es s a i d , i s
to make th e p r e s e n te d o c c a s io n t e l l a l l i t s s t o r y i t
s e l f , re m a in s h u t u p i n i t s own p r e s e n c e and y e t on
t h a t p a tc h o f s ta k e d - o u t g ro u n d become th o ro u g h ly i n
t e r e s t i n g and re m a in th o ro u g h ly c l e a r . . . .
( P re fa c e s , p . I l l ) .
The p ro b lem was f u r t h e r a g g ra v a te d by h i s i n a b i l i t y to m ark
o u t w here and when r e l a t i o n s r e a l l y e n d . W here, f o r
ex am p le, do th e e x p r e s s io n s o f th e s u b je c t become th e im
p r e s s i o n s o f th e o b s e r v e r ?
C h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y , h o w ev er, n o th in g was w a ste d by
Jam es i n th e p r o c e s s . T here w as, f o r Jam es, a lm o s t as
much to be made o f th e f a i l u r e s a s o f th e s u c c e s s e s o f th e
p r o c e s s . Taken t o g e t h e r , th e e n t i r e h i s t o r y o f f a i l u r e
and s u c c e s s m akes up th e la r g e body o f com m entary I have
l a b e le d th e A r t - t a l k . To one a s i n t e r e s t e d a s Jam es i n
th e f a s c i n a t i n g s u b j e c t o f th e a r t o f w r i t i n g , t h i s p a r t
|o f The A m erican Scene a p p e a rs , a t tim e s , to b e h i s s o le
c o n c e rn i n d o in g th e b o o k . C e r ta in l y , Jam es d id l i t t l e
to r e s t r a i n h i s o b v io u s e n th u s ia s m w ith t h i s one a s p e c t.
T here w as, h o w ev er, no b a s i c i n c o n s is te n c y i n h i s a t t e n
t i o n s , s in c e th e r e s u l t a n t v iew s on A m erica c o u ld be
a r r i v e d a t i n no o t h e r way. Once we a c c e p t t h i s Ja m e sia n
p a t t e r n o f ev o lv e m e n t a s th e n e c e s s a r y c o n d itio n f o r The
197
s
A m erican S c e n e , we a re n o t n e e d l e s s l y te m p te d to d e fe n d ( o r
d e c ry ) th e book a s b a s i c a l l y one o r th e o t h e r . The book i s
n o th in g i f i t i s n o t , a t a l l tim e s , b o th .
F o r someone su ch a s Canby, th e a c c e p ta n c e o f t h i s
" c o n d itio n " w ould seem to be im p o s s ib le ; th e c o n d itio n d e
mands a s i n g u l a r r e s p e c t f o r Ja m e s’ s "own r e a c t i o n s . " When
Canby c o n c lu d e s from The A m erican Scene t h a t b e c a u se th e
book i s " a s tu d y o f h i s own r e a c t i o n s " i t i s , t h e r e f o r e ,
n o t a " u s e f u l a c c o u n t o f A m e ric a ," he sums up c o m p le te ly
i
jth e g e n e r a l im p a tie n c e w ith Jam es (p . 2 8 1 ). Canby m akes
th e e r r o r o f ta k in g th e A r t - t a l k on i t s own te rm s , a lo n e ,
la s th e r e a l r a i s o n d ’ e t r e o f th e bo o k ; i n t h i s s e n s e , he
la b e le d th e w ork a s "a p r e lim in a r y n o t a f i n a l w o rk ." He |
i
c o n c lu d e d t h a t th e e n t i r e book was r e a l l y d r a f t n o te s f o r
| f u t u r e A m erican n o v e ls (p . 2 8 0 ). I
! i
T here a re te rm s i n The A m erican Scene w hich a re p e c u l- I
| i a r to Jam es a lo n e . I t was c h a r a c t e r i s t i c f o r Jam es to j
make up h i s own v o c a b u la ry f o r th e k in d o f " t e c h n ic a l "
com m entary we f in d h e re and i n th e P r e f a c e s and o t h e r w orks
o f l i t e r a r y c r i t i c i s m . A b r i e f re v ie w o f some o f th e s e
w i l l p ro v id e th e k in d o f w o rk in g " le x ic o n " we n eed to
u n d e rs ta n d J a m e s 's m ind a t w ork. U nder C o n d itio n s o f th e
S u b je c t I h av e p la c e d th e te rm s w hich h av e to do w ith th e j
' |
e x p r e s s io n o f th e s u b j e c t ( " th e fo rm id a b le f o r e g r o u n d " ) .
i
Terms su ch a s A c c e n t, Tone, and Type r e f l e c t th e s p e c i f i c j
198
Ite m s and f e a t u r e s w hich are p e c u l i a r to a s u b j e c t . Ac
c e n t , f o r ex am p le , i s u s e d to m ark th e a b se n c e a s w e ll a s
th e p re s e n c e o f d e t a i l s :
. . . th e p i c t u r e swarmed w ith a c c e n t s — as a b s e n t o r
p r e s e n t , I m u st a g a in c a l l them — t h a t c o n tr ib u te d a l i k e
to i t s i n t e r e s t and to i t s d i g n i t y , ( p . 147)
Taken t o g e t h e r , o r i n p a r t s , th e s e te rm s w ere th e " s o u r c e s
o f i n t e r e s t " w hich w ere to in v o lv e th e o b s e r v e r ( p . 2 9 6 ) .
F o r th e m ost p a r t , th e te rm I n t e r e s t seem s to b e lo n g
u n d e r C o n d itio n s o f th e O b s e rv e r. I n J a m e s 's u s e , th e
term m eant th e f i r s t in v o lv e m e n t o f th e o b s e r v e r . I n t h i s
s e n s e , I n t e r e s t r e f e r r e d o n ly to th e d i s p a s s i o n a te s t a t e I
o f b e in g a w are, w ith o u t th e u s u a l im p l i c a ti o n o f a m o ral
| a t t i t u d e to w ard th e s u b j e c t . I t r e p r e s e n te d n o th in g more
i !
1 ;
; th a n th e i n i t i a l s te p I n th e k in d o f p ro b le m -s o lv in g j
J a m e s 's e x p e r ie n c e r e p r e s e n t s . Jam es made th e d i s t i n c t i o n j
j
i n h i s t r a v e l s b e tw ee n th e th in g s t h a t " im p ro p e rly " draw
o u r a t t e n t i o n and th e t h in g s t h a t p r o p e r ly p ro d u c e I n t e r -
|
e s t . Many o f th e new, f a s h io n a b le o b j e c t s i n A m erican !
l i f e gave a f a l s e and m is le a d in g Im p re s s io n o f b e in g
i
" s o u r c e s o f i n t e r e s t . " The p ro b le m o f d i s t i n g u i s h i n g b e -
i
tw een th e r e a l and th e f a l s e c o n d itio n s o f I n t e r e s t b e - j
came a n o th e r t o p ic f o r th e alw ay s p r e s e n t A r t - t a l k . I n
J a m e s 's w o rking o u t o f an " a n s w e r," we se e th e c h a r a c t e r
i s t i c i n t e g r a t i o n o f A r t - t a l k and v iew s w hich i s fu n d a - j
i
m e n ta l to The A m erican S c e n e . An u n d e rs ta n d in g o f Jam esian ;
199
I n t e r e s t i s e s s e n t i a l to th e r e a d in g o f th e b o o k . The
i m p l i c a ti o n o f A m erican im m a tu r ity , b e lo w , i s im m easu rab ly
jmore s t r i k i n g once we u n d e rs ta n d w hat i n t e r e s t r e a l l y
j
iam ounts t o :
i
| The t h in g s t h a t hav e l a s t e d , i n s h o r t , w h a te v e r th e y
may b e , ” s u c c e e d ” a s no n e w n ess, t r y a s i t w i l l , s u c
c e e d s , inasm uch a s t h e i r s u c c e s s i s a c r e a te d i n t e r e s t .
T here we c a tc h th e g o ld e n t r u t h w hich so much o f th e
| A m erican w o rld s t r i k e s u s a s p o s i t i v e l y o rg a n iz e d to
g a in s a y , th e t r u t h t h a t p r o d u c tio n ta k e s tim e , and t h a t
i th e p r o d u c tio n o f i n t e r e s t , i n p a r t i c u l a r , ta k e s m ost
tim e . D e s p e ra te a g a in and a g a in th e in g e n u ity o f th e
o f f e r e d , th e o b tru d e d s u b s t i t u t e , and p a t h e t i c i n
i many an i n s t a n c e i t s c o n fe s s e d f a i l u r e . . . .
I (p p . 148 -1 4 9 )
i
I
I The te rm s , Charm and F e l i c i t y , r e f e r more i n t i m a t e l y
1 ' |
;to th e o b s e r v e r - w r i t e r a t w ork. T h e se , o f c o u rs e , f a l l
ju n d e r C o n d itio n s o f th e O b s e rv e r. Jam es u s e s th e te rm s ,
I ;
|Charm and C h a rm le s s ,to i n d i c a t e th e d e g re e o f w o r k a b ility
I i
o f th e m a t e r i a l . The k in d o f f a s c i n a t i o n Jam es c h a r a c - i
!
f
t e r i s t i c a l l y im p lie s i s alw ay s o f a h ig h ly a r t i s t i c n a t u r e , !
th e k in d o f jo y o u s e a g e rn e s s a p p r o p r ia te to s u c c e s s f u l
i
1 j
I w orkm anship. F e l i c i t y , a n o th e r common te rm , i s d e f in e d |
i j
i n th e f o llo w in g a c c o u n t o f B a ltim o r e . M ote, a l s o , th e j
j
s p e c i a l i z e d u s e o f th e te rm s , A ccen t and I n t e r e s t : j
|
I t [B a ltim o re ] h a d , i n i t s w ay, d u rin g t h a t f i r s t e a r l y j
h o u r o r two o f th e summer e v e n in g , a p e r f e c t f e l i c i t y : j
w hich m e a n t, f o r th e to u c h e d i n t e l l i g e n c e , t h a t i t was
f u l l o f p l e a s a n t l y - p l a y i n g r e f e r e n c e and r e f l e c t i o n ,
t h a t i t e x h a le d on th e s p o t, a s th e w ord g o e s , an a t
m o sp h e re; t h a t i t w o re ,’ to c o n te m p la tio n , i n f i n e , a j
I c h a r a c t e r a s m arked w ith m ild a c c e n ts a s some fa d e d j
! o ld u n ifo rm i s m arked w ith t a r n i s h e d b u tto n s and b r a i d — I
S a l b e i t th e s e s o u rc e s o f i n t e r e s t w ere to o c l o s e l y o f
th e t e x t u r e to be s n ip p e d o f f . . . . (p . 2 9 6 )
200 ;
; Ih e e n t i r e p r o c e s s , from i n i t i a l o b s e r v a tio n to e v e n
t u a l c o m p o s itio n , can be summed up u n d e r f o u r h e a d in g s .
F o r c o n v e n ie n c e , I hav e d e l i b e r a t e l y s p e c i a l i z e d my te rm s .
S te p num ber o n e i th e E x p re s s io n , s ta n d s f o r a l l th e s e l f -
e v id e n t d e t a i l s o f th e g iv e n s c e n e , p r i m a r i l y th e C ondi-
! ■
j ti o n s o f th e S u b je c t. S te p num ber tw o, th e Im p re s s io n ,
;s ta n d s f o r th e C o n d itio n s o f th e O b se rv e r and th e C o n d itio n s
(o f th e P r o c e s s . S te p num ber t h r e e , th e T e n ta tiv e A n a ly s is ,
!
iin c lu d e s th e a b u n d a n t A r t - t a l k a s w e ll a s many p a r t i a l
v ie w s . S te p num ber f o u r , th e F in a l A n a ly s is , in c lu d e s th e
|r e s u l t a n t v iew s on A m erica, w h e th e r g iv e n i n p a r t s o r as
la c u m u la tiv e w h o le . The fo u r s t e p s r e p r e s e n t , to a r e a s o n -
ja b le d e g re e , th e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o r d e r o f re s p o n s e a s Jam es, j
S l i t e r a l l y , w a lk s i n t o a s c e n e . Of even more s i g n i f i c a n c e ,
|
(how ever, i s th e f a c t t h a t t h i s o r d e r seem s to r e p r e s e n t
i
I th e i d e a l — a lm o s t, th e c l a s s i c — se q u en c e t h a t Jam es s t r i v e s !
! '*
;to p r e s e r v e . !
I n a l l o f o u r a tte m p ts to d e m o n s tra te th e p r o c e s s , we !
i
m u st make th e d i s t i n c t i o n ( a s Jam es d id ) b e tw ee n th e th e o r y |
and p r a c t i c e o f th e m eth o d . Jam es a d m itte d q u i t e f r a n k ly
t h a t f o r someone c o n s t i t u t e d a s h im s e lf , th e te n d e n c y was
!
to e x p e c t to o much from th e s y s te m . He r e a l i z e d t h a t w hat j
he was d o in g was i n c r e a s i n g l y h a z a rd o u s . He was k e e n ly j
j
aw are t h a t i n th e r e a l o r d e r o f t h in g s i t was a lm o s t im
p o s s i b l e to sa y w hat b e lo n g s to th e v ie w e r ( th e I m p r e s s io n )j
201
and w hat b e lo n g s to th e sc e n e ( th e E x p r e s s io n ) . N ote i n
|
I th e fo llo w in g " a p p e a l ,” th e a lm o s t f r a n t i c d e s i r e to hav e
j
: a d e ta c h a b le " in d e p e n d e n t" E x p re s s io n :
| To b e a t a l l c r i t i c a l l y , o r a s we hav e b e e n fo n d o f
c a l l i n g i t , a n a l y t i c a l l y m inded— o v e r and beyond an i n
h e r e n t lo v e o f th e g e n e r a l m a n y -c o lo u re d p i c t u r e o f
t h i n g s — i s to be s u b j e c t to th e s u p e r s t i t i o n t h a t o b
j e c t s and p l a c e s , c o h e r e n tly g ro u p e d , d is p o s e d f o r
human u se and a d d re s s e d to i t , m ust h a v e a s e n s e o f
t h e i r own, a m y s tic m eaning p r o p e r to th e m s e lv e s to
g iv e o u t: to g iv e o u t , t h a t i s , to th e p a r t i c i p a n t a t
once so i n t e r e s t e d and so d e ta c h e d a s to be moved to
a r e p o r t o f th e m a t t e r . T h at p e r v e r s e p e rs o n i s o b lig e d
to ta k e i t f o r a w o rk in g th e o r y t h a t th e e s s e n c e o f a l
m ost any s e t t l e d a s p e c t o f a n y th in g may be e x t r a c t e d by
I th e c h e m is try o f c r i t i c i s m , and may g iv e u s i t s r i g h t
i nam e, i t s fo rm u la , f o r c o n v e n ie n t u s e . (p . 2 6 3 )
I
1
t
T here w ere tim e s , i n th e e x e r c i s e o f th e p r o c e s s ,
j when th e c u sto m a ry and l o g i c a l o r d e r o f th e s t e p s had to
be a b an d o n ed . T hese w ere th e moments when th e Im p re s s io n
|to o k p la c e w ith o u t any o f th e r e c o g n iz a b le " e x p r e s s io n s o f
!p l a c e ," w hich w ould o r d i n a r i l y b e s te p num ber o n e . Such
| was th e " m y s te rio u s " s i t u a t i o n a t B a ltim o re w here he was
u n a b le — a t f i r s t — to a c c o u n t f o r h i s " in f o r m a tio n ." By a
| " t r i c k o f i t s ow n," th e e f f e c t on Jam es h a d b e e n accom -
j p l i s h e d . The p ro b le m , now, f o r h i s "in w a rd i n q u ir y " was
i
!i n f in d in g o u t w here and how i n h i s "w hole o p e r a t iv e c o n
s c io u s n e s s " th e t r i c k h ad b e e n p la y e d . S c ru p u lo u s ,
s c i e n t i f i c o r d e r w ould n o t a v a i l him h e r e :
T hese r e p r e s e n t a t i v e v a lu e s and c o n s t r u c t iv e c o n n e c tio n s ,
th e w hole o f th e l a t e n t v iv id n e s s o f t h i n g s , n o t o n ly
re m a in , u n d e r e x p r e s s io n , s u b j e c t to no d e f i n i t e chem i
c a l t e s t , no m a th e m a tic a l p r o o f w h a te v e r, b u t a lm o st
t u r n t h e i r ch arm in g b a c k s and t o s s t h e i r w i l f u l h e a d s
202
a t o n e ’ s p o o r l i t t l e a r r a y o f t e r m s a n d e q u i v a l e n t s .
T h e r e t h u s i m m e d i a t e l y r i s e s f o r t h e l o n e v i s i o n a r y ,
b e t r a y e d a n d a r r e s t e d i n t h e v e r y a c t o f v i s i o n , t h a t
s p e c t r e o f i m p o t e n c e w h i c h d o g s t h e f o o t s t e p s o f p e r
c e p t i o n a n d w h o s e p r e s e n c e i s l i k e s o m e p o i s o n - d r o p
i n t h e s i l v e r c u p . B a l t i m o r e p u t o n f o r m e , f r o m t h e
f i r s t g l a n c e , t h e f o r m o f t h e s i l v e r c u p f i l l e d w i t h
t h e m i l d e s t s w e e t e s t d e c o c t i o n . . . . ( p . 2 9 6 )
T h e o n l y s o l u t i o n p o s s i b l e f o r J a m e s w a s t o r e v e r s e
t h e o r d e r o f t h e s t e p s : f i n d t h e d e t a i l s , t h e " i t e m s ' ’ o f
t h e E x p r e s s i o n w h i c h w o u l d c o r r e s p o n d t o t h e I m p r e s s i o n .
I n o t h e r w o r d s , w i t h a n i n t e r e s t a l r e a d y e v o k e d , h i s t a s k
w a s t o " g o b a c k " a n d f i n d t h e s o u r c e s f o r h i s v e r y a c t i v e ,
u n d e n i a b l e i n t e r e s t :
I t t o o k b u t t h a t h o u r , a s I s t r o l l e d i n t h e e a r l y e v e n
t i d e , t o g i v e m e t h e s e n s e o f t h e p r e d i c a m e n t I h a v e
g l a n c e d a t ; t h a t o f f i n d i n g m y s e l f c o m m i t t e d t o t h e
v i e w o f B a l t i m o r e a s q u i t e i n s i d i o u s l y " s y m p a t h e t i c , "
q u i t e i n o r d i n a t e l y a m i a b l e — w h i c h a m o u n t e d , i n o t h e r
w o r d s t o t h e m o m e n t o u s p r o p o s i t i o n t h a t s h e w a s i n t e r
e s t i n g — a n d s t i l l w o n d e r i n g , b y t h e s a m e s t r o k e , h o w
w a s I t o m a k e a n y s u c h s t a t e m e n t p l a u s i b l e . C h a r a c t e r
i s f o u n d e d o n e l e m e n t s a n d f e a t u r e s , s o m a n y p a r t i c u l a r
, p a r t s w h i c h c o n d u c e t o a n e x p r e s s i o n . S o I w a l k e d a b o u t j
t h e d e a r l i t t l e c i t y l o o k i n g f o r p a r t i c u l a r p a r t s — a l l I
w i t h t h e s i n g u l a r e f f e c t o f r a t h e r f a i l i n g t o f i n d t h e m i
. . . . (p. 2 9 7) j
T h e r e w e r e , i t s e e m e d , n o r e c o v e r a b l e " i t e m s " w h i c h l o g - j
i
i c a l l y c o u l d b e m a d e t o a d d u p . T h e a n s w e r , f o r B a l t i m o r e , !
l a y o u t s i d e J a m e s ’ s p r i z e d s y s t e m . T h e I m p r e s s i o n , h e j
d i s c o v e r e d , h a d r e s u l t e d f r o m a d i s t i n c t r o m a n t i c q u a l i t y ,
s o m e t h i n g i n t a n g i b l e y e t q u i t e p e r s i s t e n t , w h i c h , b y i t
s e l f , h a d b e e n c a p a b l e o f p r o d u c i n g t h e r i g h t " a c c e n t s . "
B a l t i m o r e w a s t o b e o n e o f m a n y p l a c e s i n A m e r i c a w h e r e t h e
203
I h i g h e s t e x p e c t a t i o n s o f t h e " o r d e r l y " p r o c e s s h a d t o g i v e
I
| w a y t o h i s i n e x o r a b l e r o m a n t i c s e n s e :
i
■ W h a t h a p p e n e d t h e n , r e m a r k a b l y , w a s t h a t w h i l e I m e c h a n -
! i c a l l y s o a r g u e d m y i m p r e s s i o n w a s f i x i n g i t s e l f b y a
| w i l d l o g i c o f i t s o w n , a n d t h a t I w a s p r e s e n t l y t o s e e
h o w i t w o u l d , w h e n o n c e s e t t l e d t o a c e r t a i n i n t e n s i t y ,
j s n a p i t s f i n g e r s a t w a r r a n t s a n d d o c u m e n t s , ( p . 2 9 7)
!
j I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t o n o t e t h a t J a m e s ' s " r e l u c t a n t "
|
j r e l i a n c e o n t h e r o m a n t i c o v e r t h e l o g i c a l o r d e r i s o f t h e
| s a m e s c r u p u l o u s p a t t e r n a s h i s g e n e r a l d i s c r e e t n e s s i n T h e
j A m e r i c a n S c e n e . H e w a s w e l l a w a r e o f h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c
t e n d e n c y t o a s s u m e r a t h e r t h a n t o " p r o v e " t h a t t h e r e w a s a
d e g r e e o f r e s i d u a l r o m a n c e i n p l a c e s , i n s o m e w a y c o m p a r -
1
| a b l e t o t h e o b s e r v e r ' s o w n . I w o u l d s u g g e s t t h a t J a m e s ' s
! c o n t i n u a l r e f e r e n c e t o t h e r o m a n t i c a s s o m e t h i n g a c t i n g
!
j m y s t e r i o u s l y " o n i t s o w n , " w a s i n t h e n a t u r e o f a d e f e n s e
j o f h i s o w n " p o w e r l e s s " p o s i t i o n . T h i s , o f c o u r s e , w a s
c o n s i s t e n t w i t h h i s d e s i r e t o h a v e t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f t h i n g s
I s p e a k , w i t h a l l d i s c r e t i o n , f o r i t s e l f . H a v i n g m a d e h i s
[ " a p o l o g y , " s o t o s p e a k , a t a n u m b e r o f p l a c e s , h e , n e v e r -
j t h e l e s s , d o e s v e r y l i t t l e t o r e s t r a i n h i s a l w a y s s t r o n g
i r e l i a n c e o n t h e r o m a n t i c e s s e n c e o f t h i n g s — h i s v e r y r e a l
1
a n d a v i d , r o m a n t i c s e n s e o f p l a c e . I t s h o w s u p s t r i k i n g l y j
a t W a s h i n g t o n I r v i n g ' s h o m e , " S u n n y s i d e , " w h e r e o n l y t h e
m y s t i c a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f i n e f f a b l e r o m a n c e ( " t h e
204
ro m a n tic c la im " ) c o u ld e x p la in i t s e n d u rin g q u a l i t y (p p .
1 5 0 -1 5 2 ). As a d i s t i n c t i o n from th e " p r o s a ic " f a c t s o f a
s ta n d a r d e x p r e s s io n , Jam es d e n o te s th e ro m a n tic a s " th e
p u re p o e tr y o f th e im p re s s io n " ( p . 1 4 7 ).
I n h i s u n c o v e rin g o f th e B a ltim o re " m y s te ry ," Jam es
g iv e s one o f th e few f r a n k s ta te m e n ts a b o u t h i s own r a r e
s e n s i b i l i t y to ro m an ce. What he s a y s , i n e f f e c t , i s t h a t
i f one w ere a s g i f t e d a s h i m s e l f , i t w ould be p o s s i b l e , a t
tim e s , to b y p a ss th e w o rk in g o u t o f th e e x p r e s s io n ( th e
" c ip h e r in g " ) i n fa v o r o f an im m ed iate i n t u i t i v e g r a s p o f
th e p i c t u r e . I n k e e p in g w ith th e g e n e r a l to n e o f th e j
b o o k , su ch c o n f e s s io n s o f " s t r e n g t h " a re re m a rk a b ly r a r e .
N ote i n th e f o llo w in g , th e d i s t i n c t i o n b e tw ee n th e j o u r n a l - i
!
1 s t and th e a n a l y s t . N ote a ls o i n th e l a s t s e n te n c e w h at |
a p p e a rs to be an i r r e p r e s s i b l e " v o te " f o r rom ance: j
i
1
The m o ral o f t h i s was p r e c i o u s — t h a t o f th e f i n e im - !
p u n ity w ith w h ich , i f one b u t h ad s e n s i b i l i t y , th e
c ip h e r in g c o u ld be n e g le c te d and i n f a c t a lm o st co n
tem ned: a lw a y s, t h a t i s (an d o n ly ) w ith o n e ’ s f i n e r j
w its a b o u t o n e . W ith o u t them one was a t b e s t , r e a l l y j
now here— ev en w ith " ite m s " b y th e th o u s a n d ; so t h a t i
th e p la c e becam e q u i t e a d o ra b ly , a le s s o n i n th e u s e ;
o f t h a t r e s o u r c e . I t w ould b e "no good" to a j o u r n a l
i s t — f o r he i s n o w h ere, e v e r , w ith o u t h i s ite m s ; b u t
i t w ould ’ be’ e v e r y th in g , a lw a y s, to th e m ere r e s t l e s s j
a n a l y s t . He m ig h t by i t s a id s ta n d a g a i n s t a l l co m ers; j
and t h i s a l i k e i n p le a s u r e and i n p a i n , i n th e b r u is e d I
o r i n th e so o th e d c o n d it i o n . T h a t was th e r e a l way to |
w ork th in g s o u t, and to f e e l i t so b ro u g h t home w ould j
by i t s e l f crow n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r s m a ll p ilg r im a g e . I
(p p . 2 9 7 -2 9 8 ) :
T here i s th e n e e d , b e c a u s e o f th e n a tu r e o f Ja m e s’ s
a p p ro a c h , to make th e d i s t i n c t i o n b e tw ee n th e T e n ta tiv e
A n a ly s is and th e P in a l A n a ly s is . F o r th e m o st p a r t , th e
T e n ta tiv e A n a ly s is form s th e m id -p o in t i n J a m e s 's s y n th e s is ^
H e re , c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y , he seem ed to b e d o in g w hat i s
i n c r e a s i n g l y common i n h i s l a t e f i c t i o n s : he h o ld s th e
i s s u e up f o r " d e b a te " w ith in a c i r c l e o f p e r c e p tiv e
" v ie w e r s ." Of c o u rs e , h e r e , i n The A m erican S c e n e, a l l th e |
i
o t h e r " v ie w e rs " a re o n ly v a ry in g a s p e c ts o f J a m e s 's own
c o n s c io u s n e s s . U n lik e th e " v ie w e rs " i n th e f i c t i o n s who
a r e s u b s t a n t i a l l y in d e p e n d e n t c r e a t i o n s , The A m erican Scene
" v ie w e rs " hav e th e h a n d ic a p o f t h e i r one u n d e n ia b le i d e n - !
7 J
t i f i c a t i o n . 1 I t was t h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f th e book w hich ;
pro m p ted th e 1907 re v ie w e r i n The R e ad e r to make w hat
am ounts to th e c l a s s i c d e s c r i p t i o n o f The A m erican Scene i
s t y l e — from th e o p p o s itio n v ie w p o in t. A cco rd in g to th e j
i
I
r e v ie w e r , th e book p ro v id e d a r e c o r d j
t
o f th e g r e a t e s t a n a l y t i c a l s p re e Mr. Jam es h a s p e r
m itte d h im s e lf . . . . W e a r e s p e c t a t o r s o f an am azing
p s y c h o lo g ic a l b y - p la y , i n w hich a f o u r th Mr. Jam es !
s a r d o n i c a l l y q u e s tio n s a t h i r d , who i s k e e p in g ta b on :
a se c o n d , who i s c o r r e c t i n g a f i r s t , who i s t a b u l a t i n g !
and s o r t i n g im p r e s s io n s o f t h e i r common b u t u n f a m i li a r
n a ti v e lan d '. (1 0 :2 1 5 , J u ly 1907) j
i
i
7
W e have some i d e a o f th e v a r i e t y o f th e s e o t h e r ;
" i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s " i n th e fo llo w in g t a b u l a t i o n o f J a m e s 's
a l t e r - e g o s : " th e d i s i n t e r e s t e d r a m b le r ," " th e s p e c t a t o r , " j
" th e r e s t o r e d a b s e n te e ," "a p r e p a re d s e n s i b i l i t y , " " th e I
foredoom ed s tu d e n t o f m a n n e rs," " th e r e s t l e s s a n a l y s t , " j
" th e s y s te m a tic s t o r y - s e e k e r ," " th e a n c i e n t c o n te m p la tiv e j
p e r s o n ," " th e charm ed v i s i t o r , " " th e r e v i s i t i n g s p i r i t , " |
" th e b ro o d in g a n a l y s t , " " th e s ta r v e d s t o r y - s e e k e r ," " th e j
to u c h e d i n t e l l i g e n c e , " " th e s i n c e r e o b s e r v e r ," " th e lo n e
v i s i o n a r y ," " th e fo n d c r i t i c , " " th e v i s i o n a r y t o u r i s t , "
" th e b ro o d in g v i s i t o r , " " th e e a r n e s t o b s e r v e r ," " th e
p a t i e n t i n q u i r e r , " " th e p i c t u r e s e e k e r ."
206
The Common Ground
I T here i s , to some e x t e n t , a s i g n i f i c a n t b a s i s f o r th e
i
i
p u b lic " d is c o n jf o rt" w ith The A m erican S c e n e . I n th e same
s e n s e t h a t we d i s c r im i n a t e b e tw e e n th e th e o r y and th e p r a c
t i c e o f th e P r o c e s s , we m u st a ls o n o te th e d i s p a r i t y , a t
tim e s , b e tw ee n Ja m e s’ s h ig h i n t e n t i o n s and h i s a c t u a l a c -
|c o m p lish m e n t. Where Jam es d o e s " f a i l , " i t i s alw ay s a
|r e s u l t o f h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c h a b i t o f s e e in g to o much.
T h ere a re many p l a c e s w here a r e a s o n a b le d i l u t i o n o f th e
r i c h "show o f th in g s " w ould h av e added to th e c l a r i t y
o f th e T e n ta tiv e and th e P in a l A n a ly s is . T h ere a re p a g e s ,
'f o r ex am p le, on th e com plex New Y ork " c o n d itio n s " (p p . 176-
I1 7 8 ), w here ev en th e m ost s y m p a th e tic Ja m e s ia n b e g in s to
!
! t i r e . A l t h o u g h r e l a t i v e l y f e w , t h e r e a r e e n o u g h o f t h e s e
i !
"over-involvem ents" to remind us o f what P h i l l i p R a h v callSjj
: O
! a b a s i c " o n e - s i d e d n e s s " i n J a m e s . A c c o r d i n g t o R a h v ,
jJam es was p o w e rle s s to a v o id a " c r e a t i v e y e t c r u e l s e l f -
: e x a g g e r a tio n ." I n common w ith th e b e s t m odern (19^3)
a r t i s t s , Jam es was f o r c e d , Rahv s a y s , to f in d some a r t i s t i c
m e a n s t o o v e r c o m e a n e g a t i v e e n v i r o n m e n t . T h e J a m e s i a n
" f a u l t s " a re n o t w i l l f u l d i s t o r t i o n s :
They a re th e t r a i t s , r a t h e r , o f an a r t w h ic h , i f i t
i s to s u rv iv e a t a l l i n a s o c i e t y i n im i c a l to a l l i n t e r -
! e s t s t h a t a r e p u r e , g r a t u i t o u s , and w ith o u t c a s h v a lu e ,
i
t
| Q
! " A t t i t u d e s T o w a r d H e n r y J a m e s , " N e w R e p u b l i c , 108:
j 220, F e b r u a r y 15, 19^3 . R e p r i n t e d i n T h e Q u e s t i o n o f
| H e n r y J a m e s , p . 2 7 6 .
207
h a s no o t h e r r e c o u r s e sa v e c o n s t a n t l y to " r e f i n e i t s '
s i n g u l a r i t i e s " and e x p o se i t s e l f m ore and more to th e
r a v a g e s o f an u n m itig a te d i n d iv i d u a li s m . (R ahv, p . 220) i
T h ere w as, f o r ex am p le , w h at m ig h t be c a l l e d , "a
b re a k in g p o i n t , " i n Ja m e s’ s u s e o f m e ta p h o rs , beyond w hich
few o f h i s r e a d e r s c a re d to v e n tu r e . D e s p ite th e f a c t t h a t;
I
th e i n t e g r i t y o f th e f i g u r e was r a r e l y i n d o u b t, th e r e was
enough " d e la y " i n th e m anner to d is s u a d e h i s r e a d e r s from
e v e r r e a l l y f in d in g o u t . What was o f t e n o v e rlo o k e d was
t h a t t h e r e was a s much t r u t h a s p o e tr y i n h i s m e ta p h o rs .
The e x te n s io n s w ere r a r e l y s t y l i s t i c d e v ic e s a lo n e ; more
o f t e n , th e y h ad a p r e c i s e and p r e p a re d p a th to fo llo w i n
Ja m e s’ s g o v e rn in g im a g in a tio n . The u s u a l r e s u l t was a
s t r i n g o f p e r c e p tiv e comments on A m erica. The common
c r i t i c i s m was t h a t Jam es h ad a h a b i t o f "c o m m ittin g " h im - 1
!
| s e l f to f a v o r i t e m e ta p h o rs , a llo w in g them a r b i t r a r i l y to |
le a d him o n . Such c r i t i c i s m had i t s b a s i s i n h i s own
many comm ents on h i s u s e o f f i g u r e s . I t was c h a r a c t e r i s - i
; t i c — a lth o u g h p o s s ib l y m is le a d in g — f o r Jam es to be j
"charm ed" w ith one f i g u r e o v e r a n o th e r i n h i s f r a n k and j
! p u b lic way o f w o rking h i s p ro b le m s o u t. The e v e n tu a l draw -!
i
in g o u t o f h i s m e ta p h o rs , ho w ev er, was n e v e r a s much a j
|
m a tte r o f ch an ce a s one w ould s u p p o s e . What a p p e a re d on
th e page a s a r a t h e r a r b i t r a r y a rra n g e m e n t was u s u a l l y j
| i
I f i r s t " se e n " by Jam es, i n h i s immense and f a r - r a n g in g
i 1
!
| v i s i o n , a s so m eth in g d i s t i n c t l y w hole and u n i f i e d . What
|w as o f t e n m is s e d , even by th o s e who g r a n te d him a s t y l i s t i c
I
!m a s te ry , was th e f a c t t h a t a r e a l a s w e ll a s p o e t i c t r u t h
!had t r a n s p i r e d . The f a c t t h a t Jam es p e r s i s t s i n g iv in g u s
|t h e e x a c t c h ro n o lo g y i n h i s d e v elo p m e n t o f th e m etap h o r a s
|w e ll a s th e m etap h o r i t s e l f , i s an exam ple o f h i s " s p e c ia l^
ip u rp o se i n The A m erican S c e n e ; i t i s n o t an i n d i c a t i o n o f
i s t y l i s t i c o r i n t e l l e c t u a l a im le s s n e s s . At a l l tim e s ,
•Jam es w anted th e r e a d e r to be w e ll a s s u re d t h a t a l l a s p e c ts
! '
o f h i s A m erican " e n c o u n te r" w ere sound and m u tu a lly
|v e r i f i a b l e .
|
j N e v e r th e le s s , th e r e have b e e n g r e a t g a p s b etw een
|Jam es and h i s r e a d e r s on a num ber o f p o i n t s . Some o f th e s e
i
| s t i l l p e r s i s t . F u n d am en tal i n h i s a p p ro a c h to A m erica was
!a k in d o f d e l i b e r a t e and r e l e n t l e s s " l o g i c . " I n h i s d e
te rm in e d d e fe n s e o f th e d u ra b le a g a i n s t th e f a s h i o n a b l e ,
he a p p e a rs , a t tim e s , to be b a c k in g i n t o a p o s i t i o n . I t
|seem s t h a t i n h i s a n x ie ty — a lm o s t, p a n ic , to f i n d some
id u ra b le " o rd e r" i n A m erica, he o v e r s t a t e s h i s c a s e once
h e h a s found i t . Such seem s to b e th e s i t u a t i o n w ith th e
jA m erican C o u n try C lu b s. A cco rd in g to Ja m es, th e C o u n try
Club was "ev e ry w h e re a c l e a r A m erican f e l i c i t y " (p . 3 1 1 ).
The f a i l u r e , to p o i n t o u t any f a u l t s w h a ts o e v e r seem s
s t r a n g e l y s h o r t s i g h t e d on J a m e s 's p a r t . I w ould be i n
c li n e d to b e li e v e t h a t th e l a v i s h p r a i s e was l a r g e l y due
to th e r e l a t i v e i n a b i l i t y o f a n y th in g e l s e i n A m erica .to
su c c e e d a s w e ll:
209
1 ' '
I I t [ th e C o u n try C lu b ] b ecom es, f o r th e r e s t l e s s a n a l y s t ,
j one o f th e g r e a t g a rd e n -la m p s i n w hich th e flam e o f
! Dem ocracy b u rn s w h i t e s t and s t e a d i e s t and m ost f lo o d s
| th e s u b j e c t j ta k in g i t s p la c e th u s on th e p o s i t i v e s id e
o f a l i n e w hich h a s i t s o t h e r s id e o v e rs c o re d w ith n e g a
t i v e s . (p . 3 1 1 )
A cco rd in g to J a m e s 's in e x o r a b le l o g i c , one f a c t o r ,
a lo n e , made th e C o u n try Club a " n e c e s s a ry " and u n a s s a i l a b l e
i n s t i t u t i o n — i t s a p p a re n t re v e r e n c e f o r th e s tr o n g fa m ily
|u n i t . T here was no d o u b t i n J a m e s 's m ind a s to w hat fa m ily
!u n i t s w ere b e in g p r e s e r v e d . I n th e m ost p ra g m a tic way,
i
|
th e y w ere th e f a m i l i e s who w ere a lr e a d y t h e r e i n th e C lu b s,
" p r o p e r ly " m aking th e m ost o f t h e i r o p p o r t u n it y . Jam es
was n e v e r one to r e f u t e th e c l e a r e v id e n c e o f h i s own e y e s .
T here w ere enough u n p l e a s a n t r i e s i n th e A m erican p i c t u r e
i !
!to I n s u r e a prem ium on th e few b r i g h t s p o ts re m a in in g . The;
jd e g re e o f p r a i s e f o r one " ite m ” o v e r a n o th e r d e p e n d e d , i n aj
! I
j l a r g e m e a su re , on i t s r e l a t i v e p o s i t i o n i n J a m e s 's s c a le
1 o f v a lu e s . On t h i s b a s i s , Jam es c o u ld q u i t e e f f o r t l e s s l y
; " d is c o u n t" th e e le m e n ts i n A m erican l i f e w hich w ere in c o n - j
1d u c lv e to th e h ig h e r g o a ls he h e ld o u t f o r A m erica. On
i ■ j
I t h i s b a s i s we can u n d e rs ta n d h i s a p p a r e n t i n a b i l i t y to !
| t
1 ;
re s p o n d to th e h u m a n ita r ia n a s p e c ts o f " th e a l i e n i n f u s i o n " j
|
i
o r th e Negro p ro b le m . To Ja m es, th e t h r e a t to c u l t u r e ;
"loom ed" a s th e o n ly im p o r ta n t i s s u e . i
One o f th e m ost a p p a l li n g th in g s i n A m erica, a c c o rd in g ;
to Jam es, was th e a lm o s t w i l l f u l " d e s t r u c t io n " o f b a s ic
human d i f f e r e n c e s . The te n d e n c y , i t seem ed, was to t r y to
; 210
I make e v e r y th in g s e rv e th e ’ ’A m erican g r e g a r io u s i d e a l ”
i
! (p . 8 9 ) . J a m e s 's own p r i z e d d i s t i n c t i o n s b etw een th e
e d u c a te d and th e i g n o r a n t , th e in fo rm e d and th e u n in fo rm e d ,
seem ed to be e v ery w h e re i n s e r i o u s d i s r e g a r d . The " d e
fe n s e " o f d i f f e r e n c e s i n h e r e n t i n th e A m erican C o u n try
C lu b s, i t m ust be rem em bered, was th e r e a l b a s i s f o r h i s
: a d m ir a tio n . The d a n g e r, he m a in ta in e d , was i n th e u n n a t-
i
j u r a l a tte m p t to e q u a te a l l men c o m p le te ly ; th e r e w ould a l -
1
ways b e , Jam es c o n te n d e d , c e r t a i n d i s t i n c t i o n s :
i
i d i s c r im i n a t io n s a re p ro d u c e d by th e m ere w o rk in g o f th e
J m a c h in e , and th e y so engage a l i k e a lm o s t e v e ry o n e 's
i n t e r e s t , m eet a l i k e a lm o st e v e ry o n e 's c o n v e n ie n c e .
N a tu re and i n d u s t r y keep p ro d u c in g d i f f e r e n c e s a s f a s t
a s c o n s t i t u t i o n s k eep p ro c la im in g e q u a l i t y , and th e r e
a re a lw a y s, a t th e b e s t , i n any r e a l l y l i b e r a l scheme
o r human v iew more c o n s c io u s i n a p t i t u d e s to c o n v in c e
! o f t h e i r p r i v i l e g e th a n c o n s c io u s p o s s i b i l i t i e s to r e -
i m ind o f t h e i r l i m i t s , (p . 314)
i
N e a rly a l l o f J a m e s 's adm onishm ents to u c h a t some
|p o i n t on th e i n s i d i o u s n a tu r e o f th e " g r e g a r io u s i d e a l . "
j
' The e n t i r e p a t t e r n o f m odern A m erican l i f e seem ed to have
1
, t h i s one u n d e rly in g d i r e c t i o n . The " n a t i o n a l i l l n e s s " was !
a c c o u n ta b le f o r th e c h a n g in g s o c i a l fo rm s, th e a l i e n " p o s
s e s s i o n ," th e " h o t e l - c i v i l i z a t i o n , " th e New Y ork " f i f t y -
f l o o r c o n s p ir a c y " —i n e f f e c t , a l l th e " ite m s " w hich sto o d
f o r an " in e x p r e s s iv e g e n e r a t i o n ." A lm ost u n c o n s c io u s ly , j
j
th e o r i e n t a t i o n was b e in g made to w a rd an i n a u s p ic io u s m ass I
c u l t u r e . The la r g e and p u b lic l i f e seem ed to be e v e ry -
| th in g ; p r i v a t e l i f e was becom ing a lu x u ry . "The je a lo u s
c u l t i v a t i o n o f th e common m e a n ,” w ith i t s i n e v i t a b l e d i s -
i
i n t e r e s t i n e s s e n t i a l v a lu e s , was becom ing th e o r d e r o f
th e day i n m odern A m erica (p . 4 2 5 ) . To Jam es, th e f u t u r e
! seem ed b le a k . F o r e v e ry m ass s te p fo rw a rd , he saw a c o r -
|
i re s p o n d in g ^ ste p backw ard i n i n d i v i d u a l , r e s p o n s ib le l e a d e r -
! . ■
I s h ip . I t a l l came down to a n a t i o n a l d i s i n c l i n a t i o n to
: " l e a d , ” and an overw helm ing p u b lic d e s i r e to f o llo w .
F o r Jam es, th e i s s u e s w ere n e v e r m e re ly a ca d em ic ; a t
a l l tim e s , he f e l t th e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y o f a v e ry r e a l s ta k e
i
| i n th e A m erican f u t u r e . From th e v e ry moment he b eg an to
|
| o b s e r v e , he becam e r e s p o n s i b l e , and a lm o st p e r s o n a lly
i" a c c o u n ta b le " f o r th e f u t u r e o f A m erica. H aving " r i g h t l y
I s e e n ," t h e r e was no o t h e r c o u rs e open to Jam es th a n to
I " r i g h t l y d i r e c t . ” To hav e se e n an d , i m p o r ta n tly , to have
j
I u n d e rs to o d was Ja m es’ s u l ti m a t e p u rp o se i n l i f e . And n o t
|
! to r e l a t e o r " e x p la in " h i s c o n v ic tio n s to th e p u b lic w ould
i
h av e b e e n c o n tr a r y to h i s i n h e r e n t m o ral v i s i o n . The
j t r i c k , h o w ev er, w hich s e t s Jam es o f f from a h u n d re d o t h e r
i
j " m o r a l i z e r s ," was th e d e g re e o f a r t i s t r y w ith w hich he
| c o u ld " in f o rm ." Jam es was alw ay s im p a tie n t w ith th e
g i f t e d few who seem ed b l i t h e l y unaw are o f such r e s p o n s i b i l
i t i e s . To them , i n a v e ry r e a l s e n s e , th e d i r e c t i o n o f
th e f u t u r e b e lo n g e d . The to n e o f h i s re m a rk s to R u p e rt
I
B rooke i n d i c a t e h i s c h a r a c t e r i s t i c d is c o m fo rt w ith th e
"m isse d o p p o r t u n i t i e s " — ev en o f o t h e r s . Jam es was
212
com m enting on B ro o k e 's 1913 l e t t e r s from A m erica to th e
W e s tm in is te r G a z e tte :
W e lo n g to ta k e him by th e han d and show him f i n e r
l i g h t s — e y e s o f b u t m eaner r a n g e , a f t e r a l l , b e in g a d e
q u a te to th e gap e a t th e v e r t i c a l b u s in e s s b lo c k s and
th e l u r i d s k y -c la m o u r f o r -m ore d o l l a r s . W e f e e l i n a
m anner h i s s e n s i b i l i t y w a ste d and w ould f a i n t u r n i t on
to th e c a p tu r e o f d e e p e r m e a n in g s .9
T h ere w ere in n u m e ra b le t e l l t a l e " d e e p e r m ean in g s" i n
th e A m erican p i c t u r e . A p p a re n tly , o n ly a v e ry few i n
i
i
!A m erica e i t h e r h a d th e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a b i l i t y o r th e i n -
i
c l i n a t i o n to s e a r c h them o u t. Jam es was w e ll a w a re , e s
p e c i a l l y i n New Y ork, o f th e d i f f i c u l t y i n s e e in g th ro u g h
th e a p p a re n t c h a o s :
| Prom th e moment th e c r i t i c f i n d s h im s e lf s ig h in g , to
I sa v e t r o u b le i n a d i f f i c u l t c a s e , t h a t th e c l u s t e r o f
! a p p e a ra n c e s c a n have no s e n s e , from t h a t moment he
I b e g in s , and q u i t e c o n s c io u s ly , to go to p i e c e s , i t
j b e in g th e p rim e b u s in e s s and th e h ig h h o n o u r o f th e
! p a i n t e r o f l i f e alw ay s to make a s e n s e — and to make j
j i t m ost i n p r o p o r tio n a s th e im m ed iate a s p e c ts a re
I lo o s e o r c o n fu s e d , ( p . 2 6 3 )
iT here i s i n th e f u l l i m p l i c a ti o n o f th e p h r a s e , "make a
s e n s e ," th e c o m p lete b a s i s o f Ja m e s’ s se lf-a v o w e d t a s k i n
A m erica. The to n e o f h i s e x h o r t a ti o n c u ts d i r e c t l y a c r o s s j
any v iew o f Jam es a s o n ly a t h e o r e t i c a l p a s s e r - b y . W hat-
i
e v e r th e d is c o r d a n t e le m e n ts m ig h t b e , h i s t a s k was to i n - j
j
d i c a t e , somehow, a p o s s ib l e o r d e r — a b e t t e r , more fu n d a - j
m e n ta l r e l a t i o n o f a l l th e p a r t s . In New Y ork, f o r e x - !
am p le, d i s o r d e r seem ed to be th e e s t a b l i s h e d c o n d itio n .
^ " P r e f a c e ," L e t t e r s to A m erica (New Y ork, 1916 ) ,
p . x x x i i .
213:
"What e le m e n ts o r p a r t s , i f a n y ," Jam es a sk e d o f th e c i t y ,
"w ould be w o rth i t s s a v in g , w o rth c a r r y in g o f f f o r th e
f r e s h em bodim ent and th e b e t t e r l i f e " ? ( p . 1 0 5 ). F o r t h i s
e n d , we r e a l i z e , Jam es was f o r e v e r s e e k in g p r i n c i p l e s and
n o t m ere e x p e d ie n c ie s . He w as, a s a lw a y s, a s much co n
c e rn e d w ith c a u s e s a s e f f e c t s .
I t was t h i s k in d o f f a r - r a n g in g " in q u ir y " w hich made
i t n e c e s s a r y , a t tim e s , f o r Jam es to a s k th e k in d o f q u e s
t i o n s w hich th e im m ediate p r e s e n t c o u ld n o t r e a d i l y a n sw e r.
I t was n o t u n e x p e c te d , th e n , to f in d Jam es p ro b in g c h a r a c
t e r i s t i c a l l y b e n e a th th e s u r f a c e o f t h i n g s . The o r d e r
w hich Jam es e v e n tu a lly a r r i v e d a t was n o t a s c o m p le te ly
E u ro p ean a s one w ould s u p p o s e . The " s o l u t io n " t h a t Jam es
came up w ith h ad a v e ry s tr o n g r e l i a n c e on a r e c o g n iz a b le j
!
i
" n a t u r a l" o r d e r . W e a r e re m in d ed o f J a m e s 's i n h e r e n t r o -
I
m a n tic s e n s e i n h i s many c o m p la in ts a b o u t th e "o v er-w o rk ed "!
10 '
and "o v e r-b u rd e n e d " p h y s i c a l s c e n e . At tim e s , th e comment:
was sim p ly t h a t to o much was b e in g "done" f o r A m erica,
t h a t l e f t to i t s own d e v ic e s , she w ould f in d b e t t e r and
m ore " n a t u r a l" s o l u t i o n s . At h e a r t , Jam es seem s to be
in v o k in g a l a i s s e z - f a i r e a t t i t u d e , w hich w ould p r e c lu d e a j
|
c e r t a i n am ount o f d e s i r a b l e and n a t u r a l c h a n g e . The b a s i c j
i
a ssu m p tio n i n J a m e s 's v iew s i s t h a t " th e r i g h t men" w i l l !
10T h is i s th e b a s i s o f h i s f e a r s f o r N ew port, w here
th e new com ers h ad begun to o v e r b u ild , " c r e a t i n g th e p a l
p a b le p i l e , " to su ch an e x t e n t t h a t " th e fa c e o f n a tu r e
was now a s much o b l i t e r a t e d a s p o s s ib l e " (p . 2 1 1 ) .
214
be a v a i l a b l e , somehow, to " o v e rs e e " th e w o rk in g o u t o f th e
n a t u r a l o r d e r o f t h i n g s . R e s p o n s i b i l i t y , Jam es i n s i s t e d ,
i
| r e s t e d i n th e v e ry few who c o u ld e x e r c i s e t h i s k in d o f
" c u s t o d ia l" c a r e . I t was up to them , a lo n e , to p r e s e r v e
j th e o r i g i n a l n a t u r a l p r i n c i p l e s .
i
! T aken i n t h i s s e n s e , Jam es*s e s s e n t i a l t a s k th ro u g h o u t
i
: th e book seem s to be th e p r o v id in g o f a m ethod f o r " c u s -
: t o d i a l " c a r e . What he. p r e s e n t s , i n e f f e c t , i s a k in d o f
: "handbook" f o r th e u n d e r s ta n d in g o f A m erican l i f e —w ith
i
| th e a s s u m p tio n , o f c o u r s e , t h a t w ith r e a l u n d e rs ta n d in g
| a c t i o n w i l l f o llo w . The n a tu r e o f th e many q u e s tio n s he
! ' *
| r a i s e s a b o u t A m erica, q u e s tio n s beyond th e im m ed iate 1904-
j 1905 c o n d it i o n s , m akes th e book an a c t u a l " d o - i t - y o u r s e l f "
i
j g u id e , w hich c a n be a p p lie d to A m erican l i f e a t any tim e .
i
i Such an i n d i v i d u a l " u se " o f th e book seem s c o n s i s t e n t w ith
i
| J a m e s 's c h a r a c t e r i s t i c p o s tu r e i n The A m erican S cene o f
i
- b e in g o n ly a " s t a n d - i n ," a s u b s t i t u t e f o r th e r e a d e r s ' own
; e y e s . To t h i s e n d , th e a c c o u n t o f h i s s i n g u l a r " a d v e n tu re "
I
! s ta n d s o u t a s th e w o rk in g exam ple o f th e k in d o f u n d e r-
1 s ta n d in g s t i l l p o s s ib l e f o r A m erica.
R e la tio n to th e P r e f a c e s
One f i n a l c o n s i d e r a ti o n re m a in s f o r t h i s s tu d y , p o s
s i b l y th e m o st s i g n i f i c a n t : th e r e l a t i o n o f The A m erican
I Scene to th e P r e f a c e s . D uring th e w in te r o f 1905-1906
215;
when Jam es was h a v in g h i s m ost d i f f i c u l t tim e w ith th e
w r i t in g o f The A m erican S cen e, he was a ls o engaged i n th e
more c o n g e n ia l t a s k o f r e v i s i n g th e s t o r i e s and d o in g th e
P r e f a c e s f o r th e New Y ork E d it i o n (s e e ab o v e, p . 9 ) . F o r
a t l e a s t s i x m o n th s, b o th The A m erican Scene c h a p te r s and
th e P r e f a c e s w ere on h i s w r i t in g d e s k . The m arked r e l a t i o n ^
s h ip b e tw ee n th e tw o, ho w ev er, i s more th a n a m a tte r o f
a c c i d e n t a l a s s o c i a t i o n . C om parisons o f s u b j e c t m a tte r ,
s t y l e , and e v en la n g u a g e i n d i c a t e t h a t th e y a re th e p ro d
u c t s o f one g o v e rn in g m ind.
W h e n I s p e a k o f t h e p a r a l l e l , I a m r e f e r r i n g , o f
c o u r s e , t o t h e A r t - t a l k i n T h e A m e r i c a n S c e n e . T h e k i n d
o f w r i t e r - t o - w r i t e r c o n f i d e n c e s a n d a r t i s t i c ’ ' s p e c u l a t i o n ”
t h a t w e h a v e n o t e d a s A r t - t a l k i s m a t c h e d c o m p l e t e l y i n I
I
t h e P r e f a c e s . I f i t w e r e a t a l l p o s s i b l e t o d i s j o i n t h e |
1
A r t - t a l k f r o m t h e o t h e r p a r t s o f T h e A m e r i c a n S c e n e , w e j
w ould h a v e , i n e f f e c t , a s u b s t a n t i a l body o f c r i t i c a l com- i
i
m e n t a r y , v e r y m u c h l i k e t h e P r e f a c e s t h e m s e l v e s . F o r t h e I
p u r p o s e o f c o m p a r i s o n , w e m u s t t a k e t h e A r t - t a l k i n T h e j
A m e r i c a n S c e n e a s h a v i n g t h e s a m e r e l a t i o n t o t h e v i e w s o n
A m e r i c a ( t h e F i n a l A n a l y s i s ) a s t h e P r e f a c e s h a v e t o t h e i
n o v e l s a n d s t o r i e s o f t h e N e w Y o r k E d i t i o n . A p o i n t - t o -
p o i n t c o m p a r i s o n o f t h e A r t - t a l k a n d t h e P r e f a c e s i l l u s - 1
t r a t e s t h e i r c l o s e c o n n e c t i o n . i
W e f i n d a n i d e n t i c a l n o t e o f c r i t i c a l w a r i n e s s i n t h e ;
P r e f a c e t o T h e A m e r i c a n S c e n e a s i n t h e o p e n i n g p a g e s
(p p . 1 -1 1 ) o f th e P re fa c e to R o d e ric k H udson, th e f i r s t
!volum e i n th e New Y ork E d it i o n . I n b o th c a s e s , th e p r e -
; V
; lim in a r y re m a rk s a r e i n th e n a tu r e o f s e lf - w a r n in g s and
I
p o s s ib l e d a n g e r s i g n a l s f o r th e k in d o f c r i t i c a l com m entary
to come. The a d m iss io n i n The A m erican Scene t h a t th e
q u a n t i t y o f m a t e r i a l " l e d me on and on" ( p . v i ) a p p l i e s a s
w e ll to th e P r e f a c e . I n one c a s e " q u a n t i t y o f m a t e r i a l"
!
I s ta n d s f o r th e o ld and new know ledge o f A m erica; i n th e
i o th e r c a s e , i t s ta n d s f o r th e o ld n o v e l, th e 187^ R o d e ric k
H udson, and h i s new r e l a t i o n to i t .
I n th e same way, th e s ta te m e n t i n th e P re fa c e t h a t
he m ust make "some sy ste m o f o b s e r v a tio n " c l e a r l y a p p l i e s
I ' .
to b o th t a s k s (p . 3 ) . " E v e ry th in g c o u n ts ," Jam es w ro te
i n th e P r e f a c e ; " n o th in g i s s u p e r f lu o u s i n su ch a s u rv e y ;
th e e x p l o r e r ’ s n o te b o o k s t r i k e s me h e re a s e n d l e s s l y r e
c e p tiv e " (p . 3 ) . The u s e o f th e f i g u r e from t r a v e l i s
o n ly one o f many o b v io u s i n d i c a t i o n s o f a s i n g l e fram e o f
m ind. Pew n o te s a re a s i n s i s t e n t i n The A m erican Scene a s
h i s i n a b i l i t y to h a n d le a l l th e a b u n d a n t m a t e r i a l . T here
a re a num ber o f s ta te m e n ts i n b o th w orks w hich c o u ld be
b o d i ly in te r c h a n g e d w ith o u t th e s l i g h t e s t im p a irm e n t to
e i t h e r . F or ex am p le, th e em ploym ent i n th e P r e f a c e , o f an
o c c a s io n a l a l t e r - e g o , su ch a s " a young e m b ro id e re r o f th e
c a n v a s o f l i f e , " (p . 5 ) re m in d s u s o f th e v e ry l a r g e
num ber o f o t h e r i d e n t i t i e s Jam es c o in e d f o r Thej A m erican
217
S c e n e , su ch a s " th e s y s te m a tic s to r y - s e e k e r " (p . 11) and
! " th e s ta r v e d s t o r y - s e e k e r " (p . 2 3 5 ) .
A n o th er exam ple o f s i m i l a r i t y i s th e r e l i a n c e , i n
i
b o th w o rk s, on an i d e n t i c a l f i g u r e from th e w o rld o f p a i n t
in g to d e s c r ib e th e p r o c e s s o f "re -e n g a g e m e n t" w ith a
s u b j e c t . The o p e n in g p a ra g ra p h s o f "B o sto n " i n The A m eri
can Scene ta k e up th e p ro b lem o f tr e a tm e n t f o r a p la c e
| t h a t i s o v e r ly f a m i l i a r (p p . 2 1 8 -2 1 9 ). Jam es l i k e n s h i s
I p re -k n o w le d g e to a "su n k " p i c t u r e w hich m ig h t— o r m ig h t
j n o t —be r e c o v e r a b le to a p a i n t e r . Two f i g u r e s a re u s e d
I f o r t h i s i l l u s t r a t i o n : a " b o t t l e to o f u l l f o r th e w ine to
I
!
I s t a r t " (an o v e r-c o m p a c tio n o f h i s o ld B o sto n know ledge)
j and th e a r t i s t ' s v a r n is h b ru s h to " f r e s h e n up" an o ld
1
I '
! p i c t u r e — o r , a s h e r e , an o ld v i s i t a t i o n :
j
I
Can one h a v e , i n th e c o n d it i o n s , an im p re s s io n o f j
B o sto n , any t h a t h a s n o t b e en f o r lo n g y e a r s a s in a p - j
| p r e c i a b l e a s a "su n k " p i c t u r e ? — t h a t d ead s t a t e o f
s u r f a c e w hich r e q u i r e s a f r e s h a p p l i c a t i o n o f v a r n i s h . j
The s i t u a t i o n I sp e a k o f i s th e c o n s c io u s n e s s o f " o ld "
j k n o w led g e, know ledge so com pacted by th e y e a r s a s to j
| b e u n a b le , l i k e th e b o t t l e d w in e , to flo w . The an sw er j
j to su ch q u e s tio n s a s t h e s e , no d o u b t, how ever i s th e
I p r a c t i c a l one o f t r y i n g a sh ak e o f th e b o t t l e o r a !
j b r u s h f u l o f th e v a r n i s h . M y "su n k " s e n s e o f B o sto n
! found i t s e l f v ig o r o u s ly v a r n is h e d by m ere re n e w a l o f
v i s i o n a t th e end o f lo n g y e a r s . . . . (p . 2 1 8 ) j
The P re fa c e to R o d e ric k H udson r e l i e s on th e same
f i g u r e o f th e p a i n t e r w ith th e v a r n is h b r u s h . 11 H e re , how-
11P o r a n o th e r a c c o u n t o f th e u se o f t h i s f i g u r e , se e
P. 0 . M a tth ie s s e n , "The P a i n t e r 's Sponge and V a rn is h B o t
t l e : H enry J a m e s 's R e v is io n o f The P o r t r a i t o f a L ady,"
A m erican Bookman, 1 :4 9 -6 8 , W in te r, 1$44. R e p r in te d i n h i s
H enry Jam es: ‘ tihie’ M ajor P h a s e , p p . 1 5 2 -1 8 6 .
e v e r , Jam es u s e s two d i s t i n c t s t e p s f o r th e p r o c e s s o f
|" r e c o v e r y ." The p a i n t e r ( to r e t u r n to th e f i g u r e ) f i r s t
! a p p l i e s th e w et sponge to " h i s o ld sunk c a n v a s" i n o r d e r
i
to se e p h y s i c a l l y w hat he h a s to w ork w ith . T h is i s com
p a r a b le i n The A m erican Scene to th e p rim a ry t a s k o f a c
c u r a te o b s e r v a t i o n , w hat i s o f t e n r e f e r r e d to a s " r i g h t l y
s e e i n g ." The se co n d s t e p , i n th e f i g u r e , i s to a p p ly th e
i
I v a r n is h b ru s h to th e dam pened c a n v a s i n th e h o p e s o f m aking
| th e " o ld c o n n ex io n " c l e a r a g a in . The f i g u r e , a s Jam es
u s e d i t , was e q u iv a le n t to th e a c t o f c r i t i c i s m i t s e l f :
The p a i n t e r who p a s s e s o v e r h i s o ld sunk c a n v a s th e
w et sponge t h a t shows him w hat may s t i l l come o u t a g a in
j m akes h i s c r i t i c i s m e s s e n t i a l l y a c t i v e . When h a v in g
; s e e n , w h ile h i s m om entary g la z e re m a in s , t h a t th e
j c a n v a s h a s k e p t a fe w -b u rie d s e c r e t s , he p ro c e e d s to
I r e p e a t th e p r o c e s s w ith due c a r e and w ith a b o t t l e o f
| v a r n is h and a b r u s h , he i s " l i v i n g b a c k ," a s I s a y , to ,
I th e to p o f h i s b e n t, i s ta k in g u p th e o ld r e l a t i o n , so
w o rk a b le a p p a r e n tly , y e t , and th e r e i s n o th in g l o g i c a l l y j
! to s t a y him from f o llo w in g i t a l l th e way. ( P r e f a c e s , j
! P . 11)
i
j T here i s one o t h e r n o te o f s i m i l a r i t y . B oth w orks
p ro v id e d Jam es w ith o p p o r t u n i t i e s he h ad n o t h ad b e f o r e . !
T h ere w ere alw ay s two d i s t i n c t s t o r i e s i n c o n n e c tio n w ith I
I
any l i t e r a r y p r o d u c tio n . "T h ere i s th e s t o r y o f o n e ’ s |
h e r o ," Jam es r e a d i l y acknow ledged i n th e P re fa c e to The j
A m bassadors, " a n d , th e n , th a n k s to th e i n ti m a t e c o n n e x io n i
* !
o f t h i n g s , th e s t o r y o f o n e 's s t o r y i t s e l f " (p . 3 1 3 ) . j
Each o f th e P r e f a c e s a s w e ll a s th e A r t - t a l k i n The A m eri
can Scene t e l l s th e k in d o f " se c o n d " s t o r y Jam es was r e
f e r r i n g t o . E ach t e l l s a s t o r y o f a w r i t in g p ro b le m , o fte n ;
a s d ra m a tic a s th e m ain s t o r y i t s e l f . I n e a c h c a s e , we
!
I l e a r n th e a c c e s s o r y f a c t s and c o n d itio n s w hich c o n tr ib u te d
i
to th e w r i t in g o f t h a t w ork. M ost im p o r ta n tly , we g e t a
I
|g r e a t d e a l c l o s e r to th e m ind o f Jam es a t w ork,
i One t h in g , h o w ev er, m akes The A m erican Scene u n iq u e
|i n c o m p a riso n w ith th e P r e f a c e s . I t c an p ro v id e n o t o n ly
i
|t h e k in d o f i n s i g h t p e c u l i a r to th e P r e f a c e s , b u t i t can
i
I do so i n a way no o t h e r Jam es book c a n . O nly h e r e , i n t h i s
lone b o o k , The A m erican S c e n e , i s i t p o s s ib l e to h av e th e
| two c h a r a c t e r i s t i c Ja m e sia n '’s t o r i e s " t o g e t h e r — th e s to r y
|a n d th e s t o r y o f th e s t o r y . O nly h e r e , a re we a b le to se e
I •
|t h e in s ta n ta n e o u s e f f e c t o f one on th e o t h e r - - t h e p la n f o r
|t r e a t m e n t and th e tr e a tm e n t i t s e l f , th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f
! a n a l y s i s and th e a n a l y s i s i t s e l f . The f a c t t h a t th e A rt- ,
i !
jta lk and the a n a ly sis are co n tin u a lly worked in to g eth er- - j
i • i
|n o t s e p a r a te a s w ith th e P r e f a c e s and th e n o v e ls —m akes !
I The A m erican Scene an "unexam pled o p p o r tu n ity " i n th e stu d y j
s o f th e com plex w o rk in g s o f J a m e s 's m ind. 1
j I n th e c lo s e and i n t e g r a l r e l a t i o n o f th e two
i I
" s t o r i e s " i n The A m erican S c e n e , we seem to se e th e c r e a
t i v e p r o c e s s , i r . s e l f , a t w ork; we e n t e r , i n a s e n s e , i n t o i
!
th e " i n n e r ch am b er." A ll th e a r t f u l h e s i t a n c i e s o f l i t e r
a ry a c t i v i t y — s p e c u l a ti o n and s e l e c t i o n , i n d e c is io n and j
c o n v ic tio n — seem to be h a p p e n in g b e f o r e o u r e y e s . I f , a s
E d e l s a y s , " th e l i f e o f th e m ind . . . i s w h a t- th e l i t e r -
! a ry l i f e r e a l l y i s , " th e n , i n a v e ry r e a l s e n s e , The
o
220
12
A m erican Scene p r o v id e s t h a t k in d o f i n s i g h t . H e re , we
h av e th e u l t i m a t e v a lu e o f th e b o o k , a v a lu e n o t u n lik e
t h a t o f W o rd sw o rth 's P r e lu d e . A h i s t o r y o f a m ind i s n o t
e a s i l y g r a s p e d —o r e a s i l y s t a t e d . What The A m erican S cene
a p p e a rs to b e on th e s u r f a c e i s o n ly a s m a ll p a r t o f w hat
we may a c t u a l l y f i n d . To th e e x t e n t t h a t th e book d o es
com bine s o c i a l c r i t i c i s m , l i t e r a r y c r i t i c i s m , a u to b io g r a p h y ,
p h ilo s o p h y , and much m ore, i t i s a re m a rk a b le a c h ie v e m e n t.
N ot l e a s t o f a l l , h o w ev er, i s th e p a r t i c u l a r s t y l e , w hich
m u st alw ay s be a llo w e d , i n th e w ords o f M o rris , to "sp e a k "
f o r i t s e l f :
One can n e i t h e r sp e a k f o r n o r a g a i n s t su ch a w r i t e r .
One c an o n ly q u o te . The r e s o n a n t d e n s i t y o f th e m ind
o f Jam es, th e s t y l e t h a t f i l l s , l i k e a l i q u i d , e v e ry
c r e v ic e o f i t s s u b j e c t , c a n n o t b e p a ra p h r a s e d o r p o u re d
to c o o l i n q u o ta b le re m a rk s . The im p re s s io n i s th e
f i s s i o n i n g r a y s o f th e s u b j e c t i t s e l f , ( p . 3 6 )
12L i t e r a r y B io g ra p h y (T o ro n to , 1 9 5 7 ), p . 2 .
Jp' 4
V
. o
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)
i
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Creator White, Sidney Howard (author)

Core Title Henry James'S 'The American Scene'

Contributor Digitized by ProQuest (provenance)

Degree Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Program English

Publisher University of Southern California (original), University of Southern California. Libraries (digital)

Tag Literature, General,oai:digitallibrary.usc.edu:usctheses,OAI-PMH Harvest

Language English

Advisor McElderry, Bruce R. (committee chair), Crittenden, Walter M. (committee member), Hadley, Paul E. (committee member)

Permanent Link (DOI) https://doi.org/10.25549/usctheses-c18-158147

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Legacy Identifier 6508902.pdf

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Rights White, Sidney Howard

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