Teachers of fiction might contribute a worthy service by compelling all
students to gaze upon, say, the relentless brevity and simplicity of De
Maupassant that yet gives more and more subtle shadings, even in
translation, than most of the wordy ones can give in five times the
space. Or Flaubert's exquisite nicety in word selection, not for the
mere sensual sound of the word but for the word's real office in
expression.
Perhaps such frank expression may seem out of place in this volume. But
being a magazine editor and the compiler of this book does not free me
from all other obligations. And there is need of every voice that can be
raised in outcry against the tidal wave of words that is drowning so
much of American fiction. As to good taste, I am less interested in it
than in trying to help against this increasing evil. The advice of our
answerer ought to be nailed to the wall above the desk of--what per
cent.?--of our established writers: "For God's sake don't talk so
_much_!"