11. The Shepherd’s Pine box 35/10
S
∆
(
V7,
MUCH ADO ABOUT-NOTHING
Tuz Suxpnzap’s Piez. By. Arthur Schnitzler. römo.
160 pages. Nicholas L. Brown. 61.50.
TIHEordinary observer is a phrase ill-favoured in most eyes, be¬
+ cause people have linked the essentially revolting trio; ordi¬
nary, common, and vulgar in an overwhelming slur. The ordinary
observer is not always the ultimate criterion of all creative effort.
There are works of cabalistic appeal to which the ordinary observer
can never do justice, but they are, by their very nature, eternally
esoteric, and sleep well on library shelves. The ordinary observer
is an intelligent, decently educated person who demands that a
book exhibit some excuse for his reading it.
The ordinary observer is perhaps faintly at a loss in regard to
Arthur Schnitzler. He has the cabalistic appeal; he cannot be
classified, being a little of everything from realist to symbolist to
romanticist. He lies thwart the canons of the schools, helping him¬
self impartially. Now the ordinary observer knows that it is a seri¬
ous mistake to suppose that rules are hampering things. Even
Boileau, who was very near being hampered by them, knew better,
and proposed that hypothesis more important than all his alex¬
andrines; rules are a short cut to excellence. Arthur Schnitzler
happens to be one of those people who attain excellence inevitably,
and short cuts do not interest him. The ordinary observer realizes
that, but he realizes just as acutely that Schnitzler’s work has flaws,
brutal and exasperating flaws. Aquotation from The Shepherd’s
Pipe indicates their nature:
Suddenly melodious sounds became disengaged from the silence
of the valley which lay gray in the dawn. Dionysia opened her
eyes and listened, her expression which had been relaxed in despair¬
ing weariness assumed new life. Erasmus noticed it, and immedi¬
ately released Dionysia from his embrace.
* Do you recognise the sound that is rising to us?’ he asked,
They are the notes of a shepherd’s pipe. And see, without wishing
to confess it to yourself and without being really quite aware of it.
S
∆
(
V7,
MUCH ADO ABOUT-NOTHING
Tuz Suxpnzap’s Piez. By. Arthur Schnitzler. römo.
160 pages. Nicholas L. Brown. 61.50.
TIHEordinary observer is a phrase ill-favoured in most eyes, be¬
+ cause people have linked the essentially revolting trio; ordi¬
nary, common, and vulgar in an overwhelming slur. The ordinary
observer is not always the ultimate criterion of all creative effort.
There are works of cabalistic appeal to which the ordinary observer
can never do justice, but they are, by their very nature, eternally
esoteric, and sleep well on library shelves. The ordinary observer
is an intelligent, decently educated person who demands that a
book exhibit some excuse for his reading it.
The ordinary observer is perhaps faintly at a loss in regard to
Arthur Schnitzler. He has the cabalistic appeal; he cannot be
classified, being a little of everything from realist to symbolist to
romanticist. He lies thwart the canons of the schools, helping him¬
self impartially. Now the ordinary observer knows that it is a seri¬
ous mistake to suppose that rules are hampering things. Even
Boileau, who was very near being hampered by them, knew better,
and proposed that hypothesis more important than all his alex¬
andrines; rules are a short cut to excellence. Arthur Schnitzler
happens to be one of those people who attain excellence inevitably,
and short cuts do not interest him. The ordinary observer realizes
that, but he realizes just as acutely that Schnitzler’s work has flaws,
brutal and exasperating flaws. Aquotation from The Shepherd’s
Pipe indicates their nature:
Suddenly melodious sounds became disengaged from the silence
of the valley which lay gray in the dawn. Dionysia opened her
eyes and listened, her expression which had been relaxed in despair¬
ing weariness assumed new life. Erasmus noticed it, and immedi¬
ately released Dionysia from his embrace.
* Do you recognise the sound that is rising to us?’ he asked,
They are the notes of a shepherd’s pipe. And see, without wishing
to confess it to yourself and without being really quite aware of it.